2010 NRL season | |
Teams | 16 |
Premiers | St. George Illawarra (1st title) |
Minor premiers | St. George Illawarra (2nd title) |
Matches played | 201 |
Attendance | 3,491,890 (total) 17,373 (per match) |
Top point scorer(s) | Michael Gordon (270) |
Top try scorer(s) | Akuila Uate (21) Shaun Kenny-Dowall (21) |
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium. Sixteen teams competed for the 2010 Telstra Premiership whilst the third season of the National Youth Competition was also in progress.
The 2010 season was marred by the Melbourne Storm's admission in April of systematically breaching the salary cap. As part of the NRL's imposed penalties, the Storm were deducted all 8 competition points earned at the time of the announcement, and were barred from receiving points for the rest of the season, guaranteeing them the wooden spoon.[1][2] Further, they were stripped of their 2007 and 2009 premierships, as well as their 2006, 2007 and 2008 minor premierships. There was no ramification regarding the 2010 World Club Challenge Cup, won in February (this title was later stripped after the final report into the Storm's salary cap breach was released in May 2011), the runners-up statuses of 2006 and 2008 and eligible Storm players were still considered for selection for Test and Origin matches as well as for the Dally M Awards; ultimately, Melbourne did not figure prominently in the latter awards.
The premiership was won by the season's minor premiers the St George Illawarra Dragons, becoming first title achieved for the joint venture club shared between the St George Dragons and the Illawarra Steelers. The Dragons also became the first minor premiers since Penrith in 2003 to complete the minor premiership and premiership double and became only the third team (the other team being the Brisbane Broncos who completed the double twice, in 1998 and 2000) to complete the double since the NRL's inception in 1998.
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During the pre-season the Melbourne Storm defeated the Leeds Rhinos 18-10 in the 2010 World Club Challenge.[3] The inaugural All Stars match took place on 13 February at Skilled Park, Gold Coast, where the Indigenous All Stars team won 16–12.[4]
Significant dates throughout the season include the annual ANZAC Test and City vs Country Origin weekend, resulting in a shortened round in early May. Byes take place throughout the State of Origin period between Rounds 11 and 18 (during June and July).[5] The annual heritage round takes place again in Round 10, a round celebrating Women in League has been earmarked for Round 16, and later in the season a round has been set aside to celebrate Indigenous Australians.
For the second successive year the St. George Illawarra Dragons took out the JJ Giltinan Shield for winning the minor premiership.
The overall attendance record during the regular season was 3,151,039, an increase on last year's record of 3,081,874. This was the second consecutive year that the rugby league attendance record has been broken.[6]
On 7 September 2010, Sydney Roosters' five-eighth Todd Carney won the coveted Dally M Medal for Player of the Year for season 2010 and was also awarded the people's choice Provan-Summons award (see 2010 Dally M Awards for full award listing). It was a remarkable return to the field for Carney who in 2008 was sacked by the Canberra Raiders and deregistered by the NRL for the 2009 season for repeated off-field indiscretions.
During the 2010 season, a rule change to the playing field was implemented so that if a player in possession of the ball made contact with the corner post that player would no longer be considered to be touch in-goal.[7] Proponents of the move argued a series of possible future scenarios made this preventative measure necessary, with ARL chief executive Geoff Carr stating, "no one has thought of the possibility of using the corner post as a weapon to defuse a try and we want to stop it before they do".[8] One scenario was that a defending player might manipulate the corner post to put an attacker out of play.[8] Another concern cited was that the corner post might be made to make contact with a rolling ball to ensure the defending team gains possession with a 20 metre restart.[8] Corner posts, which sometimes lean to one side, have no upper height limit set and this led to a fear that corner posts might become "long rubber snakes, biting attackers and sending them into touch", in the words of Roy Masters.[8] Other laws concerning the corner posts remained unchanged.[9] A ball that makes contact with the corner post while not in the possession of a player will be deemed to be touch in-goal as before.[9] There was no attempt to remove the corner posts from the playing field as they are used to promote sponsors and are also a useful aid for players to judge their kicks.[8] The change was agreed by the NRL Board and approved by the RLIF as an experimental rule.[7] Implementation occurred mid-season following feedback from clubs.[7]
On 22 April, Melbourne Storm officials confessed to the NRL that the club had committed serious and systematic breaches of the salary cap regulations for the last five years by running a well-organized dual contract and bookkeeping system which left the NRL unable to know of $3.17 million in payments made to players outside of the salary cap, including $550,000 in 2007, $965,000 in 2009 and $1.03 million in 2010.
