Season 2019 was the best of years and the worst of years.
We started off in a morass of off-field scandal. We finished off in a morass of on-field scandal. In between we saw some superb footy. We saw stars rise and fall. We saw teams exceed expectations and we witnessed some horror stories.
So how did each team do? Let’s look at the top eight.
Sydney Roosters
Achievement: A+
Effort: A+
2018 finish: 1st – 16 wins, 8 losses, premiers, +181 points differential (PD)
2019 finish: 2nd – 17 wins, 7 losses, premiers, +264 PD
The Bondi boys backed up their awesome effort from 2018 with an even better one in 2019. While the draw was very friendly to them, they won the matches that mattered all year, mixing stellar defence with superb attack.
James Tedesco won virtually every award there was to win, but the whole team contributed. They were brilliant and deserving premiers. Luke Keary, Boyd Corner and Cooper Cronk were also huge. Isaac Liu, Joseph Manu, Latrell Mitchell, Victor Radley and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves were all excellent.
Brett Morris and Daniel Tupou both had their best seasons for years – Tupou’s effort in the grand final had him right in the reckoning for the Clive Churchill Medal with 17 of the hardest, dirtiest kick returns ever made in a decider.
A special shout-out to Mitch Aubusson, who once more proved to be one of the toughest and most versatile players in the game. They also unearthed a future star in Sam Verrills.
The loss of Cooper Cronk and potentially Latrell Mitchell may pose issues in their efforts for a three-peat. However, they are highly unlikely to miss the finals.
Canberra Raiders
Achievement: A
Effort: A+
2018 finish: 10th – 10 wins, 14 losses, bottom eight, +23 PD
2019 finish: 4th – 15 wins, 9 losses, runners up, +150 PD
The Green Machine really buckled down, applied themselves and did some hard work this season. Their effort was particularly excellent in defence, where they conceded an average of 7.5 fewer points a match from the previous season. This saw them win five more games and finish in the top four. This was somewhat to the expense of their attack, which scored an average of 2.3 fewer points a game.
Stars were unearthed in John Bateman and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. Josh Papalii became the best prop forward in the game and Jack Wighton really came of age.
The loss of Jordan Rapana and Aidan Sezer may well be balanced out by gaining Curtis Scott and George Williams. They’ll need a repeat of that effort in 2020 if this year’s effort is to be seen as more than a flash in the pan. This squad should feature in the 2020 finals.
(Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Melbourne Storm
Achievement: B+
Effort: A
2018 finish: 2nd – 16 wins, 8 losses, runners up, +173 PD
2019 finish: 1st – 20 wins, 4 losses, preliminary final, +331 PD
The purple horde had a very strong season, losing only four games during the home-and-away campaign. Cam Smith, Cam Munster and Dale Finucane were huge. Kenny Bromwich had his best ever season, with a star being unearthed in Ryan Papenhuyzen.
While a bench player, Christian Welch was a huge loss Craig Bellamy struggled to cover. Bellamy ball proved as effective as ever in strangling opponents and winning games, with all but one of the Storm’s six losses being by four points or less.
In the finals they were bested by the eventual grand finalists, but it was still a very good year by any standard. We wait with bated breath to see what new stars Bellamy will mould in the off season to replace Brodie Croft, Curtis Scott and Will Chambers – and if Cam Smith can squeeze a 19th year of excellence out of his veteran body.
They’ll play finals in 2020. You can bet on it.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Achievement: B
Effort: A
2018 finish: 3rd – 16 wins, 8 losses, preliminary final, +145 PD
2019 finish: 3rd – 16 wins, 8 losses, preliminary final, +104 PD
It was groundhog day for the Bunnies in 2019, with virtually the same finish after the home-and-away season, as well as in the finals. They had a superb start to the season but had two trots of losing four games in a row, the first during the Origin period.
They lost Greg Inglis early in the season and by year’s end Sam Burgess was playing badly broken. Given that state of affairs, the effort of Wayne Bennett’s squad was very good indeed.
Cameron Murray continued to be a revelation, with Cody Walker also taking a huge step up. How Inglis and Burgess are replaced will say a lot about their chances in 2020. Expect them to make the finals.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Parramatta Eels
Achievement: B
Effort: B+
2018 finish: 16th – 6 wins, 18 losses, wooden spoon, -176 PD
2019 finish: 5th – 14 wins, 10 losses, semi final, +60 PD
The Eels received a kick up the bum for their horrible 2018 and came out with real purpose as a ten-point-a-match better side in 2019, resulting in an 11-spot ladder climb.
