Recently I have been really fascinated by what-if history or alternative history.
This what-if history is a rabbit hole and you can just keep going in new directions with it depending on the event.
Anyway, the new NRL season starts this week and I started applying what-if history to some NRL stories. So here is a list of some what-if history NRL moments and what may have been the consequnce.
JWH never leaves Manly for the Roosters
First one is pretty simple: what if Manly in one of the golden runs for the club were able to hang onto Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. First off, I think that the Roosters fail to go back to back in 2018 and ’19. They may have won one of the premierships just not both.
(Matt King/Getty Images)
I also think that Manly would have gone on to win at least one more premiership. They probably win in 2013 if JWH is wearing maroon and white and may have won more later in the decade. Perhaps Manly hold onto Glenn Stewart and Anthony Watmough a little longer because they are still competing?
Ben Hunt catches the kick-off
This one is probably a bit cruel, but oh well. The 2015 grand final may have the most famous finish in NRL history but what if Hunt had simply just caught the kick-off – something he had done probably thousands of times in his life.
I think if he does, Brisbane may well have gone on to win. Both teams were out on their feet by this stage so I think getting first use in extra time would have been a big advantage. If the Broncos work it to their 40 metres or slightly better and then have a good kick, they now hold the advantage.
Even if the Cowboys still go on to win the 2015 premiership, I don’t think that Ben Hunt would have left Brisbane for the Dragons a few years later.
Sonny Bill Williams never plays union
What if SBW had never left the Bulldogs in 2008? Would he now be regarded as possibly a top five player of all time? Do the Bulldogs win one or two premierships? Does SBW have any reason to go to the Roosters?
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Melbourne Storm’s salary cap breaches are never discovered
This is a big one! It is hard to imagine that anything is the same if the Storm hadn’t had the whistle blown on them and their cap activities. Do the Dragons win in 2010? Maybe. Perhaps the Storm knock them out of the finals. Maybe Greg Inglis doesn’t go to South Sydney and they don’t win in 2014? Maybe Cronk retires after 2017 having won four premierships and rides off into the commentary box? Maybe the Storm win in 2013 or 2014 and maybe even 2015?
It is impossible to say who would have won the last ten or so premierships if the Storm had never been caught, or how players would have moved between clubs or which coaches might have which job.
There are just a few NRL what-ifs. I would love to hear from you of some possible what-ifs or even why you think I may be right or wrong with my guesses.
Bring on the footy!
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
What if St-George had not have turned Mal Meninga away with the ridiculous requirement that he start in reserve grade and earn his spot in first grade. The St-George officials were living in the past.
mushi
Roar Guru
Todd carney would have p$$ed the premiership window away...
mushi
Roar Guru
"What if all 6 clubs that officially merged (St.George and Illawarra, North Sydney and Manly, Balmain and Western Suburbs) remained stand alone prior to the rationalisation prior to the 2000 season? How many of these teams would have made the 14 team cut? Would any of them had the clout of South Sydney to appeal any such exclusion? Would natural attrition have ensured all of them would be extinct?" That would have probably killed Souths, as soon as they challenged it would have been easy for others to. The response would have been very different if the NRL were facing all clubs being able to rejoin. Probably would have been even more drawn out as well and incredibly ugly
The Barry
Roar Guru
The what if’s around JT and SBW are hard to take What if the Dogs don’t sign JT? He’s been knocked back by every club. Does he end up getting a start? What if Wally Lewis and Gene Miles came to Sydney in the early 80s? Would we have the Broncos? Do Manly win a couple of GFs in that Dogs / Eels era? What if the Super League war never happened? What due the comp look like? Is it truly national? Do we still have Perth and Adelaide? What impact on the Storm who were only formed post SL?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I like kk's take on the Ben Hunt dropped ball. To paraphrase him. 'The dropped ball that made Ben Hunt a multimillionaire.'
Jacks
Roar Guru
Oh yeah misread it thats my bad. They would have have a drought at all you wouldn't have thought. Slater and Cronk may have gone to the Broncos and won them a premiership or 2.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
I think you mis-read. It was Canberra, not Canterbury. Imagine if Smith or Bellamy had gone to Canberra. The Raiders would probably not have had a 26 year premiership drought.
Jacks
Roar Guru
Central coast NSW holds a special spot in Bulldogs history.
kk
Roar Pro
What - If Canterbury had banned Mad Mondays and visits to coastal resorts ?
Jacks
Roar Guru
I was really close into including this one in my original article but got over writing. I think if he does NSW win at least 1 series during that massive run. They may have even won 2 or 3 with Inglis in the 1 jersey. I will also assume Boyd wouldn't be the origin leading try scorer.
McTavish
Roar Rookie
What if GI decided to play for the cockroaches?
Jacks
Roar Guru
Wow I never knew that. That would have really changed at least 2 clubs futures doe Slater and Cronk stay as long without Smith and Bellamy? Do the Dogs win a couple of premierships?
Jacks
Roar Guru
Some fantastic what ifs!
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Here's another one. Cameron Smith nearly signed with Canberra in 2004. Craig Bellamy also had a chance to coach them, the year before that but they signed someone else.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Does anyone at the Roar have access to another photo of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, or is that literally the only photo of him that exists? It's annoying.
Mick Jeffrey
Roar Rookie
I have a top 10, some of which have a loosish NRL era connection…. – What if the NSWRL doesn’t expand to 16 teams in 1988, meaning the Broncos and the Knights (the winners of the competitions in the year of the war prior to the NRL era) don’t exist? – What if all 6 clubs that officially merged (St.George and Illawarra, North Sydney and Manly, Balmain and Western Suburbs) remained stand alone prior to the rationalisation prior to the 2000 season? How many of these teams would have made the 14 team cut? Would any of them had the clout of South Sydney to appeal any such exclusion? Would natural attrition have ensured all of them would be extinct? – What if Canterbury weren’t caught in 2002? Would the Warriors or the Roosters made the GF? Would Billy Idol still love his footy? – What if Johnathan Thurston stayed at Canterbury post 2004? – What if the Gold Coast Chargers survived post 1998, meaning the Titans weren’t necessary? Would the stadium at Robina be built? Would the AFL look to gain ground with the Suns? Would we be looking to fold the club every 5 minutes when there’s no scandals to report? – What if Brett Hodgson doesn’t throw that pass in the 3rd Origin of 2006? Would several of the Qld dynasty mainstays have played longer for their clubs? Would Origin even exist with the code relying on club football? – What if the 2 referee system wasn’t instituted? Would incidents such as what happened in last year’s GF happened? Would the Video Referee be the pseudo second ref like Rugby Union? Would Gerard Sutton get preferential treatment as is alleged in terms of appointments? – What if Wayne Bennett never left the Broncos for the first time leaving Ivan Henjak in charge? Where would any of the other clubs he coached subsequently (including the second stint at the Broncos) be at? – What if instead of a redeveloped Lang Park we had a redeveloped QEII (now QSAC) Stadium? Would the Broncos have the support knowing it was a little trickier to get to and from the venue and the seats were so far away if the athletics track had to remain in any redevelopment? Would Origins and even the GF in the wake of the Sydney redevelopments go to a ground that could hold up to 60000? – What if Andrew Voss wasn’t basically shafted by Channel 9? Would Ray Warren have retired long before now? Would Ray Hadley even get a look in? Would Mat Thompson be stuck doing Queensland Cup matches with the occasional fill in? Would Fox League have games still where Andy Raymond have to call games as though the match was at Festival Hall rather than Swan Street?