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2008's heros and villains
By Phil Rothfield | September 05, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24294075-5016307,00.html
IT'S that time of the year again. Spring is in the air, Mad Monday is three days away and the Dally M awards are on next Tuesday night. Our centenary season is drawing to a close. It's been one of the most exciting, tumultuous, inspiring and controversial years in 100 years - all rolled into one.
So here goes ... my major award winners for a football season that we will never forget.
Most Inspiring Story:
Wendell Sailor's comeback, without a doubt. He attracted priceless publicity for the game through his character, flamboyance and the manner in which he has conducted himself. He's a great bloke who deserves to go out a winner.
Most Passionate Moment:
When a winless Souths coach Jason Taylor broke every NRL rule in the book by calling his Souths players to the sideline for a rev-up that nearly won them the match against Cronulla at ANZ Stadium on a cold, wintry Monday night.
Coach Of The Year:
Ricky Stuart in a photo finish from Neil Henry. To lift a no-frills Cronulla to the top of the table alongside Manly and Melbourne is a better coaching effort than when he won the competition at the Roosters. Henry was also sensational in guiding a team that should have won the wooden spoon into finals contention.
Player Of The Year:
Billy Slater. He'll find it hard to win the Dally M award because he's been docked three points for a suspension and he's competing for points in a team of champions each week. But he's been absolutely outstanding since the season kicked off.
Discovery Of The Year:
Chris Sandow is raging hot favourite for the Dally M rookie-of-the-year award. But I'm a massive fan of Daine Laurie at the Tigers. He's raw but there's a touch of Sonny Bill Williams about him.
Most Disgraceful Act:
Sonny Bill Williams walking out on the Bulldogs. He and his manager Khoder Nasser lied to the Bulldogs for weeks that he was committed to the Belmore club before fleeing the country.
Worst Off-field Incident:
The allegations that Greg Bird glassed his girlfriend Katie Milligan.
Best Picture:
Wendell Sailor rubbing suntan lotion on to Willie Mason's back on their pre-season escape to Cairns.
Most Potential To Embarrass:
Nathan Brown. If Saints keep on winning and make the grand final, Dragons CEO Peter Doust and his board will be wondering why the hell they coughed-up more than $1.5million to sign Wayne Bennett for three years.
Second-Most Potential To Embarrass:
Brett "Noddy'' Kimmorley collecting the Clive Churchill Medal.
Worst Journalism:
Channel 9's interview at the top of their Sunday night news with Khoder Nasser on the day his client Sonny Bill skipped the country. The reporter allowed him to get away with saying he wasn't Sonny's manager. And that he hadn't spoken to Sonny. It was pathetic.
Most Misunderstood:
Sharks skipper Paul Gallen has done some ridiculously stupid things on the park but he's a man of compassion off the field. Without wanting publicity, he's quietly done some wonderful charity work.
Saddest Moment:
The passing of true legend Jack Gibson. I'd have loved to have seen him coaching, putting his innovative ideas in today's game against the more stereotype coaches in charge these days.
Most Promising Sign:
The emergence of some great new club chief executives of the calibre of Todd Greenberg, Grant Mayer and Tony Zappia with fresh ideas for the future of the game. The game of rugby league needs more creative minds like them and a few less dinosaurs.
Most Negative:
As a major stakeholder in the game, you would think Channel 9 would be trying to promote rugby league at every opportunity. The problem is three words - Phillip Ronald Gould. He's boring and so predictable.
By Phil Rothfield | September 05, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,24294075-5016307,00.html
IT'S that time of the year again. Spring is in the air, Mad Monday is three days away and the Dally M awards are on next Tuesday night. Our centenary season is drawing to a close. It's been one of the most exciting, tumultuous, inspiring and controversial years in 100 years - all rolled into one.
So here goes ... my major award winners for a football season that we will never forget.
Most Inspiring Story:
Wendell Sailor's comeback, without a doubt. He attracted priceless publicity for the game through his character, flamboyance and the manner in which he has conducted himself. He's a great bloke who deserves to go out a winner.
Most Passionate Moment:
When a winless Souths coach Jason Taylor broke every NRL rule in the book by calling his Souths players to the sideline for a rev-up that nearly won them the match against Cronulla at ANZ Stadium on a cold, wintry Monday night.
Coach Of The Year:
Ricky Stuart in a photo finish from Neil Henry. To lift a no-frills Cronulla to the top of the table alongside Manly and Melbourne is a better coaching effort than when he won the competition at the Roosters. Henry was also sensational in guiding a team that should have won the wooden spoon into finals contention.
Player Of The Year:
Billy Slater. He'll find it hard to win the Dally M award because he's been docked three points for a suspension and he's competing for points in a team of champions each week. But he's been absolutely outstanding since the season kicked off.
Discovery Of The Year:
Chris Sandow is raging hot favourite for the Dally M rookie-of-the-year award. But I'm a massive fan of Daine Laurie at the Tigers. He's raw but there's a touch of Sonny Bill Williams about him.
Most Disgraceful Act:
Sonny Bill Williams walking out on the Bulldogs. He and his manager Khoder Nasser lied to the Bulldogs for weeks that he was committed to the Belmore club before fleeing the country.
Worst Off-field Incident:
The allegations that Greg Bird glassed his girlfriend Katie Milligan.
Best Picture:
Wendell Sailor rubbing suntan lotion on to Willie Mason's back on their pre-season escape to Cairns.
Most Potential To Embarrass:
Nathan Brown. If Saints keep on winning and make the grand final, Dragons CEO Peter Doust and his board will be wondering why the hell they coughed-up more than $1.5million to sign Wayne Bennett for three years.
Second-Most Potential To Embarrass:
Brett "Noddy'' Kimmorley collecting the Clive Churchill Medal.
Worst Journalism:
Channel 9's interview at the top of their Sunday night news with Khoder Nasser on the day his client Sonny Bill skipped the country. The reporter allowed him to get away with saying he wasn't Sonny's manager. And that he hadn't spoken to Sonny. It was pathetic.
Most Misunderstood:
Sharks skipper Paul Gallen has done some ridiculously stupid things on the park but he's a man of compassion off the field. Without wanting publicity, he's quietly done some wonderful charity work.
Saddest Moment:
The passing of true legend Jack Gibson. I'd have loved to have seen him coaching, putting his innovative ideas in today's game against the more stereotype coaches in charge these days.
Most Promising Sign:
The emergence of some great new club chief executives of the calibre of Todd Greenberg, Grant Mayer and Tony Zappia with fresh ideas for the future of the game. The game of rugby league needs more creative minds like them and a few less dinosaurs.
Most Negative:
As a major stakeholder in the game, you would think Channel 9 would be trying to promote rugby league at every opportunity. The problem is three words - Phillip Ronald Gould. He's boring and so predictable.
