| League Freaks 2005 NRL Season Review |
 Its been an amazing season. At one point, the three in form teams were in places 13, 14 and 15. The three teams that contested the last two Grand Finals didn't even make the finals this season. Crowd records were smashed, TV ratings were great, and over all many consider this the best season in Australian Rugby League history.
But how did YOUR team go?
Sit back, relax and read League Freak 2005 Regular Season Review!
Parramatta Eels
Final Standing: 1st Place
League Freak Predicted: 8th Place
League Freaks Player Of The Year: Tim Smith
Summary
They started the season under the pump with the coach under pressure from the media. They ended the season by winning the Minor Premiership in front of a sellout crowd at Parramatta Stadium by beating the Brisbane Broncos.
Its been an amazing season for the Parramatta Eels and one that coach Brian Smith most be very proud of. The Eels showed this season that if you haven't got the cattle at your club,l its best to just go out and buy it. Their new additions added a great deal to the Eels lineup but it was probably the emergence of rookie halfback Tim Smith that sealed their rise to the top.
After incredibly releasing the supposed Eels saviour in Michael Witt during the off season and having smart arsed Sea Eagles officials claiming the Eels management were mad for letting him go, the Eels did something extraordinary in giving a rookie halfback the reigns of the club from the first game of the season. He never looked back.
Smith gave the Eels direction they have lacked since Peter Sterling retired. That coupled with the comeback of PJ Marsh as a weapon off the bench, the incredible form of Dean Widders, the workman like forward pack and the spectacular backline play....the Eels were the pick of the bunch during the 2005 regular season.
Looking Ahead
With a young team that has plenty of finals experience, the Eels will have their sights set firmly on the 2005 NRL Grand Final. Over the longer term however the Eels have the ability to be a VERY good side for years to come. As long as they hold onto Tim Smith they will be hard to beat!
St George/Illawarra Dragons
Final Standing: 2nd Place
League Freak Predicted: 6th Place
League Freaks Player Of The Year: Luke Bailey
Summary
If you think the Dragons season sounds a lot like the Eels season, you're right!
The Dragons started the season off poorly and Nathan Browns job was under pressure. But by seasons end the Dragons were a premiership favorite.
The Dragons got back key players from injury just at the right time. The play on Ben Horney at time as remarkable as he played well at fullback, and then at halfback when called upon. The emergence of their big athletic young forwards off the bench gave the Dragons a relentless forward pack and the form of centers Mark Gasnier and Matthew Cooper was stunning. Even Trent Barrett started to live up to the expectations of Dragons fans in what has been his best season for many years.
Looking Ahead
A young side bursting with talent, the Dragons will be aiming for the 2005 Grand Final but they face a challenge next season holding onto a number of their stars as they have something like 17 players off contract in 2007.
Brisbane Broncos
Final Standing: 3rd place
League Freak Predicted: 5th Place
League Freaks Player Of The Year: Petero Civoneceva
Summary
After starting the season very well the Broncos looked like they would easily win the minor premiership at mid season. While they had not been the form team of the competition at any time their consistency helped put space between themselves and the Premiership chasers.
However as Origin rolled around the Broncos simply hit the wall. In past season this has been blamed on the clubs large representation in the QLD side but with fewer Broncos in the QLD side then at any time over the last few years, this seem more like a poor excuse rather then a good reason.
Injuries to key players at certain times of the second half of the season didn't help their cause, but one has to wonder whether the constant whinging in recent years by Broncos management around Origin time has taken its effect on the club psyche, its almost as though they convince themselves they will fall apart after the Origin series.
Looking Ahead
The Broncos have a good talent spotting program so they will not be sliding right down the ladder like other teams might. However with what has to be the oldest forward pack in the game and having looked more and more tired over the second half of the season over the last few years, you have to wonder how the Broncos will go in 2006.
West Tigers
Final Standing: 4th Place
League Freak Predicted: 11th Place
League Freaks Player Of The Year: Benji Marshall
Summary
At one point it looked like season 2005 would be just like the previous few years for the Tigers. Start off ok, look like a finals hope by mid season, but fade away by season end. Not this time...
The Tigers kicked on in 2005 and the play of Benji Marshall and Scott Prince helped guide the Tigers to the finals for the first time since the joint venture started. The Tigers played some incredible attacking football and managed to rack up some massive score lines against some very good teams.
The addition of Paul Whatuira proved to be a master stroke as he continued his rise and rise from his days with the Penrith Panthers. Coach Tim Sheens must have felt pretty happy about the situation he finds himself in after years of hard times since leaving the Canberra Raiders many years ago.
Looking Ahead
A young side that has everything in place. The Tigers just need to get some more size and impact in their forward pack to be one of the top sides in the NRL.
North Queensland Cowboys
Final Standing: 5th Place
League Freak Predicted: 3rd Place
League Freaks Player Of The Year: Jonathon Thurston
Summary
Everyone was waiting for the Cowboys to burst out and step up in 2005 as one of the teams to beat. And while they played some great footy and finished well places, it just didn't quite happen.
The play of Jonathon Thurston really kicked the club along and the early season form of Matthew Bowen was simply incredible. The Cowboys did suffer as their forward pack put in some inconsistent performances but the club was helped along with the last season addition of Brett Firman in the halves.
While they probably should have played a little better this season, you wont find Cowboys fans complaining. This was the Cowboys best season ever and the huge crowds in North Queensland hope this is just another step in the journey of their beloved club.
Looking Ahead
While they do need more consistency and strike power in their forward pack, everything else is in place. They are a real threat for the title in 2005 and beyond.
Melbourne Storm
Final Standing: 6th Place
League Freak Predicted: 7th Place
League Freaks Player Of The Year: Matt King
Summary
They started the season on fire and at times looked like real Premiership contenders. But two major problems hampered their run in 2005.
The first was the "Will he or wont he" saga that surrounded Matt Orford this season. The Storm went through the same thing with Brett Kimmorley and ever since they signed Matt Orford as his replacement there has always been speculations about his future. As the talks reached their peak, the Storms form reached a season long low.
The other problem with the Storm was their tendency to either blow teams off the park....or lose the tough, close games. Losing nearly every close game they played, its not a good sign going into the finals.
Off the field it was possibly the Storms most successful season ever. News that $20,000,000 would be poured into Victorian Rugby League as well as news the Storm would get a purpose built stadium AND an Origin game next season...it was probably the best news all year.
Looking Ahead
Their inability to win the close games is a real problem. They need to secure a good halfback once again and it will be interesting to see how Michael Crocker goes next season as the clubs star signing.
Cronulla Sharks
Final Standing: 7th Place
League Freak Predicted: 12th Place
League Freaks Player Of The Year: Paul Gallen
Summary
At times the Sharks looked pretty good, but over all the Sharks haven't really been impressive despite their standing on the NRL ladder. They lost a number of games to teams they should have beaten and beaten well.
By mid season there was talk of a players meeting to discuss the future of coach Stuart Raper. Of course this was rubbished by the club but players didn't exactly come out and deny the meeting had occurred.
The Sharks limp into the finals however one thing that much be a bright sign for the club is their booming attendances.
Looking Ahead
With the coach already on the clock , the Sharks have a few problems to sort out. They are only just getting over Chris Anderson's "Winning Culture" but they have brought well in getting Ben Ross on a long term contract. It will be very interesting to see how they go next season. They need to be a top five side for Raper to keep his job.
Manly Sea Eagles
Final Standing: 8th Place
League Freak Predicted: 14th Place
League Freaks Player Of The Year: Ben Kennedy
Summary
They started the season off playing very well. Their defence was very good, they were enthusiastic and they were consistent. But slowly but surely the Sea Eagles faded.
The saga around the signing of Matt Orford was embarrassing and the stupid situation regarding Michael Monaghan was a complete farce by both sides. At the end of the day the Sea eagles got Orford and kept Monaghan but almost immediately it was suggested the Sea Eagles were shopping Monaghans services to other clubs.
After this farce of a situation the Sea eagles found it hard to get a win. They managed to JUST scrape into the finals with a last round win over the Canberra Raiders.
Looking Ahead
The Michael Monaghan situation needs sorted out. I don't think they can keep him and Orford in the same side. Aside from that the Sea Eagles have brought well and looking OK going into next season.
Sydney Roosters
Final Standing: 9th Place
League Freak Predicted: 4th Place
League Freaks Player Of The Year: Anthony Minichello
Summary
After a decent start to the 2005 season everything looked pretty good for the Roosters. But then the rot started to set in.
As predicted, the loss of Brad Fittler was MASSIVE for the club. The Roosters lacked direction and the club went for the first ten rounds without settling on a halves combination. When finally settled, Brett Finch showed what many fans had expected as he floundered without his retired all time great beside him.
Off the field the Roosters managed to secure the signatures of both Braith Anasta and Ashley Harrison and then had a couple of weeks where every man and his dog claimed their had proof the Roosters were cheating the salary cap.
As the season went on the Roosters looked out of sorts. The shell of a decent team that lacked any really good skillful footballers. Anthony Minichello was a shining light, but even he count get the Roosters into the finals.
By seasons end the Roosters came out and denied that they were about to release Brett Finch. When a club denie's rumours that no one had hear about....your usually gone.
Looking Ahead
Anasta and Harrison will help the club a great deal and while the Roosters will look to replace Finch in 2006, they will also need to improve their forward pack to get back into finals contention.
