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A Brilliant Career Begins

1980

1980 was a mixed year for the Tigers. Tiger legend 'Latchem' Robinson passed away shortly after being informed of plans by the club to name the new grandstand at Leichhardt Oval in his honour. Tiger supporter and NSW Premier Neville Wran opened the stand 12 days later in front of 11,646 fans. The Tigers struggled with consistency and finished the season in 10th position with 14 points. Dennis Tutty then stood down as coach. Rod Morris was the only Tiger representative on the Australian tour of New Zealand but a young lock forward by the name of Wayne Pearce was awarded Rookie of the Year and a brilliant career had begun.

Larry Corowa, MBE The year will also be remembered for the boxing match between halfback rivals Tommy Raudonikis and Tiger Greg Oliphant. The match raised money for Dennis Bendall who was seriously injured, and unfortunately for Tiger supporters, Tommy Raudonikis won on TKO. Larry Corowa was also awarded the MBE for services to rugby league.

1981

Balmain were hit hard by injuries in 1981 and not even Australian and former Manly coach Frank Stanton could save the Tigers from the wooden spoon. Wayne Pearce's season was severely limited by a serious eye injury whilst many others were absent for long periods also.

1982

Wayne Pearce toured with the Kangaroos in 1982 as Balmain's sole representative. Junior made an impact immediately and was used as a second rower during the tour. The Tigers were not going to threaten the Premiership in 1982 but the game was involved in financial difficulties with several clubs on the verge of bankruptcy whilst Balmain remained financially viable. The Origin Series was also beginning to take off in the games' 75th year.

1983

The Tigers began the season well winning the first 4 matches before losing the next 5. What followed was the beginning of a new era of Tiger spirit with youngsters Wayne Pearce, Ben Elias, Steve Roach and Kerry Hemsley leading the way. The side finished 4th at the completion of the regular season.
The Tigers bowed out of the 1983 competition in dramatic fashion when they lost to St George in extra time of the semi final 17-14 after leading 14-6.

1984

The Tigers narrowly missed the top 5 by 2 competition points in 1984. The side paid a hefty price for some inconsistency during the season. Wayne Pearce filled the boots of Ray Price for the Australian side and was awarded the Harry Sunderland Medal in the 3-0 whitewash against Great Britain.

1985

Balmain were again knocked out in extra time of a semi final when Premiers Canterbury scored a try with sixty seconds left in extra time to snatch victory. The Tigers then lost the following week to Parramatta and a promising season had ended. The Tigers finished second at the end of the regular season with the 4 Australian reps leading the way (Garry Jack, Steve Roach, Wayne Pearce, Ben Elias) along with new goal kicking sensation Ross Conlon and English import Garry Schofield. Wayne Pearce also won the Rothmans Medal for "Best and Fairest" in 1985.

1986

Balmain won a lot of fans in 1986 with a backs to the wall performance to make the Final. The Tigers were forced to win 3 sudden death matches without inspirational lock Wayne Pearce. During the season another youngster stood out for the Tigers. His name, Paul Sironen.

1987

Balmain ended the season in fourth position after struggling in the later rounds of the competition. The season came to an end when the Tigers lost 15-12 to Souths in the Semi Final. This ended a season of great promise and the end of the coaching career of the popular and talented coach, Bill Anderson.

1988

Warren Ryan came to Balmain as the new first grade coach in 1988. After 11 games, the side had won 6 and lost 5 but 7 from 8 in the second round turned the season around. A 39-15 loss to Canberra left the Tigers with a seemingly impossible task. The side was 8th with 8 games remaining. But this is when the Tiger spirit kicked in. The Tigers lost only one game between this loss in June and the Grand Final in September, and that loss to Manly came in very controversial circumstances. The late signing of Ellery Hanley just prior to the June 30 deadline was a huge boost for theTigers.
Balmain ended up in 5th place but would have to contest the Finals without Steve Roach after a tackle that did not raise an eyebrow during the game was used to cite Roach who would later be suspended and have to miss the Grand Final of 1988. Balmain beat Penrith twice, then knocked off Manly 19-6, Canberra 14-6 and Cronulla 9-2 in the preliminary finals to make the Grand Final after winning 6 sudden death matches.

The 1988 Grand Final was also a controversial one. Steve Roach was to be flown to England to serve the last game of his suspension in England before returning to Australia for the Grand Final. The scheme devised by Keith Barnes was based on the precedent of Mario Fenech and South Sydney in 1986. Unfortunately for Blocker, the ARL and NSWRL pressured Balmain to abandon the scheme and the club did so. The controversy did not end here. In the Grand Final, the match was over by half time with Canterbury leading 12-8. Ellery Hanley, the boom English import who had inspired the Tigers throughout the miracle march to the Grand Final was knocked out by Terry Lamb and Andrew Farrar tackle. Without the Pearl and with Blocker on the sidelines watching the Tigers who had fought valiantly for so long could not stop the Bulldogs who eventually won 24-12.

1988 Grand Final Team

Tigers vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Garry Jack
Russel Gartner
Ellery Hanley
Michael Pobjie
Ross Conlon
Michael Neil
Gary Freeman
Wayne Pearce (C)
David Brooks
Paul Sironen
Kerry Hemsley
Ben Elias
Bruce McGuire

Reserves

Scott Gale
Michael Moss
Steve Benkic
Kevin Hardwick
Steve Edmed
John Davidson
Wayne Sing
John Owens
Bruce Sinclair
Paul Clarke

Coach

Warren Ryan

1989

1989 was the dawn of a new era for rugby league. Tina Turner was promoting the game with her song "Simply the Best", the new Nissan Sevens was unveiled and won by the Tigers, the Sydney Football Stadium was the new home of rugby league and a new schoolboy burst onto the scene by the name of Tim Brasher.

The Tigers lost Ellery Hanley to Wests but gained the classy Englishmen Shaun Edwards and Andy Currier. The Tigers added the Alfa Romeo Challenge to the Nissan Sevens victory in the pre-season but in doing so the side lost Garry Jack for 12 games with a broken arm.

The Tigers would once again make the Grand Final in 1989 but this time the side were raging hot favourites. The forward pack was the best in the league and the form of the side in the semi finals was red hot. To this day the Balmain v Canberra Grand Final of 1989 is regarded as one the best ever. The game began at a great pace and the attacking play was flowing from both sides. The Tigers led 12-2 at half time with tries to James Grant from an intercept and Sironen from an Andy Currier kick. Canberra hit back in the second half with a try to Gary Belcher to make the score 12-8. Balmain then had their chances, a Mal Meninga ankle tap on Mick Neil, a dropped pass by Junior and the infamous field goal attempt by Benny Elias that hit the cross bar.

Trailing 14-8 and with just 1:37 on the clock, the oldest man on the field, the 35 year old John "Chicka" Ferguson stepped his way to the try line. Meninga converted. In extra time Canberra led 15-14 with a field goal before prop Steve Jackson clinched it with a try.

This match would break the hearts of many Tiger supporters around the country but this is nothing compared to the emotions of the Tiger players. Some players believe the difference was the replacing of Blocker and Sirro with time remaining, whilst others are unsure of whether the decision really turned the game. Either way, very few members of that side can watch the video of the match and the sight of Junior Pearce in tears and a weeping Garry Jack laying on the SFS turf inconsolable will never leave the memory bank of those who witnessed the match.

1989 Grand Final Team

Tigers vs Canberra Raiders

Garry Jack
Steve O'Brien
Tim Brasher
Andy Currier
James Grant
Michael Neil
Gary Freeman
Steve Roach
Ben Elias
Steve Edmed
Paul Sironen
Bruce McGuire
Wayne Pearce (C)