In no particular these are my 10 biggest stories of 2015. Good, bad and in between, they have defined the game in season 2015.
1) Origin in Melbourne
State of Origin returned to the MCG for the first time since 1997. The record crowd of more than 90,000 was the largest for an Origin match ever and contributed to breaking the record for largest cumulative crowd in a single series.
While plenty argue that Origin should not be played out of NSW or Queensland, having a third game in neutral territory makes it more even and the record crowd and atmosphere generated were positive signs that other markets for Origin could be explored.
By impartial standards too the game that was played at the MCG was the best of the series. Game 1 had a dour second half and should have been won by the Blues if not for the ineptitude of their playmakers. Game 3 was wonderful for Queensland supporters and an exhibition of perfection but for anyone who craves a contest or goes for the Blues it was difficult to watch.
Origin at the MCG was a success and one that needs to be looked at moving forward.
2) Queensland claim back the shield
For Queensland is was the series that reaffirmed their place as one of the most dominant teams in rugby league history, winning 9 of the past 10 series.
While the Blues’ breakthrough last year was probably a bigger occasion it reaffirms what many already knew, that while the world-class spine still plays for Queensland they will always be a force to be reckoned with.
While the match at the MCG was good for the game, Game 3 at Suncorp was good for Queensland – both the players and the fans. Good is actually a big understatement. They were a masterclass of absolute perfection. They scored at will and never gave the Blues a chance to score after they kicked a penalty goal early in the piece.
The try to Michael Jennings was a small blemish on an otherwise record breaking and embarrassing loss to NSW.
To make matters worse for Blues fans, it sent one of their most hated opponents, Justin Hodges, out an undisputed winner.
3) Anzac Day controversy
It was the game won by the Rabbitohs that was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Whether it was the injury to Adam Reynolds, abuse shown to the referees by multiple Bulldogs players or the disgusting behaviour of the crowd, it was a game that marred the grand final rematch.
After a see-sawing affair that was seemingly going to be won a solitary point by the Bulldogs after an Adam Reynolds field-goal was missed in the dying stages, the game exploded. On video review it was shown that James Graham had made contact with the legs of Reynolds, leading to him leaving the field and being sidelined for weeks.
The ensuing penalty was from right in front in accordance with the rules. James Graham was poor in his role as captain as he continually abused and questioned the referee. David Klemmer followed suit berating Gerard Sutton to the point where was sent from the field.
The behaviour spread to the crowd where bottles rained down from the field as the referees exited, injuring an official. A Rabbitohs fan was hospitalised by a Bulldogs supporter who subsequently was banned from matches for a decade.
While the incident was laced with controversy it was also a gripping and tense game that made the repeat encounter all the more looked forward to.
4) James Ackerman
It was the death of a Queensland Cup footballer that set events in motion and divided public opinion on the issue of the shoulder charge.
James Ackerman was a young player with two kids and a wife who he tragically left behind when he passed away in June.
His death was found to be the result of a shoulder charge gone wrong.
It demonstrated just how serious the danger is in rugby league. While it is an isolated incident, it does reiterate exactly why the shoulder charge was outlawed in the first place.
It also inflamed debate around the shoulder charge. Some such as Phil Gould and Paul Gallen argued that it should be brought back, particularly after Kane Evans floored Sam Kasiano in a hit that showed how good the charge can be when done well. Others such as Andrew Johns and Cameron Smith said it was insensitive and inappropriate to call for it to return.
In either case the game had made a stance and tightened it after both Ackerman’s death and the Evans hit, handing down harsher and more frequent suspensions to players found guilty of a shoulder charge.
5) Jarryd Hayne
While no longer a rugby league player, he is the favourite son who made it when few thought he would. Critics, experts, fans, the sporting community in general commended a brave effort to walk away from a game in which he dominated to try his hand at a sport that he had never even attempted to play.
Very few thought he could make it onto a practice team, let alone win a place on the permanent squad.
