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Don't get too excited Roosters, the minor premiership can be the kiss of death

James Tedesco of the Roosters in action during the round 25 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Expert
3rd September, 2018
27
1186 Reads

Roosters’ fans can be forgiven for crowing over their coach Trent Robinson’s fourth NRL minor premiership in six years at the helm.

That’s no mean feat in the toughest rugby league competition on the planet.

But the minor premiership has proven to be a poisoned chalice more often than not in NRL history.

The current format of 16 teams kicked off in 2007 with the addition of the Gold Coast Titans.

That celebrated 100 years of rugby league competition in Australia, and the tenth year under the auspices of the NRL.

In the 11 completed seasons since, only four minor premiers have held aloft the coveted Norm Provan and Arthur Summons trophy.

The Storm was the first in 2007, suffering a double whammy when the club had the minor premiership, and the premiership, stripped of their honours after being found guilty of rorting the salary cap.

In 2010, St George-Illawarra took out the double, as did the Roosters in 2013, and the Storm last year.

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Melbourne Storm celebrate another premiership

The Melbourne Storm (AAP Image/David Moir)

But the other seven minor premiers all bit the dust.

In 2008, the Storm were the minor premiers, but were hammered 40-0 in the big one by Manly. The Storm were also stripped of that honour in the rorting scandal.

In 2009, the minor premier Dragons were beaten 25-12 by Parramatta in the qualifying final, and with their second chance went down 24-10 to the Broncos. The Storm defeated the Parramatta 23-16 in the grand final.

In 2011, the Storm as minor premiers, were beaten 2012 by the Warriors in the semis, with Manly taking out the decider 24-10.

In 2012, the minor premier Bulldogs were beaten 14-4 by the Storm in the grand final.

In 2014, the Roosters were minor premiers, but were beaten by South Sydney in the semis with the Rabbitohs going on to win 30-6 over the Bulldogs in the big one.

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In 2015, the Roosters were again minor premiers but were beaten 31-12 by the Broncos in the semis, with the Cowboys winning their first premiership with a golden point 17-16 success, thanks to a Johnathan Thurston drop goal.

In 2016, the Storm were again minor premiers, but were beaten 14-12 by the Sharks in the grand final – the Sharks’ first premiership in 50 years.

And here we are in the 12th year of the current format, and the Roosters are minor premiers for the fourth year in six, but only winning one premiership.

Can they defy history in the closest competition ever – with just two points covering the top eight teams?

And can Trent Robinson overcome two coaching icons in Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy?

So buckle up rugby league fans, the rest of the season promises to be a fascinating and rocky ride.

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