Back To Back Premierships

[Big Pete]

It's been a long time since a club has been able to win two premierships in consecutive fashion. Infact, can this be? Oh yeah, it was the Mighty Brisbane Broncos who achieved the feat in 97/98 and if you're a stickler for 'joint competitions' then 1992/93.

For three in a row you're going to have to go back to 1983 when Parra had their dynasty.

Never the less, I thought I'd throw the question out to the BHQ public - why is it so difficult to win consecutive premiership? Is it a universal problem or just a crazy coincidence?

 

[Big Pete]

I thought I'd look at all the reigning premiers since 1999 and see what kept them back from winning the premiership. Might be a nice trip down memory lane for some as you guys and gals gather your thoughts.

Melbourne Storm - Had the season from hell. Were always going to do it tough without Lazarus & Nikau but nothing could have prepared them for 2000. Struggled with travel commitments, having to back up from the WCC with 4 away games and after their first game in Auckland lost their team manager to tragic circumstances as he took his life in a bar-prank gone utterly wrong. Lost Robbie Ross, Stephen Kearney & Marcus Bai for extended stints, rep commitments hurt them and the impending departure of Kimmorley and coach Anderson derailed them late in the season. They lost a 3 v 6 clash against Newcastle 30-16 and since the Eels beat the Roosters they were eliminated in the first round.

Brisbane Broncos - Lost a few players from their premiership winning side and endured a crippling injury toll which claimed the likes of Tallis, Ikin, Prince & Berrigan. A heavy Origin period took it's toll as a lot of young players were blooded that series leading to run of six losses and off-field drama such as Sailor signing for Rugby or Hodges accepting a big offer from the Roosters didn't help. Managed to make it to the Prelim Final where they went down to the favourites Parramatta, 24-16.

Newcastle Knights - Finished second on the ladder due to a weaker F/A to the Warriors and were mounting a fair challenge in the finals until star halfback Andrew Johns sustained back fractures in the first week of the finals and the Knights finished the season with two straight losses. Gave a fair account of themselves in both games and one gets the feeling that if Johns wasn't missing they could have very well gone back to back.

Sydney Roosters - Made it all the way to the grand final but were simply beaten by the better team on the night. Could make a case that Fittler was below his best due to a shoulder injury and they struggled replacing Hodges, Cusack & Payten but I just think they fell short.

Penrith Panthers - They enjoyed a dream season in 2003. Comfortable injury toll and breezy representative period kept them fresh at just the right end of the season. If there was one team who would end up having a terrible second year it was Penrith...but they responded fine. Harsher injury toll, tougher representative period but they made it all the way to the Prelim Final before they bowed out to the eventual premiers in the Bulldogs. It was a pretty tight game until Wesser was binned for a professional foul at which point the Dogs pulled ahead. If Origin reps Lewis and Ross played it would have been interesting but I get the feeling that they were a team that experienced a grand run a year before and just fell short this go around.

Bulldogs - They won the premiership after enduring controversy (Salary cap) after controversy (Rape allegations) and while that took it's toll - the injury toll is what did them in. They lost El Masri, Maitua, Mason, O'Meley, Patten, Sherwin, Tonga & SBW for long portions and they had plenty of contract drama too. 2005 was a strange season, in a lot of ways like 2014, where any team could win on any given day and the Dogs felt the brunt of that early and never got much of a chance to get their full strength line-up on the paddock and have their way with the competition.

West Tigers - Like Panthers, had an air of timing their run at just the right time but unlike the Panthers had a really bad injury run and off-field contract drama which hurt them. Injury toll included: Marshall, Hodgson, Whatuira, Halatau, Fulton & Gibbs among others and they lost Prince & Laffranchi to the Titans.

Brisbane Broncos - Say it with me, injury toll. Well that wasn't everything - it was a tale of two halves. First portion they had their full contingent but sucked. Second half they played well but lacked their full contingent. What injuries did they have? Ennis, Tate, Lockyer, Hunt, Parker, Berrigan, Thaiday & Hodges all had fair stints on the sideline. Terrible and it lead to what was one of the most frustrating seasons in sometime.

Manly Sea Eagles - Looked poised for something special until the season launch sent their season spiraling. In all 4 opening games Stewart was banned for, the Sea Eagles lost every single one and if it wasn't any clearer how much Brett meant to them when he returned he scored 5 tries in 2 games only to suffer a long term injury that would restrict him to 5 games all season. Manly still made a fair shake of things to finish 5th but were humiliated in Etihad by eventual premiers Melbourne, 40-12. They never got a chance at redemption as both the 6th placed & 8th placed teams won, ruling them out for season 2009.

St. George Illawarra - Suffered a trademark Bennett post-Origin slump. Had a few more rep commitments and the announcement that key player Darius Boyd would follow Bennett to Newcastle didn't help but the way they capitulated was uncanny and definitely soul-crushing. They finished the year losing in golden boot in Darren Lockyer's last ever game for the Brisbane Broncos. Yes, I just wanted to say that, what of it?

Manly Sea Eagles - Were always going to do it tough following the sudden departure of Des and while they did very well to make it all the way to the Prelim Final, they were utterly embarrassed by Melbourne in a similar fashion as 09 to the tune of 40-12...this time by a legal team. A terrible note to end what was by all means a really decent season. Maybe a case of the new finals format coming out and really hurting them.

Melbourne Storm - Started the season on fire until representative season hit and took it's toll. They recovered nicely but there was a game against Manly where they just exposed their left-side combination badly and it really hurt them right on the eve of the finals. They lost a controversial game to Souths in Sydney before dropping a game against Newcastle who produced their best performance of the year to send them packing in straight sets.

 

[theshed]

That last post is pretty intensive so not much to add.

I think the biggest thing is how close the comp is. At least 4 teams per season are very capable of holding the trophy at the end so it comes down to luck, hitting form at the right time, and more luck.

Grand final winning teams are almost immediately punished. They have a far shorter off season to most the comp, they're success usually results in more players being selected for rep honours. Rep honours = a premiership makes players market worth skyrocket and the cap makes it impossible to retain all the players that took you to the gf.

 

[Foordy]

One of the common themes in many of those defending premiership teams was ... INJURY TOLL.

the fact is in the days with a stricter salary cap, and the fact that loyalty barely exists anymore, teams aren't as equipped to handle injuries as they once were. If a player is good enough to be playing top grade regularly, he won't hang around to be a backup

 

[Alec]

Fingers crossed Woosters can't do it with Friend injured.