New millennium. New faces. Same old selection debates.
After naming a side of debutants from each season of the noughties, it’s time to decide which class of first-gamers takes home this era’s rugby league rookie cup.
Teams’ rankings in the 1990s were often defined by gaping holes or massive imbalances on the team sheet; squads with three great fullbacks but no capable halves, or four rep-level props and zero specialist wingers.
The table in the 2000s, on the other hand, is defined more by the presence of superstars, who naturally congregate at the pointy end of the top five.
And that’s not to say the sides that missed out are slouches… well, besides maybe the class of 2006.
Tenth: 2006
1. Darius Boyd (captain), 2. Michael Gordon, 3. Brett Morris, 4. Chris Lawrence, 5. Taniela Tuiaki, 6. Ben Roberts, 7. Rangi Chase, 8. Sam Rapira, 9. Isaac De Gois, 10. Luke Douglas, 11. Dave Taylor, 12. Gavin Cooper, 13. Adam Blair, 14. Adam Cuthbertson, 15. Zeb Taia, 16. Matthew Bell, 17. Stuart Flanagan, coach: Ivan Cleary
The class of ‘06 are wooden spooners by a long way. A couple of good players sprinkled among solid first-graders can’t compete with the wall-to-wall rep stars that populate most rival squads.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Ninth: 2007
1. Jason Nightingale, 2. Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Will Chambers, 5. Israel Folau, 6. Blake Green, 7. Mitchell Pearce (captain), 8. Tim Grant, 9. Issac Luke, 10. Scott Bolton, 11. Ben Te’o, 12. Sika Manu, 13. Frank Paul Nu’uausala, 14. Mitchell Aubusson, 15. Sam Tagataese, 16. Ryan Hinchcliffe, 17. Chris Houston, coach: Brad Fittler
An impressive back five might not see enough quality ball outside a forward pack that will be outmuscled by many rivals. Decent line-up to be running second-last, though.
Eighth: 2008
1. Ben Barba, 2. Jordan Rapana, 3. Jamal Idris, 4. Akuila Uate, 5. David Williams, 6. Wade Graham, 7. Chris Sandow, 8. Ben Matulino, 9. Jake Friend (captain), 10. Sam Moa, 11. Tony Williams, 12. Joel Thompson, 13. Kevin Proctor, 14. Lachlan Coote, 15. Andrew McCullough, 16. Aiden Tolman, 17. Matt Prior, coach: Ian Millward
There’s a lot of ‘what might have been’ about this squad. They’ll sizzle when it’s their day and fizzle when it’s not.
Seventh: 2001
1. Matt Bowen, 2. Luke Lewis 3. Brent Tate, 4. Steve Bell, 5. Luke Rooney, 6. Kurt Gidley (captain), 7. Michael Monaghan, 8. Jason King, 9. Mark Riddell, 10. Anthony Laffranchi, 11. Corey Parker, 12. Mick Crocker, 13. Paul Gallen, 14. John Morris, 15. Iafeta Palea’aesina, 16. Sione Faumuina, 17. Micheal Luck, coach: Michael Hagan
That mongrel back row ensures they won’t be bullied, and the weapon at fullback ensures they’ll spit out plenty of highlights. The rest of the spine is the concern.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Sixth: 2005
1. Greg Inglis, 2. Wes Naiqama, 3. Beau Scott, 4. Steve Matai, 5. Brad Tighe, 6. Jamie Soward, 7. Jarrod Mullen, 8. David Shillington, 9. Peter Wallace, 10. Ben Hannant, 11. Nate Myles, 12. Sia Soliola, 13. Simon Mannering (captain), 14. Brett White, 15. Greg Eastwood, 16. Nigel Plum, 17. Berrick Barnes, coach: Shaun McRae
These hard-hitting hombres will leave plenty of bruises on their opponents, but they need a little more velvet complementing the sledgehammer to earn a spot in the top five.
Fifth: 2009
1. Josh Dugan, 2. Gerard Beale, 3. Jarrod Croker (captain), 4. Blake Ferguson, 5. Jharal Yow Yeh, 6. Kieran Foran, 7. James Maloney, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Ben Hunt, 10. James Tamou, 11. Josh McGuire, 12. Alex Glenn, 13. Trent Merrin, 14. Lewis Brown, 15. Shaun Fensom, 16. Chris McQueen, 17. Leeson Ah Mau, coach: David Furner
The first elite halves pairing and a gun pack distinguishes the class of 2009 from the teams below them on the ladder. The three-quarter line distinguishes them from the teams above.
Fourth: 2004
1. Karmichael Hunt, 2. Manu Vatuvei, 3. Sonny Bill Williams, 4. Reni Maitua, 5. Sam Perrett, 6. Todd Carney, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Matt Scott (captain), 9. Jeff Robson, 10. Fuifui Moi Moi, 11. John Sutton, 12. Anthony Tupou, 13. Jeremy Smith, 14. Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, 15. Bronson Harrison, 16. Feleti Mateo, 17. Terry Campese, coach: Des Hasler
If coach Hasler can keep them on the straight and narrow, they’re guaranteed a final or two before one almighty Mad Monday.
(Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images)
Third: 2003
1. Billy Slater, 2. Brett Stewart, 3. Matt King, 4. Jake Webster, 5. Luke Covell, 6. Benji Marshall, 7. Robbie Farah (captain), 8. Chris Heighington, 9. Mick Ennis, 10. Sam Thaiday, 11. Glenn Stewart, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 13. Dallas Johnson, 14. Dene Halatau, 15. Mick Weyman, 16. Keith Galloway, 17. Frank Pritchard, coach: Nathan Brown
This team sheet is stacked with great players — but they’re not perfectly distributed across the park. If they could swap one of their two great fullbacks — or one of their two very good hookers — for a specialist halfback or a pair of top wingers, they’d have a better chance of rattling the top two.
Second: 2000
1. Anthony Minichiello, 2. Pat Richards, 3. Mark Gasnier, 4. Matt Cooper, 5. Justin Hodges, 6. Jamie Lyon, 7. Matt Orford, 8. Jason Ryles, 9. PJ Marsh, 10. Luke Bailey, 11. Andrew Ryan (captain), 12. Willie Mason, 13. Braith Anasta, 14. Ben Hornby, 15. Josh Perry, 16. Brad Meyers, 17. Carl Webb, coach: Trent Robinson
This is the most even team one to 17 — four Kangaroos on the bench underline that. But there are no future Immortals, unlike the only side ranked above them.
First: 2002
1. Brent Webb, 2. Matt Utai, 3. Willie Tonga, 4. Adam Mogg, 5. Nathan Merritt, 6. Lance Hohaia, 7. Johnathan Thurston, 8. Roy Asotasi, 9. Cameron Smith (captain), 10. Brent Kite, 11. Anthony Watmough, 12. Greg Bird, 13. Trent Waterhouse, 14. Joel Clinton, 15. Ben Ross, 16. Kirk Reynoldson, 17. Adam Woolnough, coach: Craig Bellamy
Smith. Thurston. Bellamy. Those three names make any further analysis redundant. These blokes just win stuff, including this minor premiership.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Week 1
Elimination final: fourth (2004) versus fifth (2009)
With 2009 pair Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson spending the build-up at the Lennox Point Hotel, and opposition five-eighth Todd Carney resisting the urge to join them, the class of 2004 lives to fight another day.
Qualifying final: second (2000) versus third (2003)
The first debutant class of the new millennium might have a better pack and a deeper bench, but Billy Slater, Brett Stewart and Benji Marshall run riot for a Week 1 boil-over.
Week 2
First semi-final: qualifying final loser (2000) versus elimination final winner (2004)
With one eye on that epic end-of-season bender, the party animals of 2004 bow out to the class of 2000. The victorious Willie Mason will be gutted not to join them.
Second semi-final: first (2002) versus qualifying final winner (2003)
Smith. Thurston. Bellamy. Game over.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Week 3
Preliminary final: second semi-final loser (2003) versus first semi-final winner (2000)
By the time this rematch of the qualifying final rolls around, Brett Stewart is wondering why he’s playing on the wing and Robbie Farah is sick of wearing the seven.
And despite coach Nathan Brown trying to slap some sense into them on the sideline, it’s not enough to stop the more consistent class of 2000 booking their berth in the decider.
Week 4
Grand final: 2002 versus 2000
There are lots of compelling arguments in favour of the class of 2000.
Club combinations across the park: Mark Gasnier and Matt Cooper in the centres, Jamie Lyon and Matt Orford in the halves, Jason Ryles and Luke Bailey up front, plus Andrew Ryan, Willie Mason and Braith Anasta at the back of the scrum. Four Kangaroos on the bench. Coach Trent Robinson holding the clipboard, if we can bend the eligibility rules to include a playing rookie rather than a coaching one.
But there’s no betting against Thurston, Smith and Bellamy. They’ve polished more silverware than the staff at Buckingham Palace and they’re adding the rugby league rookie cup to their collection.
Next up, I’ll name a 17-man team bringing together the best players of this decade. Spoiler alert: there’s a distinct Queensland theme.
The Messenger
Roar Guru
Thanks for reading! Appreciate it.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
What a GF!! I enjoyed the series TM, didn't get the chance to comment on all but highly entertaining with a touch of humour.
