Season Summary
For the first time, the number of points awarded for scoring a try was raised from three to four. There was also the introduction of a hand over if a team was caught in possession six times, which had the effect of killing the traditional scrum but attracted many new followers to a game that had seen crowds decline by fifty percent since the record year of 1968. To counter a lucrative illegal betting market, legal betting via FootyTAB was introduced and was a resounding success.
Twenty-six regular season rounds were played from February till August, resulting in a top five of Manly, Parramatta, Canterbury, Balmain and St. George who battled it out in the finals. Manly-Warringah managed 23 wins from 28 matches in 1983 - at the time the most wins in a season by a club in NSWRFL premieship history alongside Parramatta's 23 in 1982.
The 1983 season's Rothmans Medallist was Eastern Suburbs back, Michael Eden and the Dally M Award went to Western Suburbs' half, Terry Lamb. Rugby League Week gave their player of the year award to Manly-Warringah winger, Phil Sigsworth. This season the Cocal-Cola Coach-of-the-year award was voted for by the coaches in the League and was awarded to rookie coach Laurie Freier.
This was also the last year in the first-grade competition for foundation club the Newtown Jets, who were dropped at the season's end.
Read more about this topic: 1983 NSWRFL Season
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