Season 2010: Round 22

From The Couch

The Rugby League Vote: The Australian Labor Party has long considered itself close to the game of rugby league. The working class traditions of the code have long been held dear by the ALP and in particular those involved in the party in New South Wales and Queensland. Many great Labor men, from Doc Evatt through to Fred Daly all the way up to Graham Richardson have been unashamedly in love with the game widely regarded as the greatest of them all. Labor has traditionally done the best for rugby league and can usually be relied upon to be the party of choice if voting on rugby league matters is the priority.

Unfortunately, 2010 is not one of those times. The ALP has hurt rugby league under the leadership of faux-Broncos supporter Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, raised in the AFL tradition, has done little to campaign on the important issues of rugby league.

There is no doubt that there is no rugby league candidate in 2010. Gillard is an AFL girl. Born in Adelaide and living in Melbourne, she has tenuous links to the Storm but is generally regarded as a Footscray fan. Tony Abbott is a Sydney boy but from the North Shore. He is not a Sea Eagles or even a Bears fan but a rugby union lover with a long history of playing the sport.

Sadly, there has been little campaigning on the lines of rugby league this election. Julia Gillard promised a small amount of money for a rugby league centre in northern Queensland but that is it. Anthony Albanaese is spruiking money for an upgrade to Leichardt Oval but no firm commitments have been made.

And no commitments from Labor to support rugby league can be trusted after the Rudd years.

While Kevin Rudd was happy enough to watch the Broncos and Queensland wearing his scarf and acting interested, Labor took from the mouth of the game. When Labor won power in 2007, pretty little thing (condescension intended) Kate Ellis was named Sports Minister. Ellis is a South Australian without even the fundamental understanding that rugby league and rugby union are different sports. She quickly took away the $10 million promised to the NRL for funding a hall of fame building when John Howard was Prime Minister. The League still has no hall of fame building and very little has been done to help the code from Federal Labor. The ALP has only sought to involve itself in rugby league matters only when matters of politics are at play with Anthony Albanese putting the kibosh on any move to install John Howard as chairman of the new Independent Commission, threatening the NRL if Howard was made top dog.

State Labor has been worse with Kristina Keneally providing the AFL with money for a ground reconfiguration in western Sydney while rugby league grounds like Brookvale Oval go into disrepair.

Rugby league fans who find it necessary to vote on rugby league issues have only one choice: Tony Abbott. The ALP has turned its back on the code and it is now time for the code to turn its back on the ALP.

The Hayne Stain: Jarryd Hayne has become such a loathsome little prick that he has even resorted to attempting to change his nickname from “The Hayne Train” to “The Hayne Plane”. Hayne does not like the train analogy and has tried to persuade the rugby league faithful to refer to him as The Hayne Plane. Perhaps Jarryd Hayne should concentrate more on playing decent football and getting his team over the line rather than his own nickname and sticking his arms out like a fool when he scores a try. His need to be known as the Plane has, however, opened the door for plenty of analogies when he went missing over the last fortnight as the Eels crashed out of semi-final contention. The Hayne Plane is down and has not been sighted. The Hayne Plane has hit some turbulence. The Hayne Plane just crashed and burned. The Hayne Plane is an expensive and overpriced lump-of-shit that is hardly worth the ticket price. It comes as no surprise that Hayne has done very little this year. He got hot for a month to keep up appearances but after signing on for a long-term deal he is more worried about nicknames than winning games. To steal a line from Roy and HG, Jarryd Hayne should now be known as The Hayne Stain because that is a more apt description of the Parramatta fullback than the Hayne Plane or Hayne Train.

A Sense of Occasion: The last week has been a tremendous time to be about if you are a student of rugby league history, particularly a Roosters or Dragons fan. Remembering the Roosters 38-0 Grand Final win over the Dragons in 1975, the club formerly known as Eastern Suburbs not only staged their match with the Dragons at the SCG but opened the Roosters hall of fame where five club legends were inducted. Dragons legend Reg Gasnier, the Prince of Centres, was then honoured by the SCG Trust with a bronze statue unveiled, making Gasnier the seventh sports legend to be honoured in such a manner at the SCG.