Penrith Panthers
Final Standing: 10th Place
League Freak Predicted: 2nd Place
League Freaks Player Of The Year: Rhys Wesser
Summary
After a great pre-season many good judges in the game has the Panthers as one of the favorites to win the Minor Premiership. But it was clear from early on that something was wrong with the panthers. Their sluggish early season form was written off as a slow start, but as the losses continued to mount it was clear the panthers had fallen on hard times. The loss of Tony Puletua was a big blow for the Panthers earl in the season. That coupled with most of the side looking slow, unfit and terribly out of form made for a frustrating season on my behalf. A shining light for the first half of the season though was Rhys Wesser who was probably the form player of the first half of the NRL season. But Wessers form eventually started to suffer as well as the Panthers lost a number of games this season by giving up big leads.
Looking Ahead
They have an awesome forward pack, two good halves and some dangerous players in their back line. The Panthers should come back and be at least a top 8 side next season. But between then and now there needs to be a whole lot of training and a major attitude adjustment.
New Zealand Warriors
Final Standing: 11th Place
League Freak Predicted: 9th Place
League Freaks Player Of The Year: Steve Price
Summary
While the additions of a number of experienced players helped the Warriors, 2005 has to go down as another really poor season. Dumb, inconsistent play, poor performances and players not playing up to their ability once again hampered the Warriors season.
The club spend most of 2005 letting go many of the poor performers much to the distress of Warriors fans, but in the long run this will help the club move forward. The loss of Stacey Jones was finalised and Warriors crowds fell right away as it became clear how poor the club really was.
Off the field though the Warriors of are one the most efficient, well run clubs in the game. This will probably lead to the Warriors starting a search for a new coach as Tony Kemp didn't really show he had much to offer as a first grade coach.
Looking Ahead
It's pretty much a clean slate for 2006. They have released many of their poor performers but their biggest task is changing the culture at the warriors that has been very poor in recent season. 2006 will probably be another tough year, but its a rebuilding year.
Canterbury Bulldogs
Final Standing: 12th
League Freak Predicted: 1st Place
League Freaks Player Of The Year: Braith Anasta
Summary
One of the worst seasons I can remember for a defending champion. The Bulldogs suffered major injuries to all of their stars bar Braith Anasta and that can explain their form for the first three quarters of the season. But over the last few weeks of the 2005 season the Bulldogs played some terrible football. They lacked any enthusiasm, their defense was dreadful and rumours started that all was not right at the club.
In 2005 the Bulldogs learned by mid season that they would lose Braith Anasta for next year. On the flip side they managed to secure the long term signatures of Sonny Bill Williams and Willie Mason.
Controversy never seemed to far away though as a very public spat with the Telegraph in Sydney saw the club refusing to speak to Telegraph reporters, and the Telegraph not only bashing the Bulldogs when ever possible but digitally removing Bulldogs sponsorship off of pictures of the team when it used their pictures in its newspaper. Ugly stuff.
Looking Ahead
The Bulldogs should have a good off season and be back as a force again in 2006.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Final Standing: 13th Place
League Freak Predicted: 13th Place
League Freaks Player Of The Year: Ashley Harrison
Summary
The Bunnies started off season 2005 very poorly and the fact they spent most of 2005 trying to lure big names to the club (None of which they got) probably didn't help the team on the field. By mid season we knew the club was going to lose Ashley Harrison and Bryan Fletcher and it would not be replacing them with Luke Bailey, Braith Anasta or Matt Orford.
George Piggins came out soon after the club missed out of Braith Anasta to claim that he had been faxed an anonymous document that showed proof some other teams were rorting the salary cap. Quite embarrassing when coupled with a stupid drive to get Redfern Oval redeveloped as a 14,000 seat stadium in a year where the NRL broke the 16,000 average mark.
Bryan Fletcher was stripped of the captancy after calling one of the NRL's best ambassador Dean Widders a "Black C***" and that was quickly followed by claim that "Its not his go".
After the management had settled down, the team on the field started playing pretty well, The club had a number of good wins albeit over very much out of form sides. The club managed to avoid the wooden spoon, which is an achievement these days for the Bunnies.
Looking Ahead
The end of 2005 was promising but 2006 is probably going to see more losses then wins for the Bunnies. Their bigging signings was a TERRIBLY out of form and injury prone Joe Galuvoa one a reported $300,000 a season. They have lost Fletcher and Harrison and they will be moving home games to Telstra Stadium which could set new records for the most empty seats at a sporting event in recorded history.
Canberra Raiders
Final Standing: 14th Place
League Freak Predicted: 15th Place
League Freaks Player Of The Year: Phil Graham
Summary
After hammering the Raiders off season recruitment I had plenty of people willing to throw the Raiders early season form back in my face. The Raiders started off strong and everyone was raving about the play of Jason Smith.
