League: Year ends in celebration for Bulldogs

The Bulldogs' year started in controversy and ended in triumph last night as they ruined Brad Fittler's farewell with a 16-13 win over the Sydney Roosters in the NRL grand final at Telstra Stadium.

Seven months after sexual assault allegations rocked the club, the Bulldogs came from 13-6 down at halftime against the minor premiers to win their first premiership since 1995.

Barnstorming second rower Willie Mason, who won the Clive Churchill Medal as the best player in the grand final, was their hero with a magnificient individual performance in the absence of skipper Steve Price.

"It's been an unreal year for the Bulldogs," Mason said.

"To my teammates we have been through hell this year and this is what it's all about. It's unreal. I love youse all."

Price watched from the sideline - wearing his No 10 jersey - with a knee injury.

"This is the result we wanted," said an emotional Price, who celebrated the victory on the shoulders of his teammates.

"It's a fantastic reward for everybody who stuck by us."

Roosters skipper Fittler, on the other hand, finished his magnificent career in grand final defeat - the club's third premiership deciding loss in the past five years.

"We played tough but we just dropped so much ball," Fittler said.

"That's just what happens. There were a few missed opportunities last year. We only had a few this year. We only have ourselves to blame."

The day started well for the Roosters when their Jersey Flegg and Premier League sides won their grand finals, putting them on track to become the first team in more than 40 years to win all three grades.

The Bulldogs needed to score first in the second half - and they did.

Willie Tonga, who spent most of the match engaged in a running battle with his Sydney Roosters counterpart Justin Hodges, got the better of his fellow Queenslander in the 44th minute.

That opened the smallest of gaps for Matt Utai and the powerful winger held off Anthony Minichiello and Chris Flannery to score, video referees Chris Ward and Graeme West ruling Utai had got the ball down before his foot went over the sideline.

Hazem El Masri converted to reduce the gap to one point.

El Masri then put the Bulldogs in front for the first time in the game in the 53rd minute.

Halfback Brent Sherwin drifted across field, threw two dummies and found the former Test winger with an inside ball.

El Masri looked to be held up over the line in the tackle of Ryan Cross and Minichiello, put produced a second effort to dive over, converting his own try to give the Bulldogs the lead 16-13.

Only desperate Roosters defence stopped the 'Dogs extending their lead.

In the 64th minute Mason was held up over the line by Hodges and Peter Cusack.

Then it was the Bulldogs' turn to show some desperation with stand-in captain Andrew Ryan leading the way.

Chris Walker charged through a hole only to be cut down in a last-ditch tackle by Ryan in the 70th minute.

With only seconds remaining Ryan repeated the effort on Michael Crocker.

"This is the best thing ever," Ryan said.

"I can't believe it. That is the best thing ever."

The Bulldogs celebrated the win by dousing coach Steve Folkes in Gatorade and carrying Price on their shoulders.

Both sides pulled selection surprises before kick-off.

The Roosters promoted club stalwart Peter Cusack straight into the starting side for the suspended Luke Ricketson, pushing Adrian Morley to the back row.

The Bulldogs brought Reni Maitua into the starting side for Price, pushing Willie Mason to the front row.

The sides made a botch of the opening five minutes with numerous turnovers.

Once they settled down it was Fittler who put his stamp on the match, producing a deft left-foot kick for a flying Walker.

Walker slid over and Craig Fitzgibbon converted to give the Roosters a 6-0 lead in the 14th minute.

Nine minutes later the Bulldogs hit back thanks to a Crocker knock-on and a poor read in defence by Walker.

Andrew Ryan's cut-out pass found Utai in an open pasture and the New Zealander slid over in the corner.

In the 28th minute the game was back on level terms when the Roosters were penalised for being off-side and El Masri converted

Then the Roosters went to work.

Brett Finch gave his side a one-point edge in the 34th minute when he piloted over a field goal from 30 metres and, less than a minute later, they scored their second try of the match through Anthony Minichiello.

Forward Anthony Tupou, who started on the bench, went between Tony Grimaldi and Corey Hughes, drew Luke Patten and sent Minichiello under the posts.

Fitzgibbon converted and the Roosters led by seven.

- AAP