# 1988 NSWRL season

The 1988 NSWRL season was the 81st season of professional rugby league football in Australia, and saw the first expansion of the New South Wales Rugby League Premiership outside the borders of New South Wales, and another expansion outside of Sydney, with the addition of three new teams: the Brisbane Broncos, Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast-Tweed Giants. The largest NSWRL premiership yet, sixteen clubs competed during the 1988 season, with the J J Giltinan Shield for minor premiers going to Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. The finals culminated in a grand final for the Winfield Cup between the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Balmain Tigers. This season NSWRL teams also competed for the 1988 Panasonic Cup.

## Season summary

1988 was the year of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations, and on 4 March, the season opened with the first game of rugby league played at the newly built Sydney Football Stadium. The St. George Dragons defeated the Eastern Suburbs Roosters 24–14. Easts and South Sydney would use the SFS as their home venue from 1988. This saw the end of both the Sydney Sports Ground (which closed due to the building of the SFS) and Redfern Oval as regular venues.
The brand new Brisbane Broncos club, featuring Australian Kangaroos captain Wally Lewis and starting their first ever season of football, played their first match against the previous season's premiers the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and won 44–10.
Eventual grand finalists the Balmain Tigers had a dreadful start to the season with six wins and five losses by the end of the first full round. But their plight was rescued by a masterstroke from their chief executive Keith Barnes. The Great Britain side was touring Australia that season and in strict secrecy Barnes negotiated to have the English captain and centre Ellery Hanley – judged the best player in the English competition the previous season and an undoubted world-class player – to join the Tigers. Barnes got to the NSWRL to register Hanley at 4:55 pm on 30 June, just five minutes inside the deadline for signing players for that season.
The 1988 season's Rothmans Medallist was Cronulla-Sutherland's Barry Russell. The Dally M Award went to Russell's teammate Gavin Miller, and Rugby League Week gave its player of the year award to Balmian's hooker, Ben Elias.
Twenty-two regular season rounds were played in total from March till August, with Cronulla-Sutherland winning their first ever minor premiership since joining the competition in 1967. Penrith and Balmain finished on equal points in fifth place and played each other for the place in the top five, alongside Cronulla, Canterbury, Canberra and Manly.
The grand finals;
* Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs Balmain Tigers (Senior Grade)
* Eastern Suburbs Roosters vs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (Reserve Grade)
* Parramatta Eels vs Eastern Suburbs Roosters (Under 21s Grade)
The winners in all grades were:
* Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (Senior Grade)
* Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (Reserve Grade)
* Parramatta Eels (Under 21s Grade)
The Tests;
* Australia vs Great Britain
* Australia vs Rest of the World
The State of Origin;
* Queensland vs New South Wales

### Teams

This season saw the premiership's first expansion since 1982 with the addition of three newly created teams: the Brisbane Broncos, the Gold Coast-Tweed Giants and the Newcastle Knights. This brought the League another step closer to becoming a national competition as a total of sixteen teams, the largest number in the tournament's history, contested the premiership, including five Sydney-based foundation teams, another six from Sydney, two from greater New South Wales, two from Queensland, and one from the Australian Capital Territory.

### Advertising

1988 saw the NSWRL move their advertising account from John Singleton Advertising to Hertz Walpole Advertising. There was initially however no shift in the prior campaign direction. For the second year running a visual and vocal performance by Australian rock journeyman John "Swanee" Swan was used. Swanee recorded a purpose-written jingle entitled "The Greatest Game of All" and a rock-clip style ad was shot on a stage setting with smoke, lights and fireworks. The performance footage was interspersed with game action.
Five years later Swan's younger brother Jimmy Barnes would also feature in an NSWRL season advertisement performing alongside Tina Turner.

