Premiers of the 2000s
Which premiership-winning NRL team of the 2000s was the best of the best?
The 2000 Broncos were loaded with talent across the park - led by halfback Kevin Walters, they had power up front in the form of Shane Webcke, Gorden Tallis and Brad Thorn plus speed to burn out wide, in particular young fullback Darren Lockyer and wingers Lote Tuqiri and Wendell Sailor. They proved too strong for the Roosters on grand final day, winning 14-6.
The 2001 Knights were rank underdogs heading into the premiership decider against minor premiers Parramatta but with Andrew Johns calling the shots, they blitzed the Eels in the first half with four unanswered tries. Back-rower Ben Kennedy ripped through the Parra pack, while Timana Tahu ran rampant on the wing in the 30-24 boilover.
The 2002 Roosters formed a defensive juggernaut. Five-eighth Brad Fittler was coming towards the end of his career but led the team superbly and with back-rowers Adrian Morley, Craig Fitzgibbon and Bryan Fletcher standing up to the big Warriors pack, the Tricolours broke their 27-year premiership drought with an emphatic 30-8 triumph.
The 2003 Panthers were given little hope of upsetting the Roosters but they knocked off the premiers 18-6 on a slippery night at ANZ Stadium with hooker Luke Priddis and halfback Craig Gower calling the shots. The highlight of Penrith's victory was lock Scott Sattler's desperate try-saving cover tackle on Roosters winger Todd Byrne.
The 2004 Bulldogs had been building for a few years towards premiership glory and with one of the most fearsome packs in the NRL era, including Willie Mason, Mark O'Meley, Andrew Ryan, Roy Asotasi and Sonny Bill Williams, they overcame the absence of injured skipper Steve Price to defeat the Roosters 16-13 in a nail-biter.
The 2005 Wests Tigers entered the season tipped to finish at the bottom of the ladder but they clicked late in the season to charge to the finals with an entertaining brand of attacking play, typified by young five-eighth Benji Marshall's flick pass to send winger Pat Richards to the try line in their 30-16 grand final win over North Queensland.
The 2006 Broncos sent veteran prop Shane Webcke into retirement with another trophy when they overcame Melbourne 15-8 in the decider. With Darren Lockyer settled into his new position of five-eighth and Shaun Berrigan playing the game of his life at hooker, Brisbane sailed through September to record the club's sixth premiership.
The 2008 Sea Eagles were runners-up the year before when beaten by Melbourne, who later had their title stripped for salary cap breaches. But Manly made up for lost time in amazing fashion, winning the grand final by a record-breaking 40-0 scoreline to send club stalwart Steve Menzies into retirement in the best possible fashion.
The 2010 Dragons etched their name into the history books by snaring St George Illawarra's first premiership with a second-half onslaught to win 32-8 over the Roosters. Centre duo Mark Gasnier and Matt Cooper were firing out wide and Darius Boyd was chiming into the backs in career-best form for the champs.
The 2011 Sea Eagles soared to the premiership despite having a rookie halfback in the form of Daly Cherry-Evans, a rarity for title-winning sides. Glenn and Brett Stewart were at the peak of their powers and the Warriors proved no match for Manly as they ran out 24-10 winners to seal their second trophy in four seasons under Des Hasler.
The 2012 Storm side had a chip on their shoulder after their 2007 and 2009 premierships had been stripped due to salary cap breaches but with the big three of Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith forming the basis of one of the all-time great spines alongside Gareth Widdop, they beat Canterbury 14-4 in a fiery grand final.
The 2013 Roosters did not have a weak link and with second-rower Sonny Bill Williams providing size and strength for the team in his return stint in the NRL, they charged to the premiership decider in coach Trent Robinson's first year at the helm, proving too classy in the grand final for Manly, notching a 26-18 triumph.
The 2014 Rabbitohs ended South Sydney's 43-year title drought after a groundswell of support snowballed into one of the most memorable grand finals of the modern era. Sam Burgess fractured his cheekbone in the opening hit-up of the match but played on to win the Clive Churchill Medal as Souths swamped Canterbury 30-6.
The 2015 Cowboys were seconds from losing when Michael Morgan conjured up a try for Kyle Feldt in the corner. Johnathan Thurston missed the match-winning conversion after the full-time siren but made no mistake a few minutes into extra time with his field goal securing a 17-16 win over Brisbane and North Queensland's first title.
The 2016 Sharks ended rugby league's longest title drought in one of the most tension-filled grand finals of all time. With prop Andrew Fifita carving through the Melbourne pack and veteran back-rower Luke Lewis turning back the clock, Cronulla held on in a 14-12 cliffhanger to register the club's first win in its 50th season.
The 2017 Storm were dominant throughout the season and it was no different on grand final night. With back-rower Felise Kaufusi and fullback Billy Slater causing the gallant Cowboys headaches every time they ran the ball, Melbourne cantered to a 34-6 victory to rack up the club's third premiership in their 20th season.
National Rugby League respects and honours 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.
