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Kennel Legend
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GOOD, bad and ugly, 2014 was a big one for Australian sport. PHIL ROTHFIELD and Darren Hadland look at the big moments of an eventful year.
SADDEST FAREWELL
The funeral for Phillip Hughes in Macksville and the outpouring of grief showed how much cricket means to Australians and how the country loves a fighter.
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
Alex McKinnon. The dignity, grace and courage he showed in the face of a horrible spinal injury was so inspirational. What a fighter. The same goes for young Curtis Landers, the 15-year-old from Forster, who broke his neck playing rugby league.
SPORTSWOMEN OF THE YEAR
Cate Campbell, Emma McKeon, Bronte Campbell and Melanie Schlanger, the Aussie golden girls who set a world record to win the 4x100m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games.
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Australia’s netball Diamonds, who went through the Commonwealth Games undefeated and conquered archrivals New Zealand and England in their Test series.
PEE BRAIN OF THE YEAR
Todd Carney’s bubbler impersonation is about the strangest way to flush a career down the toilet. The so-called mate who photographed it wins the silver medal.
HOMECOMING KING
Wayne Bennett returning to the Broncos, where he belongs. The Knights were never a good fit for the super coach.
WHAT’S UP, DOC?
I’m no medic, but I don’t know how big Sam Burgess was allowed to play out the match when another serious knock might have ended in disaster. Was it foolish or gutsy? You decide.
BEST SIDELINE INTERVIEW
“It’s f. ked. It’s gone.” Sam Burgess to Brad Fittler when asked about his cheek at half-time in the grand final. Dr Buzz could have told Freddy that.
BIGGEST HAIL MARY PLAY
Jarryd Hayne’s switch to the NFL is bigger than Anthony Mundine going to boxing, Israel Folau switching to AFL and rugby or SBW’s imminent move to curling. We wish him well.
BEST WEEKEND
The outpouring of emotion in the #Rise for Alex round highlighted all that is great about rugby league. It also showed the old Aussie spirit of rallying around a mate.
BRAVEST PERFORMANCE
Sean Abbott returning to the SCG for his first Shield match after the Phillip Hughes tragedy and taking 6-14 against Queensland. Well bowled, son.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Luke Brooks got the Dally M gong, but we think it should have gone to Souths winger Alex Johnston for his 21 tries in 18 games.
RAISING YOUR BAT TO A MATE
The emotion of the first Test against India as Davey Warner, Michael Clarke and Steve Smith all paid their own special tribute to Phillip Hughes. The 408 on the ground, 63 seconds of applause — it was a touching moment for a young bloke who will never be forgotten.
OSSIE OSTRICH HEAD IN THE SAND AWARD
NRL boss Dave Smith is out of touch with fans and clubs on everything from suburban grounds, daytime footy, player behaviour, salary cap, player burnout, staffing appointments, wasting money … NRL stands for No one’s Really Listening.
POOR DIDDUMS
Aw, Smithy had his feelings hurt by Paul Gallen’s tweet that he fined him 50 grand and banned him from next year’s Test match. Yes, Gal was out of line — but the punishment was so severe that Judge Paul Conlon quit as judiciary chief over it.
DISTURBING THE PEARCE
Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce was taken away in handcuffs after resisting arrest when asked to leave a Kings Cross nightclub. It was a moment of madness that cost him his Origin spot.
OUT OF COMMISSION
And if Dave Smith’s approval rating is low, ARLC chief John Grant is even more on the nose. He’s now known as Mr 20 per cent.
FEUD CRITIC
Gordie Tallis ignited a storm when he put himself in the middle of the Robbie Farah-Michael Potter situation at Wests Tigers. The straight-shooting Tallis revealed that Farah had told him Potter couldn’t coach. Well played, Gordie.
ANNUAL COACHING SACK RACE
Gold medal: Steve Price (Dragons). Silver medal: Anthony Griffin (Broncos). Bronze medal: Mick Potter (Tigers). Matt Elliott (Warriors) was DQ’d for a false start.
