Hosko's Footy Flashbacks: NRL SF1 1992
Apr 11, 2020 1:51:31 GMT
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Post by hoskotafe3 on Apr 11, 2020 1:51:31 GMT
Trawling through a treasure trove of old Footy games when I saw one that I'd forgotten existed: the 1992 elimination semi final between Newcastle and St George. Dragons were the 3 seed coming off an 18-16 loss to the 2 seed Illawarra Steelers (future story to be told there). Newcastle had thrashed the Western Suburbs Magpies 21-2 in their first final.
Some club greats lining uo for both teams: Newcastle's team included Michael Hagan, Paul Harrogan, Matty Johns, Brad Godden and Robbie O'Davis.
Dragons had Walford, Mick Potter, Mark Coyne, Michael Beattie, David Barnhill and Brad Mckay.
Knights give away a bunch of early penalties but the Dragons kicker Ian Herron can't hit the side of a barn. He just scrapes one in right in front for a 2-0 lead and misses two other pretty straight ones.
Knights are struggling as M Coyne picks up Robbie O, drives him back 10 metres and plants him on his arse. Robbie's having none of it though as hs mounts Coyne and punches him right in the nose. Coyne goes off with the blood rule and probably a broken nose. Robbie grins as the ref tells him off. Knights are finally able to get sone territory as Godden palms P Coyne right in the face and he goes down like he's been shot. Barnhill retaliates by nearly taking Godden's head off, but misses enough of it that the ref tells him off. Knights tie it up at 2-all as Shuster converts the penalty. Only other action in the first half was Beattie pouncing on a loose ball 5 out from his own line, running about 10 metres and inexplicably diving like he was going for a try on his own 20. 2-2 at the break.
Early in the second half Barnhill succeeds in taking Harrogan's head off and the ref misses it. P Coyne perfectly weights a kick. Newman fields it right at the back of the touch area, breaks 3 tackles and returns it to his own 5. That was impressive. Barnhill decides he's been out of the game too long and gets another Knights player in the head with a swinging arm. It's Harrogan again. Eventually the Dragons get the ball deep in Knights territory and P Coyne gives them a 3-2 lead in the 62nd minute with a Field Goal. Sterlo on commentary tells us "There's no way this finishes 3-2..."
13 minutes later it's still 3-2 and M Johns is bought on. Fatty tells his "he has a big heart and a good step." Name doesn't ring a bell. Not sure he did much... No sooner does this happen then Matthew Elliott gifts Newcastle field position and a man advantage by coming into a tackle late and getting sent to the bin. Hagan has the ball 10 out, but is under too much pressure to kick so he flicks it to the left for M Johns who does, in fact, have a good step. Hagan's in good FG position now, but nowhere in M Johns list of attributes is a sharp brain. He passes wide to Newman who runs out of turf. Turnover with 2 minutes on the clock. Dragons waste time but the Knights look like they'll get the ball back with about 45s left. Harrogan has other ideas aa he foolishly concedes a penalty. Dragons run out the clock winning 3-2 in a bloody weird game marred by poor decision making and shit house kicking.
That was it for the 1992 Knights. Hagan would play on in 93 but end up rather wishing he hadn't. He'd get into coaching and would win his premiership with Newcastle in 2001. Dragons would continue their run the following week beating Illawarra 4-0 in a match that included 4 disallowed tries and then got belted 28-8 by Brisbane in the GF. Michael Beattie retired after that game after 213 games in the big Red V.
Some club greats lining uo for both teams: Newcastle's team included Michael Hagan, Paul Harrogan, Matty Johns, Brad Godden and Robbie O'Davis.
Dragons had Walford, Mick Potter, Mark Coyne, Michael Beattie, David Barnhill and Brad Mckay.
Knights give away a bunch of early penalties but the Dragons kicker Ian Herron can't hit the side of a barn. He just scrapes one in right in front for a 2-0 lead and misses two other pretty straight ones.
Knights are struggling as M Coyne picks up Robbie O, drives him back 10 metres and plants him on his arse. Robbie's having none of it though as hs mounts Coyne and punches him right in the nose. Coyne goes off with the blood rule and probably a broken nose. Robbie grins as the ref tells him off. Knights are finally able to get sone territory as Godden palms P Coyne right in the face and he goes down like he's been shot. Barnhill retaliates by nearly taking Godden's head off, but misses enough of it that the ref tells him off. Knights tie it up at 2-all as Shuster converts the penalty. Only other action in the first half was Beattie pouncing on a loose ball 5 out from his own line, running about 10 metres and inexplicably diving like he was going for a try on his own 20. 2-2 at the break.
Early in the second half Barnhill succeeds in taking Harrogan's head off and the ref misses it. P Coyne perfectly weights a kick. Newman fields it right at the back of the touch area, breaks 3 tackles and returns it to his own 5. That was impressive. Barnhill decides he's been out of the game too long and gets another Knights player in the head with a swinging arm. It's Harrogan again. Eventually the Dragons get the ball deep in Knights territory and P Coyne gives them a 3-2 lead in the 62nd minute with a Field Goal. Sterlo on commentary tells us "There's no way this finishes 3-2..."
13 minutes later it's still 3-2 and M Johns is bought on. Fatty tells his "he has a big heart and a good step." Name doesn't ring a bell. Not sure he did much... No sooner does this happen then Matthew Elliott gifts Newcastle field position and a man advantage by coming into a tackle late and getting sent to the bin. Hagan has the ball 10 out, but is under too much pressure to kick so he flicks it to the left for M Johns who does, in fact, have a good step. Hagan's in good FG position now, but nowhere in M Johns list of attributes is a sharp brain. He passes wide to Newman who runs out of turf. Turnover with 2 minutes on the clock. Dragons waste time but the Knights look like they'll get the ball back with about 45s left. Harrogan has other ideas aa he foolishly concedes a penalty. Dragons run out the clock winning 3-2 in a bloody weird game marred by poor decision making and shit house kicking.
That was it for the 1992 Knights. Hagan would play on in 93 but end up rather wishing he hadn't. He'd get into coaching and would win his premiership with Newcastle in 2001. Dragons would continue their run the following week beating Illawarra 4-0 in a match that included 4 disallowed tries and then got belted 28-8 by Brisbane in the GF. Michael Beattie retired after that game after 213 games in the big Red V.
