As part of a series of fresh looks at the grand finals of yesteryear, NRL.com revisits the 1996 decider between Manly and St George.
Manly completed a superb season highlighted by an incredible defensive record to secure the club's sixth premiership.
A 12-point win over St George at the Sydney Football Stadium ended a season in which Manly conceded just 213 points in 25 matches (including finals).
After conceding just 35 tries in 22 matches during the home and away season, the men from Brookvale gave up 22 points in three finals fixtures.
For some context that doesn't take into account rule changes, Penrith conceded the fewest tries in 2020 season with 53 allowed.
Match Highlights: Sea Eagles v Dragons
As you would expected from a team that entered the grand final having won 20 of the 24 matches they'd played that year, Manly started full of confidence.
They opened the scoring after just five minutes when Craig Innes won the race to a perfectly-placed Geoff Toovey kick. Kiwi Test star Matthew Ridge converted before adding a penalty goal approaching the 20-minute mark to give his side an 8-0 lead.
Then came an extended period of defensive brilliance in which Manly were able to continually turn St George away. A 38th minute penalty goal from Wayne Bartrim was all the Saints would have to show for their considerable efforts in the opening 40 minutes.
The final two minutes of the first half proved a hammer blow for the Red V. Ridge's regather from a short re-start and referee David Manson's adjudication that Ridge hadn't been tackled were followed by a Steve Menzies try seconds later.
Beaver crashes over close to the posts
The 14-2 half-time lead for the Sea Eagles always looked like it would be enough.
When Danny Moore crossed on the right wing 14 minutes after play resumed the game was as good as over.
Nick Zisti scored in the 60th minute but that was and and St George had lost a third grand final in five years after suffering at the hands of Brisbane in 1992 and '93.
Play of the day
Ridge took a gamble inside the final two minute of the first half - and it paid handsome dividends.
He spotted that the Saints were light on for men at the 40m line from the re-start following a Bartrim penalty goal and kicked for himself.
He beat Nathan Brown to the ball and despite appearing to have been tackled, got to his feet and kept running.
Referee David Manson waved for play on and second later Manly were in and a decisive 12-point lead was enjoyed at the main break.
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In commentary for Channel Nine, Peter Sterling said: "For some reason he's allowed to play on. That's the part I can't understand from David Manson."
Best player
Manly halfback Geoff Toovey finished with the Clive Churchill Medal, but it is hard to look past the influence of Matthew Ridge on this match.
A fierce competitor and supremely talented player, Ridge enjoyed a great day against St George. His work in setting up the try before half-time was decisive.
The quote
Referee David Manson on the furore over the "no-tackle" decision when speaking to Sportingnews.com in 2019: "Matthew Ridge scooped the ball up at the same time Nathan Brown came in and Nathan had his finger in [Ridge’s collar].
"At no stage did the ball or the arm carrying the ball hit the ground. Therefore, the tackle is not effected so I called play on and Manly went down the field and scored a try."
The what-if moment
Manly had every right to head into this match confident their defence could win them the premiership - so what if the Dragons had been able to crack them during their period of concerted pressure in the first half.
Manly's confident would have stayed strong, but St George would surely have had a greater sense of belief.
Unsung hero
As a fan, you knew that if you had David Gillespie playing for your side you'd lack nothing in the toughness department. In the second last year of a career that ended with 253 matches for Canterbury, Wests and Manly, "Cement" earned his nickname each and every week. Sixteen Test appearances and 15 games for NSW was a fitting reward for one of the game's true hard men.
The following year
Manly lost one of the greatest grand finals of all - a 22-16 loss to Newcastle in the season that saw the ARL and Super League stage separate competitions.
St George finished 10th in a 12-team ARL competition. But it wasn't as bad as is first looks - they were just two points away from reaching a finals series that included seven teams.
