Ill stick with NRL era as anything else is really before my time.
Top 5 quality games from whistle to whistle.
2003
2013
2016
2019
2005
Top 5 exciting finishes
2015
1999
2016
2019
2013
Top 5 performances
2008 manly
2001 knights
2018 roosters
2003 Panthers
2006 Broncos
All beat more highly fancied opposition and quite easily in the case of the top 3.
Top 5 foregone conclusions
2017
2007
2014
2010
2000
Honourable mention to 2002
Top 3 prelim was the real GF
2010
2014
2002
Top 5 least deserving CCM recipients
1 Thurston - this was decided the moment the cowboys beat storm to qualify. He was a solid 10th best that day. Could have gone to any number of players on either side.
2 Burgess - see above without the either side part. The broken cheekbone just added to the wank fest. It was really a poor man's 2013 SKD performance.
3 DCE for obvious reasons
4 wighton - see above
5 lewis - this hurts to say as he was tremendous but fifita was clearly the best that day.
Least notable games by virtue of not being listed elsewhere in this post
In no particular order
1998
2009
2011
2012
Best refereeing performance
1 2013
2 2019
Just quality reffing all game and i know neither loser has any complaint at all.
As you can tell this lockdown does not have me bored as f**k at all.
mate great post, lots of thought put into it.
I agree with most of your sentiment on the games, and especially the CCM. Especially Thurston. What amazes me is hardly anyone talks of Kyle Feldt, who got the ball back off the Broncos in the final minute to give them hope, then scored the try on the bell. That in itself should be glorified as one of the greatest grand final efforts to get a win in history... but nup... we get bludgeoned with Thurstons simple field goal.
The only games my views differ (I’m not one to argue or hose down opinions of others, that’s simpletons’ stuff) are
2009 GF I thought was actually a great game. When Moi Moi got his try it really ramped up too, but a somewhat dud referee call late cost Parra the chance to push for a final tilt at victory. That Parra came from the clouds to make it (and yes, I was at kogarah when they beat us in the first semi) and that the Storm had systematically rorted the cap adds to intrigue of this game for me. Of all the GFs of the NRL era there’s probably only 3 or 4 I’d genuinely be interested to watch again, this is one of them.
I would rate 2013 Roosters Sea Eagles as the best Quality GF in the NRL era. I was very much a neutral but it just was a cracking game of league. Was happy for the Roosters to win that. I’d happily watch this game again too.
2003 Panthers Roosters, I was at the game. At the time I didn’t think it was all that fantastic of a game, rather a slog in the rain. I’ve watched it once on telly since and felt the same. Great that Panthers won, but I don’t have the enthusiasm that others do for this one.
I’d put the 2017 Storm team in my top 5 GF performances, probably even at number 1. But I get your criteria on beating favoured opponents. The rest of yours are indeed similar to my thoughts.
1999 - exciting for all but Dragons fans. I was at the game about 5 rows from the back of the (since removed) Southern Stand. I was unashamedly heartbroken as the penalty try unfolded below us. But i can appreciate it was otherwise one of the most memorable GF’s and finishes, my team was on the wrong end of it.
2019 Best refereeing? Yes I don’t think that game deserved to be remembered for Ben Cummins 6 again call. I was very much going for the Raiders and they could have won. But I don’t think that cost them the game. Many people seek the outrage angle at any opportunity and milk it for all it’s worth.