## Regular season

| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | GF |
| Balmain Tigers | NOR +20 | PAR −20 | NEW −4 | WES +3 | MAN +2 | PEN −10 | BRI +8 | STG +8 | SOU −9 | CBY +11 | CRO −2 | EAS +10 | GCG +14 | CAN −24 | ILA +12 | NOR +10 | PAR +16 | NEW +2 | WES +6 | MAN −4 | PEN +2 | BRI +10 | PEN +20 | MAN +13 | CAN +8 | CRO +7 | CBY −12 |
| Brisbane Broncos | MAN +34 | PEN +2 | WES +34 | NOR +12 | PAR +6 | NEW +14 | BAL −8 | CRO −30 | EAS +4 | GCG −3 | CAN −20 | ILA +22 | STG +4 | SOU −12 | CBY −15 | MAN +18 | PEN +2 | WES +26 | NOR +18 | PAR −8 | NEW +16 | BAL −10 | | | | | |
| Canberra Raiders | ILA +20 | STG +24 | SOU +28 | CBY −5 | CRO +18 | EAS +36 | GCG +44 | PAR −28 | WES +14 | NOR −8 | BRI +20 | PEN −6 | MAN −6 | BAL +24 | NEW +18 | ILA +9 | STG +16 | SOU +33 | CBY −7 | CRO −22 | EAS +8 | GCG +20 | X | CBY −1 | BAL −8 | | |
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | GCG +11 | CRO +4 | EAS +4 | CAN +5 | ILA −6 | STG +14 | SOU +4 | PEN +6 | MAN −18 | BAL −11 | NEW +18 | PAR +28 | WES +25 | NOR −12 | BRI +15 | GCG +15 | CRO −8 | EAS +15 | CAN +7 | ILA +6 | STG +26 | SOU −4 | X | CAN +1 | CRO +18 | X | BAL +12 |
| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | SOU −1 | CBY −4 | GCG +1 | EAS 0 | CAN −18 | ILA +18 | STG +16 | BRI +30 | PEN +22 | MAN −14 | BAL +2 | NEW 0 | PAR +5 | WES +36 | NOR +4 | SOU +2 | CBY +8 | GCG +20 | EAS +18 | CAN +22 | ILA +8 | STG +2 | X | X | CBY −18 | BAL −7 | |
| Eastern Suburbs Roosters | STG −10 | SOU −2 | CBY −4 | CRO 0 | GCG +18 | CAN −36 | ILA −4 | NOR 0 | BRI −4 | PEN +22 | MAN +4 | BAL −10 | NEW +16 | PAR −4 | WES 0 | STG +21 | SOU −25 | CBY −15 | CRO −18 | GCG +24 | CAN −8 | ILA −21 | | | | | |
| Gold Coast-Tweed Giants | CBY −11 | ILA 0 | CRO −1 | STG −8 | EAS −18 | SOU −12 | CAN −44 | WES −20 | NOR −4 | BRI +3 | PEN −35 | MAN −28 | BAL −14 | NEW +9 | PAR +3 | CBY −15 | ILA +15 | CRO −20 | STG −2 | EAS −24 | SOU 0 | CAN −20 | | | | | |
| Illawarra Steelers | CAN −20 | GCG 0 | STG +16 | SOU −13 | CBY +6 | CRO −18 | EAS +4 | NEW +8 | PAR −22 | WES +16 | NOR −29 | BRI −22 | PEN −34 | MAN −16 | BAL −12 | CAN −9 | GCG −15 | STG −2 | SOU −2 | CBY −6 | CRO −8 | EAS +21 | | | | | |
| Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | BRI −34 | NOR +26 | PAR +52 | NEW +32 | BAL −2 | WES +20 | PEN −22 | SOU −14 | CBY +18 | CRO +14 | EAS −4 | GCG +28 | CAN +6 | ILA +16 | STG +16 | BRI −18 | NOR +4 | PAR +30 | NEW +8 | BAL +4 | WES −3 | PEN +14 | X | BAL −13 | | | |
| Newcastle Knights | PAR −24 | WES +4 | BAL +4 | MAN −32 | PEN −6 | BRI −14 | NOR −34 | ILA −8 | STG −12 | SOU +7 | CBY −18 | CRO 0 | EAS −16 | GCG −9 | CAN −18 | PAR +1 | WES −10 | BAL −2 | MAN −8 | PEN −11 | BRI −16 | NOR +32 | | | | | |
| North Sydney Bears | BAL −20 | MAN −26 | PEN −27 | BRI −12 | WES +7 | PAR +4 | NEW +34 | EAS 0 | GCG +4 | CAN +8 | ILA +29 | STG −8 | SOU 0 | CBY +12 | CRO −4 | BAL −10 | MAN −4 | PEN −5 | BRI −18 | WES +4 | PAR +6 | NEW −32 | | | | | |
| Parramatta Eels | NEW +24 | BAL +20 | MAN −52 | PEN −2 | BRI −6 | NOR −4 | WES −2 | CAN +28 | ILA +22 | STG −12 | SOU +8 | CBY −28 | CRO −5 | EAS +4 | GCG −3 | NEW −1 | BAL −16 | MAN −30 | PEN −4 | BRI +8 | NOR −6 | WES +4 | | | | | |
| Penrith Panthers | WES +20 | BRI −2 | NOR +27 | PAR +2 | NEW +6 | BAL +10 | MAN +22 | CBY −6 | CRO −22 | EAS −22 | GCG +35 | CAN +6 | ILA +34 | STG +4 | SOU +8 | WES +12 | BRI −2 | NOR +5 | PAR +4 | NEW +11 | BAL −2 | MAN −14 | BAL −20 | | | | |
| South Sydney Rabbitohs | CRO +1 | EAS +2 | CAN −28 | ILA +13 | STG +32 | GCG +12 | CBY −4 | MAN +14 | BAL +9 | NEW −7 | PAR −8 | WES +8 | NOR 0 | BRI +12 | PEN −8 | CRO −2 | EAS +25 | CAN −33 | ILA +2 | STG −2 | GCG 0 | CBY +4 | | | | | |
| St. George Dragons | EAS +10 | CAN −24 | ILA −16 | GCG +8 | SOU −32 | CBY −14 | CRO −16 | BAL −8 | NEW +12 | PAR +12 | WES +2 | NOR +8 | BRI −4 | PEN −4 | MAN −16 | EAS −21 | CAN −16 | ILA +2 | GCG +2 | SOU +2 | CBY −26 | CRO −2 | | | | | |
| Western Suburbs Magpies | PEN −20 | NEW −4 | BRI −34 | BAL −3 | NOR −7 | MAN −20 | PAR +2 | GCG +20 | CAN −14 | ILA −16 | STG −2 | SOU −8 | CBY −25 | CRO −36 | EAS 0 | PEN −12 | NEW +10 | BRI −26 | BAL −6 | NOR −4 | MAN +3 | PAR −4 | | | | | |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | GF |
Bold – Home game X – Bye Opponent for round listed above margin

