2005 NRL season

The 2005 NRL season was the 98th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the eighth run by the National Rugby League. The lineup of clubs remained unchanged from the previous year, with fifteen teams contesting the 2005 Telstra Premiership, which culminated in a grand final between the Wests Tigers and the North Queensland Cowboys.

2005 National Rugby League
Teams15
Premiers Wests Tigers (1st title)
Minor premiers Parramatta (5th title)
Matches played189
Points scored8861
Attendance3276675
Top points scorer(s) Brett Hodgson (308)
Player of the year Johnathan Thurston (Dally M Medal)
Top try-scorer(s) Matthew Bowen (21)

Season summary

In 2005 the NRL's salary cap was $3.25 million for the 25 highest-paid players in a club.[1]

The season was statistically the closest season ever, with just sixteen points separating the Parramatta Eels (1st) and Newcastle Knights (15th). It was also notable in that the previous four premiers failed to qualify for the finals (Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights).

In the middle of 2005 the NRL reached a broadcasting rights agreement with Foxsports and Channel 9 worth $500 million over six years, representing a 65% increase in direct television income.[2]

The Knights recorded their worst ever start to a season (13 straight losses) and were consigned to last place for the entire season. They did however win 8 of their last 11 games thanks to the return of superstar Andrew Johns. The Knights also defeated five of the top eight teams during the season, four of which were at home. They also recorded their then equal worst ever defeat - a 50-0 thrashing by the Parramatta Eels in round 14. During this match, an EnergyAustralia Stadium attendant ran onto the field, trying to tackle Parramatta's Daniel Wagon before he scored in the 78th minute. Minor premiers the Parramatta Eels lost to each of the bottom four teams (Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Raiders and Knights in rounds 8, 2, 19 and 20 respectively) during the course of the season.

It was announced that the Gold Coast Titans were to be admitted into the NRL as the sixteenth team, scheduled to begin playing in the 2007 season. The Titans would recruit John Cartwright as their inaugural coach and Preston Campbell was their first signing.

Johnathan Thurston won the 2005 Dally M Medal by a single point from Newcastle's Andrew Johns, despite Johns missing over a third of the season with a broken jaw.

The two clubs that had players sent off won their matches (unlike in 2004) but the dismissal of John Hopoate made rugby league headlines. Hopoate was sent off in his team's win over the Cronulla Sharks and consequently received a 17-match ban. The Sea Eagles then terminated his contract.

The Wests Tigers became the first ever joint venture club to win the premiership, having formed in 2000 as a union between the Balmain Tigers and Western Suburbs Magpies, both foundation members of the original New South Wales Rugby Football League.

Teams

Brisbane Broncos
18th season
Ground: Suncorp Stadium
Coach: Wayne Bennett
Captain: Darren Lockyer
Bulldogs RLFC
71st season
Ground: Sydney Showground & Telstra Stadium
Coach: Steve Folkes
Captain: Andrew Ryan
Canberra Raiders
24th season
Ground: Canberra Stadium
Coach: Matthew Elliott
Captain: Simon Woolford
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
39th season
Ground: Toyota Stadium
Coach: Stuart Raper
Captain: Brett Kimmorley
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
56th season
Ground: Brookvale Oval
Coach: Des Hasler
Captain: Michael Monaghan
Melbourne Storm
8th season
Ground Olympic Park Stadium
Coach: Craig Bellamy
Captain: Robbie Kearns
Newcastle Knights
18th season
Ground: EnergyAustralia Stadium
Coach: Michael Hagan
Captain: Andrew Johns
New Zealand Warriors
11th season
Ground: Ericsson Stadium
Coach: Tony Kemp
Captain: Steve Price
North Queensland Cowboys
11th season
Ground: Dairy Farmers Stadium
Coach: Graham Murray
Captain: Travis Norton
Parramatta Eels
59th season
Ground: Parramatta Stadium
Coach: Brian Smith
Captain: Nathan Cayless
Penrith Panthers
39th season
Ground: CUA Stadium
Coach: John Lang
Captain: Craig Gower
South Sydney Rabbitohs
96th season
Ground: Aussie Stadium
Coach: Shaun McRae
Captain: Bryan FletcherPeter Cusack
Sydney Roosters
98th season
Ground: Aussie Stadium
Coach: Ricky Stuart
Captain: Luke Ricketson
St. George Illawarra Dragons
7th season
Ground: OKI Jubilee Stadium & WIN Stadium
Coach: Nathan Brown
Captain: Trent Barrett
Wests Tigers
6th season
Ground: Campbelltown Stadium & Leichhardt Oval
Coach: Tim Sheens
Captain: Mark O'NeillScott Prince

Advertising

In 2005 the NRL and their advertising agency MJW Hakuhodo for the third year running stayed with the Hoodoo Gurus' "That's My Team" soundtrack[3] and developed three different musical executions.

