2015 NRL grand final - wikipedia 2015 NRL grand final 2015 ( 2015 ) NRL Grand Final ( ) Brisbane Broncos North Queensland Cowboys 16 17 GP1 Total BRI 14 0 16 NQL 12 17 Date 4 October 2015 Stadium ANZ Stadium Location Sydney, NSW, Australia Clive Churchill Medal Johnathan Thurston Australian National anthem Jessica Mauboy Referees Gerard Sutton Ben Cummins Attendance 82,758 Broadcast partners Broadcasters Nine Network Commentators Ray Warren Phil Gould Peter Sterling Wally Lewis NRL Grand Final ← 2014 2016 → The 2015 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership - deciding game of the 2015 NRL season and was played on Sunday 4 October at Sydney 's ANZ Stadium between the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys. North Queensland won the match 17 -- 16 in golden point extra time, claiming their first premiership title in their twentieth year of competition. Due to its dramatic ending, the match has been regarded as one of the greatest grand finals in rugby league history, drawing comparisons with the 1989 NSWRL Grand Final and the 1997 ARL Grand Final. Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston, who kicked the winning field goal for his team, was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal as the best player on the ground. Pre-match entertainment was headlined by Australian rock band Cold Chisel. Contents 1 Background 1.1 2015 Season 2 Teams 3 Opening Games 3.1 U20s Grand Final 3.2 NRL State Championship 4 Match summary 4.1 1st half 4.2 2nd half 4.3 Extra time 4.4 Post-match 5 Aftermath 6 See also 7 References Background The Brisbane Broncos qualified for their first grand final appearance since 2006, and had never previously been defeated in a grand final, winning all six they have featured in -- 1992, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2006, and 1997 for Super League. It was Broncos coach Wayne Bennett 's eighth involvement in a grand final after coaching the club in all of their previous grand final appearances, and winning a premiership title for the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2010. The North Queensland Cowboys reached the premiership deciding game for the second time in their history since their inception into the competition in 1995, after losing to the Wests Tigers in their first appearance in 2005. It was the second time in history that no New South Wales team had featured in the grand final after 2006 which featured the Broncos up against the Melbourne Storm, and is the first time that a grand final featured two Queensland - based clubs. It was also the first time that two clubs captained by Indigenous Australians played a NRL grand final. 2015 season Brisbane, who finished second in the regular season ladder, and North Queensland, who finished third, faced each other during the first week of the finals series in a qualification game, with the Broncos prevailing 16 - 12 in a tight contest at Suncorp Stadium to earn a week off and the right to host a grand final qualifier. The Broncos defeated minor premiers the Sydney Roosters 31 - 12 in the preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium to claim the first spot in the grand final. In losing to the Broncos, North Queensland were forced to play an extra week in the finals and faced the sixth - placed Cronulla - Sutherland Sharks at their home venue of 1300SMILES Stadium, beating them convincingly 39 - 0. They then qualified for the grand final after defeating the Melbourne Storm 32 - 12 in their preliminary final at AAMI Park. Teams Brisbane Broncos Position North Queensland Cowboys Darius Boyd Fullback Lachlan Coote Corey Oates Wing Kyle Feldt Jack Reed Centre Justin O'Neill Justin Hodges ( c ) Centre Kane Linnett Jordan Kahu Wing Antonio Winterstein Anthony Milford Five - eighth Michael Morgan Ben Hunt Halfback Johnathan Thurston ( c ) Sam Thaiday Prop Matt Scott ( c ) Andrew McCullough Hooker Jake Granville Adam Blair Prop James Tamou Alex Glenn 2nd Row Gavin Cooper Matt Gillett 2nd Row Ethan Lowe Corey Parker Lock Jason Taumalolo Jarrod Wallace Interchange Rory Kostjasyn Mitchell Dodds Interchange John Asiata Joe Ofahengaue Interchange Scott Bolton Kodi Nikorima Interchange Ben Hannant Wayne Bennett Coach Paul Green Opening Games U20s Grand Final Sunday, 4 October 1 : 35pm ( AEDT ) Penrith Panthers U20s 34 -- 18 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles U20s ANZ Stadium, Sydney Jack Gibson Medal : Soni Luke NRL State Championship Sunday, 4 October 3 : 45pm ( AEDT ) Newcastle Knights 12 -- 26 Ipswich Jets ANZ Stadium, Sydney Man of the Match : Matt Parcell Match summary Sunday, 