2017 NRL Grand Final
| Company type | Championship match |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rugby league |
| Founded | October 1, 2017 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Area served | National Rugby League (NRL) |
Key people | Craig Bellamy (Melbourne Storm coach), Paul Green (North Queensland Cowboys coach), Billy Slater (Clive Churchill Medalist) |
| Products | Rugby league grand final match |
The 2017 NRL Grand Final served as the decisive championship match for the 2017 NRL season, occurring on Sunday, 1 October at Sydney's ANZ Stadium. This final pitted the minor premiers, Melbourne Storm, against the eighth-placed North Queensland Cowboys. Melbourne Storm dominated the contest, winning 34–6 to claim their third premiership. Fullback Billy Slater was awarded his second Clive Churchill Medal as the standout player of the match.
The day's events also featured the Under-20s Grand Final and the 2017 NRL State Championship. Preceding the match, American rapper Macklemore provided entertainment; his intended performance of "Same Love" generated controversy amid Australia's postal survey on same-sex marriage. The game was broadcast live nationwide by the Nine Network.
According to Fairfax Media, the 2017 final was characterized as "one of the most one-sided grand finals in the NRL era."
Background
| Storm | Cowboys | |
|---|---|---|
| Rd.1 | Bulldogs | Raiders |
| Rd.2 | Warriors | Broncos |
| Rd.3 | Broncos | Sea-Eagles |
| Rd.4 | Tigers | Titans |
| Rd.5 | Panthers | Rabbitohs |
| Rd.6 | Sharks | Tigers |
| Rd.7 | Sea-Eagles | Dragons |
| Rd.8 | Warriors | Knights |
| Rd.9 | Dragons | Eels |
| Rd.10 | Titans | Bulldogs |
| Rd.11 | Rabbitohs | Sharks |
| Rd.12 | Bye | Bye |
| Rd.13 | Knights | Titans |
| Rd.14 | Sharks | Eels |
| Rd.15 | Cowboys | Storm |
| Rd.16 | Roosters | Panthers |
| Rd.17 | Broncos | Raiders |
| Rd.18 | Eels | Bye |
| Rd.19 | Bye | Rabbitohs |
| Rd.20 | Raiders | Warriors |
| Rd.21 | Sea-Eagles | Roosters |
| Rd.22 | Cowboys | Storm |
| Rd.23 | Roosters | Panthers |
| Rd.24 | Knights | Sharks |
| Rd.25 | Rabbitohs | Tigers |
| Rd.26 | Raiders | Broncos |
| QF/EF | Eels | Sharks |
| SF | DNP | Eels |
| PF | Broncos | Roosters |
| GF | Cowboys | Storm |
This grand final represented the third occasion where two teams from outside Sydney/New South Wales contested the title, following similar matchups in 2006 and 2015, and marked the first time neither Brisbane Broncos nor any Sydney-based club participated. Melbourne Storm appeared in their seventh grand final since 2006, with coach Craig Bellamy and halfback Cooper Cronk involved in every one of those appearances. It was also their first back-to-back grand final appearance since their streak from 2006 to 2009.
For the North Queensland Cowboys, this was their third grand final appearance and first since clinching their inaugural premiership by defeating Brisbane Broncos in 2015. They were notable as the first team since Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2014 to reach the grand final from outside the top four and uniquely qualified from eighth place under the finals format introduced in 2012.
Melbourne secured their third minor premiership by ending the regular season with 44 competition points, finishing six points ahead of second-ranked Sydney Roosters, having lost only four of their 24 matches and posting a points differential of +297—their highest since 2008. Benefiting from home-ground advantage over two matches, they narrowly defeated fourth-placed Parramatta Eels 18–16 to earn a week’s rest before shutting out Brisbane Broncos 30–0 to advance to the grand final.
North Queensland’s finals berth was confirmed only after Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs overcame St. George Illawarra Dragons in the final round, denying St George Illawarra a spot and allowing North Queensland entry instead. The Cowboys then proceeded to win three consecutive finals against Sydney-based teams: defending champions Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (15–14 in extra time), Parramatta Eels (24–16), and Sydney Roosters (29–16), advancing to their grand final without suffering a loss in finals matches.
Prior to this match, Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys had faced off three times in finals series play: North Queensland triumphed over Melbourne in the 2005 semi-final and again at Melbourne’s home ground during the 2015 qualifying final en route to that year’s grand final; Melbourne defeated North Queensland in the 2016 qualifying final on their way to finishing as runners-up that season.