Mitchell Moses, Clint Gutherson and Blake Ferguson were all very good. Future stars in Reed Mahoney, Maika Sivo and Dylan Brown were also unearthed. Their record flogging of the Broncos in week one of the finals will long be remembered in Eels folklore.
With the arrival of Reagan Campbell-Gillard, there is great promise in this squad and if they apply themselves as well in 2020 they could challenge for the title. I don’t want to put the mockers on them, but they should be finalists in 2020.
Manly Sea Eagles
Achievement: B
Effort: B+
2018 finish: 15th – 7 wins, 17 losses, second last, -122 PD
2019 finish: 6th – 14 wins, 10 losses, semi final, +50 PD
Many – including myself – had the Brookvale boys miles off the mark in 2019, possibly a wooden-spooner and certainly not a finalist. The return of prodigal son Des Hasler reignited their passion and results, leading to a nine-place rise up the ladder.
They were led brilliantly by Daly Cherry-Evans, Tom Trbojevic, Jake Trbojevic and Martin Taupau. The likes of Reuben Garrick, Addin Fonua-Blake and Brendan Elliot rose to the task as well.
Had Tom Trbojevic not been injured in the Round 24 match against the Storm, Manly could possibly have gone all the way.
Expect them to be right in the mix in 2020… if they can find a hooker, that is. I’d be very pleased if they didn’t make me eat more humble pie too.
(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Cronulla Sharks
Achievement: C
Effort: C
2018 finish: 4th – 16 wins, 8 losses, preliminary final, +96 PD
2019 finish: 7th – 12 wins, 12 losses, elimination final, +50 PD
Four fewer wins for the Sharks in 2019 still saw them make the finals, although the same points tally (26) would have seen them miss out in 2018.
Wade Graham is now a superstar of the game and his lengthy injury lay-off did not help his side. Paul Gallen’s last season saw the old war horse going as hard as ever. Briton Nikora, Bronson Xerri and Braden Hamlin-Uele were unearthed as stars of the future.
Unfortunately, Shaun Johnson failed to have the hoped-for impact and Matt Moylan continued to under-perform. While Andrew Fifita and Aaron Woods were both very good, they failed to produce their dominance from previous seasons. A year that had so much promise was ultimately wasted, ending in mediocrity.
How they’ll fare in 2020 without Gallen and playing out of Kogarah has a big question mark over it. They must buckle down and do some hard work if they want to arrest this slide. They’ll be on the cusp.
Brisbane Broncos
Achievement: D+
Effort: D
2018 finish: 16th – 15 wins, 9 losses, qualifying final, +56 PD
2019 finish: 8th – 11 wins, 12 losses, 1 draw, qualifying final, -57 PD
Put simply, this was a dismal effort that displayed how a team with all of the possible advantages at their disposal can under-perform in a massive way.
While the performances of David Fifita and Payne Haas were noteworthy, nothing else looked good at all. The Broncos qualified for the finals courtesy of Kodi Nikorima missing a field goal he should have got in Round 17.
Their 25 ladder points was the second lowest ever to qualify for the finals in the NRL era. The Broncos’ 24 in 2007 was the lowest. Their record 58-0 defeat to the Eels in the first week of the finals was an apt finish to a horrid season that should see the power brokers at Red Hill looking to put a broom through the whole organisation.
Having the likes of Darius Boyd still on their books long term, as well as the mediocre returns from former wunderkind Anthony Milford, are massive issues for a side that has at its disposal the biggest pool of juniors in the rugby league world, but has produced so few genuine stars since the great Cyril Connell stopped running their recruitment and development. Given the state of the club, they’ll be fighting to hold onto Fifita.
Expect big changes at all levels of the Broncos in 2020. If there aren’t, then you can expect more of the same rubbish. At this point, making the finals will be touch and go.
Next week, the bottom eight.