4 October 7 : 30pm ( AEDT ) Brisbane Broncos 16 -- 17 North Queensland Cowboys Tries : Corey Oates ( 7 ' ) 1 Jack Reed ( 34 ' ) 1 Goals : Corey Parker 2 / 2 ( 6 ' pen, 9 ' ) Jordan Kahu 2 / 2 ( 35 ', 43 ' pen ) Golden Point Report Tries : 1 ( 10 ' ) Justin O'Neill 1 ( 25 ' ) James Tamou 1 ( 80 ' ) Kyle Feldt Goals : 2 / 3 Johnathan Thurston ( 12 ', 26 ' ) Field Goals : 1 ( 83 ' ) Johnathan Thurston ANZ Stadium, Sydney Attendance : 82,758 Referee / s : Gerard Sutton & Ben Cummins Clive Churchill Medal : Johnathan Thurston 1st half After an even opening five minutes, the first points of the game were scored by the Broncos in the sixth minute, when a Cowboys handling error in midfield followed shortly by a penalty allowed Corey Parker to kick a 40 - metre penalty goal. The Broncos then returned the first tackle after the restart for the opening try of the game, after a late offload on his own ten - metre line from Adam Blair to Anthony Milford allowed Milford to set up a line - break down the left wing, culminating in a try to Corey Oates ; Parker converted the try and Brisbane led 8 -- 0. The Broncos then knocked on shortly after the restart, and North Queensland scored its opening try from the ensuing scrum set piece, with Jake Granville breaking the line to set up Justin O'Neill for the try ; Johnathan Thurston converted and Brisbane led 8 -- 6. North Queensland nearly scored again three minutes later, with Oates making a try - saving tackle on Kyle Feldt after a pass from Lachlan Coote. Over the ensuing fifteen minutes, North Queensland had the better of possession and field position. In the 24th minute, attacking from a repeat set which had followed a grubber kick, James Tamou took the first pass out of dummy half and scored under the posts ; Thurston converted the try to give North Queensland a 12 -- 8 lead. Brisbane scored an opportunistic try in the 34th minute, when Thurston lost the ball in a tackle in North Queensland territory, and Matt Gillett recovered for Brisbane and broke the line to put Jack Reed over for a try ; Jordan Kahu converted and Brisbane regained a 14 -- 12 lead which it took to half time. 2nd half Jordan Kahu scored a penalty goal in the 43rd minute to give Brisbane a 16 -- 12 lead. From that point, the game played out as a defensive battle in Brisbane territory. North Queensland had the better of possession and territory, and generated several repeat sets in attack, but the Cowboys were unable to score due to a combination of their own erratic attacking play and Brisbane 's stout goal line defence. Brisbane actively sought to defend its lead, kicking for touch on sixth tackle throughout most of the second half to kill the clock and manage fatigue. North Queensland 's two closest opportunities came in the 61st minute, when Kane Linnett dropped a cut - out pass from Thurston which would have seen Linnett score ; and in the 64th minute, when Coote was tackled around the legs by Gillett just short of the try line -- Coote reached out to put the ball over the line and was penalised for a double movement. With four minutes remaining, and the ball deep in North Queensland 's territory, Ben Hunt conceded a penalty for a dangerous lifting tackle on Linnett, giving North Queensland field position. North Queensland failed to score on the ensuing set ; but on Brisbane 's following set, the Broncos failed to get to a sixth tackle kick, after Feldt stripped the ball one - on - one from Hunt at midfield on fourth tackle with one minute remaining. North Queensland attacked, and on the sixth tackle, Michael Morgan ran to the right side, cut in to draw three Brisbane defenders, then flicked a short outside pass to Feldt who scored just inside the right corner as time expired. Thurston 's attempted game - winning conversion hit the near upright and bounced out, leaving the game tied at 16 -- 16. Extra time North Queensland kicked off first in extra time, and the opening kick - off was knocked on by Ben Hunt, immediately giving North Queensland an attacking scrum on Brisbane 's ten - metre line. North Queensland set up for the game - winning field goal, and after aborting attempts on the first and third tackles due to strong defensive pressure from the Broncos, Johnathan Thurston scored with the short - range field goal on fifth tackle to win the game 17 -- 16. Post-match At the post-match ceremony, Johnathan Thurston received the Clive Churchill medal as best on ground. This was then followed by the championship ring ceremony and the co-captains holding the Provan - Summons trophy. Thurston drew praise for his post-match conduct, notably consoling Ben Hunt. Many consider the image of Thurston hugging his daughter to be the ' best image ' of the grand final. Aftermath Main article : 2016 World Club Series Both grand finalists, North Queensland and Brisbane, as well as minor premiers the Sydney Roosters, qualified for the second World Club Series, played in the 2016 pre-season against clubs from the English Super League. See also Queensland derby 2015 NRL season NRL Premiership winners References Jump up ^ Newman, Paul ( 4 October 2015 ). `` NRL Grand Final : North Queensland Cowboys beat Brisbane Broncos in golden - point thriller ''. ABC News ( Australia ). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 5 October 2015. Jump up ^ Brad Walter ( 5 October 2015 ). `` NRL Grand Final 2015 : North Queensland Cowboys triumph in top three grand final wins of all time ''. The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, NSW. Retrieved 7 October 2015. Jump up ^ https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/oct/05/cowboys-thurston-inspired-victory-ranks-up-there-with-the-best-of-all-time Jump up ^ Walter, Brad ( 30 September 2015 ). `` Indigenous captains Johnathan Thurston and Justin Hodges create grand final history ''. Brisbane Times. Retrieved 13 October 2017. Jump up ^ Walter, Brad ( 10 June 2016 ). `` Cody Walker proud to be among highest Indigenous representation in an NRL game ''. The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 13 October 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Thurston kicks Cowboys to premiership ''. National Rugby League. Retrieved 7 October 2015. Jump up ^ `` Cowboys win classic NRL Grand Final ''. Triple M. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015. Jump up ^ `` Kane Linnett the most relieved man in Australia ''. News.com.au. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015. ^ Jump up to : Tom Decent ( 5 October 2015 ). `` 2015 NRL grand final : Ben Hunt 's three minutes of horror ''. Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, NSW. Retrieved 7 October 2015. Jump up ^ https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/live/2015/oct/04/nrl-grand-final-brisbane-broncos-v-north-queensland-cowboys#block-561100a2e4b06bd936f9cb34 Jump up ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3264162/Cowboys-star-Jonathan-Thurston-says-adorable-two-year-old-loves-attention-dark-skinned-doll-received.html Jump up ^ https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/oct/08/its-the-connollys-the-guardians-end-of-season-nrl-awards Jump up ^ Adrian Proszenko ( 7 October 2015 ). `` Cowboys, Broncos and Roosters to represent NRL in World Club Series ''. The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, NSW. Retrieved 7 October 2015. 2015 in rugby league `` 2014 2016 '' International Competitions World Club Series Anzac Test New Zealand tour of Great Britain Pacific Internationals European Cup Pacific Games World Cup qualifying Americas Asia - Pacific Middle East - Africa Related articles RLIF Awards Rugby League World Golden Boot Award Great Britain Competitions Super League Results Grand Final RFL Championship Results The Summer Bash Championship 1 Results Challenge Cup League 1 Cup Teams Castleford Tigers Catalans Dragons Huddersfield Giants Hull FC Hull KR Leeds Rhinos Salford Red Devils St Helens Wakefield Wildcats Warrington Wolves Widnes Vikings Wigan Warriors Related articles Bradford Bulls London Broncos Steve Prescott Man of Steel Awards Australia Competitions State of Origin 2015 NRL season Nines Results Grand Final National Youth Competition Results State Championship Queensland Cup New South Wales Cup Ron Massey Cup BRL premiership By club Brisbane Broncos Canterbury - Bankstown Bulldogs Canberra Raiders Cronulla - Sutherland Sharks Gold Coast Titans Manly - Warringah Sea Eagles Melbourne Storm Newcastle Knights New Zealand Warriors North Queensland Cowboys Parramatta Eels Penrith Panthers South Sydney Rabbitohs Sydney Roosters St. George Illawarra Dragons Wests Tigers Related articles All Stars match Dally M Awards Northern Pride Townsville Blackhawks Other New Zealand Papua New Guinea United States NRL Grand Finals 1998 2017 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2015_NRL_Grand_Final&oldid=805145502 '' Categories : NRL Grand Finals Brisbane Broncos matches North Queensland Cowboys matches 2015 NRL season Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from July 2015 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 13 October 2017, at 10 : 53. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who won the nrl grand final in 2015
Answer: North Queensland Cowboys