The fact is, even at their best the signs were there that the Raiders had some problems. The signings of old and injury prone players did come back to hurt them as age and injury took their major toll on the team. The clubs predictable style of play made for predictable results and by seasons end I was proven to be almost spo on with my prediction of how the Raiders season would go as they slowly but surely faded away down the ladder, out of the eight and into contention for the wooden spoon.
Looking Ahead
Its back to square one again. They are in the same position they were in the last off season and its because of their terrible recruitment in the last off season. Unless the Raiders pull off some miracle and sign a good half, a few good back rowers and a decent hooker....its going to be a long year ahead for Raiders fans. If Elliott doesn't bite the bullet for this season rotten performance, it will happen next season.
Newcastle Knights
Final Standing: 15th Place
League Freak Predicted: 10th Place
League Freaks Player Of The Year: Andrew Johns
Summary
It was like two different season for the Knights.
In the first half of the season the club looked TERRIBLE. Johns was playing poorly, there were a number of injuries. The coaching staff were unhappy with the makeshift facilities they had to work with, the club had no major sponsor and was in deep financial trouble, but in some type of miracle, everything managed to turn around!
Johns came back from a broken Jaw and never looked back. Injured players started to get back into the side as youngsters started to step up and play well. The club reeled off a number of big wins and by season end, the Knights were one of the form teams in the competition with a new major sponsor, sellout crowds and a coach who is looking like a genius!
Looking Ahead
The Knights led by Johns and with a number of good young players in their side should do a lot better next season. I would suggest they will be around 4th or 5th on the ladder in 2006.
League Freaks Predictions: 66 Places Out Of Perfection!
Counting the difference in placing's between my predictions and where teams actually finished...66 places sounds like a pretty terrible season! Thats 4.4 places our of wack on average across the whole competition.
Considering the amazing performances of some teams, and the terrible performances of others, I'm not to shocked by that. After all who would have thought that the teams that have taken part in the last two Grand Finals would not make the finals. Every man and his dog was talking about how the Bulldogs and Panthers were out in front of the pack while the Roosters were also sure to be there biting at their heels.
Best Moment Of The 2005 Season: Benji's Try
Look, this is the NRL we're talking about here, and few moments in the NRL season were as incredible as the amazing try Benji Marshall scored against the Cronulla Sharks down at Campbelltown Stadium. People will be talking about that try for years to come.
Team Of The Season: Parramatta Eels.
It all fell into place for the Eels. Their defence was great by seasons end and with all of their finals experinece, they are my tip for the 2005 NRL title.
Biggest Dud Of 2005: Penrith Panthers
Looking at every team and even individual players in the 2005 competition, I found less of a reason for the Penrith Panthers to such this year then I did for the Bulldogs or the Roosters.
Coach Of The Year: Tim Sheens
He has taken a poor Tigers side and at the very least given them hope. Many have tired, many have failed, but Sheens got the job done.
Player Of The Year: Andrew Johns
Without him they had nothing. With him they were one of the best teams in the competition. This was an easy choice.
League Freaks 2005 Season Ratings
Crowds: A+
A record breaking season in which NRL crowds broke the 16,400 barrier. Its not at a point where crowds will start being effected by the lack of top class facilities. Thats an issue the NRL will really have to work hard on.
Channel Nine: E-
Ive just fed up with Nine. They treat the game like sh*t. No promotion at all, terrible time slots, stupid rules to try and monoplise their coverage of the game in an era where the 2 hours of actual game footage is just a past of the overall exposure the game has. Breaking "Exclusive" news thats been on the radio and the internet for hours, biased commentary by the likes of Phil Gould, no coverage in Perth or Adelaide, rotten coverage in Melbourne, coverage in Sydney and Brisbane that is put to shame by Tens AFL coverage....the list goes on and on. The only way they could have got an F is if they didn't show the games at all.
Fox Sports: C
As usual Fox Sports delivers on their coverage of the NRL. They lose MAJOR marks for the fact they really show coverage ONLY of the NRL and are not to fussed about Super League.
2GB: F
Thank goodness this is the last time the NRL will have a single commercial rights holder on Radio. When you switch on to hear footy news and you get dumb songs....or when you want to hear a Storm game only to get 2 hours of bagging the Storm because your tstation Boss wants a club to fill the stadium he owns....2GB's League coverage f***ing sucks!
The NRL: B
A good season by the NRL with only a lack of promotion hurting what would have been an A+.
Season 2005: B+
A pretty good season. I think it hurt not having a clear cut best side all season but some may say that helped the massive crowds flock to the game. Either way its been a very successfull year and one Ive really enjoyed.
BRING ON THE FINALS!!! :-)
League Freak
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