Bill Harrigan has always rated the 1989 grand final the best game he has refereed - but that view may change when he watches a replay of Sunday night's National Rugby League grand final.

Harrigan, who launched his biography 'Harrigan: The referee in a league of his own' in Sydney, admitted he hadn't yet reviewed Penrith's 18-6 win over the Sydney Roosters at Telstra Stadium.

But his initial instinct was that this year's grand final classic would give Canberra's famous extra time win over Balmain 14 years ago a run for its money.

"As a game I have always said 1989 was the greatest game of football I have been involved in," Harrigan said.

"Sunday night is probably going to go close. I still don't know yet because I haven't had the opportunity to sit down and watch the game.

"I'm looking forward to having that opportunity. It's certainly up there. I know from my comparison on the field it was a great game of footy.

"From my perspective on my performance it was one of my best.

"The players did everything I asked of them, they got back the 10 metres, they marked up straight and that allowed me to put the whistle in the pocket and let the game flow."

It was a typical Harrigan performance, with only a handful of penalties in the entire match.

It seems that's been his style since he made his first grade debut in 1986 as a spritely 26-year-old.

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