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NRL: The First Six Years Trivia Quiz

Let's see if you have followed the NRL in Australia for the first six years of its existence, 1998-2004. I have also thrown in a question about State of Origin, so watch out for it.

A multiple-choice quiz by jarmie. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
jarmie

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
207,765

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Easy

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
406

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The reason the NRL is only six years old is because there were two separate leagues before in 1997. Before 1997, there was only the ARL (Australian Rugby League). In 1997, there was the ARL and the Super League.

True

False

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Question 2 of 10

2. The first match ever played in the NRL was between Manly and Brisbane. Who was the match referee? Hint

Sean Hampstead

Bill Harrigan

Paul Simpkins

Steve Clark

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Question 3 of 10

3. Between which two teams was the first Grand Final played and who came out victorious? Hint

Manly beat Brisbane

Balmain beat Western Suburbs

Penrith beat Parramatta

Brisbane beat Canterbury

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Question 4 of 10

4. The 1999 Grand Final was one of the most controversial games in Rugby League history. Melbourne defeated the St. George Illawarra Dragons 20-18 due to what? Hint

A high tackle over the goal line, ending up in a penalty try

The referee did not award an obvious try to St. George which would have put them ahead 22-20

St. George were found guilty of cheating

The game was not continued due to extremely bad weather

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Question 5 of 10

5. In 2000, two new joint venture teams entered the competition and one team was expelled. Four teams merged together (two in each merger) to create two joint venture teams - Manly-Warringah merged with North Sydney and Balmain merged with Western Suburbs. What were the names of the merged teams and the name of the team that was expelled? Hint

Manly Norths, Balmain Magpies, South Sydney expelled

Northern Bears, Western Balmain, Roosters expelled

Eagle Bears, Tiger Suburbs, Bulldogs expelled

Northern Eagles, Wests Tigers, Rabbitohs expelled

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Question 6 of 10

6. The year 2000 saw the retirement of one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. What was his name? Hint

Peter Sterling

Andrew Ettingshausen

Brad Fittler

Paul Vautin

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Question 7 of 10

7. The 2001 grand final was a great match played between Newcastle and Parramatta. Parramatta had been the best team throughout the year but slipped up at the last hurdle, and lost the grand final?

Yes

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Question 8 of 10

8. The Bulldogs created huge controversy late in the 2002 season. What did they do? Hint

Broke the salary cap

Did not field their strongest team in every game, which is one of the strictest rules in the game

Bribed the referees to favor them

Continually high tackled and spear tackled opposition

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Question 9 of 10

9. Penrith were wooden spooners in 2001. In 2003, they were big improvers. Where did they end up at the end of 2003? Hint

4th

2nd

Premiers

3rd

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Question 10 of 10

10. The first ever golden point State of Origin match was played on Wednesday 26th May 2004 What was the score? Hint

9-8 QLD

9-8 NSW

23-22 NSW

23-22 QLD

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: True

Super League was run by News Limited newspaper. It was considered the worst thing to ever happen to Rugby League. The ARL and Super League decided to merge to form a new competition. It was called the NRL (National Rugby League).

2. The first match ever played in the NRL was between Manly and Brisbane. Who was the match referee?

Answer: Bill Harrigan

Bill Harrigan is considered the best referee in Australian Rugby League history. In this match, he sent off Manly captain Geoff Toovey for swearing at him.

3. Between which two teams was the first Grand Final played and who came out victorious?

Answer: Brisbane beat Canterbury

The win for Brisbane was considered a walkover win. They defeated Canterbury 38-12. Manly had made it to the Grand Final of the ARL in 1995, 1996 and 1997. Brisbane were the premiers of the 1997 Super League.

4. The 1999 Grand Final was one of the most controversial games in Rugby League history. Melbourne defeated the St. George Illawarra Dragons 20-18 due to what?

Answer: A high tackle over the goal line, ending up in a penalty try

St. George was leading 18-14 with five minutes to go in the match when Brett Kimmorley the Melbourne halfback, chip kicked over to the winger who caught the ball in-goal and was definitely going to score. Jamie Ainscough, a St. George winger, came in from the other side of the field and high tackled him in-goal and in the air. Melbourne were awarded a penalty try, which is worth the normal 4 points, and the conversin kick was taken from in-front of the posts, which is worth another 2 points.

Answer: Northern Eagles, Wests Tigers, Rabbitohs expelled

The Northern Eagles joint venture was dismantled after 2 seasons, in 2002 the Manly club competed as the Northern Eagles, and in 2003 reverted to their original stand-alone name, the Sea Eagles. North Sydney disappeared from the NRL at the end of the 2001 season (the end of the 2 year life of the Northern Eagles joint venture). South Sydney were readmitted to the NRL after acrimonious court cases and appeals, after 2 years out of the game, at the start of the 2002 season.

6. The year 2000 saw the retirement of one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. What was his name?

Answer: Andrew Ettingshausen

ET, as he was more widely known, began playing in 1988 and scored 165 tries in his career, second only to the great Ken Irvine. He captained his only team throughout his career, Cronulla, from 1998-2000. Sterling and Vautin retired in 1992, and Brad Fittler retired in 2004.

Answer: Yes

They had been minor premiers, which means they were first on the table at the end of the regular home and away season. They had played Newcastle in the Grand Final and had been raging favourites to win the match, but had a bad day and lost 30-24. Newcastle had led at half-time 24-0. This had also been the first Grand Final to be played at night.

8. The Bulldogs created huge controversy late in the 2002 season. What did they do?

Answer: Broke the salary cap

The club was fined and deducted all of their competition points. The salary cap means that you can only spend a certain amount on players. If this did not happen, the Bulldogs would have ended the year with 44 points, six points ahead of the eventual minor premiers, the Warriors.

9. Penrith were wooden spooners in 2001. In 2003, they were big improvers. Where did they end up at the end of 2003?

Answer: Premiers

Penrith had started the year like they did for the previous four years. They then enjoyed an eight-game winning streak which propelled them to the top of the table, and didn't leave it for the rest of the year.

10. The first ever golden point State of Origin match was played on Wednesday 26th May 2004 What was the score?

Answer: 9-8 NSW

At the end of 80 minutes, which is the regular playing time for a game of Rugby League, the scores were locked at 8-8. This brought into effect the golden point rule. The first point scored would win the match for that team. Shaun Timmins kicked a field goal which put NSW in front 9-8.

Source: Author jarmie

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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