The campaign focussed on the association of "strength" with the game and the ads featured three different musical interpretations of the song all without vocals. Each was created intending to bring out the positionings of rugby league characteristice of ‘strength of body’, ‘strength of mind’ and ‘strength of character’

Outdoor supersites also featured in suburban locations in NSW and local cinema versions of the TVC ran with a call to action inviting fans to attend a game of the team local to the cinema location.[4]

Ladder

Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Parramatta Eels 2416082704456+24836
2 St George Illawarra Dragons 2416082655510+14536
3 Brisbane Broncos 2415092597484+11334
4 Wests Tigers 24140102676575+10132
5 North Queensland Cowboys 24140102639563+7632
6 Melbourne Storm 24130112640462+17830
7 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24120122550564-1428
8 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24120122554632-7828
9 Sydney Roosters 24110132488487+126
10 Penrith Panthers 24110132554554=026
11 New Zealand Warriors 24100142515528-1324
12 Bulldogs 2491142472670-19823
13 South Sydney Rabbitohs 2491142482700-21823
14 Canberra Raiders 2490152465606-14122
15 Newcastle Knights 2480162467667-20020

Ladder progression

  • Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 8.
  • Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
  • Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round
  • Underlined numbers indicate that the team had a bye during that round.
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 Parramatta 22444688101214161820222224262626283032323436
2 St. George Illawarra 0000224681012121416181820202224262830323436
3 Brisbane 2244681012141618202224262628303232343434343434
4 Wests 0246888881012121214141618202224262830323232
5 North Queensland 0246681012121214161818202022222224262626283032
6 Melbourne 24466688101212141616161820222224242426283030
7 Cronulla-Sutherland 22468101012141618181818202222222424242626282828
8 Manly-Warringah 24688101212141616182020222222222224242626262628
9 Sydney 2444466681012141416161820202020202022222426
10 Penrith 002246688888810121212141414161820222426
11 New Zealand 022446888810121214141616161820202020202224
12 Bulldogs 222244688810101113151717192123232323232323
13 South Sydney 02224446666679999111313151719212123
14 Canberra 246810101012141414141616161820202222222222222222
15 Newcastle 002222222224444668810121416182020

Finals series

To decide the grand finalists from the top eight finishing teams, the NRL adopts the McIntyre Final Eight System.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Crowd
Qualifying Finals
Wests Tigers 50 6 North Queensland Cowboys 9 September 2005 Telstra Stadium Paul Simpkins 26,463
Brisbane Broncos 18 24 Melbourne Storm 10 September 2005 Suncorp Stadium Steve Clark 25,193
St George Illawarra Dragons 28 22 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 10 September 2005 WIN Stadium Tony Archer 19,608
Parramatta Eels 46 22 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 11 September 2005 Parramatta Stadium Tim Mander 19,710
Semi Finals
Melbourne Storm 16 24 North Queensland Cowboys 17 September 2005 Aussie Stadium Paul Simpkins 16,810
Wests Tigers 34 6 Brisbane Broncos 18 September 2005 Aussie Stadium Tim Mander 36,563
Preliminary Finals
St George Illawarra Dragons 12 20 Wests Tigers 24 September 2005 Aussie Stadium Tim Mander 41,260
Parramatta Eels 0 29 North Queensland Cowboys 25 September 2005 Telstra Stadium Steve Clark 44,327

Finals Chart

  Qualifying Finals Semi Finals Preliminary Finals Grand Final
                                     
1 Parramatta 46
8 Manly 22
  1W Parramatta 0  
2 St. George Illawarra 28   4W Melbourne 16       North Queensland 29    
7 Cronulla 22   2L North Queensland 24           North Queensland 16
        Wests 30
3 Brisbane 18         2W St. George Illawarra 12    
6 Melbourne 24   3W Wests 34       Wests 20  
  1L Brisbane 6  
4 Wests 50
5 North Queensland 6

Grand Final

Sunday, 2 October
7:00pm (AEST)
Wests Tigers 30 16 North Queensland Cowboys
Tries:
Bryce Gibbs (18') 1
Pat Richards (35') 1
Anthony Laffranchi (45') 1
Daniel Fitzhenry (63') 1
Todd Payten (80') 1
Goals:
Brett Hodgson 5/6
(19', 37', 47', 64', 80')
Field Goals:
Scott Prince 0/1
1st: 12 - 6
2nd: 18 - 10
Report
Tries:
Matt Bowen (8') 1
Travis Norton (55') 1
Matt Sing (78') 1
Goals:
Josh Hannay 2/3
(10', 56')

