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The regular season is over, and as we head into one of the most exciting finals series in recent memory eight teams and their fans are drowning their sorrows with tap beer and odd clothing.
It would be too harsh to say that they failed, as I’m sure not all teams start a year with a premiership in mind. But for those missing the exhilaration of finals footy by points differential or just one win, it is a much larger uncoated tablet to swallow.
Four teams vied for the final spot in Rounds 25 and 26. Three failed.
For these three, the focus is now on 2015.
New Zealand Warriors
Unlike the two succeeding teams, Warriors do not provide much hope for the future. Another season, another disappointing campaign. The Warriors have never lacked talent. In fact, they are one of the most naturally talented teams in the competition.
Just imagine a team with one of the most impressively skilled halves in the world, an England international and star at fullback, a backline of impressive force, skill and power – and a forward pack to match.
You need not imagine, just catch the red-eye to Auckland. So why do Warriors consistently disappoint?
They have changed their coach more times than I’ve changed my opinion on Ray Warren’s commentary. Andrew McFadden has looked promising after he replaced Matthew Elliot this year, but has not been able to curb the unbelievable inconsistency of the men from across the ditch.
If you send Craig Bellamy, Des Hasler or Wayne Bennett there will anything change? Possibly, but I doubt it.
The Warriors problem must be culture. This inconsistency has been a stalwart of their 20-year existence, and has been reproduced by each generation of greatly talented Kiwi men.
Their brand of football is more suited for the National Youth Competition. They have a distinct lack of professionalism and willingness to stand toe to toe and get gritty.
I’ll freely admit I am not in the know on the Warriors. I don’t understand the complete intricacies of their faults, but leave a comment if you do. However, what I can definitively say is a team as talented as they are can no longer meddle in mediocrity; they must strive for excellence in 2015.
Parramatta Eels
The Eels were well poised to head into September with impressive form and enough gusto to cause the Heavyweights of the competition some discomfort.
But as spectacularly as they rose, they fell. After surprising Manly at home with an exciting comeback victory that put all other teams on notice, they got humiliated by a resurgent Newcastle Knights outfit and 2014’s perpetual cellar dwellers, the Canberrra Raiders.
What went wrong?
When you consider they started this season after two wooden spoon efforts, many would consider the fact they threatened to enter September a success. It is hard to be disappointed in a team who was a legitimate joke of a sporting institution this time last year becoming a respectable, threatening and exhilarating team.
Eels fans should remain very optimistic for future campaigns. Some of their gallant forward pack have only just started to shave their bum fluff moustaches, with Tepai Morroa (18), Pauli Pauli (20) and Junior Paulo (20) having many good years ahead of them.
Add on top of that the big name signing of Anthony Watmough and the Eels pack looks increasingly daunting. The halves pairing of Corey Norman and Chris Sandow should also look in 2015 to continue to build their strong partnership with consistency the key, as Sandow will want to prove that he can constantly implement the game plan instead of trying to impatiently steal games.
As a team, they must learn to work hard for each other in defence- turning to tissue paper every second week does not win you premierships.
With arguably the most talented player in the world out the back in Jarryd Hayne, a skilled halves pairing and a developing forward pack, I am looking forward to the thrilling brand of football the Eels could produce in 2015.
St George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons outfit that began 2014 is a far cry from the one that finished it. After a promising start, Dragons quickly descended into a shell of their former glory, a team constantly man handle and humiliated by more apt opposition.
Next scene. Steve Price exits stage left, Paul McGregor enters. [Quiet applause]
While Dragons were always outsiders to make the finals, the fact that they got back into contention is impressive in itself. A respectable run of six wins in nine starts demonstrated to the rugby league world that the Dragons were more than capable.
What if McGregor had an entire season?
I wrote around the time of Paul McGregor’s signing that Dragons most important problem was their underwhelming forward pack. While they have admittedly done better than I expected, it is a problem that still needs addressing.
They currently lack the firepower to compete with the more impressive and hefty packs of the competition, seeming to have a forward pack entirely comprised second rowers. They have been linked to Bulldogs enforcer Sam Kasiano and will need players of his power to set the foundation for the Dragons exhilarating backline.
Dragons fans have good reason to be excited about the brand of football Dragons are capable of in 2015, with stars like Brett Morris, Josh Dugan, Gareth Widdop and Benji Marshall comprising one of the best backlines in the competition.
An entire off-season and some key signings in the forwards should make the 2015 campaign for the St George Illawarra Dragons an intimidating prospect for opposition teams.
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