The Roosters hall of fame was a wonderful thing and the right five figures were honoured with Dally Messenger, Dave Brown, Jack Gibson, Arthur Beetson and Brad Fittler, all giants of not only the club but the game, inducted. Beetson and Messenger were both named to the ARL’s Team of the Century while Gibson was named coach. Brown still holds many point scoring records while Fittler is regarded as one of the greatest modern day five-eighths. Honouring those five was a wonderful gesture from a club that is looking to rebuild its image.

The SCG Trust should also be thanked for honouring Reg Gasnier. Rugby league has arguably been more important to the SCG than cricket and it is pleasing to see the Trust paying homage to a player generally regarded as the finest centre ever to play the code.

Rugby league needs to do more to honour its history and rugby league needs to do more to bring about a sense of occasion for big events. For once, rugby league got it right last weekend. Let’s hope there is more of it in future.

The Colin Best Express Heads South: In what has been a big week for column favourite Colin Best, the flying South Sydney three-quarter will announce that he has signed a two-year deal with Cronulla. The announcement comes after Best missed Souths miracle win last Saturday after cutting his finger and being saddled with an infection that saw him hospitalised and placed on a drip. The loss of Colin Best on Saturday certainly had a major impact on the FFL with Rylstone losing the Grand Final to arch-rivals Yenda by 2.1 points after naming Best, only to see him not show up.

Best moved to South Sydney to play under former mentor John Lang (Lang was waiting in the wings as Jason Taylor imploded) but with Souths refusing to put up a deal longer than a year, CBE was forced to look at former clubs Cronulla and Canberra. Best played his finest football in Canberra between 2007 and 2008 but first burst onto the scene at Cronulla between 1998 and 2002 where he scored 43 tries in 81 matches.

Best is an outstanding pickup for Cronulla. He is in the twilight of his career but offers a bigger try-scoring threat than any outside back currently playing for the Sharks and if he was put on the wing he could add plenty in kick returns. His signature is a boon for the Sharks and new coach Shane Flanagan.

The Worst Signing of 2011: Congratulations go out to the Cowboys and their chief executive Peter Parr and coach Neil Henry who have already secured the biggest bust of 2011 by signing Broncos reject Ashton Sims to a two-year-deal. Sims is arguably the worst player in the NRL and has been for many years. He can hardly get a start for the Broncos this year and it has nothing to do with the strength of the Brisbane pack. He now travels north to a team staring down the barrel of a wooden spoon. It is a match made in heaven, a fit so perfect that Martin Scorsese could not have scripted it. Sims is a liability. He is a poor defender, has no work ethic, has the hands of Ben Pomeroy and shows not the slightest hint of any football intelligence. It would be a real treat to see him pack down with Luke O’Donnell, Carl Webb and Willie Mason next year. Unfortunately, it won’t happen.

Jason Ryles, It is Great to Have You Back: It has all been a little weird lately. In recent times there has been plenty of talk that Jason Ryles has been one of the best buys of 2010. Ryles has been fairly steady with one of the preseason favourites for the Willie M making good metres and limiting his stupidity. This wasn’t the Jason Ryles we all came to love loathing, the Jason Ryles that Wayne Bennett would go nowhere near, the Jason Ryles who would have that huge dumb look of shock on his face, the Jason Ryles who lashed out at Dragons fans who cat-called him constantly. That familiar Jason Ryles was back on Sunday; however, in a day that truly was a nostalgia kick for all the old-time league lovers. On a sun soaked Sydney Cricket Ground with 40,000 in the stands and a feel of 1975 running wild, Ryles turned in a typical Ryles performance against his old club by giving away a number of dumb penalties and then dropping the kick-off after the Roosters clawed their way back into the match. It was pure Jason Ryles with his Marty Bella impersonation a real highlight of season 2010. Jason Ryles is a terrible liability and I am eagerly awaiting him costing the Roosters a very important match come September.

What I Learned from Twitter this Week: Newcastle backrower Cory Paterson is relying on acupuncture to overcome his shoulder problems. It “bloody hurts” according to C-Pat. It is probably timely to offer this advice: stay away from Newcastle in 2011.

