2002 NRL PREMIERS
The Premiers of 2002 etched a number of Roosters into Club folklore, and in the process, broke a 27-year drought to bring the trophy to Bondi for the first time since 1975.
Back Row: Bryan Fletcher, Craig Fitzgibbon, Jason Cayless, Peter Cusack, Andrew Lomu, Adrian Morley
Middle Row: David Kidwell (Reserve), Shannon Hegarty, Todd Byrne (Reserve), Chris Flannery, Luke Ricketson, Justin Hodges, Michael Crocker, Chad Robinson (Reserve)
Front Row: Simon Bonetti, Craig Wing, Brett Mullins, Brad Fittler (Captain), Ricky Stuart (Coach), Luke Phillips, Anthony Minichiello
Despite being in the infancy of his coaching career, former Test halfback Ricky Stuart was called upon as Head Coach for the season, with former mentor Phil Gould assigned as a coaching director. Still only 34 years of age and just two years after retiring from the game, Stuart had shown potential, guiding Canterbury's Jersey Flegg side to a title the season prior.
Overcoming a dire opening five rounds which saw just one win and a casualty ward of 15 players, the - in 12th place on the ladder - Tricolours bounced back in style with a 58-12 win over the North Queensland Cowboys, going on to win 9 of the next 11 matches.
2002 Grand Final Highlights: Roosters vs Warriors
Favourite son Luke Ricketson broke the Club's all-time record for most caps, besting fellow one-club man Kevin Hastings' record which stood from 1987.
Three losses on the trot saw the side seven points from the top four place, but five strong wins - including a final round 30-18 win over Cronulla - saw them finish in fourth place.
Taking on the Sharks in the first week of finals, the Red, White and Blue cruised past with a 32-20 victory, before a torrid semi-final against the Newcastle Knights saw the Roosters triumph 38-12, mostly thanks to a Craig Fitzgibbon 95-metre intercept try.
Erasing the pain of the 2000 Grand Final, Brad Fittler's men charged into their second decider in three seasons - even after hooker Simon Bonetti and Ricketson succumbed to injury - to overcome a 12-8 half-time deficit to storm home against the Brisbane Broncos in the preliminary final, winning 16-12.
Now more than ever, I am calling on you and your fellow Roosters supporters to come to our games and help lift the players.
Head Coach Ricky Stuart After the side suffered a heavy injury toll in the early rounds
While there was doubt of Ricketson featuring in the 2002 decider, the Roosters found themselves trailing 6-8 just after half-time but managed to score 24 unanswered points in the second half after Fittler firstly kicked a momentum-changing 40/20, before his teammates rallied following an ugly illegal hit on their skipper.
Craig Fitzgibbon claimed the Clive Churchill Medal with a stirring performance which included a try and five goals as the Roosters washed away 27 years of heartache to bring the trophy back to Bondi.
Sydney Roosters 30 (Craig Fitzgibbon, Chris Flannery, Bryan Fletcher, Shannon Hegarty, Craig Wing tries; Craig Fitzgibbon 5 goals) defeat New Zealand Warriors 8
2002 Player Details /
| Player No. |
Player | Age | Games | Tries | Goals | Field Goals |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1013 | George Azzi | 20 | 1 | ||||
| 958 | Simon Bonetti | 25 | 21 | ||||
| 1001 | Todd Byrne | 24 | 14 | 9 | 36 | ||
| 1018 | Jason Cayless | 22 | 18 | ||||
| 1000 | Michael Crocker | 22 | 15 | 1 | 11 | 26 | |
| 976 | Ryan Cross | 23 | 4 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 979 | Peter Cusack | 25 | 26 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 948 | Brad Fittler | 30 | 25 | 9 | 1 | 37 | |
| 989 | Craig Fitzgibbon | 25 | 23 | 6 | 81 | 186 | |
| 995 | Chris Flannery | 22 | 21 | 6 | 24 | ||
| 970 | Bryan Fletcher | 28 | 19 | 4 | 16 | ||
| 998 | Paul Green | 30 | 1 | ||||
| 1011 | Eric Grothe | 22 | 5 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 983 | Shannon Hegarty | 23 | 21 | 12 | 48 | ||
| 1009 | Justin Hodges | 20 | 26 | 11 | 44 | ||
| 1016 | Justin Holbrook | 26 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 30 | |
| 971 | Dallas Hood | 24 | 10 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1020 | Wade Humphries | 21 | 2 | ||||
| 1017 | David Kidwell | 25 | 19 | 3 | 12 | ||
| 1003 | Michael Korkidas | 21 | 1 | ||||
| 1012 | Mark Leafa | 21 | 3 | ||||
| 1014 | Kylie Leuluai | 24 | 5 | ||||
| 991 | Andrew Lomu | 23 | 19 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1008 | Luke Milton | 20 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 12 | |
| 994 | Anthony Minichiello | 22 | 26 | 16 | 64 | ||
| 1019 | Mark Minichiello | 20 | 1 | ||||
| 999 | Adrian Morley | 25 | 14 | ||||
| 1010 | Brett Mullins | 30 | 26 | 17 | 68 | ||
| 1004 | Sam Obst | 21 | 3 | ||||
| 992 | Luke Phillips | 29 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 30 | |
| 884 | Luke Ricketson | 29 | 25 | 3 | 12 | ||
| 1015 | Chad Robinson | 21 | 20 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 997 | Albert Talipeau | 21 | 3 | ||||
| 990 | Craig Wing | 22 | 27 | 15 | 60 |
Match: Warriors v Roosters
Grand Final -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Roosters
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Ivan ClearyFullback for Roosters is number 1 Luke Phillips
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Justin MurphyWinger for Roosters is number 2 Brett Mullins
-
Centre for Warriors is number 3 John CarlawCentre for Roosters is number 3 Shannon Hegarty
-
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Clinton ToopiCentre for Roosters is number 4 Justin Hodges
-
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Francis MeliWinger for Roosters is number 5 Anthony Minichiello
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Motu TonyFive-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Brad Fittler
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Stacey JonesHalfback for Roosters is number 7 Craig Wing
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 8 Jerry SeuseuProp for Roosters is number 8 Jason Cayless
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Pj MarshHooker for Roosters is number 9 Simon Bonetti
-
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mark TookeyProp for Roosters is number 10 Peter Cusack
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Ali Lauiti'iti2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Craig Fitzgibbon
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Awen Guttenbeil2nd Row for Roosters is number 14 Adrian Morley
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Kevin CampionLock for Roosters is number 13 Luke Ricketson
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Lance HohaiaInterchange for Roosters is number 11 Bryan Fletcher
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Richard VillasantiInterchange for Roosters is number 15 Andrew Lomu
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Wairangi KoopuInterchange for Roosters is number 16 Chris Flannery
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Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Logan SwannInterchange for Roosters is number 17 Michael Crocker
Last updated:
2002 Jack Gibson Awards
Jack Gibson Medal: Craig Fitzgibbon
James Mathews Clubman of the Year: Peter Cusack
2002 Dally M Awards
Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year: Brad Fittler
Sydney Roosters respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