### Ladder

| | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Cronulla | 22 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 507 | 330 | +177 | 34 |
| 2 | Canterbury (P) | 22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 412 | 268 | +144 | 32 |
| 3 | Canberra | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 596 | 346 | +250 | 30 |
| 4 | Manly | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 538 | 347 | +191 | 30 |
| 5 | Penrith | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 394 | 258 | +136 | 30 |
| 6 | Balmain | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 402 | 341 | +61 | 30 |
| 7 | Brisbane | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 474 | 368 | +106 | 28 |
| 8 | South Sydney | 22 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 425 | 383 | +42 | 24 |
| 9 | North Sydney | 22 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 366 | 424 | −58 | 20 |
| 10 | St. George | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 352 | 493 | −141 | 18 |
| 11 | Parramatta | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 359 | 412 | −53 | 16 |
| 12 | Eastern Suburbs | 22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 387 | 443 | −56 | 15 |
| 13 | Illawarra | 22 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 353 | 510 | −157 | 13 |
| 14 | Newcastle | 22 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 270 | 460 | −190 | 11 |
| 15 | Gold Coast-Tweed | 22 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 238 | 484 | −246 | 10 |
| 16 | Western Suburbs | 22 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 287 | 493 | −206 | 9 |
* South Sydney were stripped of 2 competition points due to an illegal replacement in one game.

