National Rugby League season 2003

Infobox rugby league season
year = 2003
competition = National Rugby League


imagesize = 100px
caption =
teams = 15
premiers =
count = 2nd
minor premiers =
mpcount = 2nd
matches = 189
points = 8993
attendance = 2895740
top points scorer = (294)
top try scorer = (25)The year 2003's National Rugby League (NRL) premiership was the 96th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the sixth run by the NRL. Fifteen teams competed and the Penrith Panthers defeated reigning champions, the Sydney Roosters in the grand final, claiming their first premiership since 1991. Manly rejoined the competition since their merger with North Sydney in 1999, with the license of the former Northern Eagles reverting back to the Sea Eagles. Also season 2003 brought in the new "Golden Point" Extra-Time rule, where after 80 minutes, if the game was tied, then 10 minutes of extra time was played until one team scored the winning point(s).

eason summary

The major story this season was the resurgence of the Penrith Panthers, who defied the critics and naysayers to win just their second premiership since joining the competition in 1967. Coached by John Lang and captained by Craig Gower, the Panthers were the surprise minor premiers and would continue their outstanding form in the finals, beating the Broncos, Warriors and finally the Roosters in the grand final.

The Dally M Medal ceremony was cancelled by the NRL after negotiations with the players' union, the Rugby League Professionals Association, stalled. All votes for the award were destroyed. It was later revealed that with one round of the regular season to play, Craig Gower was leading both Brad Fittler and Clinton Schifcofske by one point in the overall points tally. However, with the ceremony officially cancelled more than a week out from the awards, no points were allocated in the final round of the season. [cite news|last=Pace|first=Daniel|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-79342767.html|publisher=Australian Associated Press|date=2003-09-07|title=Freddie sympathises with Gower but backs players' stance|accessdate=2007-09-10]

At the end of the season, Chris Anderson would lose his job at Cronulla, while Peter Sharp was dismissed as Manly coach.

Teams

Grand final

The Panthers defied the odds and the critics to take out their second premiership with a superb 18-6 win over the Roosters. In a game of incredible quality that belied the slippery conditions, Penrith matched the Roosters tackle for tackle then laid on three superb tries to emerge victorious.

Luke Priddis scored one try and set up the other two, whilst making 47 tackles, to win the Clive Churchill Medal. Panthers lock Scott Sattler earned himself a place in grand final folklore alongisde his father John Sattler with his unforgettable tackle on runaway Roosters winger Todd Byrne. With the scores locked at 6-all 14 minutes into the second half, the Penrith lock came from the opposite side of the field to bring down a storming Byrne with a copy-book diving tackle. The momentum that had been swinging the Roosters way was suddenly changed and the Panthers took control of the match from that point.

Penrith Panthers 18 (Tries: Rooney 2, Priddis. Goals: Girdler 1/1, Campbell 2/2.)

Sydney Roosters 6 (Tries: Hegarty. Goals: Fitzgibbon 1/1.)

Clive Churchill Medallist: Luke Priddis

ources and footnotes

External links

* [http://www.nrl.com NRL official website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aV_CdoStPk 2003 NRL "That's My Team" Season Advertisment]
* [http://www.sportsphotography.net/rugbyleague/2003/grandfinal/index.html 2003 NRL Grand Final at sportsphotography.net]