NSWRL 1984 Premiers /

It could be argued that a combination of good management and good fortune brought the Club's fourth Premiership in its 50th year. 

The season marked Terry Lamb's first in the Blue and White after transferring from Western Suburbs and coming off a Dally M Medal winning season in a side that finished in last place.

Hulking Souths forward Peter Tunks also joined the Club, joining Brian Battese, a second rower from Wests, and Daryl Brohman from Penrith. 

Perhaps the most important signing, however, was Head Coach Warren Ryan. Following 1980 Premiership mentor Ted Glossop's retirement, there came in a gap needed to be filled in by a new coach with new ideas and new policies. 

I followed his career to Wollongong and saw how he handled Wests' lower grades and we often met at school carnivals. I knew some time ago of his desire to one day coach at Canterbury.

Secretary Peter Moore On recruiting Warren Ryan

After Ryan was signed, he added in tough forward Peter Kelly and crafty hooker Mark Bugden to round off his squad; the recruitment drive was revered as the most concerted and successful off-season buying of any club in the Premiership. 

Ryan brought in a new style and method to Canterbury, differing greatly from the previous six years under Glossop; and it looked like it worked - at no stage did the 1984 Bulldogs lose their lead at the top of the table, and they were the only team undefeated after three rounds. 

Importantly, no club jumped ahead of the Bulldogs on points at any point during the season. 

Lamb's try-scoring and point-scoring ways guided the Bulldogs to glory time and time again, which netted him the Rothmans Medal as the competition's Best and Fairest player. Fullback Mick Potter, in just his second year of first-grade, remarkably took home the Dally M Medal. 

As part of the radical change, four captains were used throughout the season; Chris Anderson started in charge, before Lamb was given the honour. Steven Folkes took over when Lamb and Steve Mortimer were away on representative duty.

Following the performance of his halves partner against Queensland, Lamb selflessly relinquished the responsibility to Mortimer. 

On the field, Ryan's side finished the season on 42 points, four clear of their nearest rivals in Parramatta and St George - with the one week of rest acting as a major boost for the side during their finals campaign. 

The Bulldogs withstood a late rally to down eventual Grand Final opponents Parramatta 16-8, with Mortimer playing a key role in the win to qualify for the decider. 

While many pundits and critics alike saw the lone finals match as a disadvantage for their preparation, Ryan and the Bulldogs had already compensated with their emphasis on fitness and ball work under the Club's conditioner Dave Cooper.

The preparation seemed to play wonders for the side, who recorded a famous 6-4 victory over the Eels, which remains as one of the lowest Grand Final scorelines in history.

Described as a battle of wits with discipline exemplified, the match was full of big moments; Steve Mortimer was controversially disallowed an early try, while Parramatta sharpshooter Mick Cronin uncharacteristically missed a penalty to level the scores with minutes remaining. 

Despite the Eels leading 4-nil at the break, Bugden - who was badly affected by an asthma attack at half-time - took it upon himself to dart through the Parramatta ruck and score just two minutes on resumption. Canterbury did not receive a single penalty in the second half.

It was a try that few Canterbury fans will forget, and it was ultimately the one that sealed the Club's fourth Premiership title. 

Brohman's clever ball playing put the Bulldogs in position to score again, however Parramatta - the defending three-time Premiers - withheld the pressure. 

Peter Kelly gave another unrelenting display, claiming man of the match honours, while Battese and Tunks certainly played their part in the victory, highlighting the faith and clever recruiting from Ryan and co. 

An intercept from O'Brien, and three cover tackles from Mortimer on Brett Kenny, Ray Price and his opposite Peter Sterling were among other highlights of the thrilling contest. 

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 6 (Mark Bugden try; Chris Mortimer goal) def Parramatta Eels 4 (Michael Cronin try)

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 1984 Premiers

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 1984 Season Statistics