### Ladder progression

* Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 5.
* Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
* Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.
| | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 1 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 |
| 2 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 32 |
| 3 | Canberra Raiders | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 |
| 4 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30 |
| 5 | Penrith Panthers | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| 6 | Balmain Tigers | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 |
| 7 | Brisbane Broncos | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 |
| 8 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 24 |
| 9 | North Sydney Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 |
| 10 | St. George Dragons | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| 11 | Parramatta Eels | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 |
| 12 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| 13 | Illawarra Steelers | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 |
| 14 | Newcastle Knights | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 |
| 15 | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| 16 | Western Suburbs Magpies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 |

## Finals

Balmain had staged a gripping charge for the final five, winning nine of their last eleven games including five in a row to leave them in equal fifth spot with the Penrith Panthers at the regular season's end. They then won four sudden death finals to make it to the Grand final.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Crowd |
| Playoff |||||||
| Penrith Panthers | 8–28 | Balmain Tigers | 16 August 1988 | Parramatta Stadium | Mick Stone | 14,206 |
| Qualifying Finals |||||||
| Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 6–19 | Balmain Tigers | 20 August 1988 | Sydney Football Stadium | Mick Stone | 25,327 |
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 19–18 | Canberra Raiders | 21 August 1988 | Sydney Football Stadium | Graham Annesley | 19,259 |
| Semi-finals |||||||
| Canberra Raiders | 6–14 | Balmain Tigers | 27 August 1988 | Sydney Football Stadium | Mick Stone | 28,879 |
| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 8–26 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 28 August 1988 | Sydney Football Stadium | Graham Annesley | 31,684 |
| Preliminary final |||||||
| Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 2–9 | Balmain Tigers | 4 September 1988 | Sydney Football Stadium | Mick Stone | 34,848 |
| Grand final |||||||
| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24–12 | Balmain Tigers | 11 September 1988 | Sydney Football Stadium | Mick Stone | 40,000 |

## Chart

| Qualifying final | Qualifying final | Qualifying final | Major semi-final | Major semi-final | Major semi-final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Preliminary final | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final |
| | | | 1 | Cronulla-Sutherland | 8 | | | | 2 | Canterbury | 24 |
| | | | 2 | Canterbury | 26 | | | | 5 | Balmain | 12 |
| 2 | Canterbury | 19 | | | | 1 | Cronulla-Sutherland | 2 | | | |
| 3 | Canberra | 18 | Minor semi-final | Minor semi-final | Minor semi-final | 5 | Balmain | 9 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Canberra | 6 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Manly | 6 | 5 | Balmain | 14 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Balmain | 19 | | | | | | | | | |