Disgraceful Dogs: The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs disgraced the jersey on Sunday afternoon when turning in a weak and inept performance against Newcastle with the season on the line. There is no need to go into details other than to say the final score was 30-6 and the Bulldogs were simply pathetic. Michael Ennis continued his ordinary form. Brett Kimmorley was sadly out of nick. Josh Morris has become a shocking defensive liability. Ben Roberts was back and turned in a traditional dandy of a game. The pack was, for the most part, completely outmuscled. Kevin Moore screwed up again by taking off Ben Barba, shifting Stagg to the fringe and playing Paea, Gordon and Roberts off the bench. The Bulldogs now need to go into a time of significant introspection if 2011 does not end just as disastrously. Thank God this season of misery is now over.

Meaningless Field Goal Update: Warriors five-eighth and bearded Orange lad James Maloney did his best to push the meaningless field goal on Saturday evening when kicking a one-pointer when the Warriors led the Sharks 36-10. It was a truly insulting, pointless and debasing gesture. James Maloney has a big future in this game.

Fun Fact #1: 10 players have played in a Grand Final in the last 30 years yet played less 30 first grade matches throughout their career:

John Lang (Roosters, Hooker, 1980, 22 matches)
Steve McKenzie (Parramatta, Fullback, 1981, 29 matches)
Matthew Callinan (Canterbury, Wing, 1985, 11 matches)
Kevin Ward (Manly, Prop, 1987, 15 matches)
Andy Currier (Balmain, Centre, 1989, 22 matches)
Shaun Edwards (Balmain, Reserve, 1989, 12 matches)
Michael Twigg (Canberra, Reserve, 1991, 14 matches)
Andrew Hunter (Manly, Reserve, 1997, 27 matches)
Craig Smith (Melbourne, Wing, 1999, 20 matches)
Russell Aitken (Melbourne, Hooker, 2008, 18 matches)

Fun Fact #2: Three of those ten players were Englishmen who had long careers in England: Kevin Ward-399 games for Castleford and St. Helens, Andy Currier-248 games for Widnes, Featherstone and Warrington and Shaun Edwards-572 games for Wigan, London Broncos and Bradford.

Fun Fact #3: John Lang played only one season in the New South Wales Rugby League but had a long career playing in Queensland with Easts Brisbane where he also represented Queensland and Australia.

Fun Fact #4: Five players never played in the NSWRL/NRL again after their Grand Final appearance: John Lang, Shaun Edwards, Michael Twigg, Craig Smith and Russell Aitken with Twigg and Smith never playing top grade rugby league anywhere again and Aitken currently trying his hand in the NSW Cup.

The Willie M Medal: It is such a terrible shame that Willie won’t win his own medal. With any luck he will be back next season to give it a red hot shake.

 

Nth Qld-Brisbane	3-Carl Webb (Cow)
	2-Willie Tonga (Cow)
	1-James Tamou (Cow)
Gold Coast-Parramatta	3-Krisnan Inu (Par)
	2-Ben Smith (Par)
	1-Jarryd Hayne (Par)
Manly-Melbourne	3-Willie Isa (Mel)
	2-Billy Slater (Mel)
	1-Brett White (Mel)
Souths-Tigers	3-Beau Ryan (Tig)
	2-Benji Marshall (Tig)
	1-Chris Sandow (Sou)
Cronulla-Warriors	3-John Morris (Cro)
	2-Ben Pomeroy (Cro)
	1-Anthony Tupou (Cro)
Newcastle-Bulldogs	3-Michael Ennis (Bul)
	2-Josh Morris (Bul)
	1-Ben Roberts (Bul)
Roosters-Dragons	3-Jason Ryles (Roo)
	2-Ben Hornby (Dra)
	1-Mitchell Pearce (Roo)
Canberra-Penrith	3-Adrian Purtell (Pen)
	2-Frank Pritchard (Pen)
	1-Daniel Vidot (Can)
Leaderboard	17-Carl WEbb (Cow)
	16-James Maloney (War), Mark Minichiello (GC)
	15-Preston Campbell (GC)
	14-Ben Pomeroy (Cro), Chris Sandow (Sou)
	13-Tim Smith (Cro)
	12-Scott Dureau (NC), Krisnan Inu (Par), Josh McCrone (Can), Josept Tomane (GC)

