Braith Anasta leads the celebrations at the final siren in 2004. Credit:Tim Clayton 1981 — Parramatta SM: They enjoyed great direction from halves [Peter] Sterling and [Brett] Kenny, and boasted finishers out wide. An experienced and tough pack, the likes of Ray Price and Ron Hilditch provided the hard work. DL: A cherished Parramatta team but they don't dethrone The Entertainers. Injuries crippled the Bulldogs' title defence in 1981 but the attacking nature of the 1980 team would've proven enough. 1982 — Parramatta

Top Dogs: Steve Mortimer, left, and Steve Gearin in 1980. SM: While there were some changes to the Eels of '81, coach Jack Gibson did a great job to ensure the team was motivated to win back-to-back titles. DL: Despite the injection of tough nuts Chris Phelan, Geoff Bugden and tackling machine Paul Taylor at fullback, these Eels still lack the firepower to beat the Bulldogs of 1980. Talent and class: Laurie Daley, Mal Meninga and Brad Clyde in 1994. 1983 — Parramatta

SM: Their confidence was galvanised by winning the crown in '81 and '82. Sterling and Kenny remained a constant but the Eels had a new-look pack with Price and Steve Edge the surviving forwards from '81. DL: This Eels team has a strong core of grand final experience, they rip the belt from the Bulldogs. 1984 — Canterbury SM: Under coach Warren Ryan, we're now "The Enforcers". Our forward pack was bigger and they defended brutally and aggressively. DL: By losing this grand final, Parramatta surrender their premiership title — and the championship belt — to "The Enforcers".

1985 — Canterbury SM: A very structured team that built on the previous winter's success. Terry Lamb missed out through injury but we had Michael Hagan to replace him. Our forwards paved the way to victory. DL: They take the title from their predecessors based on the ruthlessness they displayed. Have the mongrel to win at all costs. 1986 — Parramatta SM: The Eels out "Canterburyed" Canterbury. Sterling and Kenny were still potent playmakers but the Eels forwards were relentless. The likes of Price, [John] Muggleton and Bugden never surrendered.

DL: And by out "Canterburying" Canterbury to win the grand final 4-2, the championship belt leaves Belmore for Parramatta. 1987 — Manly SM: Great attacking forwards, the brilliant Cliffy Lyon and an exciting back line directed by Des Hasler. Manly's backs knew how to close a sale and they shut Canberra out in their first grand final. DL: Manly defeated a Canberra team that melted in unseasonable heat. Parramatta retain the belt. 1988 — Canterbury

SM: In his first season as a coach, Phil Gould built on what Ryan established. The forwards remained "The Enforcers". DL: A tough match-up and Canterbury get home over Parramatta. The Bulldogs pack gives them the edge. 1989 — Canberra SM: The Raiders learnt from their grand final debut two years earlier to win one of the greatest deciders I've watched. Lock Brad Clyde was the star asset in an amazing team — [Ricky] Stuart, [Laurie] Daley, [Mal] Meninga, [Gary] Belcher, [Glen] Lazarus and [Steve] Walters. DL: Hard to deny Canberra's ownership of the championship belt. This was a heavyweight title victory over the Bulldogs of '88.

1990 — Canberra SM: The Raiders knew what had to be done to win grand finals. The forwards held the ball and gave their halves opportunities to either attack or direct play. Blessed with talent. DL: The 1989 Raiders had something that the 1990 version did not — Clyde. The lock gives his 1989 side a winning edge. 1991 — Penrith SM: Runners-up in 1990, Penrith proved you need to lose a grand final to win one. Apart from hunger, they had a skipper, Royce Simmons, to guide a tough team with attacking ability to victory.

DL: A great win by the Panthers, but they don't dethrone Canberra's 1989 team. 1992 — Brisbane SM: They not only had big, strong forwards who went toeto toe with all comers buthad talent with the ball. Allan Langer and Kevin Walters formed a great linkbetween forwards and backs. DL: Man for man the match-up between 1989 Canberra and 1992 Brisbane is a great contest: Meninga v [Steve] Renouf, Stuart v Langer, S.Walters v K.Walters, [Dean] Lance v [Trevor] Gillmeister and it finishes in a ... draw! Canberra retain the belt but look wobbly. 1993 — Brisbane

SM: Just as Jack Gibson did at Parramatta, coach Wayne Bennett knows how to take this team with him. They play a good attacking brand of football but this team has a ruthless defensive quality. DL: This Brisbane team, hardened by another season of first grade and more Origin experience, has the edge and ends the Raiders' reign. 1994 — Canberra SM: There was a lot of wind at the SFS for this grand final and that canupset players. When Marty Bella knocked on from the kick-off, Iknew we'd struggle. Canterbury made unforced errors, Canberra remained calm. DL: Canberra regain the belt. This is one of the great modern-day league teams. The fact seven were named in the Kangaroos squad demonstrated the depth of talent and class.

1995 — Canterbury SM: A year after losing the grand final, the Bulldogs returned wiser and hungrier. A strong front row, solid pack, good halves and exciting three-quarters rose to the occasion. DL: The Raiders of '94 prevail against a willing Bulldogs outfit. 1996 — Manly SM: A big, strong pack of forwards allowed for the backs, who were spearheaded by Geoff Toovey, to excel. Steve Menzies, Mark Carroll, Dave Gillespie, Matt Ridge were premiership-winning calibre players.

