1981 Grand Final Re-imagined

This weekend marks 40 years since Newtown and Parramatta played in the 1981 NSWRL first grade grand final.

Despite Newtown’s narrow loss in that match, it represents a pivotal moment in our club’s history.

Bearing in mind the travails that the Newtown RLFC went through in the mid to late 1970s, then followed by the thrilling ascent up the competition table in 1980 and 1981 culminating in the grand final appearance, qualifying for the 1981 premiership decider was truly an extraordinary achievement.

In recognition & with some poetic license, at 3pm on Sunday 26^th September we’re showing a replay of the game with a twist. So tune in to JETS TV  www.newtownjets.com or www.facebook.com/newtownrlfc & kick back with a few cans of Henson Park Draught to find out if the Bluebags can re-write history!?

1981 Grand Final Re-imagined is proudly brought to you by Sydney Mutual Bank, Deicorp & Petersham RSL.

Thanks to Coverforce, Newtown Jets has named its team from the game. Many thanks to our Player Sponsors listed in brackets.

1          Phil Sigsworth (Kris Gale)

2          John Ferguson (Golden Barley Hotel)

3          Mick Ryan (Jennifer Malone)

4          Brian Hetherington (John Cahill)

5          Ray Blacklock (Golden Barley Hotel)

6          Paul Morris (Adam Whyte)

7          Tom Raudonikis (C) (The Daaboul Family)

8          Graeme O’Grady (Steven Helmich)

9          Mick Pitman (Glen Archibald)

10        Phil Gould (Dave Nelson)

11        Steve Blyth (Wayne Leong)

12        Barry Jenson (Nifty Foods)

13        Craig Ellis (Loudon & Vaughan Private Wealth)

Reserves:                    

14        Ken Wilson (SMI – Sports Medicine Institute)

15        Jim Walters (BRI Ferrier)

16        Paul Akkary (Good Fellows Sports)

17        Col Murphy (Kim Fuller)

18        Mark O’Brien (Brasco)

19        Michael Pobjie (Charles Bailey Urbane Property Inner West)

20        Shane McKellar (Mark Dewar)

21        Dave Mooney (Good Fellows Sox)

22        Mark Bugden (Label Plus)

24        Mark Ogilvie (Schofield King Lawyers)

25        Grant Ellis (Busfleet Australia)

26        Geoff Bugden (Terry Akkari Plumbing Solutions)

27        John Mackay (Ilias Design Group)

Coach: Warren Ryan (Arc Commercial Furniture)