 

Rumour Mill: The Sharks are said to be on a signing run after picking up Colin Best and Wade Graham. The Sharks are in the money for a number of players with Jeremy Smith of the Dragons and Brad Tighe of the Panthers both believed to be heading to Cronulla. Sharks young gun Blake Ferguson, meanwhile, is believed to be reconsidering his position with Cronulla. Ferguson stated he wanted out and has alienated a number of teammates but with Ricky Stuart unlikely to have an NRL gig next year, Ferguson not wanting to leave Sydney and suitors low on the ground, Ferguson is considering going cap in hand to new coach Flanagan. If Ferguson does leave, he will likely end up at either the Roosters or the Bulldogs. Canterbury are reportedly looking at re-signing troublemaker backrower Reni Maitua. The move from within the club is led by rogue director Ray Dib, who has also tried to orchestrate the move to bring Willie Mason back. Former Eels hooker Mark Riddell will be back at Parramatta Stadium next year. There is reportedly a push up in Townsville to hire Ricky Stuart though the prohibitive cost of firing Neil Henry will likely mean no change will be made. Newspaper reports have Greg Inglis now staying in Melbourne but Inglis will be in Brisbane if the NRL and/or Brisbane show any flexibility with the amount of money the Storm will have to pay Inglis over the next two seasons.

Power Rankings:

 

Rank	Team	Record	Last Week	High	Low
1	Dragons	14-6	2	1	2
2	Roosters	12-8	1	1	11
3	Gold Coast	12-8	3	2	10
4	Brisbane	11-9	4	4	15
5	Manly	11-9	7	2	10
6	West Tigers	12-8	5	2	8
7	Souths	10-10	8	2	16
8	Penrith	12-8	6	2	11
9	Warriors	12-8	10	3	13
10	Newcastle	9-11	12	10	15
11	Parramatta	9-11	9	3	13
12	Canberra	9-11	13	9	15
13	Canterbury	7-13	11	5	13
14	Cowboys	5-15	14	12	15
15	Cronulla	5-15	15	12	15
*	Melbourne	11-9	*	*	*

 

Where the Melbourne Storm Would Be If: The Storm certainly wouldn’t be as bored with rugby league as they are now and they certainly would not have lost five straight road games if they were still playing for premiership points. Brett Finch certainly wouldn’t have been on a club sanctioned bender either as was seemingly the case heading into the Raiders match last week.

Game of the Year Nomination, Round 22: Roosters-Dragons, 12-19. The Bunnies-Tigers match may have been the real thriller but the best match of the weekend was undoubtedly the top-of-the-table clash between the Dragons and the Roosters at the Sydney Cricket Ground on a blistering Sunday afternoon that made you realise what a truly beautiful game rugby league is. As 40,000 people strode through Moore Park and down South Dowling Street and past the site of the old Sydney Sports Ground to fill the historic ground that has witnessed some of the most important moments in rugby league history, the sun soaked Sydney Cricket Ground was in perfect nick. Finding a seat was impossible; getting a beer was even harder. When kick-off came, after the anthem and the introductions, the atmosphere was tense yet irresistibly happy. Everyone in attendance seemed pleased that they had Sunday afternoon rugby league in their life. The match itself was a bruising encounter. The Dragons needed to win to stop the calls of choking. The Roosters needed a win to keep the momentum of a five-game win streak alive. The match did not disappoint. In a bruising first-half, the Roosters led 6-4 in a match that saw plenty of heavy hitting and desperation defence. The Roosters try was somewhat dubious but aside from that the clash was as enthralling as any match this year. It went end-to-end but defence reigned supreme. The Dragons wrestled the ascendancy from the Roosters midway through the first half and never lost it and when they came out for the second half they hit the front and never looked like losing. Dean Young and Ben Creagh were magnificent as was Darius Boyd. The Roosters tried hard and Todd Carney almost snatched the win late but the stupidity of Jason Ryles put an end to that. A classic game in a traditional setting that will long be remembered.

