| 1998 National Rugby League | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Duration | March 13 – September 27, 1998 |
| Teams | 20 |
| Premiers |  Brisbane (4th title) |
| Minor premiers | Brisbane (3rd title) |
| Matches played | 253 |
| Points scored | 10,131 |
| Average attendance | 11,612 |
| Attendance | 2,937,741 |
| Top points scorer |  Ivan Cleary (284) |
| Wooden spoon |  Western Suburbs Magpies (16th spoon) |
| Dally M Medal |  Andrew Johns |
| Top try-scorer | Darren Smith (23) |
1999 → | |
The1998 NRL season was the 91st season of professionalrugby league football in Australia, and the inaugural season of the newly formedNational Rugby League (NRL). After the 1997 season, in which theAustralian Rugby League andSuper League organisations ran separate competitions parallel to each other, they joined to create a reunited competition in the NRL. The first professional rugby league club to be based inVictoria, theMelbourne Storm was introduced into the League, and with the closure of theHunter Mariners,Western Reds andSouth Queensland Crushers, twenty teams competed for the premiership, which culminated in the1998 NRL Grand Final betweenBrisbane andCanterbury-Bankstown. It was also the final season for theIllawarra Steelers and theSt. George Dragons as their own clubs prior to their merger into theSt. George-Illawarra Dragons for the1999 NRL season
TheNational Rugby League was formed after an agreement was reached between the two rivaling competitions from 1997, theAustralian Rugby League and theSuper League. In December 1997, the two parties formed a joint board to run the new Australian rugby league club competition. The vast majority of the 22 clubs that contested in 1997 across the split competitions also contested the first season of the National Rugby League, with the exception of theHunter Mariners, theWestern Reds andSouth Queensland.
The National Rugby League imposed a $3M salary cap on each of the clubs.[1]
Super League's ad agency VCD in Sydney successfully kept the account post-reunification. The 1998 ad featured the song "Tubthumping" byChumbawamba with its theme of rising against adversity:
There was no visual performance of the song in the ad which returned to the standard rugby league imagery of big hits and crunching tackles to accompany the track.
The closure of theHunter Mariners,Western/Perth Reds andSouth Queensland Crushers, and the introduction of theMelbourne Storm meant that a total of twenty clubs contested the 1998 Premiership. Eleven of these clubs were fromSydney, but an agreement between the Australian Rugby League and Super League meant that many of these clubs were in danger of being cut from the competition by the2000 season when, it was decided, only 14 clubs would be invited to contest the premiership.
Rounds 5 and 7:Brisbane Broncos set a new record for their biggest win, firstly 58–4 againstNorth Queensland Cowboys, then 60–6 againstNorth Sydney Bears, both games being played atQueensland Sport and Athletics Centre.
Round 8:1997 ARL premiers, theNewcastle Knights played the1997 Super League premiers, theBrisbane Broncos and Brisbane won 26–6 in Newcastle before a crowd of 27,119, cementing their position at the top of the ladder.
Round 12: The record for the biggest comeback in premiership history was re-set by theNorth Queensland Cowboys who trailed 26–0 at half-time and came back to beat thePenrith Panthers 36–28.
Round 24:Ivan Cleary's tally of 284 points set a new individual record for most points scored in a season in Australian club rugby league history; it has since been beaten.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brisbane Broncos(P) | 24 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 688 | 310 | +378 | 37 |
| 2 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 562 | 381 | +181 | 37 |
| 3 |  Melbourne Storm | 24 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 546 | 372 | +174 | 35 |
| 4 |  Parramatta Eels | 24 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 468 | 349 | +119 | 35 |
| 5 |  North Sydney Bears | 24 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 663 | 367 | +296 | 34 |
| 6 | Sydney City Roosters | 24 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 680 | 383 | +297 | 32 |
| 7 |  Canberra Raiders | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 564 | 429 | +135 | 30 |
| 8 |  St. George Dragons | 24 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 486 | 490 | −4 | 27 |
| 9 |  Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 489 | 411 | +78 | 26 |
| 10 |  Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 503 | 473 | +30 | 26 |
| 11 |  Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 12 | 1 | 11 | 438 | 387 | +51 | 25 |
| 12 |  Illawarra Steelers | 24 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 476 | 539 | −63 | 23 |
| 13 |  Balmain Tigers | 24 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 381 | 463 | −82 | 19 |
| 14 |  Penrith Panthers | 24 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 525 | 580 | −55 | 18 |
| 15 |  Auckland Warriors | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 417 | 518 | −101 | 18 |
| 16 |  North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 361 | 556 | −195 | 18 |
| 17 |  Adelaide Rams | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 393 | 615 | −222 | 14 |
| 18 |  South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 339 | 560 | −221 | 10 |
| 19 |  Gold Coast Chargers | 24 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 289 | 654 | −365 | 8 |
| 20 | Western Suburbs Magpies | 24 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 371 | 802 | −431 | 8 |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brisbane Broncos | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 35 | 37 |
| 2 | Newcastle Knights | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 35 | 37 |
| 3 | Melbourne Storm | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 35 |
| 4 | Parramatta Eels | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 35 |
| 5 | North Sydney Bears | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 |
| 6 | Sydney City Roosters | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 |
| 7 | Canberra Raiders | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 30 |
| 8 | St George Dragons | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 |
| 9 | Canterbury Bulldogs | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 |
| 10 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 |
| 11 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 |
| 12 | Illawarra Steelers | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 23 |
| 13 | Balmain Tigers | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
| 14 | Penrith Panthers | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 |
| 15 | Auckland Warriors | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 16 | North Queensland Cowboys | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 17 | Adelaide Rams | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| 18 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| 19 | Gold Coast Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 20 | Western Suburbs Magpies | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
The biggest surprise of the season was when theMelbourne Storm finished 3rd after the regular season in their first ever year, only to be knocked out by theBrisbane Broncos in the Semi-final. TheCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs became the lowest placed team ever to make the Grand Final, after finishing 9th after the regular season. Canterbury-Bankstown did it tough though, coming from 16 points down twice in as many weeks. They came from 16–0 down to win 28–16 against theNewcastle Knights in the Semi-final, then 18–2 down with 11 minutes to go to make it 18–18 after regulation time, then going on to win 32–20 in extra time against arch-rivals theParramatta Eels in the preliminary final.