DL: A tough battle but the Raiders would have seen off a very strong and determined Sea Eagles. 1997 — Newcastle (ARL) SM: The Johns brothers, Andrew and Matt, were great assets in this side. Newcastle had a great attacking back line but their pack, headed by Paul Harragon and Tony Butterfield, was a pillar of strength. DL: The Knights entered folklore by defeating Manly but they're no match for the Raiders of '94. 1997 — Brisbane (Super League)

SM: Despite the turmoil of the ARL-SL war, Brisbane remained focused on winning. Everyone in the run-on team played Origin. I remember thinking during this game Darren Lockyer would be a superstar. DL: Canberra's reign is over. This Brisbane outfit would've snagged them at the death. 1998 — Brisbane SM: What more can you say? A team with high-energised, aggressive players. They had halves who'd probe for opportunities knowing they had the men out wide who could finish them off. DL: The 1997 Brisbane team bows to the Broncos of '98. Darren Smith's shift from lock to centre helps Wayne Bennett fine-tune his pack.

1999 — Melbourne SM: This was great because the Storm's victory meant the Victorian media HAD to report on rugby league. They were disciplined and aggressive. DL: A breakthrough victory but this Melbourne team does not threaten Brisbane's hold on the heavyweight crown. 2000 — Brisbane SM: Another star-studded Broncos team made up of players who'd been there and done it for them before: [Shane] Webcke, [Brad] Thorn, [Gorden] Tallis, Walters, Lockyer.

DL: The evolution of the Broncos continues, but despite winning the premiership, this team doesn't overpower their '98 side. 2001 — Newcastle SM: Andrew Johns was established as one of the code's great players when he captained a team that contained a group of tough forwards, such as Danny Buderus, who had talent with the ball. DL: Johns proved long before this GF he belonged in elite company, but not even he (and Buderus) can help Newcastle overthrow Brisbane's 1998 team. 2002 — Sydney Roosters

SM: The Roosters dominated this game and that can be attributed to the direction their halves Brad Fittler and Craig Wing provided. In a controversial year, Canterbury lost its points and a possible premiership due to salary cap issues. DL: Canterbury probably would have won the title, and with it overthrown Brisbane as heavyweight champions, had it not been for the cap crisis. Webcke gives Brisbane's '98 pack a winning edge over these Roosters. 2003 — Penrith SM: Martin Lang represented the spirit of the Panthers pack — he gave everything and that approach allowed them to upset the more fancied Roosters. Scott Sattler's tackle on Todd Byrne showed what it takes to win the title. DL: It was a fairytale victory, but ina showdown between the Broncos of '98 and the Panthers, Brisbane win.

2004 — Canterbury SM: A "complete" team. It was a great result especially when you consider their leader, Steve Price, was out injured. The Bulldogs' depth was highlighted by Sonny Bill Williams and Johnathan Thurston being on the bench. DL: A tough match-up that leaves all players battered and bruised. The Bulldogs would get home against the Broncos of '98 on the efforts of their forward pack. 2005 — Wests Tigers SM: A fairytale win that was built on the back of the youthfulness of the Wests Tigers roster. What Iremember most is that Benji Marshall flick pass.

DL: The Tigers captured the public's imagination with a great premiership win but the Bulldogs of 2004 possess too much fire-power to be threatened by them. 2006 — Brisbane SM: Brisbane's forwards and their interchange needed to be very strong for a reason — Melbourne's line-up was potent. Lockyer's impact at five-eighth was important, but Shaun Berrigan was a standout at hooker. DL: Brisbane overthrow the Dogs. 2007 — Melbourne

SM: The Storm back line, [Billy] Slater, [Steve] Turner, [Matt] King, [Israel] Folau, [Anthony] Quinn, [Greg] Inglis and [Cooper] Cronk was electric — up there with the best — and they shone as a result of the hard yards made by their forwards. DL: A star-studded Melbourne side — even if they were later proven to have cheated the salary cap — ensures Brisbane's latest reign as champions is short-lived. 2008 — Manly SM: After being defeated 34-8 the previous year, Manly turned the tables to destroy Melbourne 40-0. The Sea Eagles highlighted the value of a good aggressive pack. DL: No one can dispute Manly's right to wear the belt. They literally picked themselves up off the canvas to destroy their destroyers.

2009 — Melbourne SM: Slater, Inglis, Cronk and [Cameron] Smith were outstanding against a gritty Parramatta. DL: Salary cap issues aside, Melbourne defeated a gallant Parramatta to win the NRL title and they overthrow Manly of 2008 in the heavyweight battle. 2010 — St George Illawarra SM: After his success with Canberra and Brisbane, coach Wayne Bennett was under pressure to ensure the Dragons finally enjoyed some.

DL: The Dragons celebrate their inaugural heavyweight title, taking the gong from the 2009 Storm. 2011 — Manly SM: The Sea Eagles won their title on the back of their standard hard and aggressive pack, however, the young halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran added an extra — and exciting — dimension to a team rich with class and strength. DL: The Sea Eagles don't let the grass grow under the feet. They come back meaner and bigger to regain the title from the Dragons. 2012 — Melbourne

SM: It was a tight game but once Melbourne scored against Canterbury they went on with it. The so-called holy trinity — Smith, Cronk and Slater — did what was expected. DL: Manly's 2011 heavyweight team retain the title against a spirited Melbourne. The halves and centres and a strong forward pack ensure a victory. 2013 — Sydney Roosters SM: Manly were proud champions, but Sonny Bill Williams proved thedifference. DL: The Roosters knock Manly out and, as they fight to defend their premiership title, they hold the game's championship belt.