#9 NRL's Greatest Grand Finals | Thebigtip

26th September 1999
Melbourne Storm 20 defeated St George Illawarra Dragons 18
@ Telstra Stadium, Crowd: 107, 999
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Half-Time: Dragons 14-0
Melbourne 20: Tony Martin, Ben Roarty, Craig Smith (Penalty Try) Tries. Craig Smith 3-4, Matt Geyer 1-1 Goals.
St George Illawarra 18: Craig Fitzgibbon, Nathan Blacklock, Paul McGregor Tries. Wayne Bartrim 2-3, Craig Fitzgibbon  1/1 Goals.
Clive Churchill Medallist: Brett Kimmorley.

It was history in the making in the 1999 NRL Grand Final with the Melbourne Storm only being in their second ever year of existence and making the big one. It was also the very first year for the Dragons after St George merged with the Illawarra Steelers.

A rugby league world record crowd packed the Olympic stadium to see a new era in rugby league. But only one side would leave happy after the single biggest decision to ever be made by an official in such a big game.

The Dragons were on the cusp of glory after shooting out to a 14-0 lead at the break.

Craig Fitzgibbon and Nathan Blacklock crossed for first half tries with Blacklock’s being one of the great individual tries in a decider. Melbourne’s Brett Kimmorley chipped over the line and looked for a regather. Only for Blacklock to shoot through like a cannon and charge directly the other way. He scored untouched.

The Dragons could have extended the lead if only Anthony Mundine used support instead of going himself. A pass to the outside would have seen the Saints score again. Instead Mundine went it alone and knocked the ball on over the line.

Melbourne would begin their surge and could not be stopped.

Tries on the left fringe to Tony Martin and Ben Roarty had the Storm back in the game at 14-10. Two penalty goals to Craig Smith had the game locked at 14-14.

The Dragons stemmed the bleeding to a degree when a Trent Barrett kick ended up in the hands of Paul McGregor who dived over out wide.

Time was running out and the Storm were still coming. The lead was only four and even less time on the clock. But the Victorians were on a mission and were parked on the Dragons try line.

With less then three minutes left in the game, Kimmorley placed a cross field kick to Jamie Ainscough’s corner. The Dragons winger was beaten by the kick and rushed back to stop Craig Smith.

Smith had clearly caught the ball and was on the verge of grounding the ball when Ainscough smashed Smith across the face causing him to lose the ball.

A sudden hush went around the ground as the crowd realised something big was happening. Video referee Chris Ward had no other option but to decide that Smith was in possession of the ball and his chance to score was halted because of Ainscough’s foul play.

The following attempt at conversion was given under the posts. An easy kick for Matt Geyer. The Storm had won the NRL Grand final in only their second season.