His selection in the 49ers roster for the impending season is a momentous occasion for sport globally. Millions of students in the US each year go to college with a pipe dream of making it in one of the bigger global sports, Hayne stood down at the height of his powers before winning a premiership to pursue a dream.
That takes guts and it will not be a feat that is replicated any time soon for a number of reasons.
6) Cameron Smith and Alex McKinnon
It was the damaging 60 Minutes story where their were no winners. The Alex McKinnon story, warts and all, that highlighted the on-field behaviour of Cameron Smith immediately following the incident.
It hurt a man who was recovering from a very serious injury as he watched the footage while the camera was rolling and seemingly an abridged version that showed more of Smith’s bad side in the incident. It hurt Cameron Smith, a man who is normally considered a gentlemen of the game as it painted him in an uncomfortable light.
The public was critical of both Smiths behaviour on-field as well as McKinnon’s so-called victim mentality. Smith refused to speak with Channel Nine following Origin 3 just days later. It was an extremely disappointing story. 60 Minutes seemed content to let much of Smith’s story be unrepresented and instead leave him and his club to come out and bat for themselves in the days and the weeks following.
7) The Fifita brothers
The Fifita brothers cocked up well and truly when they allegedly abused junior officials in Western Sydney.
It continued a series of unfortunate events for the Cronulla club as they were put in the spotlight again for all the wrong reasons.
The dumb actions of two footballers who should have learnt their lessons long ago brought the sport into disrepute once again.
Their has already been much made of junior league issues and violence and this example set by senior players was a disappointing moment for the game in 2015.
8) Coaching cliches
Their never seems to be a season that goes by with the coaches being the same at the end as they were at the beginning. Before a ball was even kicked in 2015 Geoff Toovey’s fate was seemingly signed, sealed with it occupying the worst kept secret rumour space of 2015.
It was a kick in the guts for a coach who had gotten his side to the finals each year since his tenure began, including a grand final. He will not doubt have a coaching gig sometime in the near future.
For Rick Stone it wasn’t surprising. A coach who hadn’t been able to make it work before and who was taking on much of the same roster. After winning the first four games the Knights could only muster another four wins in the next 20 rounds of the competition. Their loss to a decimated Panthers side in Round 26 making them spooners for 2015.
9) Chris Sandow
Chrissy Sandow left the NRL in 2015 with no finals series to his name. The talented, diminutive halfback left with parting shots at his coach, his teammates and club legend Peter Sterling- a man who was critical of his performances.
The fact of the matter was that for all his talent and potential, the inconsistency that plagued his game, his poor defensive game and his attitude often got in the way of any prolonged success. Parramatta need players like Kieran Foran, Michael Gordon and Beau Scott in that you know what they are going to get.
Sandow has since failed to make any real impact in the Super League, a competition more suited to his talents and skill-set.
10) Golden Boot winner goes down with injury
Shaun Johnson went down in Round 20 against Manly and for all intents and purposes so did the Warriors season. From the prior round all the way to Round 26 the didn’t win a game and crashed out of the top four top eight and down into bottom four
While the Warriors are prolifically hot and cold, they haven’t made the finals in years but with Johnson carving up they really looked like making it in 2015. He was their main man in sticky situations and while it is a team sport it was clear as soon as his season was over that they would struggle.
With the Warriors looking forward to RTS and Issac Luke coming to the club in 2016 hopefully it will help share the load and pressure among players and see the club make the finals with a fully fit Johnson.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Joey Manu insists an All Blacks cap remains a distant goal, even if his impending switch to the 15-player game has experts excited about…
NRL signings, contracts and rosters for the 2024 season and beyond.
Former NRL star Blake Ferguson has had his contract shockingly terminated by the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs effective immediately, having played just one game for…
South Sydney winger Taane Milne is lucky to only be facing a ban of 2-3 matches for his nasty tackle on Cameron Munster in…
The Jackson Topine lawsuit raises issues of significant importance for player welfare and the duty of care owed to players by NRL clubs. In…
