What’s worse than being stripped of a title?
Two titles. Okay, thanks Melbourne fans. And alongside their dudded grand final opponents, surely the emptiness of a premiership marked with an asterisk cuts deeper than a drunk barber.
Hobby competitions and token premierships. Fans don’t miss.
Paul Harragon carried the weight of Newcastle in 1997, but it meant little to those beyond the Hunter until Joey Johns schooled the Eels four years later in a reunited competition decider.
And what about the Super League Sharkies? Imagine the two decades of torment if Andrew Ettingshausen had hoisted the trophy as the club’s first. Flickering porch lights and a snubbed Paul Gallen would’ve tarnished a stunning 2016 finale.
And so too the 2002 Roosters. Freddie Fittler proved a Nick Politis masterstroke in breaking the club’s 27-year drought, but nonetheless the salary cap-cheating Bulldogs were the competition’s best by the length of the Canterbury straight.
And even though the Dogs rightly copped the wooden spoon, for Ricky Stuart’s Roosters, the shallowness must be an uncomfortable bur.
Throw in the hiccups since 2010 by the salary cap-busting Storm and Eels and it’s no surprise the biggest asterisk right now is against the NRL’s widespread crumbling foundations.
(Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
With the stars of the show on ice, the race to preserve dwindling cash now runs a close second to the push to self-isolate. And as Todd Greenberg and Peter V’landys haggle over a resumption and eventual finish date, how will history treat the eventual winner?
Ridicule and heartless wit are sure to accompany any champion should the final schedule feature anything less than 15 rounds with each team playing every other once.
For the Titans and Warriors, this isn’t the year to win. A maiden title this season would rank alongside the Broncos midweek title in 1989. Same goes for Parramatta – the only upside in a token title post-1986 will be the celebratory coat of gloss smeared across the statue of Ray Price.
Talk of a best-of-three grand final series could add substance to a diluted season, as could a first-time victory lap in Queensland.
A tri-series would surely include a match in Queensland. Whether it’s Suncorp, a tropical hideaway or cutting through the smell of burnt snags in the Gladstone backblocks, a first-time gong beyond the borders of New South Wales will be long remembered.
But the asterisk will remain.
Even with the NRL on its knees the show must go on, even if it’s a shadow of its former self.
Right now process is everything. Athletes primed for action, action on the big screen, raising catch-up coin and the gift of future seasons.
And right now the fans have to ride it out and bite their tongue from a distance as their favourites dig deep overcoming their own adversity.
And that premiership asterisk, it’ll be there until the very end. Growing larger with every round the fans are locked away and the care factor fades.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
I’m a believer in May 28. I gotta believe in something to keep me going.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Agreed; although I’m a little skeptic although about the NRL returning so soon. Still; no reason it can’t be done right; keep the players in quarantine and what not.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Oh yeah, for sure Ben, if your team wins then all premiership tainting bets are off. A GF with no fans, plenty of water to flow under the bridge yet. Let’s just find a way to get the show safely back on track.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
I respectfully disagree. If the Eels manage to win the grand final; I certainly won't be upset, I'll be crowing from the rooftops that my team were able to win a premiership under the most extreme adversity the game has ever seen (even the two World Wars weren't enough to get the competition suspended!), and I would expect most fans of other clubs to do the same. "Even Miss Rona can't stop the mighty blue and gold!" I would, however, be disappointed that the GF would be played behind closed doors. Not being able to be there live to see Parra crack their drought is one thing, but for them to do it without any atmosphere at all is quite another. Same goes for any team; my heart goes out to the fans of the team that wins the title without any crowd to celebrate.
Bonza
Roar Rookie
100%
Bonza
Roar Rookie
The comp itself is already asterisked (loved that comic as a kid) but only for being in a unique situation. Whoever wins the comp this year should never be asterisked as they will have dealt with adversity never before experienced. Can't wait.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
I agree but having said that, I would argue the best team almost always wins the title.
Paul
Roar Guru
could not agree more, Tiger. I hate the current format which seems to be a lottery in deciding which teams play each other once or twice.
TIGER
Roar Rookie
Some good points Paul but my position about integrity still stands. I just would like to see an even competition where every team plays every other team the same number of times. But if any games go ahead this year I can accept that we will have to take whatever we get and celebrate our wins as they come. But when we return to 'normal' I truly believe that there are better competition formats. I might put something together for comment.
Paul
Roar Guru
it's going to come down to opinions, Tiger. IMO, if a team wins a premiership after playing 10 games, that to me is just as valid as if they'd played a full season. Sure the physical demands on players won't be the same, but mentally this shortened season would be far more challenging. In a normal season, teams can lose 12 games and still make the finals. How many games can sides lose in a 10 round comp and still make the 8? The pressure on players to make zero mistakes will be huge. Throw in trying to compete when fitness & fatigue are likely to be issues, more so because of the disrupted training schedule and I think you'll find guys saying, at the end of a short season, that it was actually harder than normal.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Too right TIGER, horse before cart, let’s get them back on the park - anything.
TIGER
Roar Rookie
Given that we play ever season with some teams clearly disadvantaged by meeting some teams twice or only once makes a mockery of a professional sport anyway. Total lack of integrity. So if 10 games is enough why not. The fact that some teams do not play some other teams is as absurd as the current structure but at least it's a forced lack of integrity. Yes I'm sure you are right, whoever wins will celebrate as winners but the record book will forever taint that result. Unfortunate as that is, it's the reality. Getting some games going can't be a bad thing though.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Ain't no * on the 2002 title. Cheaters came last, Chooks won. Nothing shallow about it. I reckon any team that wins any comp this year will claim it with both hands. Unique times and unique measures.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Wow. I love the photos from that day, insane. A cracker to have on the resume. Fabulous memories for you!!
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Thanks Jason, I'm not going anywhere, I love to talk about rugby league and with no games to watch it's good to read posts like yours reminding us about games from the past. I got knocked out many times as a junior in 1972 and didn't play much senior grade but I am a St-George fan who hung off the side of the Brewongle stand in the 1965 grand final. I saw Billy Smith disappear behind the crowd to score the first try but I couldn't jump up and down cos I'd fall off onto the ground 10 metres below.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Hang in there TB3, I’m sure it’s something easily fixed. You’re good value mate, be good if you hang about.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Iv'e had another reply removed. I'll have to give up on the ROAR.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Easts had 19 wins in a row but St-George had beaten them twice including the 2nd semi final so they were not unbeatable. Langlands was badly injured but he still took the kicks with a punt kick for the line dribbling a few feet forcing a scrum. A replacement would've given Saints a good chance of winning but Langlands refused and the rest of the team gave up. Easts owed their big win to Langlands and Easts are legends in their own mind.
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Hi Roy, I’ve just replied to your post but it has been removed for some reason. There is no abuse in it so I don’t know why they pulled it. It will appear in a few hours. I’m still laughing at your 2nd sentence. Pete
Tim Buck 3
Roar Rookie
Yes I have always hated bombs and think the only scoring allowed on the last tackle should be a field goal. If you can't score s try in 5 tackles you shouldn't get a lucky dip for a try for failure. It's a big weakness in the game.