2002 NRL PREMIERS

The Premiers of 2002 etched a number of Roosters into Club folklore, and in the process, broke a 27-year drought to bring the trophy to Bondi for the first time since 1975.

Back Row: Bryan Fletcher, Craig Fitzgibbon, Jason Cayless, Peter Cusack, Andrew Lomu, Adrian Morley
Middle Row: David Kidwell (Reserve), Shannon Hegarty, Todd Byrne (Reserve), Chris Flannery, Luke Ricketson, Justin Hodges, Michael Crocker, Chad Robinson (Reserve)
Front Row: Simon Bonetti, Craig Wing, Brett Mullins, Brad Fittler (Captain), Ricky Stuart (Coach), Luke Phillips, Anthony Minichiello — Back Row: Bryan Fletcher, Craig Fitzgibbon, Jason Cayless, Peter Cusack, Andrew Lomu, Adrian Morley Middle Row: David Kidwell (Reserve), Shannon Hegarty, Todd Byrne (Reserve), Chris Flannery, Luke Ricketson, Justin Hodges, Michael Crocker, Chad Robinson (Reserve) Front Row: Simon Bonetti, Craig Wing, Brett Mullins, Brad Fittler (Captain), Ricky Stuart (Coach), Luke Phillips, Anthony Minichiello

Despite being in the infancy of his coaching career, former Test halfback Ricky Stuart was called upon as Head Coach for the season, with former mentor Phil Gould assigned as a coaching director. Still only 34 years of age and just two years after retiring from the game, Stuart had shown potential, guiding Canterbury's Jersey Flegg side to a title the season prior.

Overcoming a dire opening five rounds which saw just one win and a casualty ward of 15 players, the - in 12th place on the ladder - Tricolours bounced back in style with a 58-12 win over the North Queensland Cowboys, going on to win 9 of the next 11 matches.

2002 Grand Final Highlights: Roosters vs Warriors

Favourite son Luke Ricketson broke the Club's all-time record for most caps, besting fellow one-club man Kevin Hastings' record which stood from 1987.

Three losses on the trot saw the side seven points from the top four place, but five strong wins - including a final round 30-18 win over Cronulla - saw them finish in fourth place.

Taking on the Sharks in the first week of finals, the Red, White and Blue cruised past with a 32-20 victory, before a torrid semi-final against the Newcastle Knights saw the Roosters triumph 38-12, mostly thanks to a Craig Fitzgibbon 95-metre intercept try.

Erasing the pain of the 2000 Grand Final, Brad Fittler's men charged into their second decider in three seasons - even after hooker Simon Bonetti and Ricketson succumbed to injury - to overcome a 12-8 half-time deficit to storm home against the Brisbane Broncos in the preliminary final, winning 16-12.

Now more than ever, I am calling on you and your fellow Roosters supporters to come to our games and help lift the players.
Head Coach Ricky Stuart After the side suffered a heavy injury toll in the early rounds

While there was doubt of Ricketson featuring in the 2002 decider, the Roosters found themselves trailing 6-8 just after half-time but managed to score 24 unanswered points in the second half after Fittler firstly kicked a momentum-changing 40/20, before his teammates rallied following an ugly illegal hit on their skipper.

Craig Fitzgibbon claimed the Clive Churchill Medal with a stirring performance which included a try and five goals as the Roosters washed away 27 years of heartache to bring the trophy back to Bondi.

Sydney Roosters 30 (Craig Fitzgibbon, Chris Flannery, Bryan Fletcher, Shannon Hegarty, Craig Wing tries; Craig Fitzgibbon 5 goals) defeat New Zealand Warriors 8

2002 Player Details /

Player No.	Player	Age	Games	Tries	Goals	Field Goals	Points
1013	George Azzi	20	1
958	Simon Bonetti	25	21
1001	Todd Byrne	24	14	9			36
1018	Jason Cayless	22	18
1000	Michael Crocker	22	15	1	11		26
976	Ryan Cross	23	4	2			8
979	Peter Cusack	25	26	1			4
948	Brad Fittler	30	25	9		1	37
989	Craig Fitzgibbon	25	23	6	81		186
995	Chris Flannery	22	21	6			24
970	Bryan Fletcher	28	19	4			16
998	Paul Green	30	1
1011	Eric Grothe	22	5	1			4
983	Shannon Hegarty	23	21	12			48
1009	Justin Hodges	20	26	11			44
1016	Justin Holbrook	26	4	1	13		30
971	Dallas Hood	24	10	1			4
1020	Wade Humphries	21	2
1017	David Kidwell	25	19	3			12
1003	Michael Korkidas	21	1
1012	Mark Leafa	21	3
1014	Kylie Leuluai	24	5
991	Andrew Lomu	23	19	1			4
1008	Luke Milton	20	7	1	4		12
994	Anthony Minichiello	22	26	16			64
1019	Mark Minichiello	20	1
999	Adrian Morley	25	14
1010	Brett Mullins	30	26	17			68
1004	Sam Obst	21	3
992	Luke Phillips	29	20	6	3		30
884	Luke Ricketson	29	25	3			12
1015	Chad Robinson	21	20	2			8
997	Albert Talipeau	21	3
990	Craig Wing	22	27	15			60

Grand Final - Grand Final - Sunday 6 Oct

Full Time

Warriors

Roosters

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Ivan Cleary

Fullback for Roosters is number 1 Luke Phillips
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Justin Murphy

Winger for Roosters is number 2 Brett Mullins
Centre for Warriors is number 3 John Carlaw

Centre for Roosters is number 3 Shannon Hegarty
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Clinton Toopi

Centre for Roosters is number 4 Justin Hodges
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Francis Meli

Winger for Roosters is number 5 Anthony Minichiello
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Motu Tony

Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Brad Fittler
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Stacey Jones

Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Craig Wing

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Jerry Seuseu

Prop for Roosters is number 8 Jason Cayless
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Pj Marsh

Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Simon Bonetti
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mark Tookey

Prop for Roosters is number 10 Peter Cusack
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Ali Lauiti'iti

2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Craig Fitzgibbon
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Awen Guttenbeil

2nd Row for Roosters is number 14 Adrian Morley
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Kevin Campion

Lock for Roosters is number 13 Luke Ricketson

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Lance Hohaia

Interchange for Roosters is number 11 Bryan Fletcher
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Richard Villasanti

Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Andrew Lomu
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Wairangi Koopu

Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Chris Flannery
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Logan Swann

Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Michael Crocker

Last updated: 9/7/2024 12:31:37 PM

2002 Jack Gibson Awards

Jack Gibson Medal: Craig Fitzgibbon

James Mathews Clubman of the Year: Peter Cusack

2002 Dally M Awards

Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year: Brad Fittler

Sydney Roosters respect and honour 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.