1999 | NRL Grand Final|||||||||||||
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![]() Stadium Australia, where the match was played | |||||||||||||
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Date | 26 September 1999 | ||||||||||||
Stadium | Stadium Australia | ||||||||||||
Location | Sydney, Australia | ||||||||||||
Clive Churchill Medal | Brett Kimmorley (MEL) | ||||||||||||
National anthem | Hugh Jackman | ||||||||||||
Referee | Bill Harrigan | ||||||||||||
Attendance | 107,999 | ||||||||||||
Broadcast partners | |||||||||||||
Broadcasters | |||||||||||||
Commentators |
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The 1999 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 1999 NRL season. It was contested by the competition's two newest clubs: the Melbourne Storm, competing in only its second year (having finished the regular season in 3rd place); and the St. George Illawarra Dragons, in their first year as a joint-venture club (having finished the regular season in 6th place), after both sides eliminated the rest of the top eight during the finals.
A new rugby league world record crowd of 107,999 was at Stadium Australia for the game. The attendance, which saw 67,142 more people attend than had done so for the 1998 NRL Grand Final at the Sydney Football Stadium, broke the record attendance for a Grand Final, eclipsing the previous record of 78,065 set in 1965 when St. George defeated South Sydney 12–8 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It was the last time that the Clive Churchill Medal was presented in a case before it was changed the following season where it is presented separately with a ribbon being worn around the neck. Due to its competitive nature, It has been regarded as one of the greatest NRL grand finals of all time.[1]
Pre-match entertainment featured Hugh Jackman's rendition of the Australian national anthem.