Teams
| Melbourne Storm |
Position | North Queensland Cowboys |
|---|---|---|
| Billy Slater | Fullback | Lachlan Coote |
| Suliasi Vunivalu | Wing | Kyle Feldt |
| Will Chambers | Centre | Justin O'Neill |
| Curtis Scott | Centre | Kane Linnett |
| Josh Addo-Carr | Wing | Antonio Winterstein |
| Cameron Munster | Five-eighth | Te Maire Martin |
| Cooper Cronk | Halfback | Michael Morgan |
| Jesse Bromwich | Prop | Shaun Fensom |
| Cameron Smith (c) | Hooker | Jake Granville |
| Jordan McLean | Prop | Scott Bolton |
| Felise Kaufusi | 2nd Row | Gavin Cooper (c) |
| Tohu Harris | 2nd Row | Ethan Lowe |
| Dale Finucane | Lock | Jason Taumalolo |
| Kenny Bromwich | Interchange | Ben Hampton |
| Tim Glasby | Interchange | Coen Hess |
| Nelson Asofa-Solomona | Interchange | Corey Jensen |
| Slade Griffin | Interchange | John Asiata |
| Craig Bellamy | Coach | Paul Green |
Melbourne Storm halfback Cooper Cronk participated in his seventh grand final, which also marked his final appearance after a career spanning 323 first-grade games. He was one of the few remaining players from Melbourne’s 2012 championship team, alongside Will Chambers, Cameron Smith, Jesse Bromwich, and Billy Slater. The North Queensland Cowboys lineup included twelve members from their triumphant 2015 premiership side. However, co-captains Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott were sidelined due to injuries, with Scott listed as a reserve. Their positions were filled by Te Maire Martin, who joined mid-season from the Penrith Panthers, and Scott Bolton, who was elevated to a starting role. Additionally, utility player Ben Hampton appeared in his second consecutive grand final, having played for Melbourne in the previous year's decider.
Officials
| Role | Reserve | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| class="table-rh" Template:Rh |Referees: | Matt Cecchin | Gerard Sutton | Ben Cummins | |
| class="table-rh" Template:Rh |Touch Judges: | Nick Beashel | Chris Butler | Brett Suttor | |
| class="table-rh" Template:Rh |Bunker: | Bernard Sutton | Ben Galea |
Match summary
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First half
North Queensland encountered an early challenge when Shaun Fensom appeared to suffer a broken tibia following a collision with teammate Ethan Lowe, forcing him out of the grand final within three minutes. Although the game was halted for an extended period, Melbourne quickly established dominance.
The opening try arrived in the 19th minute as Will Chambers capitalized on a loose ball and passed to Josh Addo-Carr, who then sprinted 75 meters to score. Cameron Smith’s successful conversion put Melbourne ahead 6-0. Melbourne continued to control proceedings with precision, driven by Cooper Cronk’s tactical kicking and captain Cameron Smith’s direction. In the 28th minute, Slater attracted defenders to create space for Felise Kaufusi, who scored to increase the margin to 12-0 after another Smith conversion.
North Queensland's difficulties were compounded by a mistake from Antonio Winterstein. The trio known as the "Big Three"—Cronk, Smith, and Slater—dominated the field; in the 37th minute, Cronk and Smith combined effectively to set up Slater’s third try. Smith’s conversion extended the lead to 18-0. Just before halftime, Feldt made a long break following a kick from Cronk, but Melbourne’s relentless pursuit highlighted their control going into the interval.
Second half
Melbourne conceded only one penalty in the first half but gave away three consecutive penalties early in the second half. This sequence provided North Queensland with an uncommon opportunity close to Melbourne's try line, and in the 47th minute, Te Maire Martin broke through to score, registering the first points Melbourne had allowed in 140 minutes of finals play. Ethan Lowe successfully converted, narrowing the gap to 18-6. Despite sustained pressure, North Queensland was unable to capitalize on further sets inside Melbourne’s 20-meter zone.
Melbourne’s lock Dale Finucane effectively put the game beyond doubt in the 64th minute with a powerful barge-over try supported by Smith. Following Smith’s conversion, Melbourne extended their lead to 24-6. The momentum shifted further when Kane Linnett dropped possession from defense in the 67th minute, leading to Curtis Scott’s debut grand final try after receiving a pass from Josh Addo-Carr. Smith missed the conversion attempt; Melbourne led 28-6.
With victory assured, Melbourne continued to demonstrate skillful teamwork as Smith, Cronk, Slater, and Tohu Harris combined in the 73rd minute to set up Addo-Carr’s second try of the match. Smith’s conversion sealed the final score at 34-6—capping off a commanding season for Melbourne.
Holden Cup NYC Grand Final
The concluding match of the National Youth Competition took place before the competition was discontinued after ten seasons, replaced by state-based Under-20s competitions.
NRL State Championship
The 2017 edition of the State Championship saw the Penrith Panthers, champions of the NSW Cup, face off against the Papua New Guinea Hunters, who had secured the Queensland Cup title.
Aftermath
Following their Grand Final triumph, Melbourne Storm earned the right to compete in the 2018 World Club Challenge against the reigning Super League XXII champions, the Leeds Rhinos. This encounter, only the fourth time hosted on Australian soil, concluded with the Storm decisively defeating the Rhinos 38–4.
Pre-match entertainment
American hip-hop artist Macklemore delivered a performance of four songs, including the well-known track "Same Love", joined by vocalists Eric Nally and Mary Lambert. Originally topping the Australian charts in 2013, this song became an anthem for supporters of same-sex marriage during Washington state's campaign. In the lead-up to the grand final, it experienced a resurgence, climbing back to number one on the Australian iTunes charts.
The performance drew criticism from some conservative political figures due to its endorsement of the 'Yes' campaign in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott described it as a "politicised grand final," while North Queensland independent MP Bob Katter compared it to "seeping sewage into the debutante ball." Despite these objections, Macklemore acknowledged the controversy and pledged to intensify his performance.