As a result of this confession, the following penalties were imposed by the NRL:
The Storm accepted this decision without question;,[1][2] however, the former directors of the club took legal action which later collapsed. The matter has been referred to ASIC, Australian Tax Office, the Victorian State Revenue Office, and the Victoria Police.[10]
For the record, Melbourne finished the 2010 season with a 14-10 win-loss record which would have seen them finish 5th disregarding the punishment, with Manly missing the finals. The Cowboys finished the 2010 season with a 5-19 win-loss record; the worst record for any team for the third year in succession.
A new approach was taken in 2010 following the controversies of 2009 wherein marquee players Greg Inglis (who had featured in the season launch ad) and Brett Stewart (who had been the face of a season launch event) were charged with assault thus disempowering the message behind the ad. The NRL and their advertising agency MJW Hakuhodo set about presenting the acceptable face of Australian rugby league to the world and interspersed some sparse action shots with a gallery of characters to assure viewers that league is a family-friendly sport watched by everyman.
The tag line was "Feel Alive" and the proposition that "this season, many of you will....see/ feel/ experience/ dream/ hurt/ believe". The fans highlighted ticked all the boxes of a diverse but wholesome audience demographic.[11] Veteran Kangaroo captain Darren Lockyer is the only player to appear with a speaking part.
The number of teams in the NRL remains unchanged since the previous season, with sixteen participating in the regular season: ten from New South Wales, three from Queensland and one from each of Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand. Of the ten from New South Wales, eight are from Sydney's metropolitan area, with St. George-Illawarra being a Sydney and Wollongong joint venture. Just two foundation clubs from New South Wales Rugby League season 1908 played in this competition: the Sydney Roosters (formerly known as Eastern Suburbs) and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 518 | 299 | +219 | 38 |
2 | Penrith Panthers | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 645 | 489 | +156 | 34 |
3 | Wests Tigers | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 537 | 503 | +34 | 34 |
4 | Gold Coast Titans | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 520 | 498 | +22 | 34 |
5 | New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 539 | 486 | +53 | 32 |
6 | Sydney Roosters | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 559 | 510 | +49 | 32 |
7 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 499 | 493 | +6 | 30 |
8 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 545 | 510 | +35 | 28 |
9 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 584 | 567 | +17 | 26 |
10 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 508 | 535 | −27 | 26 |
11 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 499 | 569 | −70 | 24 |
12 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 413 | 491 | −78 | 24 |
13 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 494 | 539 | −45 | 22 |
14 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 354 | 609 | −255 | 18 |
15 | North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 425 | 667 | −242 | 14 |
16 | Melbourne Storm | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 489 | 363 | +126 | 01 |
1 Melbourne were deducted eight premiership points and barred from receiving premiership points for the rest of the season due to gross long-term salary cap breaches.[12]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | St George Illawarra | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 34 | 36 | 38 |
2 | Penrith | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 |
3 | Wests Tigers | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 34 |
4 | Gold Coast | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 34 |
5 | New Zealand | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 32 |
6 | Sydney | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 32 |
7 | Canberra | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 |
8 | Manly-Warringah | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
9 | South Sydney | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 |
10 | Brisbane Broncos | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
11 | Newcastle | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
12 | Parramatta | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
13 | Canterbury-Bankstown | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 |
14 | Cronulla-Sutherland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 |
15 | North Queensland | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
16 | Melbourne | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
To decide the grand finalists from the top eight finishing teams, the NRL adopts the McIntyre Final Eight System.
Only three teams from 2009's finals series made an appearance in the 2010 finals race: St George Illawarra Dragons, Gold Coast Titans and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with only the Dragons managing to not drop positions from last year. Major improvements saw the Canberra Raiders, New Zealand Warriors and Sydney Roosters make a return to the finals after finishing 13th, 14th and last in 2009. This season also saw the Wests Tigers and Penrith Panthers make their long awaited return to the finals race, with the Tigers last featuring in their grand final year of 2005 whilst the Panthers last appeared in the 2004 season.
