The 2004 Sydney Roosters season was the 97th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2004 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season 1st, taking out the minor premiership before going on to reach the grand final which they lost to the Bulldogs.
Results
Round Opponent Result Syd. Opp. Date Venue Crowd 1South Sydney RabbitohsWin261614 MarSydney Football Stadium16,5162Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesWin422020 MarBrookvale Oval18,6743Canterbury BulldogsWin35026 MarSydney Football Stadium26,4654Penrith PanthersLoss6222 AprTelstra Stadium25,8525Brisbane BroncosLoss14269 AprSydney Football Stadium23,1186Newcastle KnightsWin322218 AprEnergyAustralia Stadium22,1267St George-Illawarra DragonsWin11825 AprSydney Football Stadium26,2468Canberra RaidersWin2882 MaySydney Football Stadium11,0679Wests TigersWin2208 MaySydney Football Stadium11,78910Cronulla SharksWin381815 MayToyota Park14,32111BYE 12New Zealand WarriorsWin58630 MaySydney Football Stadium10,07813Canterbury BulldogsLoss12404 JunTelstra Stadium22,57214BYE 15Newcastle KnightsWin48418 JunSydney Football Stadium11,67816Wests TigersWin56025 JulCampbelltown Stadium18,66917North Queensland CowboysWin32223 JulSydney Football Stadium16,12718Parramatta EelsLoss122614 JulParramatta Stadium10,11819St. George Illawarra DragonsWin181416 JulSydney Football Stadium27,18320South Sydney RabbitohsWin221224 JulSydney Football Stadium13,56421Melbourne StormWin26101 AugOlympic Park10,29122Cronulla SharksLoss12268 AugSydney Football Stadium13,74223Penrith PanthersWin441213 AugSydney Football Stadium27,18324Canberra RaidersWin382222 AugCanberra Stadium15,31225New Zealand WarriorsWin241829 AugEricsson Stadium8,01926Parramatta EelsWin48105 SepSydney Football Stadium24,114Qualifying FinalCanberra RaidersWin381212 SepSydney Football Stadium18,325Preliminary FinalNorth Queensland CowboysWin191626 SepTelstra StadiumGrand FinalCanterbury BulldogsLoss13163 OctTelstra Stadium82,127
Notable events Due to a favourable draw, the Sydney Roosters did not play a premiership match in Queensland, although they did play a pre-season match there. The Sydney Roosters finished at the top of the table joint with the Bulldogs, but won the minor premiership on percentage. The Roosters beat the Wests Tigers twice in 2004 by scorelines of 22–0 and 56-0 in Rounds 9 and 16 respectively. It was the first time in almost 40 years that a single team had held their opponent scoreless over two matches. An unsavory incident occurred in Round 3 when a bottle was thrown onto the field as Brett Finch knocked on from the restart in their match against the Bulldogs. He allegedly threw it back to the crowd, and received a warning from the NRL for his actions. Justin Hodges was sent off in the team's Round 13 loss to the Bulldogs, costing him his place in that year's Queensland State of Origin side. The Roosters trailed 14–0 at halftime in their Round 19 match against the Dragons before coming back to win 18–14. Two of the Roosters' losses came against teams that failed to make the finals that year (Parramatta in Round 18 and Cronulla in Round 22). The other three losses were against teams that finished in the top four (Panthers in Round 4, Broncos in Round 5 and Bulldogs in Round 13). In June 2004 the Roosters were subject to salary cap troubles which resulted in wooden spoon betting being suspended after a bet of $50 was placed on the Roosters to finish last that season. However, the Roosters were cleared of any salary cap wrongdoing.
References