Wherever you stand on the great argument on whether the game, and it's players were better in days gone by, or in the present, it's hard to deny this game's place in history. It may well go down as the greatest day in domestic Australian Rugby League history. It certainly must be rated as the pinnacle moment in unlimited tackle football. For on this day the ground record was set at the Sydney Cricket Ground (78 056), St George set the all time record for consecutive premierships for any code of football (10), Norm Provan set the premiership record for the most grand final appearances (10), and the NSWRL made a record profit from the match to boot!

The day started out as most other grand finals did: with a huge line up at the SGC gates not long after dawn. In fact, many of them had gathered there the night before, wrapped up in blankets and leaning on eskies and picnic baskets. The promise of the all conquering Saints up against a young, brilliant South Sydney side, who had won both encounters 14-4 and 17-8, attracted so many fans that the gates were closed at 1.00pm by police. many thousands were stranded outside, and, despite police warnings, began to clamber onto the rooftops of the grandstands. Some even climbed the 4 storey high pavilions in the adjoining showgrounds . In fact, by kickoff, police estimated that a further 20 000 people were perched atop the old structures of Moore Park, taking their lives in their hands!
In the dressing rooms, Saints captain Norm Provan settled himself for the record breaking task at hand. After having faced it all on 9 previous occasions, he still faced the pre match butterflies. He was later to admit that he wondered how long the golden run could go on. Souths had beaten them twice already in 1965. Was this the day the bubble would burst?
Souths were eager to get as many points as they could get. They opened scoring with a brilliant penalty goal from halfway by Kevin Longbottom. Soon after, Provan, George Evans and Reg Gasnier combined to put Billy Smith over out wide. Greame Langlands missed the conversion from the sideline, but landed a penalty goal only a few minutes later for Saints to lead 5-2.
St George's premiership successes had been won on a foundation of their forward's brutality. Souths, however, matched them this day. This made for a very entertaining first half, as the young Rabbitohs, John O'Neill, John Sattler and Ron Coote gave back as good as they got. Star Saints lock John Raper sustained a broken thumb, but played on. Referee Col Pearce barely managed to keep the lid on the burgeoning war on the field, which was only relieved when Souths were awarded another penalty on halfway, on the stroke of half-time. Longbottom set up the shot for goal, and hit a magnificent kick which sailed straight between the posts, and almost out of the ground. The kick was estimated to have travelled 70 yards on the fly! At half-time, Saints were up 5-4, but the kick had lifted Souths spirits.
As John Raper get his thumb strapped in the dressing rooms at half time, police were having trouble moving masses of fans off the ground back into the squash of people behind the fence. This actually delayed the second half kick off. However, once on the field, Langlands decided to make up for lost time, and kicked off before Souths were ready. Big John O'Neill knocked on, and gave ST George valuable field position deep inside Souths half. The more experienced Dragon's pack kept the play there, and frustrated Souths. A penalty for a Rabbitoh infringement in the play the ball saw Langlands land an easy goal for a 7-4 lead.
Desperate to get out of trouble, South winger Mike Cleary dashed out of dummy half, and kicked downfield, finding touch 30 yards away. South won the ensuing scrum, and they sent the ball out wide to Bob Moses, who put a desperate kick in towards the St George in goal. Raper was there to clean him up, but so was a flying Cleary, who swamped him with a brilliant tackle. That forced a goal line drop out, and left Cleary hurt. But now Souths had the field position.
With 20 minutes to go, another penalty on halfway saw Longbottom with his third long range attempt at goal. The kick, again, was sweet, and the crowd rose to applaud his display. Souths were now only a point behind at 7-6. However, soon after, Saints were awarded a penalty in a similar position. Langlands took the shot, and ever the champion, answered Longbottom's challenge with his own towering long range goal. Again the crowd roared it's approval. At 9-6 in front, Saints decided it was time. But Souths weren't quite ready to throw in the towel just yet.
The Dragons decided to give the ball some air, and Reg Gasnier ended up in a huge gap with no one on front. However, a brilliant cover tackle from Ron Coote brought him to ground short of the line. A few minutes later, Coote repeated his brilliant effort with a try saver on Billy Smith. However, the superior talent of St George was starting to show. Second rower Elton Rasmussen put John King through a gap, and the flying winger raced 20 yards to score in the corner. It was the 6th consecutive grand final that he had scored in. Langlands missed the conversion, but at 12-6, Saints looked comfortable
With 11 minutes remaining, Souths got a penalty from close range. Eric Simms put the ball over, and at 12-8, Souths were a converted try away from the premiership. They steeled themselves for one final effort. However, Saints also steeled themselves for the onslaught. The final 11 minutes were frustrating for Souths. despite pounding the Dragons line, it held firm. Kevin Ryan, Brian Clay and Raper were unmoveable in defence, and with on the back of Ian Walsh's 11-6 dominance in the scrums, Saints claimed their 10th premiership.
Norm Provan was chaired from the field for the last time. Amid a sea of fans who had spilled out onto the ground, he lifted the J. J. Giltinan Shield, and set off with his team on the lap of honour for the 10th time. It is doubtful that anyone will ever achieve that feat again.

Police try in vain to persade spectators from the roof of the old Bob Stand at the SCG

St George 12 (W Smith, J King tries, G Langlands 3 goals) defeated South Sydney 8 (K Longbottom 3, E Simms goals)

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