Ash Barty, Winx, Ben Stokes, Israel Folau … Phil Rothfield looks back at 2019’s sporting moments
Legends were born, icons retired and NRL referees did what they always do … PHIL ROTHFIELD takes a look at the big moments of a rollercoaster sporting year.
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SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
Ashleigh Barty aces this one. Her French Open win put her in the rarefied air of Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong. She became our world No.1 a few weeks later when she won at Birmingham on grass and finished by winning the WTA Finals. Plus, she is such a beautiful person and wonderful sporting ambassador.
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SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
They booed, jeered and tried to drive him barmy but, by the end, he got a standing ovation. Steve Smith’s twin centuries at Edgbaston — his first Test since the sandpaper ban — then returning from concussion to score a double ton and finish the Ashes with 774 runs at an average of 110.57 showed why he stands alongside Australia’s greatest batsmen.
2019 SIX SYMBOL AWARD
Not Pat Cummins, but the other Cummins who referees NRL games. Sadly, Ben
Cummins, signalling six again when the Raiders were deep in attack and then changing his decision, is the enduring image of the NRL season, or at least the grand final. In a year of refereeing stuff-ups, it was somehow fitting.
THREE’S A CROWD
For years, Cooper Cronk lived as the third wheel at Melbourne behind Cam Smith and Billy Slater. Well, back-to-back premierships at the Roosters might have seen him jump the queue as an Immortal-in-waiting. Nine grand finals. Remarkable. What an amazing career.
POWER OF ONE
Melbourne’s Cam Smith has set enough benchmarks for his own chapter in the Guinness Book of Records, but playing his 400th game (in a 40-16 win over my Sharkies) is surely a mark no one will beat. And then he fooled us into thinking he might even retire.
WINGNUT WORRY
No one has ever said Cam Smith is an angel, but the fuss and furore over his wingnut tackle on Canberra winger Bailey Simonsson was over the top. At the same time, if the old champ is that sensitive to criticism, maybe it is time to hang up the boots.
JACK THE STRIPPER
Ricky Stuart’s Pommies could steal the jersey off your back. The way Josh Hodgson, in particular, took advantage of the new stripping rule caused a stir and was the best tactical ploy of 2019.
DOING THE HOKIE-POKIE
Those fun-loving Broncos out on the town trying to hit the jackpot on the poker machines before a finals appearance against Parramatta Eels.
HITTING THE JACKPOT
Those same Parramatta Eels who smashed the eye-spinning Broncos by a record 58-0 the next day.
BALI-ACHE AWARD
We’ve all seen Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy’s reaction in the coaching box to a knock-on. Imagine Bellyache when he saw video of his giant prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona doing his best Mike Tyson impersonation on the streets of Bali. The fact he was defending winger Suli Vunivalu after he was allegedly “coward punched” made the awful spectacle understandable.
BASH FOR CASH
Paul Gallen and Barry Hall stage a “code war” at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena. It was such an anti-climax that fight legend Jeff Fenech called for extra-round tie-breakers.
KNIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES
Player power at Newcastle results in the departure of Nathan Brown, the coach who dragged the club out of the muck and made them almost competitive again. Still, according to Trent
Hodkinson, he’d created a toxic culture.
THE LAST STRAW
Kalyn Ponga’s parting insult at Brown — that he wasn’t too sad the coach was leaving because he was having a strawberry smoothie — told us a few things. One, he’s not yet a $1 million-plus-a-year player. Two, the kid needs bigger headgear.
BIGGEST BACKFLIP AWARD
Major sponsor THF abandons Gold Coast Titans because Ryan James forgets the words during the acknowledgement of country speech on grand final day. After an intense public backlash, they apologise to James and commit for 2020.
WORST BACKFLIP AWARD
Blake Ferguson’s try celebration against St George Illawarra. Blake’s a great athlete but he’s got a long way to go before he matches Nathan Blacklock for style.
GREATEST ESCAPE
Broncos forward David Fifita pays $30,000 to get out of jail in Bali yet the NRL integrity unit can’t find any evidence of misbehaviour to warrant a suspension. Work that one out.
GREATEST HITS
Manly winger Jorge Taufua becomes a social media sensation after he obliterates Melbourne Storm superstar Cameron Munster at Brookie. Even the NFL loves big Jorge. And who said wingers can’t tackle?
FREDDY SET GO
Bravest coaching call goes to Brad Fittler, who dumped superstar Latrell Mitchell and a handful of his teammates from Origin after the opening game — and then won the series.
TED-SET LEGEND
James “Teddy” Tedesco, you superstar. His two tries, including the matchwinner in the dying seconds of an epic Origin decider, puts him in the Brad Fittler, Joey Johns and Turvey Mortimer class for NSW heroes.
