The unquestionable pinnacle in club rugby league is a grand final victory. The Premiers celebrate as conquerors of all.

The formula for this sort of success is elusive and has varied from year to year and club to club.

The Tigers clutched the Holy Grail in 2005 with an arrogant flair, risk, and creativity that went against the grain in terms of modern thinking around completions, safety, and possession.

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The Storm swarmed in 2012 methodically shutting down the attacking options of the Bulldogs and effectively silencing Ben Barba.

Craig Bellamy’s strategy to interfere with the left edge attack of the ‘Dogs as they ran block and decoy runners was a masterstroke and typically Melbourne. It was designed to deny Ben Barba the space that he had converted into twenty-two tries for the season.

The Bronco teams of the 90s fed off quality defence, quick play the balls and then exploded with a dynamic backline that opposition teams, except perhaps for the Raiders, could not match. The long distance runs of Steve Renouf, Chris Johns and co are still vivid memories.

The powerhouse Rabbitohs of 2014 approached things differently, with a relentless forward based style that only required an astute kicking game in order to achieve repeat sets and build insurmountable pressure on opposition teams.

And finally, our reigning Premiers in the Cowboys, who play a clinical attacking brand of organised football near opponents try lines. Each and every part of their attacking blueprint is precise in its positioning and chess-like in its execution.

These squads were all subtly different in their approach, yet Premiers in their own right. To identify the absolute key to their success is to navigate through a litany of variables.



Injuries, suspension, strategy, luck, penalties and form all make the job of a rugby league tipster in the modern game a proverbial nightmare.

Yet there does appear to be one staple; one consistent element that seems to form the fabric of almost every single team that has climbed Everest in recent memory.

Rather than being a tactic, a concept or a style, it is more a number. Number seven.

To wander back through the rugby league Premiership time tunnel and search for a team that conquered the mountain without a quality number seven is an interesting exercise.

In turn, it is also becomes a collection of the best halves we have seen in the modern game.

Much is made of the ‘spine’ in modern football and its importance is unquestionable. Yet many serviceable and utility type players have filled roles in the ‘spine’ in grand finals. The halfback, however, is not negotiable.

There are some surprising and forgotten names who have played a role in the key positions on the big day, yet in almost every case, number seven seems to be the hub around which the others revolve. Without him, it appears grand final success doesn’t occur.

Issac Luke’s suspension in 2014 is one such example. Apisai Koroisau stepped in and played magnificently. The ‘spine’ still worked well as Adam Reynolds controlled the tempo of the game through precise kicking and repeat sets.



Cooper Cronk skilfully led Melbourne to success in 2009 with April signing Brett Finch by his side in the halves. Finch had been let go by Parramatta and was a reasonable first grader. However, the true value of the skill of Cronk was put on show as he took the reins and, along with Cameron Smith, steered the powerful Melbourne ship.

Andrew Johns led the Knights in 2001 as they produced perhaps the best half of grand final football I have ever seen. Their practically error free first half destroyed the Eels, despite a late charge.

Johns was his usual self, full of guile, power, and deception, with organised runners surging off his hip throughout.

In the halves with him that day? Sean Rudder. A good serviceable player, yet the seven might have done what he did that day with just about anyone by his side.

Johns did the same in 1997 in the last grasp victory against Manly. The toiling Bill Peden played hooker that day as Johns’ singlehandedly controlled the game with his artistry and genius.

Brett Kimmorley led the Storm to their inaugural Premiership in 1999 with an out of position Matt Geyer ‘stop gapping’ at five eighth. Kevin Walters led the Broncos in 2000 with the diminutive Ben Ikin beside him.

Geoff Toovey captained the 1996 Manly side to victory with forward Nik Kosef playing in the halves and Allan Langer led the 1998 premiership charge with Phillip Lee at hooker.

Please don’t read these names and feel this is an attempt to besmirch any of them. Far from it, they should be applauded for being part of such wonderful teams.



The fairer point being, that the strength of the seven is the most consistent factor in premiership success.

The who’s who of halfbacks dominate the list of little men who have led their team to victory in the last thirty odd years. Peter Sterling, Steve Mortimer, Ricky Stuart, Greg Alexander, Alan Langer, Andrew Johns, Kevin Walters, Brett Kimmorley, Daly Cherry-Evans, Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston is an honour roll of the highest level.

A second tier of seven’s who also masterminded Premiership success includes Brent Sherwin, Scott Prince, Mitchell Pearce, Adam Reynolds, Ben Hornby, Matt Orford, Graig Gower and Craig Wing.

Every single player listed above was the irreplaceable ingredient in their respective year of success. Over the past thirty years I could only find three examples of halves that seemed to buck the trend.

Michael Hagan (’88), Craig Polla-Mounter (’95) and Shane Perry (’06). Damn I thought! My thesis lies ruined. Until I looked a little more closely.

In each of those three grand finals, the players in question had some rather experienced and talented company beside them. Perry stood alongside Darren Lockyer and both Polla-Mounter and Hagan had the pleasure of Terry Lamb’s company.

Perhaps this speaks volumes about both Lockyer and Lamb’s abilities to play pivotal roles for their clubs when required and their outstanding performances in the three games in question. Rather than discredit my thesis, perhaps it shows how special they were.

Lockyer could probably have been a great seven, just as he was a great fullback and pivot. A Bulldogs side without Lamb stood little or no chance and he spent more and more time at half as his career came nearer the end.



This year, another great half will be added to the list. Perhaps a new name, perhaps not. I’m leaning towards Cronk at this stage, yet JT might have something to say about that.

Could Chad Townsend or Aidan Sezer join the elite with a performance to remember? Four other guys will probably think they have what it takes.

Whatever happens, the team that does win it all will need that man on deck. They might be able to cover a hooker or a fullback, but without number seven, it just won’t happen.