ARL 1995 Premiers /

Season 1995 provided the very best and some of the very worst moments in the Club's illustrious history. To finish as it did with a Premiership underlined the quality and tenacity of the Bulldogs spirit.

The Club made two major decisions ahead of kick-off; the first to change the Club's name to the 'Sydney Bulldogs', and the other to move home games to Parramatta Stadium. Neither of which would last, reverting back to Canterbury-Bankstown and Belmore Sports Ground in 1996. 

With the Super League war looming and the loss of four key members of the squad - Dean Pay, Jim Dymock, Jason Smith and Jarrod McCracken - the Bulldogs faced disaster.

Head Coach Chris Anderson made his intentions clear: "There was a heavy atmosphere around at the time and an atmosphere of not being together, but we never tried to hide the problem. I got on with trying to win football games."

While The Family Club had a chink in its armour, they prided themselves on its tight unity, ability to withstand storms, face up to realities and get on with life. And that is exactly what they did. 

Following a horror 42-nil loss to Newcastle in Round 13, CEO Peter Moore took charge, taking the playing squad on a harbour cruise to ease tensions.

He mustered his troops with a stirring Churchillian-like speech, highlighting the significant of Terry Lamb's final year in the top grade.

Terry's downstairs at the moment and because of him we have more money and more great memories. We owe him the right to hold the Winfield Cup on his last game. Think about it. Let's get back to doing what we do best. Let's do it for Terry.

His full speech lasted three minutes, and it was the prologue to a remarkable story that would have the perfect ending.

A three match streak ensued, losing only two of the remaining 13 matches of the season, including the Club's biggest win - a 66-4 thrashing of the Cowboys at Belmore in the final round.  

As they had done so in previous finals campaigns, the Bulldogs lifted the intensity; they defeated old foes St George 12-8 in a dramatic victory at the SFS, before knocking out heavyweights Brisbane 24-10. 

Perhaps the sweetest victory came in the Preliminary Final, where the side avenged their Grand Final defeat from the previous year against the Canberra Raiders in style, 25-6. Afterwards Moore simply stated: "That was one of our great wins." 

The miracle concluded against Minor Premiers Manly, who were runaway favourites after just two losses throughout the season. 

But in the 17-4 boilover, the Sea Eagles' only points came from penalty goals in the first half, with the Bulldogs defensive masterclass keeping them try-less for the only time that season.

Young forward Steve Price opened the scoring off the back of some well-timed offloads, Glen Hughes finished off a movement on the left with his first touch of the ball, while scintillating fullback Rod Silva sealed the result next to the posts. 

While Lamb eventually went around again one more time, doing so now as a Premiership Captain, the year also marked the final one for Moore, ending a wonderful 26-year tenure that saw the Club capture five titles from 1980. 

Sydney Bulldogs 17 (Glen Hughes, Steve Price, Rod Silva tries; Daryl Halligan 2 goals; Terry Lamb field goal) def Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 4 (Matthew Ridge 2 goals)

Sydney Bulldogs 1995 Premiers

Sydney Bulldogs 1995 Season Statistics