The1998 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 1998 NRL season. It was the first grand final of the re-unifiedNational Rugby League and featuredminor premiers and the previous year'sSuper League premiers, theBrisbane Broncos against theCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, who had finished the regular season 9th (out of 20) to make a top-ten play-off grouping.
It was to be the first grand final under theNational Rugby League partnership's administration and the last to be played at theSydney Football Stadium. It was also the first time these two sides had met in a grand final. Brisbane scored first, but by half time trailed Canterbury 10–12. However, Brisbane scored 28 unanswered points in the second half, winning 12–38 and equaling the second highest score for a team in grand final history.
| Brisbane Broncos | 38 – 12 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
|---|---|---|
| Tries:7 De Vere  2'Campion 27'Carroll 41'Sailor 50'Tallis 59'Lee 68'Smith 75'Goals:5 Lockyer  4',43',60',69',76'(5/7) | 1st: 10–12 2nd: 28–0 Report[4][5] | Tries:2 Grimaldi 21'Talau 30'Goals:2 Halligan pen 11',22'(2/3) |
Sydney Football Stadium,Sydney Attendance: 40,857[6] Referee:Bill Harrigan Touch judges: Steve Betts, John McCormack Clive Churchill Medal:Gorden Tallis (Brisbane) |
| Preliminary Semi Finals | Qualifying and Elimination Finals | Semi Finals | Preliminary Finals | Grand Final | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 Aug,Olympic Park | 5 Sept,Marathon Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Melbourne | 12 | 2 | Newcastle | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Sydney City | 26 | Sydney City | 26 | 12 Sept,Sydney Football Stadium | 19 Sept,ANZ Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||
| Newcastle | 16 | Sydney City | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 Aug,Bruce Stadium | 5 Sept,Olympic Park | Canterbury | 28 | Brisbane | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Canberra | 17 | Melbourne | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Manly-Warringah | 4 | Canberra | 10 | 27 Sept,Sydney Football Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Brisbane | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 Aug,Jubilee Oval | 4 Sept,North Sydney Oval | Canterbury | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | St. George | 12 | North Sydney | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Canterbury | 20 | Canterbury | 23 | 13 Sept,Sydney Football Stadium | 20 Sept,Sydney Football Stadium | |||||||||||||||||||
| Brisbane | 30 | Parramatta | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 Aug,Parramatta Stadium | 6 Sept,ANZ Stadium | Melbourne | 6 | Canterbury | 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Parramatta | 25 | 1 | Brisbane | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | North Sydney | 12 | Parramatta | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||
The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 24.
Top 5 point scorers
Top 5 try scorers
| Top 5 goal scorers
|
Brisbane's consistent dominance over other teams at this period of time contributed to the National Rugby League's plans to cut the number of teams down to 14 in order to ensure competitiveness and the long-term financial success of the game.[7] Despite the rationalization of the league, the Broncos have continued to dominate in the modern era of the league, winning two more premierships in2000[8] and2006,[9] as well as reaching another two Grand Finals in2015[10] and2023.[11][12]
Despite the inclusion of "national" in the new competition's name, both theGold Coast andAdelaide clubs folded at the end of the 1998 season. A newGold Coast side re-entered the competition nine years later in 2007.
1998 was the last season for the seventy-eight-year-oldSt. George Dragons and seventeen-year-oldIllawarra Steelers clubs, which merged to form the NRL's first joint-venture team at the conclusion of the season, theSt. George Illawarra Dragons, for inclusion in the1999 Premiership.
| Coach | 1997 Club | 1998 Club |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Anderson | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (Super League) | Melbourne Storm |
| Graham Murray |  Hunter Mariners (Super League) |  Super League:Leeds Rhinos |