Statistics and records

  • The Broncos' Darren Smith was the NRL's oldest player in 2005 at 36 years and 284 days.[6]
  • The Brisbane Broncos set a new club record for highest score conceded (50 points) and greatest losing margin (46 points), when they lost 50-4 against the Melbourne Storm at Olympic Park in Round 4. These records were broken in 2020 when they lost 59-0 to the Sydney Roosters in round 4, which is also the only time Brisbane have failed to score a point at their home of Suncorp Stadium.
  • The Newcastle Knights lost a club record 13 straight matches from 13 March - 19 June, and went on to win the wooden spoon for the first time.
  • In Rounds 23 and 24, the Canterbury Bulldogs suffered their worst defeats since 1935, when they lost 56-4 against the Parramatta Eels in Round 23, then lost 54-2 against Wests Tigers in Round 24.
  • Wests Tigers' club record for their longest winning streak with 8 wins from round 16 to round 24.
  • Wests Tigers' standing record for their biggest ever win : 54-2 over the Canterbury Bulldogs in Round 24.

Leading try scorers

Rank Tries Player Team Matches Try Ave.
1 21 Matt Bowen North Queensland Cowboys 21 1.00
2 20 Billy Slater Melbourne Storm 25 0.80
2 20 Colin Best St George Illawarra Dragons 26 0.77
2 20 Pat Richards Wests Tigers 28 0.71
5 19 Shaun Berrigan Brisbane Broncos 23 0.83
6 18 Ty Williams North Queensland Cowboys 23 0.78
6 18 Paul Whatuira Wests Tigers 24 0.75
7 17 Amos Roberts Sydney Roosters 28 0.61
9 16 Brett Stewart Manly Sea Eagles 24 0.67
9 16 David Simmons Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 25 0.64
9 16 Matt Sing North Queensland Cowboys 25 0.64

Leading point scorers

Rank Points Player Team Matches Tries Gls Fld Goals Pts Ave.
1 308 Brett Hodgson Wests Tigers 28 15 124 - 11.00
2 214 Luke Burt Parramatta Eels 23 11 85 - 9.30
3 190 Preston Campbell Penrith Panthers 23 11 73 - 8.26
4 186 Luke Covell Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 22 9 75 - 8.45
5 180 Hazem El Masri Bulldogs 18 11 68 - 10.00
6 172 Matt Orford Melbourne Storm 26 11 63 2 6.62
7 152 Josh Hannay North Queensland Cowboys 21 7 62 - 7.24
8 147 Stacey Jones New Zealand Warriors 23 5 63 1 6.39
9 142 Clinton Schifcofske Canberra Raiders 19 6 58 2 7.47
10 140 Michael Witt Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 19 5 60 - 7.37