Qualifying Finals | Semi Finals | Preliminary Finals | Grand Final | |||||||||||||||
1 | St George Illawarra | 28 | ||||||||||||||||
8 | Manly-Warringah | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
1W | St George Illawarra | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
2 | Penrith Panthers | 22 | 4W | Canberra Raiders | 24 | Wests Tigers | 12 | |||||||||||
7 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 2L | Wests Tigers | 26 | St George Illawarra | 32 | |||||||||||
Sydney Roosters | 8 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Wests Tigers | 15 | 2W | Gold Coast Titans | 6 | |||||||||||||
6 | Sydney Roosters | 19 | 3W | Sydney Roosters | 34 | Sydney Roosters | 32 | |||||||||||
1L | Penrith Panthers | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
4 | Gold Coast Titans | 28 | ||||||||||||||||
5 | NZ Warriors | 16 |
Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date and Time | Venue | Referees | Crowd | |||||
QUALIFYING FINALS | ||||||||
Gold Coast Titans | 28 – 16 | New Zealand Warriors | 10 September, 7:45pm | Skilled Park | Gavin Badger Tony Archer |
27,026 | ||
Wests Tigers | 15 – 19 | Sydney Roosters | 11 September, 6:30pm | Sydney Football Stadium | Shayne Hayne Matt Cecchen |
33,315 | ||
Penrith Panthers | 22 – 24 | Canberra Raiders | 11 September, 8:30pm | CUA Stadium | Ben Cummins Steve Lyons |
16,668 | ||
St George Illawarra Dragons | 28 – 0 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 12 September, 4:00pm | WIN Jubilee Oval | Jarred Maxwell Jason Robinson |
15,574 | ||
SEMI FINALS | ||||||||
Canberra Raiders | 24 – 26 | Wests Tigers | 17 September, 7:45pm | Canberra Stadium | Tony Archer Jared Maxwell |
26,476 | ||
Sydney Roosters | 34 – 12 | Penrith Panthers | 18 September, 7:35pm | Sydney Football Stadium | Shayne Hayne Ben Cummins |
23,459 | ||
PRELIMINARY FINALS | ||||||||
Gold Coast Titans | 6 – 32 | Sydney Roosters | 24 September, 7:45pm | Suncorp Stadium | Tony Archer Jared Maxwell |
44,787 | ||
St George Illawarra Dragons | 13 – 12 | Wests Tigers | 25 September, 7:45pm | ANZ Stadium | Ben Cummins Shayne Hayne |
71,212 | ||
GRAND FINAL | ||||||||
St George Illawarra Dragons | 32 – 8 | Sydney Roosters | 3 October, 5:00pm | ANZ Stadium | Tony Archer Shayne Hayne |
82,334 |
Sydney Roosters | Position | St George Illawarra Dragons |
---|---|---|
Anthony Minichiello | FB | Darius Boyd |
Joseph Leilua | WG | Brett Morris |
Kane Linnett | CE | Mark Gasnier |
Shaun Kenny-Dowall | CE | Matt Cooper |
Sam Perrett | WG | Jason Nightingale |
Todd Carney | FE | Jamie Soward |
Mitchell Pearce | HB | Ben Hornby (c) |
Jason Ryles | PR | Neville Costigan |
Jake Friend | HK | Dean Young |
Lopini Paea | PR | Michael Weyman |
Nate Myles | SR | Beau Scott |
Mitchell Aubusson | SR | Ben Creagh |
Braith Anasta (c) | LK | Jeremy Smith |
Frank Paul Nuuausala | Bench | Nathan Fien |
Martin Kennedy | Bench | Trent Merrin |
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves | Bench | Matt Prior |
Daniel Conn | Bench | Jarrod Saffy |
Brian Smith | Coach | Wayne Bennett |
The 2010 Grand Final took place at ANZ Stadium on Sunday 3 October between the Sydney Roosters and the St George Illawarra Dragons. It was the first time since their defeat by the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs in 2004 the Roosters featured in a grand final, whilst the first since 1999 for the Dragons, who were beaten by the Melbourne Storm as a result of a memorable penalty try. During the course of the 2010 season, both Grand Final teams had led for all but one round of the season (the Melbourne Storm led the competition after round 4). The Roosters were first after rounds one and two, whilst the Dragons were first after round three and then from round five onwards.
The St George Illawarra Dragons won their first premiership title as a merged entity of the St George Dragons and Illawarra Steelers. This meant the St George Dragons achieving their first premiership title since 1979 whilst it is the first ever for the Illawarra Steelers.
Overcast and wet weather conditions generally favoured the Dragons defensive style. St George Illawarra overcame a 2 point half-time deficit to seal a 32-8 win to leave the Roosters without a win in their past 3 grand finals (2003,2004,2010). The grand final loss also left Roosters coach Brian Smith without a win in his 4 grand final appearances as a coach.
