The 10 best Allianz Stadium games

A look at the 10 best rugby league games to be played at Allianz Stadium ahead of its redevelopment following the South Sydney v Sydney Roosters prelim final.

Allianz Stadium

Allianz Stadium has hosted some rugby league classics. (AAP)

The look at the 10 best rugby league games to be played at Allianz Stadium before its knock down and rebuild.

1. The 1989 NSWRL grand final

Widely considered the greatest grand final of all time. Canberra took out this classic over Balmain 18-14 in extra-time. Benny Elias had a chance to win it however his field goal attempt famously hit the cross bar. Steve Jackson's winning try, in which he beat five defenders, is one of the game's most iconic moments.

2. State of Origin game one, 1994

Mark Coyne's try in game one of the 1994 State of Origin series is arguably the greatest moment in the game's history. The play started on Queensland's 40 metre line and went through 10 sets of hands before Coyne planted it over the line for a 16-12 win.

3. Newcastle v Manly, 1997 ARL grand final

With 19 seconds left and the scores locked at 16-all, Andrew Johns ran it down the short side and turned it inside for Darren Albert. At a time when the game was split by the Super League war, Newcastle's heart-stopping win was just what rugby league needed.

4. Sydney Roosters v Wests Tigers, 2010 qualifying final

This game had it all. As the fulltime siren sounded, Braith Anasta hit a 30 metre field goal to lock up the scores at 15-15. Robbie Farah, Robert Lui, Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney all missed field goal attempts. In the 100th minute Shaun Kenny-Dowall latched onto a wayward Liam Fulton pass to run away and score, securing a Roosters win.

5. Sydney Roosters v South Sydney, round 19, 2012.

With two minutes remaining the Rabbitohs trailed 22-12. Even when Nathan Merritt crossed they still needed a miracle. However the Rabbitohs went 100 metres from the kick-off to cross through Adam Reynolds and win the game.

6. State of Origin game two, 1991

The match will be best remembered for Wally Lewis and Mark Geyer standing toe-to-toe on a rain-drenched SFS. It was also featured a classic finish with Mark McGaw going over with four minutes remaining and Michael O'Connor slotting it from the sideline for a Blues victory.

7. Tri-Nations final, 2006

New Zealand were threatening to pull off a mammoth upset with the scores tied at 12-12 at the end of 80 minutes. However two of Australia's modern greats stepped up with Johnathan Thurston slicing through to send Darren Lockyer over.

8. Canterbury v Parramatta, preliminary final, 1998

The Bulldogs mounted one of the great modern comebacks, scoring three times in seven minutes to force the match into extra-time. Craig Polla-Mounta booted two field goals and crossed for a try to sink the Eels 32-20, advancing the Bulldogs to the grand final.

9. Sydney Roosters v North Queensland, semi-final 2014

The Cowboys were dead and buried at 30-0 down however piled on five tries in 21 minutes to level things up. The Cowboys were on the wrong end of a highly dubious decision following what appeared to be a Sonny Bill Williams knock-on and James Maloney kicked the winning field goal for the Roosters.

10. Canterbury v Canberra major semi-final, 1995

Minor premiers the Bulldogs looked headed for victory before David Westley crossed with 39 seconds left on the clock to ensure the game went into extra-time. Jason Williams danced down the touchline and ran 50 metres from a kick return, allowing Dogs superboot Daryl Halligan to nail the winning field goal.


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Source: AAP


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