The 2004 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2004 NRL season. It was contested by the Sydney Roosters, who had finished the regular season in 1st place, and the Bulldogs, who had finished the regular season in 2nd place. After both sides eliminated the rest of 2004's top eight teams over the finals series, they faced each other in a grand finalfor the first time since the 1980 NSWRFL season's decider.
Background
For the second consecutive year, the NRL grand final featured two Sydney-based teams.
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters finished the 2004 regular season in 1st place, taking out the minor premiership. They subsequently won their two finals matches against the Canberra Raiders 38–12 and then the North Queensland Cowboys 19–16 to make their third consecutive grand final and their fourth in five seasons.
Bulldogs RLFC
The Bulldogs finished the 2004 regular season 2nd. They lost their first match of the finals series against the North Queensland Cowboys 22–30 but won their next two against the Melbourne Storm 43–18 and the Penrith Panthers 30–14 to reach their first grand final since 1998.
After thirteen minutes, Sydney took the first try of the game with Chris Walker scoring the try and Craig Fitzgibbon converting giving Sydney a 6–0 lead. Ten minutes later Canterbury winger Matt Utai scored the first try with Hazem El Masri failing to convert bringing the score back to 6–4. A few minutes later El Masri levelled the scores at 6–6 with a penalty goal. Just after the 30 minute mark, Brett Finch kicked a field goal to give Sydney a narrow 7–6 lead. Two minutes later Anthony Tupou made a 30-metre break for Sydney before passing to teammate Anthony Minichiello to cross under the posts with Fitzgibbon converting to give Sydney a 13–6 lead. At the 37th minute, Minichiello looked to have his second try, but was penalised for an obstruction.
Second half
Two minutes into the second half, Utai got his second try for Canterbury with El Masri converting bringing the score back to 13–12. In the 53rd minute, El Masri crossed over for a controversial four-pointer, but narrowly missed the conversion giving the Bulldogs the lead 16–13. With one minute left and the score at 16–13, Sydney's Michael Crocker made a half break on the Bulldogs 40 meter line but was tackled by stand in Canterbury Captain Andrew Ryan and losing the ball that gave Canterbury their 8th Premiership. It was also former Australian captain Brad Fittler's last game of football. This marked the first time in 2004 that the Roosters had lost a match after leading at half-time.
16
Bulldogs RLFC
Tries
2 Utai 1 El Masri
Goals
2/4 El Masri
Field Goals
13
Sydney Roosters
Tries
1 Walker 1 Minichiello
Goals
2/2 Fitzgibbon
Field Goals
1 Finch
Clive Churchill Medallist: Willie Mason Half Time: 6 – 13 Referee: Tim Mander Venue:Telstra Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 82,127 When They Scored 13th – Sydney 6–0 23rd – Sydney 6–4 27th – 6–6 31st – Sydney 7–6 33rd – Sydney 13–6 42nd – Sydney 13–12 53rd – Bulldogs 16–13
