Benji weaves his magic for the Tigers in 2005 against the Cowboys. File photo / Getty Images
Today's match could produce the latest Kiwi triumph in the NRL's showpiece event. Michael Burgess looks at the best so far.
1 1987: Darrell Williams
The 24-year-old Williams became the first Kiwi to lift the NRL's greatest prize, playing at centre for Manly who beat Canberra (featuring Brent Todd) 18-8. Williams had played the entire season with torn anterior and medial cruciate ligaments in his knee and needed six painkilling injections before the match. It broke a nine-year drought for Manly and Williams joked that the celebrations "lasted a month".
2 1989: Brent Todd's pass
The lumbering Todd was the ultimate solid no-frills prop who hit the ball up solidly and made his tackles. In this grand final he suddenly decided to throw a pass just before he reached the defensive line. It was intercepted by ex-Wallaby James Grant who scored, helping the Tigers to a 12-2 halftime lead. Commentator Graeme Hughes enthused that Balmain "were on the edge of a dream" - their first premiership since 1969 - but the Green Machine's amazing second half comeback saw them win 19-14.
3 1994: Jason Williams' try
The nippy left winger was the 10th Kiwi to play in a grand final and the first to score a try, with a typical trademark dash to the corner. Unfortunately it was a consolation as the Raiders - featuring Quentin Pongia and young centre Ruben Wiki - overwhelmed the Bulldogs 36-12 to give Mal Meninga the perfect send-off. Williams and fellow Kiwi Daryl Halligan would celebrate the next year when they beat Manly in the final.
4 1996: Matthew Ridge's restart
No stranger to controversy, Ridge was at the centre of the most controversial moment of the match. Just before the break, the fullback grubbered an audacious short kickoff and regathered spectacularly. He was collared by Nathan Brown but got up and ran on, with the Dragons expecting him to play the ball. The referee allowed it and Steve Menzies scored, extending Manly's lead to 14-2 and breaking the back of the Dragons.
5 1999: Tawera Nikau's toughness
A performance that will live long in grand final folklore. The Storm hauled in a 14-0 halftime deficit to beat the Dragons 20-18 and Nikau, as well as compatriot Steve Kearney, were at the forefront. "I remember sitting in the dressing room and [coach] Chris Anderson was giving us a bit of a speech," says Nikau. "I just turned to 'Mooks' [Kearney] and said 'lets just go out there and bash them'." Their physical approach turned the game and many observers were surprised when Brett Kimmorley was adjudged man of the match ahead of Nikau.
6 2002: Stacey Jones' try
This was unparalleled individual brilliance. In the 46th minute, Jones received an offload from Jerry Seuseu near halfway. From a standing start, Jones burst past three Roosters forwards, glided around Anthony Minichiello then beat the desperate cover of Brad Fittler. "You have just seen one of the greatest grand final tries," raved commentator Paul Vautin, as the Warriors went ahead 8-6. The match was in the balance. Moments later, 19-year-old five eighth Lance Hohaia put Logan Swann through a half-gap but he couldn't make the pass to a flying Justin Murphy and the Roosters eventually won 30-8.
7 2003: Joe Galuvao and Tony Puletua
With their thick mops of curly hair, they became known as the "hair bears" but there was nothing cuddly about these two second-rowers. The Kiwi duo gave a physical edge to the Panthers, especially with their storming runs on the fringes. A week earlier, they had helped to overwhelm the Warriors in the preliminary final; now the defending champion Roosters were in their sights. In a brutal match in the Sydney rain, the New Zealand pair subdued their highly rated opposites Craig Fitzgibbon, Adrian Morley and Michael Crocker. Galuvao plays his third grand final today.
8 2004: Sonny Bill Williams' hit
Few 19-year-olds have made such an impact on a grand final. The rookie, playing in just his 15th NRL match, was one of the best on the park. His first half shoulder charge on Chris Flannery rocked ANZ Stadium. If he was already tipped for a big future, this game confirmed superstardom as the Bulldogs came back from a 13-6 halftime deficit to spoil Brad Fittler's farewell match. Kiwi winger Matt Utai was another big performer, the second of his two tries a massive effort as he showed huge strength to hold off three defenders centimetres from the touchline.
9 2005: Benji Marshall's magic
"Who tries that? Who does that in a grand final" asked Vautin, incredulous at what he had just seen. Vautin's bemusement was prompted by a 20-year-old Marshall, who had just come up with one of the greatest plays ever seen on grand final day. Receiving the ball five metres off his tryline in the 35th minute, Marshall ducked and dodged past four Cowboys defenders to sprint away. He careered over halfway but, as the cover came across, looked like he had nowhere to go, with the sideline looming. Cue an outrageous behind-the-back flick pass to Pat Richards who scored. The Tigers, who had trailed to a Matt Bowen try, led 12-6 and were never headed.
10 2010: Jason Nightingale's brace
Last year's decider featured nine Kiwis, the most since 2002, when 11 New Zealanders were on the field. Dragons right winger Nightingale scored twice in the third quarter to change the match. The Roosters had led 8-6 at halftime as St George fans wondered if their 31-year hoodoo would continue but Nightingale's tries in the 46th and 60th minutes eased the nerves in the red and white corner. With fellow Kiwis Jeremy Smith and Nathan Fien firing, St George went on to win 32-8.