Michael_1984
Roar Rookie
I see where you are coming from to an extent Sammy and I like the Wally Lewis - Gold Coast Seagulls analogy to a little bit of a degree - at least in the sense of the point that a top superstar (or two in the case of 2002) won't necessarily lift the whole team to great heights - however in saying this, I think you are underestimating the 2002 team even without the Smith and Thurston factor. There is no doubt that if you were to replace Thurston and Smith with an average first grade halfback and hooker respectively then the 2000 team would be noticeably - indeed rather significantly - stronger than the 2002 team. However the 2002 team even replaced with an 'average' halfback and hooker is still quite a strong team. While the 2000 team should beat them (2002 with Thurston and Smith replaced by an average halfback and hooker) relatively comfortably, I don't think that 2000 would completely dominate them. A relatively comfortable win for 2000 against a Smithless and Thurstonless 2002? Yes - however not a complete domination. However, when you add the Smith and Thurston factor - that the 2002 team does have these two absolute top superstars in them - the 2002 and 2000 teams are pretty even - not much in overall quality separating them. Then when you add the fact that 2002 has Bellamy as their coach, then 2002 has the slight edge. At least that's how I see it, but I do certainly understand the appeal of the 2000 team - the 2002 team would certainly need to have their best pair of boots on to defeat them.
The Messenger
Roar Guru
It would be a classic match to watch — the teams ooze rep quality. Class of 2000 is certainly the stronger team across the park but I agree that Bellamy is an integral factor.
The Messenger
Roar Guru
That's fair — 2000 is certainly the strongest team one to 17, especially with those established combinations taken into account. Personally though I'd find it too hard to bet against any side with the three huge names 2002 boasts.
Sammy
Guest
It’s all hypothetical but if these squads are rep teams then the coaching style of Craig Bellamy is unlikely to have any impact, as was proven in the 2010 State of Origin.
Michael_1984
Roar Rookie
I think that if it wasn't for the Craig Bellamy factor, it would be very difficult to pick the winner of the Grand final between the 2000 and 2002 teams. Even with the 2002 team having both Smith and Thurston, the 2000 team is probably overall pretty much right on par with the 2002 team - at least without the coaching factor. However, when you take into account the fact that Craig Bellamy is coach of the 2002 team, then this would be enough to give the 2002 team the advantage. I do of course say this with all due respect to Trent Robinson - however there is no escaping the fact that Trent Robinson is not Craig Bellamy. I think the game would be a close one - in fact I could imagine this game being an absolute thriller that goes right down to the wire - and there is no doubt that the team of 2000 would definitely have the potential to cause an upset. However the 2002 team, with Bellamy as their coach, just has the upper hand in which team would be most likely to win this game.
Sammy
Guest
The 2000 team is better than 2002. The inclusion of Thurston and Smith doesn’t lift the 2002 team significantly. It’s a bit like throwing Wally Lewis into a Gold Coast Seagulls team and expecting results.
Sammy
Guest
“There are lots of compelling arguments in favour of the class of 2000”. I like your acknowledgment of this because I still can’t your 2002 team beating the 2000 team. Thurston and Smith are both big names due to their Origin records and long careers, but the 2002 team just lacks talent across the park. The 2000 team is far more balanced and stronger. With the Manly halves combination of Orford and Lyon (Dally M and Man-of-Steel winners) and the strike power of Minnichiello, Hodges, Cooper, Gasnier and Anasta, this team would beat the 2002 team every day of the week.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Do the 80s, Messenger.
The Messenger
Roar Guru
I might — this series started as a lockdown project, and seven weeks later that doesn't show any signs of letting up, so I might just keep going! I'm also tempted to go back to the '80s but that might be stretching my knowledge too thin.
Matt
Guest
Will you do the 2010s too? 2010 would be very strong I suspect.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
I'd rearrange that side to give them some hope. Morris can play fullback with Boyd in the centres. On game day, their only hope would be to monster their opponents early. Taia can play 5/8 with Roberts as a super-sub. Cuthbertson can start in the pack, with Dave Taylor moving out wide and taking Boyd's place. Boyd is only allowed on the field with written assurances that he will actually try, and even then only if he can play outside of Greg Inglis (who is ineligible for this side, but that's never stopped him before).
Tony
Roar Guru
Can't argue with 10th place. Any team captained by Boyd is headed for the bottom.
The Messenger
Roar Guru
:laughing: :laughing: I forgot to take tongue-twisters into account!!
The Messenger
Roar Guru
In the '90s, I backed the more even class of '92 (with monster forwards right through the bench) over the Andrew Johns-led class of '93 — but the two future Immortals in the 2002 team convinced me to flip that logic this decade. Love the Glenn Stewart comment :laughing: and I agree, '03 is definitely the first team I'm buying a ticket to watch.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Good series, Messenger. 2002 has Smith and JT, but the back five is a little weak. I suppose coach Bellamy will have them at full capacity though. 2003 would be good to watch, with Slater and Marshall, as long as you can stop Glen Stewart fighting with all the Melbourne players in his own team. Agree with you that 2000 is the most well rounded team, and they might just be too strong all round for 2002.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
With Cronk, Carney, and Hunt in that 2004 side, Ray Warren would be very nervous in commentary. As he once said after first seeing Karmichael's name on the team sheet, "it's only a matter of time." :laughing: