2011 NRL Grand Final: Difference between revisions

|home = [[File:Manly_Sea_Eagles_colours.svg|50px]]<br />[[Manly Warringah Sea Eagles|Manly Warringah<br />Sea Eagles {{plain image|Manly-Warringah_Sea_Eagles_logo.svg||100px|center}}]]

|away = New Zealand[[File:New_Zealand_colours.svg|50px]]<br />[[New Zealand Warriors|New {{plainZealand<br image|New_Zealand_Warriors_logo.svg||75px|center}}/>Warriors]]

|away_abbr = NZL {{leagueicon[[File:New_Zealand_colours.svg|New Zealand |16}}16px]]

|anthem_title = [[Advance Australia Fair|Australian National anthem]] and<br> [[God Defend New Zealand|NZ National anthem]]

|anthem = {{flagicon|AUえーゆーS}} Australian Youth Choir and<br> {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Elizabeth Marvelly]]

|referee = [[Tony Archer (referee)|Tony Archer]]<br />[[Matt Cecchin]]

|commentators2 = [[Peter Sterling (rugby league commentator)|Peter Sterling]]

|commentators3 = [[Phil Gould (rugby league)|Phil Gould]]

The '''2011 NRL Grand Final''' was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the [[National Rugby League|NRL]]'s [[2011 Telstra Premiership]] season. It was played between the [[Manly Warringah Sea Eagles]] and the [[New Zealand Warriors]] on the afternoon of Sunday, 2 October,<ref>{{cite news|last=Dean|first=Ritchie|title=Storm, Sea Eagles heading for grand final|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/storm-sea-eagles-heading-for-grand-final/story-e6frfgff-1226110578023|accessdateaccess-date=14 August 2011|newspaper=[[TheHerald Daily TelegraphSun]]|date=8 August 2011}}</ref> and it was the first time the two sides have met in a grand final. Manly won the match, 24&ndash;10, for the club's eighth premiership.

The grand final breakfast, an annual function attended by both teams and hundreds of guests, was held the Thursday prior to Sunday's match at Sydney's [[Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre]] in [[Darling Harbour]] and was screened live on Australian television.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lawton|first=Aaron|title=Teams enjoy NRL grand final breakfast|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5705099/Teams-enjoy-NRL-grand-final-breakfast|accessdateaccess-date=29 September 2011|newspaper=[[stuff.co.nz]]|date=29 September 2011}}</ref>

2011's NRL season was the 104th season of professional [[rugby league football]] football club competition in Australia, and the fourteenth and last run by the [[National Rugby League]]'s partnership committee of the [[Australian Rugby League]] and [[News Ltd]]. The NRL's main championship, called the '''2011 Telstra Premiership''' due to sponsorship from [[Telstra]], was contested by [[National Rugby League teams|sixteen teams]] for the fifth consecutive year. Of these sixteen, the [[Manly Warringah Sea Eagles]] and the [[New Zealand Warriors]] finished 2nd and 6th on the competition ladder respectively. It was the first time the sides had faced each other in a season decider and the last time they played in a finals match was a preliminary match in 2008 where the SeaManly Eaglesclub won 28-628–6. It was the third time in five years the Sea EaglesManly featured in a grand final, with their previous being their record 40–0 victory over the [[Melbourne Storm]] in [[2008 NRL Grand Final|2008]]. It was the second time in the Warriors' 16-year history that they played for their maiden premiership title, with their first attempt losing to the Sydney Roosters in [[2002 NRL season|2002]]. The sides played each other once in round 6 during the regular season where the Sea Eagles won 20-1020–10 at [[Brookvale Oval]].

The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles finished second on the competition ladder behind the [[Melbourne Storm]] accumulating 40 competition points, winning 18 of 24 matches and being undefeated at their traditional home ground [[Brookvale Oval]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/jamie-lyon-says-the-eagles-will-miss-the-brookvale-oval-vibe/|title=Jamie Lyon says the Eagles will miss the Brookvale Oval vibe|last=Prentice|first=Andrew|date=5 September 2011|work=Manly Daily|accessdateaccess-date=24 September 2011}}</ref> However, their run into the finals series threatened to be disrupted by suspensions arising from a [[Battle of Brookvale|wild brawl in a clash with Melbourne in the penultimate round of the season]]. Four Manly players received suspensions, including a three-match ban for key forward [[Glenn Stewart]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/why-brett-stewart-can-count-himself-lucky-20110902-1jq2y.html|title=Why Brett Stewart can count himself lucky|last=Walter|first=Brad|date=2 September 2011|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|accessdateaccess-date=24 September 2011}}</ref> Despite the suspensions, Manly qualified for the Grand Final with ease, defeating Queensland teams the [[North Queensland Cowboys]] 42&ndash;8 in the qualifying final and the [[Brisbane Broncos]] 26&ndash;14 in the preliminary after earning a weeks break.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-23/manly-books-grand-final-spot/2940196/?site=sport&section=all?site=sport&section=rugbyleague|title=Manly reaches final over Lockyer's Broncos|last=Crawford|first=Adrian|date=24 September 2011|work=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC Sport]]|accessdateaccess-date=24 September 2011}}</ref> [[Steve Matai]] and [[Tony Williams (rugby league)|Tony Williams]] were reported to the NRL's match review committee for incidents during the win over the BroncosBrisbane, raising the prospect that they may be suspended for the Grand Final. However, the committee refused to charge Matai, while Williams' clean record enabled him to avoid a suspension by pleading guilty to a charge of effecting an unlawful [[Tackle (football move)#Rugby league|high tackle]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/manly-relieved-matai-williams-cleared-to-play-20110925-1krso.html|title=Manly relieved Matai, Williams cleared to play|last=Walter|first=Brad|author2=Prichard, Greg|date=26 September 2011|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|accessdateaccess-date=26 September 2011}}</ref> However, Manly would play the Grand Final without their co-captain [[Jason King (rugby league)|Jason King]], who suffered a pectoral injury in Round 22 of the season,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/injured-king-shares-sea-eagles-climb-to-the-throne-20110925-1krqu.html|title=Injured King shares Sea Eagles' climb to the throne|last=Chammas|first=Michael|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|publisher=26 September 2011|accessdateaccess-date=26 September 2011|date=26 September 2011}}</ref> and winger [[David Williams (rugby league)|David Williams]] with a neck injury.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-03/healthy-dragons-primed-for-finals/2869248/?site=sport&section=all?site=sport&section=rugbyleague|title=Healthy Dragons primed for finals|date=3 September 2011|work=[[ABC Sport]]|accessdateaccess-date=26 September 2011}}</ref>

For only the second time in the club's entire history the [[New Zealand Warriors]] willwould search for their first premiership title up against the second-placed SeaManly Eaglesside. Having finished sixth on the competition ladder with 32 points, they lost their first match of the finals series to the [[Brisbane Broncos]] in their heaviest defeat of the season losing 40&ndash;10 but however earned a second chance, only due to the two lower-ranking teams also losing.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-match-report/young-broncos-given-free-rein-in-pursuit-of-title-20110910-1k3cw.html|title=Young Broncos given free rein in pursuit of title|last=Mascord|first=Steve|date=11 September 2011|accessdateaccess-date=24 September 2011|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> They then upset the [[Wests Tigers]] in the semi -finals after many gave them a slim chance of winning and they were down 18-618–6 at half time before mounting a comeback to be down just 20-1820–18 with a few minutes remaining before Kristian Inu scored the match winner for the Warriors as they won 22-2022–20.

The New Zealand Warriors then went on to post a major upset over the 2011 minor premiers the [[Melbourne Storm]] at AAMI Park in their Grand Final qualifier. The New Zealand Warriors were down 6-0 after 5 minutes due to some poor defence that Gareth Widdop took advantage of to put Sika Manu through a gap to score; the try was converted by Cameron Smith. the Warriors would hit back in the following dozen minutes through Bill Tupou and James Maloney scoring in the 12th and 16th minutes for the Warriors to lead 12-612–6. The StormMelbourne side would hit back through a Beau Champion try in 36th minute which Cameron Smith would convert to level the scores at 12-12. Before half time the Warriors were given a penalty which they opted to kick a penalty goal which James Maloney succussfullysuccessfully converted for the Warriors to lead 14-1214–12 at half time. The second half was a heated battle with the Warriors starving the StormMelbourne of the ball and any good field position throughout the entire 40 minutes as the Warriors defence superbly defending anything the Melbourne Storm threw at them. The Warriors were believed to have scored in the 72nd minute through Lewis Brown only for the try to be disallowed due to an earlier knock on from Kevin Locke but the Lewis Brown would then go on to score in the 77th minute after some nifty footwork from Warriors young gun [[Shaun Johnson]]. James Maloney would beautifully convert a sideline conversion to put any hope of a Storm comeback impossible. This win would then qualify theNew WarriorsZealand for their second ever Grand Final.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/5679689/Warriors-ride-extra-life-to-NRL-grand-final-spot/|title=Warriors ride 'extra life' to NRL grand final spot|last=Lawton|first=Aaron|date=25 September 2011|work=[[stuff.co.nz]]|accessdateaccess-date=24 September 2011}}</ref>

The Grand Final was [[Ivan Cleary]]'s last match as coach of the club, having signed to take over the [[Penrith Panthers]] the following season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/penrith-panthers-set-to-announce-warriors-ivan-cleary-will-be-their-new-coach/story-e6frfgbo-1226083852356|title=New Zealand Warriors coach Ivan Cleary was always the first choice of Penrith Panthers football director Phil Gould|last=Ritchie|first=Dean|date=29 June 2011|work=[[Herald Sun]]|accessdateaccess-date=24 September 2011}}</ref> Coincidentally, his last match as a player was when he was the fullback in the New Zealand Warriors side that lost the 2002 Grand Final to the [[Sydney Roosters]], another club Cleary played for in the NRL. Cleary grew up on Sydney's northern beaches, and started his professional career with Manly playing alongside Des Hasler, now his opposing coach.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/cheering-the-sydney-warriors/story-e6frfgbo-1226147266828|title=Cheering the Sydney Warriors|last=Kent|first=Paul|date=27 September 2011|work=[[Herald Sun]]|accessdateaccess-date=27 September 2011}}</ref>