Coaching Stocks:

Wayne Bennett [5] Bennett reached 600 games with an SCG win. Attack still a worry but return of Fien should help.

Craig Bellamy [4.5] Doing the right thing and giving some key players time off. Nothing to be gained from going hard.

Brian Smith [4.5] No shame in a loss to the Dragons. Classic match, good effort. Will be there or thereabouts.

John Cartwright [4.5] A huge comeback win over Parramatta. Showed toughness, grit and skill. Right in the title hunt.

John Lang [4.5] Perhaps the most spirited win in his coaching career. Beset by injury, Bunnies won a thriller.

Ivan Henjak [4] The Broncos continue to tick over. A bunch of young guns getting hot is always a worry.

Des Hasler [3] Smashed hated rivals Melbourne. Manly needed that strong win. Have skill to threaten title.

Ivan Cleary [3] Did a job on the Sharks. Unlikely finals contenders. Have the points in them to worry teams.

Tim Sheens [2.5] Simply horrifying loss against Souths. Incredibly dumb. Needs to tear shreds off players this week

Matt Elliott [2.5] Needs to arrest a run of poor form though the Panthers played well without two key players.

Kevin Moore [1] Disgraceful showing from the Bulldogs with season on the line. Next year is critical for Moore.

David Furner [1] Mammoth comeback to keep season alive. A great win to propel the Raiders forward.

Rick Stone [1] A mighty win over the Dogs and a mighty 2010 considering circumstances.

Daniel Anderson [0.5] The knives will be out for Anderson again when they should be out for highly paid players.

Shane Flanagan [0] Still awaiting his first win and the money is it won’t come until 2011.

Neil Henry [-9] Henry will do well to keep his job over the offseason. Needs to clean house.

Obscure Score of the Week: Russia-Latvia, 54-4. The Bears progressed to the final of the 2010 European Shield with a huge win over Latvia in Riga where a Rustam Bulanov hat-trick proved the catalyst for a big win as the emerging rugby league nation attempts to reinvigorate the sport that has laid dormant for the better part of the last decade since Russia played in the 2000 World Cup and has recently undergone a massive upheaval. The victory over Latvia followed a 52-14 win over Ukraine that ensured Russia won the Eastern Group of the Shield. The Bears will now take on Serbia in the final. The form of the Bears is critical as Russian rugby league faces dire times following the defection of the three biggest clubs to rugby union after rugby league was removed from the State Register of Sports. The Government move against league came due to rugby union sevens being given Olympic status. The sport is currently at the crossroads in Russia with hopes that the IRLF will send funds to help save the code in the old Soviet Union.

Queanbeyan Kangaroos 2010 Campaign: The Queanbeyan Kangaroos hit back this week after two straight losses with a much needed 40-32 win over West Belconnen at Freebody Oval. Times were looking dicey at Roos headquarters but a free-flowing match saw the Kangaroos find some form and maintain their position of second on the ladder. With two matches against teams outside the four, the Pride of Queanbeyan look certain to run second and meet Scholars in the first round of the semi-finals with a Grand Final position up-for-grabs. In other Canberra Raiders Cup games, the Queanbeyan Blues got away with a lucky 26-25 win over Woden to keep their finals hopes alive while Scholars went down 28-18 against Toots Croker and the Gungahlin Bulls.

Stats from the Special Needs Penguin: The number this week is one with Pomeroy only once allowing his opponents to score whilst watching a bouncing ball in his own in-goal. The Special Needs Penguin should enjoy the remainder of 2010 because he won’t be in first grade next year when the Colin Best Express returns to Shark Park.

Fantasy Team of the Week:

1. Rhys Wesser (Sou)
2. Matt Gillett (Bri)
3. Jamie Lyon (Man)
4. Jarrod Croker (Can)
5. Bill Tupou (War)
6. Terry Campese (Can)
7. Scott Prince (GC)
13. Paul Gallen (Cro)
12. Corey Parker (Bri)
11. Nathan Hindmarsh (Par)
10. Roy Asotasi (Sou)
9. Robbie Farah (Tig)
8. Keith Galloway (Tig)

Waiver Wire Advice: I have spruiked him before and I’m going to spruik him again: I pushed him after round one at $95k and I’m pushing him now at just under $340k. Gillett is a goddamn fantasy god and could be critical as Supercoach owners reach the critical part of season 2010 with the finals starting next week. This year he has averaged a touch under 70 points and comes into the semi-finals off a two-try effort against the Cowboys when playing on the wing. He has hit below 50 only once this year and he has five 60-plus scores over the last six weeks. You want him on your side.