2005 Transfers

Players

Player 2004 Club 2005 Club
Michael De Vere Brisbane Broncos Super League: Huddersfield Giants
Craig Frawley Brisbane Broncos Canberra Raiders
Paul Green Brisbane Broncos Retirement
Ben Ikin Brisbane Broncos Retirement
Brad Meyers Brisbane Broncos Super League: Bradford Bulls
Gorden Tallis Brisbane Broncos Retirement
Carl Webb Brisbane Broncos North Queensland Cowboys
Brad Drew Canberra Raiders Super League: Huddersfield Giants
Mark McLinden Canberra Raiders Super League: London Broncos
Joel Monaghan Canberra Raiders Sydney Roosters
Ruben Wiki Canberra Raiders New Zealand Warriors
Jamie Feeney Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Melbourne Storm
Glen Hughes Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Retirement
Steve Price Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs New Zealand Warriors
Dennis Scott Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Melbourne Storm
Johnathan Thurston Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs North Queensland Cowboys
Paul Franze Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Penrith Panthers
Jason Kent Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Super League: Leigh Centurions
Andrew Lomu Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Canberra Raiders
Matthew Rieck Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Wests Tigers
Nick Bradley-Qalilawa Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Super League: London Broncos
Ian Donnelly Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Melbourne Storm
Solomon Haumono Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Super League: London Broncos
Albert Torrens Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles St. George Illawarra Dragons
Andrew Walker Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Suspension
Rodney Howe Melbourne Storm Retirement
Stephen Kearney Melbourne Storm Super League: Hull F.C.
Ben MacDougall Melbourne Storm Edinburgh (Scottish rugby union)
Andrew McFadden Melbourne Storm Retirement
Kirk Reynoldson Melbourne Storm Newcastle Knights
Danny Williams Melbourne Storm Super League: London Broncos
Jamie Fitzgerald Newcastle Knights Retirement
Ben Kennedy Newcastle Knights Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Robbie O'Davis Newcastle Knights Retirement
Matt Parsons Newcastle Knights Retirement
Russell Richardson Newcastle Knights Retirement
Timana Tahu Newcastle Knights Parramatta Eels
Vinnie Anderson New Zealand Warriors Super League: St. Helens
Henry Fa'afili New Zealand Warriors Super League: Warrington Wolves
PJ Marsh New Zealand Warriors Parramatta Eels
Jerry Seuseu New Zealand Warriors Super League: Wigan Warriors
Kevin Campion North Queensland Cowboys Retirement
Nathan Fien North Queensland Cowboys New Zealand Warriors
Jamie McDonald North Queensland Cowboys Melbourne Storm
Glenn Morrison North Queensland Cowboys Parramatta Eels
Adam Dykes Parramatta Eels Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Lee Hopkins Parramatta Eels Super League: London Broncos
Junior Langi Parramatta Eels Super League: Salford City Reds
Jamie Lyon Parramatta Eels Super League: St. Helens
Shane Muspratt Parramatta Eels North Queensland Young Guns (Queensland Cup)
Corey Pearson Parramatta Eels Retirement
Craig Stapleton Parramatta Eels Super League: Leigh Centurions
Chris Thorman Parramatta Eels Super League: Huddersfield Giants
James Webster Parramatta Eels Hull Kingston Rovers
Michael Witt Parramatta Eels Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Ryan Girdler Penrith Panthers Retirement
Martin Lang Penrith Panthers Retirement
Amos Roberts Penrith Panthers Sydney Roosters
Paul Whatuira Penrith Panthers Wests Tigers
Owen Craigie South Sydney Rabbitohs Super League: Widnes Vikings
Jason Death South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement
Willie Manu South Sydney Rabbitohs St. George Illawarra Dragons
Justin Smith South Sydney Rabbitohs North Queensland Cowboys
Paul Stringer South Sydney Rabbitohs Parramatta Eels
David Thompson South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement
Brad Watts South Sydney Rabbitohs Super League: Widnes Vikings
Nathan Blacklock St. George Illawarra Dragons Super League: Hull F.C.
John Carlaw St. George Illawarra Dragons Retirement
Andrew Frew St. George Illawarra Dragons Retirement
Brent Kite St. George Illawarra Dragons Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Nathan Long St. George Illawarra Dragons Retirement
Henry Perenara St. George Illawarra Dragons Parramatta Eels
Mark Riddell St. George Illawarra Dragons Parramatta Eels
Lincoln Withers St. George Illawarra Dragons Canberra Raiders
Todd Byrne Sydney Roosters New Zealand Warriors
Peter Cusack Sydney Roosters South Sydney Rabbitohs
Luke Dorn Sydney Roosters Super League: London Broncos
Brad Fittler Sydney Roosters Retirement
Shannon Hegarty Sydney Roosters South Sydney Rabbitohs
Justin Hodges Sydney Roosters Brisbane Broncos
Gavin Lester Sydney Roosters Retirement
Chad Robinson Sydney Roosters Parramatta Eels
Michael Buettner Wests Tigers Retirement
Nick Graham Wests Tigers Retirement
Robert Mears Wests Tigers Super League: Leigh Centurions
Jason Moodie Wests Tigers N/A
Scott Sattler Wests Tigers Retirement
Darren Senter Wests Tigers Retirement
Paul Mellor Super League: Castleford Tigers Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Colin Best Super League: Hull F.C. St. George Illawarra Dragons
Jason Smith Super League: Hull F.C. Canberra Raiders
Matt Adamson Super League: Leeds Rhinos Canberra Raiders
Craig Smith Super League: Wigan Warriors Newcastle Knights
Brad Thorn Crusaders (Super 12) Brisbane Broncos
Terry Hill N/A Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Daniel Irvine N/A Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Ben Walker N/A South Sydney Rabbitohs

Coaches

Coach 2004 Club 2005 Club
Daniel Anderson New Zealand Warriors Super League: St. Helens

Sources and footnotes

  1. Solomon, David (2007). Pillars of power: Australia's institutions. Federation Press. p. 204. ISBN 978-1-86287-645-3.
  2. "NRL secures $500m rights deal". ABC News. Australia: Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2005-07-01. Archived from the original on 2010-03-09. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
  3. Pace, Daniel (2005-03-02). "Same theme, different sound for NRL ads". AAP Sports News. Australia: The Gale Group, Inc. (). Retrieved 2010-06-30.
  4. B&T magazine article 2005 Archived September 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  5. D'Souza, Miguel. "Grand Final History". wwos.ninemsn.com.au. AAP. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  6. Toohey, Barry (2 February 2011). "Still some bite in old Mad Dog". The Daily Telegraph. Australia: News Limited. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
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