TRY OF THE YEAR
Greg Inglis’ 90m effort against the Broncos at Suncorp. GI has scored 125 first-grade tries, we dare say this is the best of them.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Laurie Daley did the impossible — he and his Blues ended Queensland’s eight-year Origin reign. It was wonderful to see Gal hold up the shield. He deserved it.
TWINNERS
Josh Morris stopping Greg Inglis with a bung knee and Brett Morris tackling Darius Boyd with a busted shoulder won the game for NSW in Origin I.
YOU MUST BE KIDDING
A 12-year-old Parramatta ball boy was blamed for the Eels’ loss to Manly because he didn’t follow protocol and passed the ball infield after a 40-20. How did the game ever get to this?
MONTY PYTHON TIME BANDITS AWARD
The luckless Dragons lost to Melbourne Storm when a try was allowed to Young Tonumaipea from a play-the-ball after the full-time siren.
GONE FAR TOO SOON
Jockey Nathan Berry’s sad passing at the age of 23 after contracting Norse syndrome in Singapore. Racing lost a special talent.
STORM IN A WEE CUP
ASADA told us for two years about the depth and breadth of the peptide scandal at Cronulla Sharks. Then they effectively banned players for three games. Was it worth it? Now, it’s time to let the game and the club move on. If anyone is crazy enough to transgress again, throw the book at them.
TWIN AND A PRAYER
Tommy Berry blew a kiss to the heavens when he won on The Offer at Randwick nine days
after Nathan’s passing. It was a poignant moment.
BIRTH OF A CHAMPION
Protectionist’s win in the Melbourne Cup was as emphatic as they come. The best news? He’s staying for the Sydney Championships.
RUN OUT OF TOWN
Athletics Australia head coach Eric Hollingsworth discovered it’s not wise to get embroiled in a war with the country’s top athlete. Sally Pearson had the last laugh when Hollingsworth was sacked on the eve of the Commonwealth Games — and she went on to win 100m hurdles gold.
BLEAT, SPRAY, SHOVE
“He was very negative and he’s been negative to every single person on the team … we needed to get rid of the negativity and we did. Everyone can lift now and do what we need to do and
be happy.” Pearson on Hollingsworth. Ouch.
TINKLER DOWN
The Newcastle Knights cut ties with Nathan Tinkler, and hardly a tear was shed. Community will always be the heart of Steel Town.
CRASH TEST DUMMY
Buddy Franklin smashing his girlfriend Jesinta Campbell’s Jeep into four parked cars at Rose Bay in April. Thankfully, no one was hurt. The $10 million man was fined $405 for negligent driving. We think he can afford it.
GOODES, THE BUD AND THE UGLY
What a year for the Swans. Adam Goodes being named Australian of the year, Buddy first season a success … and then the horrible grand final loss to the Hawks.
MADDEST MONDAY
The two Melbourne Demons AFL players who “celebrated” by going as Rolf Harris and a young girl. Bad taste — definitely.
BEST RECOVERY SHOT
It was sad to see Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki go their separate ways, especially after they got engaged in Sydney. But the pain didn’t stop Rory, who went on to win two majors.
GOOD AS GOULD
Phillip Ronald’s five-year plan has delivered for the Panthers. All bow to the guru.
SATTS ALL, FOLKS
Sam Burgess, playing 80 minutes with a busted cheekbone, said farewell to the NRL with a grand final performance that will go down in folklore alongside John Sattler’s 1970 broken-jaw game.
COMEBACK OF THE YEAR
Jamie Soward showed at Penrith that he is still among the NRL’s top playmakers. Great season.
TEARS BEFORE TEE TIME
The hearts of many Aussie sports fans melted when Jarrod Lyle returned to golf in the US after his battle with cancer. And he shot a bogey-free four-under par in his first round back.
DI-HARD WITH A VENGEANCE
The Kurtley Beale text scandal that engulfed Wallabies business manager Di Patston, split Australian rugby and ultimately cost Ewen McKenzie his Test coaching job.
