Who said the Steelers were robbed in the 1989 Panasonic Cup final?
The unveiling of the Illawarra Centenary of Rugby League sculpture on Saturday had a good vibe about it.
The sculpture itself and what it signifies is a significant addition to the Illawarra sports scene at the region’s premier sporting stadium.
All the speakers - centenary committee chairman Bob Millward, Minister for Sport and Recreation Graham Annesley, centenary ambassador and Illawarra Team of the Century member John Dorahy and Premier Barry O’Farrell - kept about 100 guests in attendance entertained and informed during the official unveiling outside the northern entrance to WIN Stadium.
And sculptor Lis Johnson deserved all the accolades she received after Premier O’Farrell, assisted by Mr Millward at the premier’s invitation, performed the official unveiling of her superb sculpture of an older players passing the football to a younger player to carry into the next century and beyond.
Which brings us to Mr Annesley, former NRL referee and administrator before being elected to State Parliament and government.
He came up with some astonishing statistics in an attempt to endear himself to the old diehards present from the Illawarra side of the St George Illawarra joint venture, none more so that Mr Millward who is affectionately known as ‘‘Bobby Steeler.’’
Mr Annesley had been doing his research alright.
After saying how grateful he was for the opportunity to be in Wollongong with the premier on a morning marking a significant occasion in Illawarra sporting history, he noted that rugby league was more than just a game in Illawarra.
‘‘To a lot of people it’s a way of life,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s traditionally been one of the strongest areas for rugby league throughout NSW, Australia and the rugby league world.
‘‘Clearly it has produced some of the greats of the game, players like Graeme Langlands, Bob Fulton, Harry Wells, Steve Roach and John Dorahy.’’
He felt some connection with the proceedings that morning having over the past 30 years or so had a bit to do with rugby league in Illawarra.
‘‘I’ve spent more than just a little bit of time out here on this patch of grass (WIN Stadium) with some of the more recent great players of the game,’’ he added.
In that time he got the impression that Millward always thought he gave the Steelers a bit of a hard time so Mr Annesley did some research and found out between 1982 and ‘95 he actually controlled 35 Steelers games.
The record was 15 wins, 0 draws and 20 losses. That was a 42.6 per cent winning average against the overall winning percentage of 39.78.
Not only that, in those 35 games the Steelers received 296 penalties and were only penalised 280 times.
Mr Annesley reflected on the theme of ‘‘continuity over the generations’’ and congratulated Ms Johnson and everyone involved in this ‘‘wonderful year of celebrations, particularly Bob Millward.’’
‘‘Bob and I have had an association going back some 30 years, since the Steelers first came into the competition,’’ Mr Annesley said.
‘‘The one thing I want to say about Bob Millward is that it’s been clear to me over a long time that he’s the driving force behind not only this project but almost every aspect of rugby league in Illawarra for almost half of the 100 years that we’re celebrating this.’’
Even though the sculpture does not physically depict Mr Millward, Mr Annesley said he was as much a part of what it represents as any of the great players.
‘‘If that doesn’t make up for the ‘89 Panasonic Cup final, I don’t know what does,’’ he added, to roars of laughter.
For those who may be too young to remember or may not have been here at that time, it’s well and truly ingrained in Illawarra rugby league folklore how the mighty Steelers fought back against the star studded Brisbane Broncos with a blatant forward pass from the late, great Peter Jackson to Gene Miles proving the difference in the Broncs’ 22-20 win.
At least that’s how those of us from the Illawarra at Parramatta Stadium remember that June 7 night. And the party at the Town Hall later, of course, even though the Steelers were robbed. Whenever that incident was raised with ‘‘Jacko’’ he would always say, ‘‘Look up the final score. It was a try.’’
And so it was. It’s in the book.
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