Australian Ninja Warrior: Contestant breaks down during grand final

FOR the second year in a row, Ninja Warrior fans sat through a finale in which nobody actually won. And they weren’t happy.

ONE of Ninja Warrior’s most popular contestants collapsed on the course and had to retire hurt during Tuesday night’s grand final, which failed to produce a winner for the second year in a row.

Before running the course, Sam Goodall aka the Tradie Ninja warned producers that he was struggling with the effects of Ross River virus, which he contracted just months before the show was filmed.

“I am concerned that my health is going to be a problem,” Goodall said in a piece to camera.

“This Ross River virus has just really smashed me … Even though I’m not feeling as strong, I think if I put my mind to it, I’ll be able to push the body further than it wants to go.”

But that turned out to be a little too optimistic.

Goodall made it through the first two obstacles in Stage 2 of the grand final course easily but fatigue set in quickly and he only just managed to complete the Spider Jump.

As he stood on the mat eyeing off the Wing Nuts obstacle, it was clear the 30-year-old was struggling.

“It looks like he’s in some trouble,” host Ben Fordham said.

As the tradie stood with his hands on his hips and his head down, a hush went over the crowd and Goodall’s wife Rachael could be heard saying, “babe, take a rest”.

Goodall then dramatically buckled to his knees as his wife pleaded with him to give up.

“Darling, you won’t be able to do it,” she said. “Just have a rest.”

Sam’s wife pleads with him to give up.

A heartbroken Sam Goodall walks off the Ninja Warrior set.

Unable to stand, Goodall bowed out of the competition and was helped off the course by a producer.

“This is such an upsetting way for Sam Goodall to finish season two on Australian Ninja Warrior,” host Rebecca Maddern said.

What was also upsetting for fans of the Channel 9 show was that there was no winner for the second year in a row.

No winner on #NinjaWarrior ? What a stupid course! Surely they could set a course that requires more balance and agility than just brute arm strength. #lame Get a woman to set it next time @Channel9

— Elsa Evers (@elsa_la_guerita) July 31, 2018

2 years in a row and no prize winner, anticlimax to the max. At least give the leader some cash #NinjaWarrior

— Justin Morley (@alanlength) July 31, 2018

Genuinely can’t tell if the quick pace of this tonight suggests someone does get to Midoriyama (and therefore more minutes at the end of the show) or if 9 is just getting the disappointment over quickly #NinjaWarriorAU

— Em (@emykate_) July 31, 2018

This ends in 29 minutes - still 4 ninjas and 372927 ads to go. I call it - no winners for this year #NinjaWarriorAU

— Yvonne 王祎 (@yvonne_w93) July 31, 2018

Can we have a new #Logie category please... “Most disappointing show” #NinjaWarriorAU

— Andrew Howard (@thirtyfiveblack) July 31, 2018

Absolutely stupid that their fastest 3 has to compete in the rain! Completely unfair - and what’s the point if no one wins? #NinjaWarriorAU

— Jessica Smart (@jesssmart_) July 31, 2018

That was THE most anticlimactic season finale ever. A course so difficult literally NO ONE makes it thru? What a flop. #NinjaWarrior

— Allie (@heyheyitsalliej) July 31, 2018

If we're going to have a difficult course, good faith to the viewers would be producers showing us it can be completed by having an anonymous masked ninja do all the course before contestants come on
At least that way, we know it's not the makers taking the piss

#NinjaWarriorAU

— calmwhitewolf🐾 (@calmwhitewolf) July 31, 2018

Ninja warrior needs to like...work their shit out because it’s not fun at all if literally no one can win the course?? #NinjaWarrior

— gay space princess (@alllydia) July 31, 2018

Who wants to watch a show where no one wins though like...it’s disappointing and there’s literally only one shot left to win so ??? #NinjaWarrior

— gay space princess (@alllydia) July 31, 2018

OK. So what now, ninja warrior? No winner? I feel deflated...robbed, even

— Ness I (@nesski46) July 31, 2018

Put a Croc in the pool, not as many falling in I am sure of that. The course is too hard too much arms stuff. No winner no chicken dinner #ninjawarrior

— Justin Morley (@alanlength) July 31, 2018

@NinjaWarriorAU Too much bullshit, not enough action, beating the clock is stupid, commentary is ugh. So bored. Don’t even care who finishes anymore. Going to watch YouTube videos of American Ninja Warrior. Goodbye.

— Andrea (@Andrea_LW) July 31, 2018

In order to claim the $200,000 prize money and be crowned Australia’s first Ninja Warrior, a contestant had to complete the eight obstacles in Stage 2 in less than two minutes 45 seconds, then six obstacles in Stage 3 and finally they had to haul themselves up the 22 metre rope to the top of Mt Midoriyama in less than 30 seconds.

But just like in season one, not a single competitor was able to make it past the gruelling second stage.

The performance of the night went to Rob Patterson who technically finished in first place by going the furthest, fastest. The engineering student bombed out on the Unstable Bridge which was the 7th obstacle in Stage 2.

Ninja Warrior contestant Rob Patterson, went the furthest, fastest.

In second and third place was Bryson Klein and Alex Bigg respectively who also made it to the Unstable Bridge.

It was a disappointing night for Ashlin Herbert who was arguably the favourite heading into the grand final. In what Maddern described as “a stunning upset,” the laid back 23-year-old crashed out on the fourth obstacle.

Ninja Warrior star Ashlin Herbert was all smiles after bowing out of the grand final.

Viewers will no doubt be disappointed that the show once again failed to produce a winner, but it’s worth noting that it took seven seasons for the US version of the show to crown a winner.

There have been more than 30 series of Ninja Warrior around the world in the past 20 years and so far only six people have actually completed the grand final course.

There was no winner on the second season of Australian Ninja Warrior.

You can bet these guys will all be back next year.

Originally published as Australian Ninja Warrior: Contestant breaks down during grand final