SUPER TAHS
Surprise, surprise. After 126 games of Super Rugby, the season came down to a shot at penalty goal — thankfully, Bernard Foley kicked it and the Waratahs beat the Crusaders 33-32 in the final at ANZ Stadium.
LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
We’re betting that Israel Folau, Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Burgess will be the big players
at next year’s rugby World Cup. Says it all, really.
BEST VICTORY SPEECH
V8 Supercars’ Volvo driver Scott McLaughlin live on TV after winning the Clipsal 500: “Plucked it in first, gave it some jandal and, f ... yeah”. The clip went viral and the quote found its way on to T-shirts. Strange mob, revheads.
BROCK-BUSTER OF THE YEAR
Jamie Whincup restored some normality to the V8 circuit by winning his sixth championship.
A true giant of Aussie sport.
CROCK AND BULL STORY
As Sebastian Vettel’s stocks fell, Aussie Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo announced himself
as a major player in the high-pressure world of Formula One. A global superstar.
MAN-UP AWARD
Anthony Mundine defied all of his many critics when he outpointed the previously undefeated Sergey Rabchenko. He’s still got it.
BIGGEST BACKFLIP
Benji Marshall’s rugby experiment lasted six games with the Blues before he joined the Dragons. It’s good to have him back.
QUEEN OF THE WAVES
Steph Gilmore pipped Sally Fitzgibbons on the way to her sixth world title.
BEST SOCCEROOS GOAL (EVER)
Tim Cahill’s volley against The Netherlands was breathtaking. What a champion.
RABBIT STEW
It was the signing that led to almost a civil war at Brookvale, with Manly favourite Glenn Stewart forced out of the club and signing with South Sydney.
BEST SHOULDER CHARGE
They’re banned from NRL, but Sydney Kings import Josh Childress had a brain explosion and smashed Perth’s Jesse Wagstaff so hard that it was shown right around the world.
PERSONAL HIGHLIGHT
Being in Brazil for the soccer World Cup. What a show. I’ll never forget it.
TOOTH FAIRY
Uruguay and Barcelona striker Luis Suarez committed one of the most cowardly acts when he bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini. There’s nothing tough about biting. He should have been suspended for 12 months from all competitions.
BEST ASIAN TAKEAWAY
The Wanderers, hampered by salary cap and on a relatively shoestring budget, beating Guangzhou Evergrande (quarter-final), FC Seoul (semi) and then Al-Hilal to win the Asian Champions League.
COACH KILLERS
If you think the NRL is a ruthless business, what about Brisbane Roar’s Mike Mulvey getting the axe six months after winning the premiership and being named coach of the year?
WICKET MITCH OF THE TEST
Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson was a worthy winner of Test cricketer of the year award. It’s all about the Mo.
GOLLY, WHAT A BAD SPORT
The grub, Nassir Alshamrani, who spat at Wanderers defender Matthew Spiranovic after the
ACL final.
A-GRADE STUFF-UP AWARD
Western Suburbs cricket captain Jeff Cook, who declared at 0-17 so Michael Clarke could prove his fitness in a club game. And it was all for nothing.
BEST NEWCOMER
Newcombe Medal winner Nick Kyrgios, the 19-year-old who defeated Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon and won the nod of approval from John McEnroe. He’s the anti-Tomic.
OSCAR FOR BEST FAIRYTALE
You can’t go past Russell Crowe and his Bunnies winning the comp again after 43 years. Seeing heroes such as Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess in tears before full-time … extraordinary.
SECOND COMING AWARD
The popular Casey Dellacqua, mum, fighter, tennis star — and she reached a career-high singles ranking of 29 in September.
YOU’LL BE MISSED
Anthony Minichiello, Brent Tate (NRL), Alessandro Del Piero and Shinji Ono (soccer) brought so much joy to Aussie footy fans.
2015 FAIRYTALE SEQUEL
The mighty boys from Cronulla to win next season’s premiership. Turn off the porch light, Harold Holt has been found and the NRL’s longest drought will end. Sing it with me, loud and proud ... Up, Up, Cronulla …
http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/the.../story-fnlt03ir-1227163133054?from=public_rss