2 October 2010, 5:15pm
32 |
St George Illawarra Dragons |
---|---|
Tries | 2 Nightingale (46', 60') 1 Gasnier (8') 1 Young (63') 1 Fien (70') |
Goals | 6/7 Soward (9', 47', 61', 64', 67', 71') |
Field Goals | |
8 |
Sydney Roosters |
Tries | 1 Anasta (16') 1 Aubusson (20') |
Goals | 0/2 Carney |
Field Goals |
Half Time: Roosters 8 – 6
Clive Churchill Medallist: Darius Boyd
Referees: Tony Archer, Shayne Hayne
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 82,334[13]
8th: Dragons 6 – 0 (Try: Gasnier, Goal: Soward)
16th: Dragons 6 – 4 (Try: Anasta)
20th: Roosters 8 – 6 (Try: Aubusson)
46th: Dragons 12 – 8 (Try: Nightingale, Goal: Soward)
60th: Dragons 18 – 8 (Try: Nightingale, Goal: Soward)
63rd: Dragons 24 – 8 (Try: Young, Goal: Soward)
67nd: Dragons 26 – 8 (Penalty Goal: Soward)
70th: Dragons 32 – 8 (Try: Fein, Goal: Soward)
The following statistics are correct as of the conclusion of Round 26.
Top 5 point scorers
Top 5 try scorers
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Top 5 goal scorers
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Most points in a match by an individual
Points | Player | Tries | Goals | FG | Opponent | Score | Venue | Round |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 | Michael Gordon | 3 | 9/10 | 0 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 54–18 | CUA Stadium | Round 24 |
28 | James Maloney | 3 | 8/9 | 0 | Brisbane Broncos | 16–48 | Suncorp Stadium | Round 3 |
22 | Michael Gordon | 3 | 5/5 | 0 | Canterbury Bulldogs | 31–16 | CUA Stadium | Round 11 |
22 | Jamie Lyon | 2 | 7/7 | 0 | Wests Tigers | 38–20 | Bluetongue Stadium | Round 20 |
Most tries in a match by an individual
Tries | Player | Opponent | Score | Venue | Round |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 | Shaun Kenny-Dowall | Brisbane Broncos | 34–30 | Suncorp Stadium | Round 20 |
4 | Josh Morris | Sydney Roosters | 60–14 | ANZ Stadium | Round 3 |
4 | Reece Robinson | North Queensland Cowboys | 48–4 | Canberra Stadium | Round 25 |
4 | Cooper Vuna | Brisbane Broncos | 44–18 | EnergyAustralia Stadium | Round 24 |
Most points in a match
Points | Victor | Opponent | Score | Venue | Round |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
76 | Sydney Roosters | Wests Tigers | 44–32 | Sydney Football Stadium | Round 2 |
74 | Canterbury Bulldogs | Sydney Roosters | 60–14 | ANZ Stadium | Round 3 |
74 | Gold Coast Titans | Newcastle Knights | 38–36 | EnergyAustralia Stadium | Round 9 |
72 | Brisbane Broncos | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 50–22 | Suncorp Stadium | Round 14 |
72 | Penrith Panthers | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 54–18 | CUA Stadium | Round 24 |
Fewest points in a match
Points | Victor | Opponent | Score | Venue | Round |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 | Newcastle Knights | Parramatta Eels | 6–4 | EnergyAustralia Stadium | Round 15 |
11 | Cronulla Sharks | Parramatta Eels | 11–0 | Toyota Park | Round 4 |
16 | Brisbane Broncos | Parramatta Eels | 10–6 | Parramatta Stadium | Round 16 |
16 | Brisbane Broncos | St George Illawarra Dragons | 10–6 | Suncorp Stadium | Round 21 |
Most points scored in a match by an individual team
Points | Team | Opponent | Score | Venue | Round |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
60 | Canterbury Bulldogs | Sydney Roosters | 60–14 | ANZ Stadium | Round 3 |
58 | Melbourne Storm | North Queensland Cowboys | 58–12 | AAMI Park | Round 15 |
54 | Penrith Panthers | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 54–18 | CUA Stadium | Round 24 |
52 | Canberra Raiders | Newcastle Knights | 52–18 | Canberra Stadium | Round 19 |
The 2010 regular season attendance figures bettered last year's figures of 3,081,849 to become the highest attended regular season in Australia's rugby league history, with a total of 3,151,039. Along with 2009, the 2010 season also outshone other attendance blockbuster years of 2007 and the 1995 Winfield Cup.[14]
The highest twenty regular season match attendances:
1 Smith signed with the Brisbane Broncos but he later signed with Cronulla-Sutherland.
2 Tronc signed with the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, where he played 3 games, but he later signed with Brisbane Broncos.
3 Marsh retired during the off season because of a serious injury.
Coach | 2009 Club | 2010 Club |
---|---|---|
Brian Smith | Newcastle Knights | Sydney Roosters |
Jason Taylor | South Sydney Rabbitohs[16] | Wests Tigers (Kicking Coach) |
John Lang | South Sydney Rabbitohs (Club Consultant) | South Sydney Rabbitohs (Head Coach) |
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