Rugby league’s centenary season was supposed to be a celebration of all that is great in the game. And for the most part it was.
However rugby league’s ability to toss up controversy continued to overshadow the game’s most important year with poor sportsmanship by officials, player misbehaviour and fading loyalty again dominating headlines.
Below is a snapshot of highs and lows of 2008.
HIGHLIGHTS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Melbourne fullback BILLY SLATER stamped himself as a superstar and was without doubt the most exciting player to watch in 2008. Named the world’s best player. He would have won the Dally M medal too if not for a punching suspension.
Honourable mentions: MATT ORFORD and BRENT KITE. Snubbed by NSW Origin selectors the Manly stars turned on brilliant seasons to inspire their side to premiership glory. Orford won the Dally M medal and Kite the Clive Churchill medal.
BEST WIN OF THE YEAR: Manly’s 40-0 premiership win over Melbourne was the largest victory in grand final history. Despite the lopsided scoreline it was fast, entertaining and exciting – everything rugby league fans pay money to see.
Honourable mention: Brisbane’s 30-26 win over Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium in round 12. Darren Lockyer chip-kicked on the fulltime siren for Denan Kemp to score his fourth try of the game and break the deadlock.
UPSET OF THE YEAR: New Zealand’s World Cup final triumph over Australia had to be seen to be believed. The Kangaroos were overwhelming favourites and had swept all before them until the Suncorp Stadium decider. The Kiwis’ 34-20 win had controversial under-tones – with a crucial penalty try – but the better team won on the day.
Honourable mention: Warriors 18 bt Melbourne 15. The first time the eighth-placed team has beaten the first since the NRL brought in the final eight system. Given no chance at kick off, a try to Michael Witt in the final minutes saw the Warriors upset Melbourne on home soil.
TRY OF THE YEAR: GREG INGLIS and his superman effort to set up one of the tries of the century in the Centenary Test at the SCG. He leapt over the deadball line and threw a pass back over his head in mid-air for Mark Gasnier to score. Amazing.
Honourable mention: Manly’s BRETT STEWART. Not once, not twice, but three times in the grand final he magically threw passes either around his back, between his legs or off the ground for Sea Eagles tries. Thoroughly entertaining.
QUOTE OF THE YEAR: “You’ve sent a dumb forward off and you’ve sent off our smart hooker. It’s unfair.” – Gold Coast captain SCOTT PRINCE to ref Shayne Hayne during match v Wests Tigers.
SURPRISE OF THE YEAR: The Warriors’ fairytale finish to get to within one win of the grand final after qualifying in eighth place. They won 10 of their last 13 games and without a recognised halfback almost made the decider. Their bearded tribute to retiring Ruben Wiki was another highlight.
Honourable mention: It wasn’t pretty but somehow Cronulla finished level with Melbourne and Manly on top of the ladder at the end of the regular season. World Cup minnows Fiji, otherwise known as the “god squad”, also rate a mention for their run to the semi-finals.
FAREWELL OF THE YEAR: Manly champion STEVE MENZIES leaves the NRL with a second premiership and tied on a record 349 games with Terry Lamb.
Honourable mentions: RUBEN WIKI. The Warriors grew beards in honour of their spiritual leader and then almost made the grand final. WAYNE BENNETT departed the Broncos for the Dragons after more than two decades and six premierships as coach in Brisbane. Legendary JACK GIBSON, coach of the Team of the Century, who passed away on the day of the Centenary Test.
LOWLIGHTS
DUMMY SPIT OF THE YEAR: Australian coach RICKY STUART’s abusive tirade at World Cup referee Ashley Klein the day after his team lost the final to New Zealand. Fined $20,000, it ultimately caused him to walk away from the job. Sore loser.
Dishonourable mention: Melbourne coach CRAIG BELLAMY and chief executive BRIAN WALDRON’s stunning press conference attack on the media and NRL judiciary for Cameron Smith’s finals suspension. A $50,000 whinge.
WALK OUT OF THE YEAR: $ONNY BILL WILLIAMS. His exit to rugby union in France, only weeks after assuring club bosses he was happy to see out the remaining four years on his contract, left many disillusioned fans.
CONTROVERSIAL OFF-FIELD INCIDENT OF THE YEAR: Cronulla star GREG BIRD’s alleged wounding of his girlfriend. Stood down from the Sharks’ finals campaign, it left his career in limbo.
BLUNDER OF THE YEAR: BILLY SLATER and his World Cup final brain explosion. His blindside run and wild pass on his goal line to gift Benji Marshall a Kiwi try went a long way to ensuring the Kangaroos lost.
DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR: Hard to separate North Queensland and Parramatta. Both should have played in the finals, threatened for the title even, but hardly fired a shot. Both start 2009 with new coaches.
Dishonourable mention: NSW’s performance in State of Origin II. The 30-0 loss was the largest in Origin history and set up Queensland’s third series win in a row. And England.
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