Well the Melbourne Storm are deserved premiers for 2009 and after the dust has settled and the Parra fans have cried and Storm fans celebrated we can look back on a pretty good grand final.
The Storm deserved to win it no doubt about that. The decision to penalise Fui Fui was the right one and you can see in the replay that Slater’s arm got hit with the knee of Daniel Mortimer so even if it wasn't a tackle penalty it was certainly a penalty.
And if Will Chambers knew the rules the Storm would've gotten a penalty in front of the posts and kicked a goal anyway.
The Eels were fantastic in defeat. The way they came back from defeat with the 2 tries in the final 20 to really give the crowd something to cheer about was spectacular and they will be a team of the future for sure.
The Storm have to go down as the best of the decade and maybe the best in the past 20 years. 4 successive grand finals, winning 2 of them. The same core-group of players and coach have done a wonderful job and deserve all the plaudits they get.
The big names were fantastic. Slater, Smith, Inglis, Cronk, while for Parra the effort from Hindmarsh was superb and so too Fui Fui, who is fast becoming a cult hero of the game.
It would have been wonderful for the Eels to win. For Hindy, Cayless and co but it wasn't to be and it remains to be seen if they can continue on next year. I notice they have been put up as favourites but I wouldn't be rushing into those odds.
It’s been a very weird 2009. The off field dramas and the on field form have been poles apart so it’s fitting I give the awards for 2009 on and off the field.
I reckon there are some big things about to happen in the next few weeks so let’s break out the crystal ball....
TEAM OF THE YEAR: Melbourne Storm (obviously)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jarryd Hayne
YOUNG GUN AND FUTURE STAR: Canberra Fullback, Josh Dugan
COACH OF THE YEAR: A tie between Daniel Anderson, Kevin Moore and Craig Bellamy
GOOD GUY OF THE YEAR: Nathan Hindmarsh, never says no to interviews or appearances
2010 PREMIERSHIP WINNER: Melbourne Storm (They only loose 2 or 3 players for next season)
2010 PREMIERSHIP RUNNERS UP: Bulldogs or Dragons
2010 DALLY M PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Billy Slater
2010 WOODEN SPOON WINNER: Sydney Roosters, they have brought a few but Brian Smith generally takes some time to get things going
NEXT BIG SIGNING: Loti Tuquri to the tigers within the week!!!
AND NOW THE BAD STUFF
WORST ON FIELD PERFORMANCE FOR 2009: Even though they are not on the field, some of the video decisions this year defy explanation., An easy target I know, but surely they read the same rulebook as the rest of us, so how come they a different spin on things.
WORST OFF FIELD PERFORMANCE FOR 2009: It’s hard not to say Greg Inglis or Bret Stewart given the amount of unwanted publicity the respective acts drew to the clubs concerned. Not smart and not good by any stretch of the Imagination. Special mention to Nate Myles.
WORST PERFORMANCE BY A CLUB: No not Cronulla or the Roosters. This one goes to the weak individuals at Souths who thought sacking Jason Taylor was fair and just. There was no way that any person should be saked for being knocked out. If he was drunk then so be it, fine him like you would a player. The hypocrisy at Souths defied logic especially since one of the players who did a nudie run, was in fact playing in a semi final a few days after Taylor was sacked. He will win his court action.
It’s been fun this year and I can safely say we will miss the footy but the cricket is what we do in summer.
I hope you finished in front and the tips I gave got you some pocket money every so often.
Take it easy and see you next year for more NRL.
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