#2 NRL's Greatest Grand Finals | Thebigtip

28th September 1997
Newcastle Knights 22 defeated Manly Sea Eagles 16
@ Sydney Football Stadium
Referee: David Manson
Knights 22: O’Davis 2, Albert tries. A. Johns 5 goals.
Sea Eagles 16: Hopoate, Innes, Nevin tries. Nevin 2 goals.
Clive Churchill Medallist: Robbie O’Davis.

A true sporting miracle happened on the 28th of September 1997 as the Newcastle Knights secured their first ever premiership against the defending premiers and heavily backed favourites for the crown, the Manly Sea Eagles.

It had already been a tough year for the people of Newcastle after the BHP steelworks had announced its closure. The people of the Hunter needed something special. But would it come against the all-star Sea Eagles?
 
Manly had already beaten Newcastle easily in week two of the Finals series while Knights superstar Andrew Johns gallantly took the field for the decider after being hospitalised during the week with a punctured lung.

Newcastle captain Paul “The Chief” Harragon took a very aggressive mindset into the game knowing it was almost impossible to be sent off in a grand final. A high shot on Sea Eagles captain Geoff Toovey in the second minute saw the fierce rivalry between Harragon and Mark Carroll continue with yet another brawl.

But it was Manly who would score first when John Hopoate scurried down the left flank and beat Mark Hughes and Darren Albert to the line.

Hopoate made another break on 25 minutes and found Cliff Lyons in support before handing off to the flying Craig Innes who scored in the very spot that Hopoate had done prior. The hot favourites led 10-0.

Andrew Johns took a penalty goal for the Knights before the novocastrians secured a scrum close to the Eagles tryline.

Newcastle full-back Robbie O’Davis went to the line and quickly found a gap outside Australian international Terry Hill. Eagles winger Danny Moore continued to slide out to his man and the gap widened as O’Davis dived over the line for the Knights first ever grand final try. The lead was back to two.

But Manly would break away again just before half-time as the magical Cliff Lyons weaved his magic. Lyons skipped across field before handing the ball back inside to Shannon Nevin who scampered across the line. Nevin would convert his own try to give the defending premiers a 16-8 lead at the break.

Courageous captain Geoff Toovey was in the wars again early in the second half when Adam MacDougall blatantly stomped on his head.

But it would be Newcastle to score next through another Johns penalty goal on 57 minutes.

The Knights were beginning to surge as Manly tried to defend their lead.

Adam Muir dropped a ball only inches from the Manly line while Nevin missed a penalty goal which would have given the Eagles an eight point lead.

With only ten minutes to play and the weight of the Hunter on their shoulders, the Knights lifted once more as replacement player Troy Fletcher made a long break which gave them good field position.

Matthew Johns passed to his brother who inturn found O’Davis who weaved his way through the Manly defence and carried Manly players over the line and somehow planted the ball under the posts. It was 16-all with five to play.

After a field goal attempt was charged down, Newcastle found themselves with the ball once more with less then ten seconds to play.

Andrew Johns took the ball from dummy half and went down a narrow blindside and despite being stopped, offloaded the ball to a flying Darren Albert who crossed the line to score.

Manly were in disbelief as the Knights celebrated their very first premiership win.