Rob
Guest
I think certainly some teams are advantaged by the way game is officiated. In saying that all teams are more than capable of adjusting their games. What I can’t stand is inconsistent officiating. The Bunker continues to be a nightmare for me. Sometimes they review sometimes they don’t. Anything that involves a kick? Kyle Feldt scored some ridiculously straight forward tries and I think the Cowboys had 12 out of 15 tries going to the bunker chasing every element of the play looking for a possible indiscretion? The they had no review on a lost ball in contact from a bomb awarding a try. Penalty tries when a bloke loses the ball attempting to place it over the line and is stripped. Then you have Gillett tackled from behind in Origin as he attempts to regather in the in goal no penalty try? Sharks winning games from a blatant forward pass against the Warriors and the Warriors being dudded repeatedly? The sooner they have one ref and consistent reviewing the better the game will be. The suspension of TPS for bean bagging Maloney who repeatedly milks was excessive and then Burgess belts Moylan which puts him out for several games with concussion gets a penalty only? The confused 6 again call over rule fiasco and idiotic 6 again for the offending water boys team in the GF in the first minutes sort of sums up the rods the game has endorsed. I hope they make some better calls going forward.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Not sure I had the same level of confidence back in 2016 Baz. But yes the following two years finishing 10th in 2017 and 2018 were incredibly disappointing given the roster they had and the form they showed in 2016. 2016 was a year where the Raiders were playing free flowing fast attacking rugby league - much of it based on the brilliance of Leipana. But they had some defensive liabilities in the team (Boyd, Austin etc). They've since completely remodelled their game to be based on brutal defence with occasional flashes of atacking footy. You could argue which team was better to watch - maybe 2016 - but the 2019 version was much more resilient and capable of finishing off matches. Blokes like Hodgson, Wighton, Papalii, Bateman, Whitehead, CNK were in great form with solid peformances from Soliola, Croker etc. Plus newcomers such as Horsburgh, Guler, and Simmonson gave more energy. Who knows what 2020 will bring. There will be a few teams that improve and a few that go backwards. Obviously I'm hoping the Raiders aren't one of the latter.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Overall I agree Geoff - but I bet you were saying something similar after 2016...after finishing second and just missing a grand final by the barest of margins, no way we’ll be complacent
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
The Raiders have had a taste of Grand Final football and have made some good acqusitions with George Williams and Curtis Scott coming in to replace Jordan Rapana and Aiden Sezer. George Williams didn't get much of a go on the recent Lions tour (due to Bennett's bewildering lack of foresight) but has shown enough in the ESL to indicate he should succeed in the NRL and Scott was a gun in the centres for the Storm until he had a few personal issues. If anything the GF loss should drive the Raiders on more to succeed. They appear to have a great blend of experience and youth. I'd be shocked if they became complacent and dropped out of contention.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
The combination of Sironen and Thompson was deadly there for a few weeks. No coincidence that when they were injured Manly's performances dropped off a bit.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Couldn't agree more - I was a bit surprised that Tim marked Manly's effort as a B. They get an A at least from me. When I looked at the Manly squad at the beginning of the year - particularly in the backs - I thought they had no show. But they kept stepping up week after week. Blokes like Parker, Garrick etc who I'd never heard of stepped up when Tommy T was injured. And Fonau-Blake too them to another level as well.
matth
Roar Guru
No really Tim, tell us what you think about the Broncos' season. Don't be shy! It reads terribly for a side that made finals, but it was spot on. Overall this was a good analysis and I find it hard to argue with it.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Cricket opponents like this years summer make me long for the West Indies powerhouse of old. Such a shame. I loved the lion-like menace they showed at their best, now they are more like kitty cats.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
I would have felt that the Eels moving from 16th to 5th and Manly from 15th to 6th would be deserving of an A or A+ for achievement since most expected a wooden spoon for one of them at least. Not me...Go Manly!!