REST IN PEARCE
Queensland’s great myth that NSW couldn’t win an Origin series with Mitchell Pearce was buried with one stunning long ball in Origin III, which led to Tedesco’s try. It was a moment that will go down in Origin history. Blue-demption!
PULLING A CROWD
The day after legendary manager-to-the-stars John Fordham passed away, the prime minister, premier, governor, police commissioner, Chappelli, Tubby, Ricky and a whole host of huge names gathered in the front yard of his Woollahra home, where Fordo’s family accepted his much-deserved AM award for services to charity, the wine industry and sport.
‘HORSE-SOME’ FINISH
The legendary Winx wins her final race, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick — 33 straight, a world-record 25 Group 1 victories, $26.4 million in prizemoney. We’ll never see her like again. And no, being a horse, she was not eligible for female athlete of the year.
RETURN TO OZ AWARD
Aussie-bred Vow And Declare may have produced the most significant Melbourne Cup triumph in recent memory. Brilliantly ridden by Craig Williams, he
became the first Aussie to win the great race since Shocking in 2009.
MOST CONTROVERSIAL SACKING
Alen Stajcic was sacked as Matildas coach after confidential surveys highlighted “player welfare” issues. The players declare they are much happier under Ante Milicic.
TURBONATOR
Tommy Trbojevic’s spectacular mark and try at Perth’s Optus Stadium should have been considered for the AFL’s mark of the year.
FAT CHANCE AWARD
Andy Ruiz, the roly-poly Mexican, knocks out Anthony Joshua (the Brit who looks like he’s been lifted straight from a magazine cover) to win the heavyweight boxing title. A win for the … ahem … tubby fellas. And not to be repeated.
WHOLLY MOSES
Mitchell Moses makes it a historic sweep at the opening of the magnificent Westpac Stadium — first try, first goal and first field goal at the ground in Parramatta’s 51-6 house party against Wests Tigers.
BEST LEAVE PASS
Forget Vegas, how about a footy weekend in Brisbane? Eight games, 16 teams, 100m tries, massive crowds and a Sharks victory to kick it off. MAGIC!
GRUDGE MATCH
That rascally Rabbit Wayne Bennett drags former Bunny Anthony Seibold — aka Elmer Fudd — into the NRL’s biggest coaching feud. Bennett’s Rabbits 38, Seibold’s Broncos 6.
GRUDGE MATCH II
Souths’ returning Broncos James Roberts and Jaydn Sua are sin-binned — and it finishes with Wayne Bennett’s daggy-grandad dance in the Suncorp Stadium dressing room after a 22-20 Rabbitohs win.
WE’LL FIGHT THEM ON THE PREACHES
Izzy Folau is sin-binned from the game they play in heaven for his tweet saying gays and drunks go to hell and then gets a $3.5 million payout.
MOST EPIC EVENT
Jeff Horn’s victory over Michael Zerafa in the Brisbane boxing rematch. Horn is the toughest
sportsman I’ve met in 40 years of sportswriting.
WORST TIE-BREAKER
The cricket World Cup super over to decide the final between England and NZ. The Kiwis score 8-241 and bowl out the Poms for 241 for the first tie. Then both teams score 15 in the super over for the second tie. England win because they scored more boundaries in their 50 overs. Huh? Next time, keep bowling super overs until there’s a clear winner.
ELLYSE IN WONDERLAND
Talk about a fairytale Ashes series for superstar Ellyse Perry — 116 in the Test against the Poms and then she became the first player, male or female, to bring up the double of 100 wickets and 1000 runs in T20 internationals.
MACK ATTACK
It was great to see our swimmer Mack Horton take a stand against his controversial Chinese rival Sun Yang at the world championships. His courage to stay off the dais should be applauded.
NEGATIVE SPLIT
Aussie Shayna Jack fails a drug test and is kicked off the team on the eve of the world championships. Oops!
BLOW THAT WHISTLE, REF
Belinda Sharpe becoming the first woman to referee an NRL game was the lone highlight in the biggest problem area for the game.
PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW
What a year for retirements … Paul Gallen, John Sutton, Sam Burgess, Matt Scott, Robbie Farah and Cooper Cronk have seemingly been around forever. Icons. Club champions. Legends. They will be missed.
THE EYES HAVE IT
Josh McGuire wins the award for the game’s grubbiest player, hands down. Incredibly, fined twice for putting his hand near the eyes of opponents, he finally gets rubbed out when he has a third crack, against the Broncos’ David Fifita.
DISHONOURABLE MENTION
Souths’ George Burgess was lucky to only get nine weeks for his disgraceful eye gouge on
Robbie Farah.
BURGESS WITH THE LOT
It wasn’t a great a year at the judiciary for the Burgess brothers — George banned for an eye gouge, Tom for a headbutt and Sam for pulling hair. That’s quite the trifecta.
SCARIEST MOMENT
England paceman Jofra Archer’s thunderbolt hitting Steve Smith on the back of the head at Lord’s. Smith bravely returned to the crease before being dismissed for 92. He was then subbed out on the final day — again making history.
