“Wayne knows how to prepare a team for big
games, that’s one of his greatest strengths. His
thing was to focus on his team rather than the
opposition. But you can probably do that when
you have the luxury of so many great players.”
Walters formed a brilliant, instinctive
playmaking combination with twin brother
Kevin and the incomparable Allan Langer,
but the trio was surrounded by a galaxy of
big guns. The Broncos’ 1993 Grand Final
line-up featured 13 Origin players, including
nine Australian representatives.
It’s a safe to assume that few back-to-back
premiership-winning squads of yesteryear
could have been assembled under a modern
salary cap.
“In the modern game, the talent is
spread so far across the 16 teams. With
success, players become worth a lot more
money and are in demand,” Walters muses.
“But we stayed at the Broncos for less
money because we wanted more success.”
Some teams have gone agonisingly close
to back-to-back glory in the interim (and it
must be noted the Broncos won the inaugural
1998 NRL premiership a year after clinching
the Super League title), with four defending
champions going down in the following
season’s grand final.
A club’s desperation for success and
a sense of destiny can’t be underestimated
either. The past seven grand finals have
been won by the team experiencing the
longer premiership drought (an encouraging
trend for Eels and Raiders if they can force
their way into this year’s decider).
Meanwhile, just one club has lost
consecutive grand finals since 1993
– the Roosters in 2003-04, after taking
out the title in ’02 – but six sides have
won after falling short 12 months earlier.
Despite a patchy period impacted by
injuries and Origin, Walters thinks the
Roosters are well-placed to end the drought.
“The key for the Roosters is to put
themselves in a position where they can defend
their title, ideally in the top four,” he says.
“They had a good start to the year but the
last month or so they’ve been a bit off. That
happens, you have off periods during a season
where you lose a few games, but they’ve got
the quality to go back-to-back.”KEEPING IT TOGETHER
Continuity shapes as a trump card for
Trent Robinson’s side this year. Gavin Allen
and Tony Currie were the only members
of the Broncos’ 1992 Grand Final squad
unavailable the following season. Similarly,
Blake Ferguson, Dylan Napa and Ryan
Matterson were the only premiership-winning
Roosters to move on at the end of 2018.
The experience of multiple grand final
winners Cooper Cronk, Luke Keary, Jake
Friend, Daniel Tupou, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves,
Boyd Cordner and Mitch Aubusson could
also prove crucial to the Tri-colours, but
Walters warns squad health has the potential
to have the biggest say.
“Injuries play a major part in a team’s
success. In that 1993 season, the Raiders were
playing some really good footy and they lost
Ricky Stuart just before the finals, so that
had a big impact on their chances. It was like
if we’d lost Allan Langer.
“These days, if you lose a key player – if
Melbourne lost Cameron Smith, or the Roosters
were to lose Cooper Cronk or Luke Keary
– that would make it much more difficult.
“But the Roosters have been there and
done it, they know how to prepare and the
effort and determination it takes to win it.”BACK-TO-BACK
SUCCESSFULTITLEDEFENCES
INOTHERCODESSINCE 1993
AFL (5)
Adelaide Crows (1996-97)
Brisbane (2001-03)
Hawthorn (2013-15)Super Rugby* (8)
B l u e s (19 9 6 - 97 )
Crusaders (1998-2000)
Crusaders (2005-06)
Bulls (2009-10)
Chiefs (2012-13)
C r u s a d e r s (2 017-19)NBL (6)
Adelaide 36ers (1998-99)
Sydney Kings (2003-05)
New Zealand Breakers (2011-13)
Perth Wildcats (2016-17)Sheffield Shield (6)
Western Australia (1998-99)Queensland (2000-02)
Victoria (2009-10)
Victoria (2015-17)Big Bash League (1)
Perth Scorchers (2014-15)English Rugby League/
Super League (6)
Wigan (1994-96)
St Helens (1999-2000)
Le eds (20 07- 09)
L e e d s (2011-12)A-League (1)
Brisbane Roar (2011-12)NHL (2)
Detroit Red Wings (1997-98)
Pittsburgh Penguins (2016-17)EPL(7)
Manchester United (1996-97)
Manchester United (1999-2001)
Chelsea (2005-06)
Manchester United (2007-09)
Man City (2018-19)NBA (8)
Houston Rockets (1994-95)
Chicago Bulls (1996-98)
LA Lakers (2000-02)
LA Lakers (2009-10)
Miami Heat (2012-13)
Golden State Warriors (2017-18)NFL (2)
Denver Broncos (1997-98)
New England Patriots (2003-04)MLB (1)
New York Yankees (1998-2000)FIGHTINGHAWKS:
Hawthorn are one of three AFL teams
to win consecutive titles since 1993.