So the NRL grand final is upon us and we should all be getting excited and preparing for the big night.
The only problem is that – with the exception of the supporters of the two clubs involved – we are really struggling to care that the game is on, let alone who wins.
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It’s hard to think of a match up that has ever struggled more to have a people’s favourite.
Both the Roosters and the Storm are almost impossible to like.
So why do the majority of us league supporters hate them? Let’s take a look, starting with the Storm.
Melbourne Storm
Rorting the salary cap
The idea that the Storm dynasty was set up with deliberate and systematic cheating in regards to the salary cap still irks most of us. While the Storm were stripped of the 2007 and 2009 titles, most of us feel that the Sea Eagles and the Eels should be awarded those titles – because unless this happens then they are the Storm are really still the premiers for those seasons.
The irritating question that hangs in the back of your mind is whether the Storm dynasty would have happened if they had remained within the rules.
Chicken wing/ grapple tackles/ wrestling
If there is something that drives all opposition supporters mad it is the idea that the Storm win because they push the edge of the rules as hard as they can. The grapple tackles, chicken wings and the interminable wrestling have driven me and multitudes of others berserk for well over a decade now.
It seems as one practice is stamped out they figure out a new tactic. And they always seem to be one step ahead of NRL HQ and the referees as well.
Lead referee Cam Smith
The sight of Cam Smith constantly talking to the referees and seemingly influencing the game makes even a rationale human apoplectic with rage. Especially when pretty much every other teams captain gets ignored, disrespected or waved away when they try to do the same.
Cam Smith the referees whisperer is just the worst.
Cam Smith chats to the ref (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Colin Whelan)
The Purple people
What’s worse than a crowd that doesn’t even know the rules and truly believes that their side has a divine right to win – along with a bloke constantly and inanely smashing on a cowbell?
The Cronulla bloke with the trumpet at least plays a tune – over and over and over again – but at least it’s musical. The cowbell is just pitiful.
Studs out Slater
Billy the Teflon kid seems to barely ever get done. Whether it’s sliding towards players studs first, or Kung fu kicking opponents while taking bombs, or shoulder charging to stop tries, Slater never seems to get called to account for actions that would see others get lengthy suspensions – at least in the opinion of his detractors that is.
Cam Smith’s low rent grubbery
The image of Cam Smith deliberately and dishonourably attacking the injured knee of Raiders captain Jarrod Croker in the 2016 preliminary final – from behind and in a dead ball situation – just highlighted what a low rent grub he can be. That’s easy to hate.
Given that list, it’s pretty easy to see why the Storm are unlikely to get any well wishers from outside their own supporter ranks this Sunday. However, an examination of the Roosters shows that they are similarly challenged when it comes to likability.
Sydney Roosters
The salary sombrero
So, let’s get this straight. You signed up Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco, and then you still had room for Angus Crichton? And did we hear right that you were also talking to Martin Tapau and Cam Munster?
Why don’t we through in Valentine Holmes and Joe Tapine too while we’re at it? It doesn’t win the Roosters any friends at all.
James Tedesco of the Roosters (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Poaching juniors
What’s rarer than hens teeth? A Roosters junior. But why would they need to develop juniors when they can just take the ones they want? Seems like an unnecessary hassle really. It’s the sort of thing that drives opposition supporters to rage.
Getting amazing draws
A close examination of the draw the Roosters were given by the NRL for season 2018 showed how incredibly generous it was. It is no surprise to many that they were able to be the minor premiers this year given the dream schedule they were presented.
It was very irritating.
Low membership but plenty of free-to-air matches
You can understand the Broncos, Rabbitohs and Bulldogs getting allocated lots of free-to-air games as they have huge supporter bases and the broadcaster is entitled to make money out of the deal they signed up to.
However, the Roosters have no such massive supporter base yet regularly get the lion’s share of free-to-air games, enabling them to attract sponsorship more easily than clubs like the Knights who barely feature at all. It doesn’t make lots of us happy at all.
So the Roosters also aren’t exactly the team of the people by any stretch of the imagination.
Finally, reasons to hate them both
Further, both sides have been disproportionately successful in the NRL era.
This will be the seventh grand final that the Roosters have been in since 1998.
This will be the ninth decider for the Storm over the same period.
They are both seemingly perennial finalists and contenders and – along with all the other reasons listed above (some of which hold far more water than others) – it makes the supporters of all the other 14 clubs wish both sides no success at all.
I’ll be surprised if Sunday’s game is even close to a sell out given the total ambivalence so many have towards both sides.
There is no Cinderella story in the offing here. It’s just a game played between the ugly step sisters as far as most of us are concerned.
Who really cares which one wins?
stevesyd
Roar Rookie
I suggest you'll need more than a chardonnay when the final siren sounds.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Ah, Tim. As a proud Roosters man I might have a Chardonnay tonight, made from grapes that aren't sour. And as the fans of all the other clubs reasonate with this article and their own versions of "boo hoo, Wah Wah, my team wasn't good enough", I'm going to watch my team ruin some fairytales exits. Life is good, baby!
Tim Gore
Expert
From what you are reading Ken? No, it’s actually how you are choosing to comprehend what you are reading. Because - like Peter - you totally missed my point.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
One incident? You have to be kidding. Not only was he doing the chicken wings and crusher tackles for more than a year before he got busted and missed a grand final over it, he captained a team that systematically trained to injure other players. That is messed up.
Bite Me!
Roar Rookie
Melbourne - Prictorians - seriously?, say no more! Easts - Turnbill country, privileged TOSSERS. Come on 2019!
M
Guest
Love your honesty Tim. If only all repoerters/ commentators had some of it. More articals please. Yes, they may upset the masses but you may get as many agreeing with you.
M
Guest
Cannot argue with that Geoff. I am a neutral and have little interest in the GF. I love an even playing field and that's not what the comp is at present. Rule changes mid season to help these darlings get to the big dance.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Correction the judiciary made the decision ,not the NRL. Bellew(panel head) is a well respected lawyer, and the 3 players on the panel,Garlick,Lidner and the ex Manly player (a copper.)They took ages to reach a decision ,and from front on the argument could go either way. And before anyone suggests I'm biased, it was my team's players who was bundled into touch by Slater. If they're playing for the media,the resultant Tv ratings will suggest otherwise. With all the whining here, you'd swear you were at Sydney Airport.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
With due respect that is bollocks ,why would any admin in their mind, want to engineer a Grand Final, that would be difficult to sell out and have lesser Tv ratings. In fact after the Storm knocked over the Sharks,a Storm official heard the comment your win is going to cost us a lot of money.And wanted the NRL official reported. Roy Masters (no lover of the NRL admin) noted the above, and the Nrl were desperately hoping for a Sharks v Souths G/F. Ch 9 are not going to get the ratings they were hoping for, particularly in Sydney. Conspiracy theorists out in force at G/F time.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Of course Clipper you've got the whole of the Eastern Suburbs covered, street by street. And your'e checking Gumtree,for someone who dislikes rugby league intensely, you sure show a hell of a lot of interest. Still there will be decent Melbourne TV ratings ,because of the Storm's involvement. We understand Victorians are obsessed with their code, and you like to keep reminding us, because that's what you do. Isn't it nice to live in a city with so many sporting pursuits for the populace to support and enjoy, without the overwhelming media obsession for just one. Hopefully the NRL G/F will be a close game, without a quarter(ooops) or half time blowout.
fix the scrums
Guest
The NRL has rigged the grand final in Storms favour. No way should Slater be allowed to play. This must be the most uninteresting GF in recent memory. No passion, just two manufactured sides playing for the media and corporate masters.
stevesyd
Roar Rookie
Can anyone explain how the roosters end up with their biased draw every year which apart from playing more low performing clubs in this 5 year cycle, also being the less travelled club in distance away from Sydney? Storm, Panthers, Sharks, Cowboys and Eels were highly fancied as premiership contenders for 2018 and the roosters only had to face them ONCE during the season. Very interesting indeed.
duecer
Guest
I don't know about that. Melbourne was always tune in to big events, especially if one of their teams is in it, QLD will watch as most of the Storm come from there and you'll get others watching hoping for either of these disliked teams to lose.
duecer
Guest
Yes, I got 4 freebies, pretty good seats - two years in a row. Mind you last year they were practically begging me to take them!
Daz
Roar Rookie
Now i understand...
Daz
Roar Rookie
There's millions down hear that like them!
Daz
Roar Rookie
BALL!
Leaguesliterarylovechild
Roar Rookie
Jesus wept! There is an unbelievable number of readers on this site that purport to follow league, but yet spit the dummy when someone writes about reasons to hate certain teams. What is wrong with you? Hating the opposition - I mean really viscerally despising their existence has been an integral part of league my entire life. I go back to the 70s and who can forget the silvertails and the fibros. Since Manly became useless, there is no reason to hate them any more so people have - quite reasonably - moved on to hating other teams. I totally get the premise of the article that the worst GF is when there are two teams that you dislike equally. I would have been in this position if it was Sharks v Roosters as both teams are maybe 6 or 7 out of 10 on the hateometer for me. The way for a Raiders supporter to really get into the GF is to look into your soul and decide which team you hate the most. I think you will find that is an easy choice. Go the Roosters! The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
G Len N
Roar Rookie
Another article giving a perfect example of rugby league hating itself.
Hugh Brodie
Roar Rookie
I think Tim is bang on correct with his article. As a footy fan whose team had an absolute shocker this year, I was hoping for another team to get behind in this finals series. Last year you had the Cowboys coming from eighth - playing without JT - giving it a crack... year before you had Cronulla hoping to win their first... year before that you had Cowboys trying to win their first etc... year before that you had Souths trying to win their first in forever etc etc etc - there was a good story from a bit of a battler team to get behind. Seeing two teams that regularly make (and win) grand finals playing in the GF just doesn’t give neutrals much to cheer about. We will still all watch it and marvel at the two best teams in the competition, but there won’t be much of an emotional pull, which is why I like following sport...