BROTHERS swept to a record-breaking fifth successive Brisbane first grade premiership with an 18-3 grand final victory over Easts at Ballymore on Sunday, September 23 1984.

University (1954-57) and Brothers (1980-83) had shared the previous best of four successive titles. 

Easts, playing into a strong wind in the first half, began strongly and went into the lead in the 30th minute with a field goal from five-eighth Greg Tighe. 

Brothers drew level nine minutes later when Lavin kicked his first penalty goal after Easts’ backs were caught offside. 

The score was 3-3 at halftime and Easts looked set to win their first premiership. 

But the Brothers forwards took control after the break, scoring 15 of their points between the 52nd and 66th minutes. 

Their burst began with a field goal by five­ eighth Tony O’Sullivan and was followed up with two penalty goals from halfback Peter Lavin and a superb solo try from winger Paul Frisby. Lavin converted. 

Neither side made good use of possession and it was not an entertaining match for the crowd of about 10,000. 

Brothers’ coach Ron Price said he was concerned at halftime that his side had not made sufficient use of the wind. 

He was also worried because they had conceded 10 penalties to five. 

“I told them during the break we had to stop giving away penalties,” Price said. 

”They did that and once the forwards got on top, things really started rolling.” 

Easts’ coach Mike Thomas believes Frisby’s converted try was decisive as it extended Brothers’ lead from 9-3 to 15-3.

Frisby’s try, the only one of the match, followed a forward surge by Easts. 

Brothers surprisingly won the ball from a ruck. Second-rower Shane Nightingale burst clear and passed to O’Sullivan who cleared Frisby. 

The lanky winger weaved his way through some weak Easts tackling in a 45-metre run to the line. 

“I don’t know how we lost the ball in that ruck,” said Thomas. “We set it up and they scored.” 

In the final 15 minutes, Brothers controlled the trend of the game with a monopoly of possession from line-outs and second-phase situations. 

Nightingale, Damien Frawley and captain Tony Shaw combined to eclipse Easts 21-7 in the line-outs. 

Easts wasted most of their possession with poor tactical kicking to Brothers fullback Paul Mills. 

Tigers wingers Dean Roberts and Michael Brooks were scantily used as Tighe and centre Brett Scott pressured Mills. 

“We wanted to try Mills out, but we overdid it,” said Thomas. 

Brothers also wasted possession with poor backline passing in the first half, but the dominance of their forwards more than compensated. 

The result was a triumph for retiring Brothers coach Ron Price, who will stand for the State position next season. 

Price has coached Brothers to five premierships and guided them to victory yesterday after they had lost to Easts in the major semifinal a fortnight ago. 

“I’m not really concerned with personal records, but it speaks volumes for our club that we can win this five years in a row,” he said after the match. 

Brothers’ hero was halfback Peter Lavin, who contributed 11 points from three penalty goals and a conversion from four kicks at goal. 

Lavin announced his retirement amid jubilant scenes in Brothers’ dressing room. 

“This is my last year and it’s great to go out a winner,” the 32-year-old dynamo said. 

Brothers’ forwards were superb, especially Michael Crank, Damien Frawley, Shane Nightingale and captain Tony Shaw. 

Easts’ hopes of winning their first grand final appearance since 1971 were dashed by errors and poor goalkicking. 

Centre Brett Scott, the scorer of 205 points this season, missed all three penalty attempts. 

The Tigers’ only points came from a field goal by Greg Tighe in the 30th minute. 

Coach Mike Thomas, speaking in a sombre Easts dressing room, conceded his side made too many mistakes. 

“That’s probably the worst we’ve played all year,” said Thomas. 

The match began sensationally with two brawls between the rival forward packs in the opening 10 minutes. 

BROTHERS 18 (P. Frisby try; P. Lavin goal, 3 pen goals; T. O’Sullivan field goal) defeated EASTERN DISTRICTS 3 (G. Tighe field goal). 

BEST ON FIELD:

Brothers – Lavin, Shaw, Frawley, Shane Nightingale, Crank.

Easts: Hassall, Thomas Georgantis. 

*****

ROTHMANS MEDAL-WINNING halfback Guy Sanders led University to a 12-6 success over Brothers in a tough reserve grade grand final at Bellymore.

The Students clung to a narrow 6-3 advantage at half time, which was only cemented in the closing quarter of the match. 

Uni were pressuring in Brothers’ territory when five-eighth Brett Williams dummied across field and delivered a perfect inside flick pass to young fullback Michael Delacy. 

Delacy appeared held, but shrugged off several Brothers defenders to dash between the posts. 

Sanders’ conversion plus two earlier penalty goals added the extras.

UNIVERSITY 12 d BROTHERS 6.

*****

BROTHERS broke an 11-year-drought in third grade when coach Denis Greathead guided them to a 12-7 win over University. 

The Brethren fought through four finals matches to clinch the title from fifth place.

BROTHERS 12 d UNIVERSITY 7. 

*****

THE FOURTH GRADE premiership decider was a triumph for former Tongan international Faiti Kefu and half Phil White. 

Kefu coached Souths’ premiership ­winning third grade combination last winter and was in the winners’ circle again after the Magpies’ 10-6 win over Brothers. 

White is a former first grade and Queensland B prop who made the move to halfback last year because of a nagging back injury. 

White kicked two penalty goals and scurried over for a clever blind-side try just before halftime to dominate Souths’ scoring.

SOUTHS 10 d BROTHERS 6.