Newcastle Knights

2001 - Knights Stun Parramatta To Claim Title

NEWCASTLE 30 (Peden 2, Simpson, Kennedy, Tahu tries; Johns 5 goals)
d.PARRAMATTA 24 (Lyon 2, Hodgson 2 tries; Burt 4 goals)
Referee: Bill Harrigan. Crowd: 90,414 at Sydney Olympic Stadium.

Andrew Johns It happened - as it has before and undoubtedly will again - the Minor Premiers, in this case it was Parramatta, were the stand-out team all season long... until the 80 minutes of the Grand Final when it all came undone.

The Eels had looked to have the measure of all their opponents. But from the kick off in the Grand Final the Newcastle Knights produced a faultless display to take a commanding 24-0 lead. Parramatta couldn't stop the onslaught as the Knights failed to make an error. Their tactic was to run the big and mobile Knights forwards at the Eels smaller defenders.

Newcastle's Parsons, Simpson, Kennedy and Perry relentlessly targetted Parramatta's Jason Taylor and Brad Drew. Then Andrew Johns was able to run amok with the Eels defence in turmoil. To Parramatta's credit they fought back to be within six points at the end, but the Knights were never seriously threatened.

The season's other highlights included the rapid improvement of the Warriors under new coach Daniel Anderson, who made the finals for the first ever time.

Off the field the Courts again had their effect on rugby league. On July 6 the Federal Court found in favour of South Sydney and the NRL immediately announced the Rabbitohs would return in a 15 team competition in 2002.

Across the Sydney Harbour, the Northern Eagles joint venture saga came to a sorry conclusion. Manly took control of the licence for 2002, while the North Sydney Bears and Gosford remained on the outer.

GRAND FINAL: September 30, Sydney - Stadium Australia (90,414)
Newcastle 30 defeated Parramatta 24
Newcastle: R. O'Davis, T. Tahu, M. Gidley, M. Hughes, A. MacDougall, S. Rudder, A. Johns (c), J. Perry, D. Buderus, M. Parsons, S. Simpson, B. Kennedy, B. Peden. Interchange: P. Marquet, C. O'Brien, G. Grief, D. Abraham.
Parramatta: B. Hodgson, L. Burt, J. Lyon, D. Vaealiki, J. Moodie, M. Buettner, J. Taylor, N. Cayless, B. Drew, M. Vella, N. Hindmarsh, D. Wagon. Interchange: PJ Marsh, A. Ryan, A. Chan, D. Solomona.