### Grand final

| Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Position | Balmain Tigers |
| Jason Alchin | FB | Garry Jack |
| 2. Glen Nissen | WG | 2. Russell Gartner |
| 3. Tony Currie | CE | 3. Ellery Hanley |
| 4. Andrew Farrar | CE | 4. Michael Pobjie |
| 5. Robin Thorne | WG | 5. Ross Conlon |
| 6. Terry Lamb | FE | 6. Mick Neil |
| 7. Michael Hagan | HB | 7. Gary Freeman |
| 13. Paul Dunn | PR | 13. Bruce McGuire |
| 12. Joe Thomas | HK | 12. Benny Elias |
| 11. Peter Tunks (c) | PR | 11. Kerry Hemsley |
| 10. David Gillespie | SR | 10. Paul Sironen |
| 9. Steve Folkes | SR | 9. David Brooks |
| 8. Paul Langmack | LK | 8. Wayne Pearce (c) |
| 14. Mark Bugden | Bench | 14. Scott Gale |
| 15. Brandon Lee | Bench | 18. Kevin Hardwick |
| 18. Steve Mortimer | Bench | 19. Steve Edmed |
| 23. Darren McCarthy | Bench | |
| Phil Gould | Coach | Warren Ryan |
This was the first grand final not to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Following Balmain's extraordinary late season run in winning thirteen of fifteen games, the stage was set for a grand final of great appeal. 1980s master coach Warren Ryan of Balmain was up against the club he had coached for four years to three grand finals and two premierships, as well as being matched against the man who had replaced him at Canterbury – Phil Gould. It was master against pupil. At just 30 years of age, Gould was vying not only to become the youngest coach to win a grand final but the first since Balmain's Leo Nosworthy in 1969 to steer a team to premiership victory in his first season coaching the top-grade.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs faced the Balmain Tigers on 11 September 1988 in the first grand final played at the Sydney Football Stadium and the last game for Steve Mortimer. The match was played early so that Channel Ten could broadcast the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The Australian national anthem was performed by Glenn Shorrock.
After five minutes Peter Tunks was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for treading on Ben Elias. The first points of the match were scored shortly after from Terry Lamb's successful penalty kick. Another penalty kick from Lamb put the Bulldogs in front 4 nil. However Balmain grabbed the first try an Elias put up a bomb and was first to the ball ahead of Bulldog Jason Alchin. Conlon's conversion from in front gave the Tigers the lead for first time at 6–4.
A highly controversial tackle by Terry Lamb put Balmain's in form British import Ellery Hanley out of the game before the 30-minute mark had been reached. Hanley staggered off, heavily concussed, with the score at 6–4. Under the rules of the time, Hanley was allowed 10 minutes to recover in the head bin. If he could not return he would need to be replaced. He returned just before half-time and stood, out-of-sorts, on the wing. The Bulldogs then ran in a 70-metre try from broken play and went to the break with a lead of 10–8.
Hanley did not return after half-time and the Bulldogs started to dominate. A great Canterbury team try to Michael Hagan sealed the match. Bruce McGuire scored Balmain's second try late in the match although the outcome was already clear. The match ended on a sentimental note when Gould called the Bulldogs' representative star, former captain and 271-game veteran, Steve Mortimer to the sideline. He was less than fully fit and had his arm heavily padded to protect the wrist he had broken early in the season. However Mortimer had been named as a fresh reserve as tribute to his previous club contributions and the match ended with him moving to dummy half and taking the ball up for the last time.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 Tries: Nissen, Hagan, Gillespie, Lamb Goals: Lamb 4
Balmain Tigers 12 Tries: Elias, McGuire Goals: Conlon 2
Clive Churchill Medal: Paul Dunn (Canterbury)

## Player statistics

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22.
| Points | Player | Tries | Goals | Field goals |
| 210 | Gary Belcher | 10 | 85 | 0 |
| 196 | Michael O'Connor | 17 | 64 | 0 |
| 164 | Ricky Walford | 15 | 52 | 0 |
| 161 | Alan Wilson | 7 | 66 | 1 |
| 155 | David Smith | 7 | 63 | 1 |
| Tries | Player |
| 19 | John Ferguson |
| 17 | Andrew Ettingshausen |
| 17 | Michael O'Connor |
| 15 | Wally Lewis |
| 15 | Ricky Walford |
| Goals | Player |
| 85 | Gary Belcher |
| 66 | Alan Wilson |
| 66 | Mark Ellison |
| 64 | Michael O'Connor |
| 64 | Ross Conlon |