COMEBACK OF THE YEAR
How good was it to see Tiger Woods winning the Masters at Augusta and claiming his 15th major. Comeback, forgiveness and history rolled into one magical week.
2020 VISION
Aussie prodigy Ariarne Titmus did more than become a world champion — she laid down a marker for next year’s Tokyo Olympics with her stunning upset of American legend Katie
Ledecky in the 400m freestyle. It was the first time Ledecky had been beaten in 400m, 800m or 1500m freestyle at a major championship since 2012.
BOOMIN’ HELL AWARD
The Aussie basketball team beats the US — OK, it wasn’t quite the Dream Team — for the first time in 55 years. Unfortunately, they finish fourth in a major tournament — again — losing to France in the bronze medal game.
THE NEW BEEFY
Just as Ian Botham wrote his name into Ashes lore in 1981, the 2019 Headingley Test will be forever known as Ben Stokes’ match. The all-rounder’s unbeaten 135 was one of the greatest innings I’ve seen in the Poms’ historic run chase of 359 to win by one bloody wicket. Extraordinary. Can you believe they were skittled for 67 in the first innings?
STATE OF DISUNION
Rugby might be the game they play in heaven but what a hellish year for the Wallabies. They are smacked by Eddie Jones’ Poms in the World Cup quarter-final. Coach Michael Cheika quits, sniping at Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle and chairman Cameron Clyne. The code is one giant mess of dysfunction.
BIG-TIME BOXING
The new year will be massive for Australian boxing. Andrew Maloney won the WBA super-flyweight world titles on the Paul Gallen-Barry Hall card. His twin brother Jason will get a shot at a world title belt in the near future. Both are prepared by master trainer Angelo Hyder.
Tim Tszyu just keeps on improving and will also get a world title shot, possibly in Sydney. And Brock Jarvis is ready to take the next step. Look out for rising star Daniel Lewis and hopefully we’ll see Gallen step into the ring against Sonny Bill Williams.
ETERNAL FAME AWARD
The best decision of 2019 goes to the panel which voted the late, great Peter “Chippy”
Frilingos into the rugby league Hall of Fame. He will never be forgotten by this newspaper or the code he served magnificently as the game’s top journo.
MONEY BILL WILLIAMS
SBW’s reported $10 million contract to return to rugby league with Toronto Wolfpack is off the charts. He will bring star power to the Canadian club as it makes history and enters the UK Super League.
THOSE WHO WON’T EXCHANGE CHRISTMAS CARDS
■ Wayne Bennett-Anthony Seibold
■ Ricky Stuart-Craig Bellamy
■ Michael Cheika-Raelene Castle
■ Sam Burgess-Shane Richardson
■ Ryan Matterson-Michael Maguire
■ Mal Meninga-Garth Brennan
■ Todd Greenberg-Jack de Belin
■ Mark Coyne-Singapore Police
■ Ray Hadley-Alan Jones
■ Erin Molan-Andrew Johns
■ Paul Gallen-Barry Hall
■ Bryan Fletcher-Uber
■ Andrew Bogut-China
■ Paul Kent-Cameron Smith
■ Brad Fittler-Latrell Mitchell
■ Shane Flanagan-John Morris
■ Phil Gould-Dave O’Neill
■ Tim Tszyu-Daniel Lewis
■ Robbie Farah-George Burgess
■ Bernard Tomic-Lleyton Hewitt
■ Cooper Cronk-Cody Walker
■ Peter V’landys-Amanda Elliott
■ Will Swanton-Robbie Slater
■ Nathan Brown-Jesse Ramien
■ Kalyn Ponga-Nathan Brown
■ David Gallop-Alen Stajcic
MUSTANG SALLY
World and Olympic champ Sally Pearson conquered every hurdle and retires as one of the modern giants of Australian athletics.
GREEN AND GOLD
Perth’s Hannah Green became Australia’s first female to win a golf major since her idol Karrie Webb in 2006. The joyful scenes on the 18th green after Hannah won the PGA Championship by a shot showed why it’s great to be an Aussie.
KERR-BOOM
The wonderful Sam Kerr made history by scoring all four goals in the Matildas’ do-or-die 4-1 win against Jamaica at the women’s World Cup. And then she signs with Chelsea. And then the Matildas deservedly get the same pay for representing their country as the Socceroos. About time.
GREATEST UPSET
Tonga, with their fans singing their beautiful hymn, downing the Kangaroos at Auckland’s Eden Park. Bring on the World Cup, baby. And PNG knocking off Wayne Bennett’s Poms was another memorable occasion for international rugby league.
STAGE-FRIGHT AWARD
It was wonderful to see GWS Giants make the AFL grand final but the 89-point loss to Richmond makes it all feel a bit flat. Talk about a Giant-killing.