It’s a moveable feast. Evolves over time. As a kid in the late 70’s it was Parra, then Manly and the Dogs, then Berries and Sharks were my second and third faves. Never had and love for Souths or Easts back then either.
In the 80’s under Wok, Canterbury became more reviled, the Eels were still up there, the Sharks still benign and still no love for the Bunnies and Chooks. Raiders, Wests, Newtown, Steelers and Penrith became adopted faves.
Then came the 90s, the Raiders became arrogant and the Broncos took over the most hated tag after back-to-back GF losses and ‘St George can’t play’. We were fighting the good fight and I absolutely hated Langer and Bennett. Still hated the Chooks but felt sorry for Souths who were the joke of the league. Parra also rose in the most hated stakes after Brian Smith transformed them into Saints 2.0. Canterbury started having delusions of grandeur during Super League. My hatred of them began with Barry Ward and ‘Sydney’ Bulldogs. The Seagulls/Chargers claimed some soft love, as did the Knights and Steelers.
Onto the noughties. Canterbury firmed as most hated with Coffs Harbour and SBW. Arrogance permeated that club at every level. The Storm vied heavily for the title after ‘99 under Chris Anderson. Souths were becoming upstarts after re-entry with all their new fans and the Chooks we’re climbing the charts as they bought their first premiership courtesy of uncle Nick. Storm were at their most hatable around the time we had that massive all-in with them in Melbourne when Nighty punched the flange out of Billy Slater. And who could have predicted the love for Bennett and Sailor?!
In the 2010’s, it was a three-way tie with Storm, Dogs and Chooks. Souths joined the hit parade after Burgess joined. The Roosters had Todd Carney. Tigers flirted briefly with the title under Sheens and when Moltzen backflipped. Knocking them out in 2010 was ver satisfying and diminished the dislike. The Raiders were cool again after becoming our feeder club.
In the past couple of years it’s been hard to maintain the rage at the Dogs. As hapless as they are it’s hard to hate them now. But It’s seriously enjoyable to watch their plight. Broncos aren’t a factor anymore, just irrelevant. We didn’t have to suffer their resurgent arrogance too long thankfully. Lockyer sorted that problem for us. Storm no longer at the apex of loathing since the departures of Slater and Cronk. Cronk and Trent Robinson ensured the Chooks remained public enemy number 1 and that won’t change until Robinson leaves. The industrial quantity of emissions blown up that club’s arse by the media will see them most despised for years to come. SBW’s return is the cherry on top. Souths re-entered the race under Siebold and now Bennett. The Eels, Knights and Panthers are currently also on the radar, moving up the charts. The Tigers have become my second favourite side.