## 1988 Transfers
### Players

| Player | 1987 Club | 1988 Club |
| Gavin Hanrahan | Balmain Tigers | Newcastle Knights |
| Phil Sigsworth | Balmain Tigers | Retirement |
| Terry Fahey | Canberra Raiders | Retirement |
| Jay Hoffman | Canberra Raiders | Retirement |
| Terry Regan | Canberra Raiders | Hull F.C. |
| David Boyd | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Newcastle Knights |
| Glen Frendo | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Newcastle Knights |
| Pat Jarvis | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Eastern Suburbs Roosters |
| Peter Kelly | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Penrith Panthers |
| Chris Mortimer | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Penrith Panthers |
| Peter Mortimer | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| Phil Hurst | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Canberra Raiders |
| Jim Leis | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Retirement |
| Brian Battese | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Canberra Raiders |
| Kevin Hastings | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Retirement |
| Glen Leggett | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Illawarra Steelers |
| Terry Matterson | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Brisbane Broncos |
| Gary Prohm | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Retirement |
| Tony Rampling | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Robert Simpkins | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Brad Tessmann | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Brisbane Broncos |
| John Tobin | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Retirement |
| Graeme Bradley | Illawarra Steelers | Penrith Panthers |
| Chris Close | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Mitchell Cox | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Retirement |
| Ron Gibbs | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Marty Gurr | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Leeds |
| Martin Meredith | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | Halifax |
| Simon Brockwell | North Sydney Bears | Retirement |
| Olsen Filipaina | North Sydney Bears | Retirement |
| Paul McCaffery | North Sydney Bears | Hull F.C. |
| Don McKinnon | North Sydney Bears | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
| Graeme Atkins | Parramatta Eels | Retirement |
| Michael Eden | Parramatta Eels | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Ernie Garland | Parramatta Eels | Western Suburbs Magpies |
| Neil Hunt | Parramatta Eels | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Stan Jurd | Parramatta Eels | Retirement |
| Ken Wolffe | Parramatta Eels | Retirement |
| Darryl Brohman | Penrith Panthers | Retirement |
| Tony Butterfield | Penrith Panthers | Newcastle Knights |
| Warren Fenton | Penrith Panthers | Retirement |
| Ben Gonzales | Penrith Panthers | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Chris Houghton | Penrith Panthers | Canberra Raiders |
| Craig Izzard | Penrith Panthers | Parramatta Eels |
| Brandon Lee | Penrith Panthers | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| David Liddiard | Penrith Panthers | Parramatta Eels |
| Glenn Miller | Penrith Panthers | Newcastle Knights |
| Mark Robinson | Penrith Panthers | Parramatta Eels |
| Joe Vitanza | Penrith Panthers | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Neil Baker | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Penrith Panthers |
| Michael Pobjie | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Balmain Tigers |
| Mark Ross | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Glenn Burgess | St. George Dragons | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Bronko Djura | St. George Dragons | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| John Fifita | St. George Dragons | Castleford |
| Marc Glanville | St. George Dragons | Newcastle Knights |
| Chris Johns | St. George Dragons | Brisbane Broncos |
| Billy Johnstone | St. George Dragons | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Billy Noke | St. George Dragons | Brisbane Broncos |
| Brian Quinton | St. George Dragons | Newcastle Knights |
| Tony Townsend | St. George Dragons | Newcastle Knights |
| John Bilbija | Western Suburbs Magpies | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Brett Clark | Western Suburbs Magpies | St. George Dragons |
| John Elias | Western Suburbs Magpies | Eastern Suburbs Roosters |
| Craig Ellis | Western Suburbs Magpies | Retirement |
| Paul Sheahan | Western Suburbs Magpies | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Gary Webster | Western Suburbs Magpies | Retirement |
| Les White | Western Suburbs Magpies | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Grant Rix | Fortitude Valley Diehards (BRL) | Brisbane Broncos |
| Allan Langer | Ipswich Jets (BRL) | Brisbane Broncos |
| Kerrod Walters | Ipswich Jets (BRL) | Brisbane Broncos |
| Geoff Bagnall | Norths Devils (BRL) | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Greg Dowling | Norths Devils (BRL) | Brisbane Broncos |
| Trevor Bailey | Past Brothers (BRL) | St. George Dragons |
| Peter Gill | Past Brothers (BRL) | St. George Dragons |
| Joe Kilroy | Past Brothers (BRL) | Brisbane Broncos |
| Clinton Mohr | Past Brothers (BRL) | St. George Dragons |
| Gary Smith | Past Brothers (BRL) | North Sydney Bears |
| Greg Conescu | Redcliffe Dolphins (BRL) | Brisbane Broncos |
| Jeff Doyle | Redcliffe Dolphins (BRL) | Newcastle Knights |
| Bryan Niebling | Redcliffe Dolphins (BRL) | Brisbane Broncos |
| Wally Lewis | Wynnum Manly Seagulls (BRL) | Brisbane Broncos |
| Gene Miles | Wynnum Manly Seagulls (BRL) | Brisbane Broncos |
| Colin Scott | Wynnum Manly Seagulls (BRL) | Brisbane Broncos |
| Brett Atkins | Castleford | Parramatta Eels |
| Neil James | Halifax | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Kerry Boustead | Hull Kingston Rovers | North Sydney Bears |
| Mark Hohn | Hunslet | Brisbane Broncos |
| Peter Smith | Leeds | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Gary Bridge | Oldham | Eastern Suburbs Roosters |
| Steve Halliwell | Wakefield Trinity | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants |
| Paul Bishop | Warrington | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks |
| Joe Ropati | Warrington | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles |
| Ellery Hanley | Wigan | Balmain Tigers |
| Adrian Shelford | Wigan | Newcastle Knights |
| Tony Kemp | Doncaster | Newcastle Knights |

### Coaches

| Coach | 1987 Club | 1988 Club |
| Wayne Bennett | Canberra Raiders | Brisbane Broncos |
| Warren Ryan | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Balmain Tigers |
| Tim Sheens | Penrith Panthers | Canberra Raiders |

## Great Britain Lions Tour

The 1988 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia was a tour by the Great Britain national rugby league team, nicknamed the 'Lions', of Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand which took place between May and July of 1988. The tour undertaken by the Great Britain team included a test match against Papua New Guinea, a three-test series against Australia for The Ashes, and a single test against New Zealand, all interspersed with matches against local club and representative teams.
The British team was coached by two-time premiership winner with Manly-Warringah, Mal Reilly, who had toured as a player in 1970. The team captain was Ellery Hanley who was making his second Lions tour as a player.
Taking place following the conclusion of England's 1987–88 Rugby Football League season and during Australia's 1988 Winfield Cup premiership season, the tour led to friction between the Great Britain team's management and the Australian Rugby League over match scheduling and promotion. The Lions finished the tour with ten wins and six losses. Unfortunately for the Lions, three of their losses came in the Test matches, two against Australia and one against New Zealand. One of their losses was a 30–0 thumping by reigning Premiers Manly-Warringah only 4 days before the 1st Ashes test.
| Game | Date | Result | Venue | Attendance |
| 1 | 27 May | Great Britain Lions def. North Queensland 66–16 | Cairns Showgrounds, Cairns | 4,181 |
| 2 | 1 June | Great Britain Lions def. Newcastle Knights 24–12 | Marathon Stadium, Newcastle | 8,970 |
| 3 | 5 June | Northern Division def. Great Britain Lions 36–12 | Scully Park, Tamworth | 4,000 |
| 4 | 7 June | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles def. Great Britain Lions 30–0 | Brookvale Oval, Sydney | 21,131 |
| 5 | 11 June | Australia def. Great Britain 17–6 | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | 24,480 |
| 6 | 16 June | Great Britain Lions def. Combined Brisbane 28–14 | Lang Park, Brisbane | 1,810 |
| 7 | 17 June | Great Britain Lions def. Central Queensland 64–8 | Browne Park, Rockhampton | 4,418 |
| 8 | 22 June | Great Britain Lions def. Toowoomba / S-E Queensland 14–0 | Athletic Oval, Toowoomba | 3,874 |
| 9 | 25 June | Great Britain Lions def. Wide Bay 28–12 | Albert Park, Gympie | 2,310 |
| 10 | 26 June | Australia def. Great Britain 34–14 | Lang Park, Brisbane | 27,130 |
| 11 | 3 July | Great Britain Lions def. Western Division 28–26 | Wade Park, Orange | 3,520 |
| 12 | 5 July | President's XIII def. Great Britain Lions 24–16 | Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan | 6,037 |
| 13 | 9 July | Great Britain def. Australia 26–12 | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | 15,944 |