The New Zealand Warriors also fielded teams in the NSW Cup and Toyota Cup Grand Finals, thus becoming the first team since the [[Sydney Roosters]] in 2004 to field sides in three different-grade Grand Finals; at the time, the other two grades were the Jersey Flegg Cup and the Premier League Cup. The Warriors' Toyota Cup successfully defended its 2010 title defeating the [[North Queensland Cowboys]] in [[golden point]] extra time by the scoreline of 31&ndash;30.

|align="center"|17. [[Elijah Taylor (rugby league)|Elijah Taylor]]

|align="center"|13. [[Michael Luck (rugby league)|MichaelMicheal Luck]]

Two other matches were played before the NRL Grand Final. At 12.00pm, the [[New South Wales Cup]] Grand Final was held between the [[Auckland Vulcans]] and the [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs]] with the BulldogsCanterbury side winning 30&ndash;28. The [[National Youth Competition (rugby league)|Toyota Cup]] Grand Final, featuring the youth teams of [[New Zealand Warriors]] and the [[North Queensland Cowboys]], was played at 2.00pm,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nrl.com/2011-telstra-premiership-grand-final-information/tabid/10874/newsid/64972/default.aspx|title=2011 Telstra Premiership Grand Final Information|date=25 September 2011|work=NRL News|accessdateaccess-date=24 September 2011}}</ref> with the Warriors winning in extra time after North Queensland winger [[Kyle Feldt]] (who in the top-grade [[2015 NRL Grand Final]] would score a try in the final seconds to force extra time)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-match-report/nrl-grand-final-2015-north-queensland-cowboys-outgun-brisbane-broncos-to-win-premiership-20151004-gk12is.html|title=NRL Grand Final 2015: North Queensland Cowboys outgun Brisbane Broncos to win premiership|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=4 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrl-grand-final-player-ratings-broncos-v-cowboys-who-starred-and-who-struggled/story-fni3fbgz-1227556818349?sv=d513a72ed0eabb4bbeaad8561926d617|title=NRL hadGrand Final Player Ratings|publisher=Dailytelegraph.com.au|access-date=2015-10-12}}</ref> missed the opportunity to win the side's first premiership by missing a relatively simple conversion right on full-time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/the-warriors-trump-the-north-queensland-cowboys-after-an-extra-time-field-goal-from-halfback-jordan-meads/story-e6frexnr-1226156104552|title=New Zealand Warriors trump the North Queensland Cowboys after an extra-time field goal from halfback Jordan Meads|publisher=The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|first=Christian|last=Nicolussi|date=2 October 2011|access-date=8 September 2016}}</ref>

Entertainment included performances by American singer [[Kelly Clarkson]] and Australian band [[Eskimo Joe]], marking Clarkson's first appearance at the event since the [[2003 NRL grand final]]. Clarkson performed her song "[[Mr. Know It All]]", accompanied by 300 dancers.<ref name="KClarksonNRL1">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/live-updates-nrl-grand-final-20111002-1l3fp.html|title=Live updates: NRL grand final|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]|date=2 October 2011|accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="KClarksonNRL2">{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/kelly-clarkson-gets-an-eyeful-of-nrl-idols/story-e6frfgbo-1226148486856|title=Kelly Clarkson gets an eyeful of NRL idols|work=[[Herald Sun]]|publisher=[[The Herald and Weekly Times]]|date=2 October 2011|accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="KClarksonNRL3">{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/grand-final-transport-information/tabid/10874/newsid/65070/default.aspx|title=Grand Final Transport Information - NRL.com|publisher=[[NRL]]|date=30 September 2011|accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2011|archive-date=4 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104011607/http://www.nrl.com/grand-final-transport-information/tabid/10874/newsid/65070/default.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

'''First====Second half'''====

Manly lock forward Glenn Stewart was awarded the [[Clive Churchill Medal]] as the player of the match.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-02/hasler-praises-churchill-winner-stewart/3206062/?site=sport&section=all?site=sport&section=rugbyleague|title=Hasler praises Churchill winner Stewart|date=2 October 2011|work=[[ABC Sport]]|accessdateaccess-date=3 October 2011}}</ref> It was also the 10th time that brothers Brett and Glenn Stewart had each scored a try in the same game for Manly, with the club winning all 10 games. It was also the first time since the [[1929 NSWRFL season#Premiership final|1929 Premiership final]] when Alf and Frank O'Connor scored for [[South Sydney Rabbitohs|South Sydney]] that two brothers had each scored a try in the premiership decider.

[[Category{{DEFAULTSORT:NRL Grand Finals]]Final}}

[[Category:Manly- Warringah Sea Eagles matches]]