Slightly off topic but I remember during that match Peter Sterling was being used a guest commentator, he had still been playing for the Eels that season. I think it was about half time and Graham Hughes (the match caller) asked how he thought the sides were going. Balmain had the edge over Canberra at that stage if I recall.
I will never forget what Sterlo said. He said Canberra will not give up. He said they were the toughest side he had played that season. He said they just don't stop coming at you. You might remember that.
That proved to be the case, they won the game by not giving up, and being fit enough to keep going. I won't argue the specifics of the
Roache benching, because
Sironen was involved as well. Warren Ryan was criticised for taking them off but he was/is a very astute judge of the game and maybe he could see just like Sterlo that his big forwards were not up to it.
If I recall that still is classed as one of the greatest finals ever and had a big part in getting more TV coverage of the game to NZ, and eventually an invitation for a NZ club to join the comp.
As a player goes
Roache was very big, very tough, and very thick, can we agree on that?