Due to a perceived emphasis in the game on defence, NRL referees were instructed to call out "surrender tackle" this season when ball carriers submit at the ruck, signalling the defence to slow down the tackle in order for defenders to reset. The first round of the season began on Friday, 12 March with
2003 champions, the
Penrith Panthers losing 14–20 to the
Newcastle Knights before a crowd of 19,936 at
Penrith Stadium. During a match between the Broncos and the Tigers, the Broncos fielded 14 men at one stage of the
Campbelltown Stadium match. In the 60th minute, Brisbane's
Shane Webcke knocked out by Tiger
Bryce Gibbs.
Corey Parker was brought onto the ground while Webcke was still being assisted off. Parker immediately scored off a
Darren Lockyer pass and started a Broncos revival (they trailed 24–8 at halftime) which later saw them win 24–32. But, after the fourteenth man was investigated, the Broncos were stripped of the two competition points, which were reinstated weeks later. A significant comeback was seen in a round 25 clash between the
St George Dragons and
Manly. Trailing 34–10 after 53 minutes, St. George Illawarra came back to win the match 36–34. This match stood in second-place in the rankings of the biggest comebacks in Australian premiership history. Several players and coaches also made the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Jamie Lyon walked out on the
Parramatta club after the first round citing burnout and dissatisfaction with living in Sydney, and would later move to the UK for a successful
Super League career. Coaches
Daniel Anderson and
Paul Langmack would have their contracts terminated at the
New Zealand Warriors and
South Sydney Rabbitohs respectively.
Andrew Johns was injured in
Newcastle's third game of the season against Parramatta, and subsequently missed the remainder of the season. The Knights missed the finals of the NRL for the first time since
1996. 2004 was also notable for the emergence of teenage players
Sonny Bill Williams (
Bulldogs) and
Karmichael Hunt (
Brisbane Broncos), and their performances, mature beyond their years, would be critical to the fortunes of their clubs. A quirk of the draw meant that the
Sydney Roosters did not play a premiership match in Queensland during the season, while there was only one
Queensland derby contested during the regular season, in round six in Townsville. The grand finals: • Canterbury Bulldogs vs Sydney Roosters (NRL) • St George Illawarra Dragons vs Sydney Roosters (NSW Cup) • Cronulla Sharks vs Sydney Roosters (NSW Jersey Flegg Cup) The winners in all grades were: • Canterbury Bulldogs (Seniors Grade) • Sydney Roosters (NSW Cup) • Sydney Roosters (NSW Jersey Flegg Cup) The test match • Australia vs New Zealand The State Of Origin Series • Queensland vs New South Wales
Teams The line-up of fifteen teams for the 2004 premiership remained unchanged from the previous season.
Advertising In 2004 the NRL and their advertising agency MJW Hakuhodo continued with their use of the
Hoodoo Gurus' 1987 hit "What's My Scene" with reworked lyrics as "That's My Team". In addition to the big 60-second season launch TV commercial, three shorter executions were produced: one targeting young men, another targeting women and one aimed at families. In a year where sexual assault allegations damaged perceptions and the reputation of the code, retaining female fans was seen as a massive challenge.
Statistics and records •
Anthony Minichiello ran 4,590 metres with the ball in 2004, more than any other player in the competition. •
Hazem El Masri's tally of 342 points from 2004 still stands as the individual record for most points scored in a season in Australian club rugby league history. • The
St. George Illawarra Dragons's club record for their biggest comeback was set at 24 points when they came from 34–10 down with only 25 minutes remaining to win 36–34 against the
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. • The Brisbane Broncos' 10–0 loss to the Cowboys was their first ever against the Townsville-based club, and the first time they had been held scoreless in Queensland. • The
Wests Tigers were held scoreless in consecutive weeks (rounds 15 and 16), those two rounds, the Tigers conceded 50+ points, a 50–0 loss to
St. George Illawarra Dragons in round 15 and a 56–0 loss to the
Sydney Roosters in round 16. Also the Tigers were held scoreless twice against the Roosters, the other time, a 22–0 scoreline in round 9. • The
North Queensland Cowboys' round 25 clash against the
Wests Tigers was their first match broadcast by the
Nine Network since round 1, 1995.
Ladder ==Finals series==