Sourcing caveat: In 1977 a try was worth 3 points (the 4-point try was not introduced until 1983); the scoring breakdown above reconciles exactly to 22-0 under that rule (3 tries x 3 = 9, plus Ted Goodwin's 6/7 goals = 12, plus his field goal = 1, totalling 22). John Bailey's try was a penalty try awarded on the full-time siren. A touch judge, Brian Barry, was struck by a projectile thrown from the crowd during the match and was temporarily replaced by Ray O'Donnell before Jack Danzey took over the touch judge duties. Only one bench player per side could be confirmed from sources found; a second reserve, if any, is unconfirmed. The 1977 premiership required two matches: the Grand Final proper on Saturday 17 September 1977 (St. George 9-9 Parramatta after 20 minutes of extra time; attendance 65,959) and the replay on Saturday 24 September 1977 (St. George 22-0; attendance 47,828). The date, score and attendance fields on this page refer to the replay, which decided the premiership.
Tries: John Jansen — minute unconfirmed; Robert Stone — minute unconfirmed; John Bailey — penalty try, awarded on the full-time siren Goals: Ted Goodwin (6/7) Drop goals: Ted Goodwin — minute unconfirmed
Denis Fitzgerald — squad number not identified in sources found
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Harry Bath
Coach
Terry Fearnley
Clive Churchill Medal
The Clive Churchill Medal was first awarded in 1986; no official best-on-ground medal existed for this Grand Final.
Match context
The 1977 premiership was decided over two matches, the first drawn Grand Final, and first Grand Final replay, in the competition's history. On Saturday 17 September 1977, St. George and Parramatta fought out a gripping 9-9 stalemate at the Sydney Cricket Ground before 65,959 spectators. The Dragons' points came from a moment of magic by winger Ted 'Lord Ted' Goodwin, who produced a stunning solo try shortly before half-time, capping a run of roughly fifty yards, to go with his two goals; Parramatta answered through a try to Ed Sulkowicz and three goals from centre Mick Cronin. For the first time in Grand Final history the deadlock forced twenty minutes of extra time, and still neither side could break through, with late kicks at goal by Cronin for Parramatta and John Chapman for St. George both drifting astray, leaving the premiership unresolved after one hundred minutes. The replay was scheduled for the following Saturday, 24 September, again at the SCG. Before 47,828 fans, the rematch was utterly one-sided. Harry Bath's Dragons, captained by hooker Steve Edge, led 7-0 at half-time and pulled away to win 22-0, their forward pack establishing complete control over Terry Fearnley's Eels. John Bailey, John Jansen and Robert Stone scored the tries, while Goodwin had a monumental afternoon with the boot, landing six goals from seven attempts plus a field goal to finish with thirteen points. The match was marred by an ugly incident in the second half when a touch judge was struck by a projectile thrown from the crowd and had to be replaced. Cronin, so reliable all season, missed all four of his goal attempts as Parramatta, in their second straight Grand Final after the Glover heartbreak of 1976, were held scoreless across the entire replay. The premiership was St. George's first since the fabled eleven-straight era ended in 1966, a gap of eleven years. Veteran forward Barry Beath bookended his career with premierships in 1966 and 1977, while Goodwin's two-match haul, the spectacular try in the draw and thirteen points in the replay, made him the popular hero of the Dragons' triumph. For Parramatta, still chasing a maiden title after thirty years, the 22-0 replay shutout stood among the most deflating results in the club's history.
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