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
If the only reason Manly had a decent 19 is because of them cheating then anyone who believes that will surely have them out of the top 8 in 20. I can't recall too many saying Manly's finals flogging of the Sharks with half the team missing was due to cheating. Manly was much better than the Sharks , it is as simple as that.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I also believe Manly were a fair chance in 19 without the injuries. Fainu was devastating earlier in the season but in hindsight was carrying a dodgy shoulder for the latter part. I was pinning a lot of hopes on him leading us to a title as I just felt he had it in him. Part of the reason I also thought Manly were a chance is that I never subscribed to the two horse race idea which seems to rear its head in most seasons but is rarely accurate. I agree with your view of the Storm and I highlighted a game during the season when Manly beat them in Melbourne as being a likely turning point in their long and great golden era. Manly's golden spell in the late 90's had a turning point before the loss to the Knights in the GF I believe and that was when Manly beat the Knights during the regular season. Although Manly won the Knights got on top mentally and physically and I saw signs of that with the Storm in 19. As for the Sharkies , Wade Graham was still being talked up as a superstar late in the season but he looked nothing like the dominant force he had been and it seemed to go almost with out comment.
The Donald
Roar Rookie
I agree with Tim's assessment of 2019 - with the exception of the Roosters & the Raiders. The Raiders were clearly the better side on Grand Final day - and if not for a couple of "diabolical" decisions from Officialdom - would almost certainly have lifted the Trophy. If it weren't for a number of injuries to key players - most notably - Turbo Tommy - I think Manly would have been good enough to beat both the Roosters & Raiders in the Grand Final. Which is why I have them equal favourites with the Roosters to take out the 2020 title. Of the others - apart from Papenhauzen - the Storm look just "oh so predictable" in attack these Days. While I expect Parramatta - the Broncos - Newcastle - Warriors and Penrith to again run "hot & cold" next Season. My Sharkies have too many highly paid "Crocks" on their Books - while Souths - the Dragons & Tigers all lack the firepower in attack to be a serious threat. The Titans will again just be making up the numbers. While the big improvers for mine could well be the Dogs & Cowboys - IF - Holmes can settle in quickly to the Fullback role - and IF Michael Morgan can regain his 2016 form - which saw him almost single handedly carry the Cows to the Grand Final.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Dandragon, won’t be enough emojis come 2020, Souths to go South!!!
Dandragon
Roar Rookie
Hope you are right, Insider. As for bells & whistles - as per the unnecessary comment below - I was going with your flow just fine. Should I end with an appropriate emoji? Seems to be the thing to do.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
So when Manly smashed the Sharks against all odds in the finals we are now informed it wasn't a great performance but a simple matter of Hasler instructing his players to cheat? Annesley had nothing to do with it. The Sharks and their star studded line up were dismal. Annesleys directive apparently gave the defences a huge advantage but only three coaches noticed it? Cameron Smith along with Bellamy and Bennett had no idea what was going on? They went thru a whole season without noticing the way to win the title was to adopt Manly's tactic? It would be flattering to those three coaches if it was true , pity it's nonsense.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
So why then single out Manly and Des for doing the same thing??? Mate I’ve had decades as a Manly fan to get way beyond snarky.
crankyoldman
Roar Rookie
Why get snarky? Anything more than a casual glance would reveal to you that in accordance with Hasler practice, Manly were right up among the most cynical defensive teams this year. They would have been silly if they werent, it worked. The channel 9 doctrine of minimal penalties, no sinbins and no sendoffs will continue until all the slow learners catch up and minimal football is played. Then what??
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
True, but it doesn’t really even out. Any coach would prefer to only have to put his team on a plane 6 times a season rather than 12. The warriors have it the worst having to fly east-west every second week. Everyone else is at least in the same Timezone. I’m sure Tim has already started drafting his preseason article about who has the best draw for 2019, but I would like to see an additional criteria of how many non local games each team has to play. I’m willing to bet that not every Sydney team has the same number of away games against out of towners.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
The fact that the Broncos club has a big pool of juniors to choose from might mean that the club administrators haven’t done a great job over the years, but it is irrelevant to rating the effort and achievement of the squad and coach who were actually present in the 2019 season. The fact that there might be a whole bunch of gun 16 year olds attending Broncos training camps has no baring good or ill on how Darius Boyd plays, or how Anthony Seibold coaches.
Albo
Roar Rookie
You are so right, kk ! I used love my Test cricket in summer till recently . Now its all become boring, and been taken over by all the hit & giggle, fireworks, & gibberish with BBL, WBBL, IPL , etc, and I can't stand the prima donnas of tennis. The Spring racing is over. So, I am surviving the summer with a bit of NFL ( Go The Chiefs !) , some golf ( go the other Cam Smith) and searching the Discovery channel for some wilderness abuse ! Only 104 days till the real sport starts again !