Brace yourselves this weekend for what shapes to be the start of a virtual final four knockout tournament in the quest become the NRL’s Team of the Decade.
While this title is not formally recognised, it is one of the most topical amongst fans when reflecting on historical records.
St George clearly were the team of the 1950s and 60s, Manly lay the strongest claim to the 1970s best, Canterbury and Parramatta shared the 1980s title, while Brisbane slightly edged out Canberra in the 1990s, although the debate still rages.
All four teams lining up in the Preliminary Finals have the ability to finish in the top four based on a ratings system that includes:
– Minor Premiership – 1pt
– Finals Week One elimination – 1pt
– Finals Week Two elimination – 2pts
– Finals Week Three elimination – 3pts
– Grand Final loss – 4pts
– Premiership – 8pts
This points system does mean that only the Melbourne Storm or the Sydney Roosters can be crowned NRL team of the decade, with Storm sitting on 35 points ahead of the Roosters on 28 points.
With some lean years during the decade, South Sydney and Cronulla are positioned further back on 18 and 17 points respectively.
If either were to win back-to-back titles, they would still not accrue enough points to overtake Storm or Roosters, even though they would be the only club to win three Premierships this decade – perhaps a flaw in this points system.
Coincidently, this week marks 10 years since the last Team of the Decade battle when Storm faced off against the Brisbane Broncos in Week 2 of the 2008 NRL Finals at Suncorp Stadium.
This turned out to be the match of the decade with the pulsating clash being decided in the final seconds with Broncos forward Ashton Sims dropping the ball in a hit up within their own 10m that was ultimately swooped up by the Storm and quickly spread wide for Greg Inglis to score the winning try in the corner.
50,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium had never sounded louder and quieter in those moments.
The match had many history-making moments, similar to what lies ahead this weekend. It was coach Wayne Bennett’s last season at the Broncos after 20 years before heading to St George Illawarra.
Three Broncos players had been caught in an off-field incident the weekend prior, similar to the off-field dramas South Sydney are dealing with at the moment.
Cameron Smith was suspended for a grapple tackle on Sam Thaiday, for which he missed Storm’s Grand Final loss to Manly.
At the time, Sims’ dropped ball arguably altered the race for team of the decade. As had the Broncos defeated the Storm, they were very well positioned to defeat Cronulla and ultimately Manly to win their third premiership of the decade, securing Team of the 2000s. In the end they were the only team to officially win two titles.
There very well could be decade defining moments over the next two weeks of NRL finals. Added to the drama are retirement of two legendary players in Billy Slater and Luke Lewis.
The most fascinating sub-plot to this unfolding story is Storm legend and current Roosters half-back Cooper Cronk, who quite possibly could lead the tri-colours to Premiership success over the next two seasons. In doing so, this would see the Roosters overtake Storm to become the team of the 2010’s.
And what a better way for Storm and Roosters to be put to the test in this quest than for them to square off against the most fiercest recent and historical rivals in the Sharks and Rabbitohs respectively.
So much to history and future folklore to be made and revealed over the next week of NRL finals.
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All the team list information for Round 9.
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