Beard Watch: Well, the playoff beard is back in what is the BIGGEST BEARD NEWS OF THE 2010 SEASON. The New Zealand Warriors have taken the lead from their outstanding 2008 run that saw them reach a preliminary final and enforced an all-encompassing beard policy amongst the playing group. Lead by skipper Simon Mannering’s Abraham Lincoln (as mentioned by Andrew Johns on The Sunday Footy Show, Joey being a long-term reader of this column), the Warriors are flying with facial hair and it proved critical last Saturday as they flew home late to beat the Sharks 37-10. With the Bulldogs done, From The Couch will be cheering on the Warriors now based purely on their love of the beard. Keep an eye out for Joel Moon’s follicles: it is probably the most unusual effort in the team.

Just away from rugby league for a second, a note on Tiger Woods. Woods is clearly in a very bad headspace at present with the greatest golfer many of us have ever seen growing a goatee. It is the kind of ploy used in soap operas and professional wrestling to indicate a heal turn or move to playing the bad guy. Tiger’s goatee looks just appalling and it is not a good look in his attempts at winning public rehabilitation.

Watch It: There are plenty of highlights in This Clip of the 1990 Grand Final victory of the Canberra Raiders over the Penrith Panthers. There was Greg Robson’s moustache and John Farnham as pregame entertainment. The packed Mawson Club, particularly as the drunk kids in bad t-shirts mangled the reporters face during the live cross. Laurie Daley kicking the ball straight back to Penrith off the opening kickoff. Glenn Lazarus winning “first bleeder” award. John “Chicka” Ferguson scoring a try in nearly identical fashion as the one that sent the 1989 decider into extra-time. David Greene getting mauled by Chicka. The passing of Ricky Stuart and running of Laurie Daley with Daley probably a little stiff to miss out on the Clive Churchill Medal. Raiders winger Phil Carey butchering a certain try. Matty Wood scoring the winner off a Big Mal run. The Brett Finch doppelganger to the right of Michael O’Dwyer at the Mawson Club. Brett Mullins looking electric in the Presidents Cup along with future first graders David Boyle and Jason Death. The two field-goals of Jason Gregory, who sadly only went on to play 8 first grade matches for Canberra despite his love of the one-pointer. Chook Herron running around as a youngster for the Dragons. Steve Renouf having a fair try disallowed by Greg McCallum in the reserve grade decider two years before he would star for the Broncos in their first big one. A young Mark Bell inspiring the Raiders reserves along with Wayne Collins. Wayne Bennett looking 16 years old. The dreadful error that cost the Raiders the clean sweep. The memories from 20 years ago are certainly plentiful.

Lazy Long Bay Days, Part 23: The visits of John Elias to the Long Bay visitor’s room are becoming increasingly frequent with Elias this week popping in to see Danny Wicks to get an update on the progress of the fixed match. “All is looking good, Boss” Danny says. “Only thing is we need to make sure they are out of the finals race. That win on the weekend was a real prick”. John smiled. “I don’t give a fuck if it is the Grand Final. You asked me to get the money and I got the money. You said you would take care of the rest. Make sure it happens. You better have the right people young Daniel because if you don’t, you will be hoping they keep you in Long Bay for life.”

Correspondence Corner: I was asked this week by an old drinking associate known as Grunter to run through the 300-game players to see how many finals series Grand Finals and premierships each have played in. He was adamant that Cliffy Lyons had played in more than Freddie. Well Grunter, this list is for you.

Terry Lamb: 17 seasons, 9 finals series, 5 Grand Finals, 3 premierships
Steve Menzies: 16 seasons, 9 finals series, 5 Grand Finals, 2 premierships
Brad Fittler: 16 seasons, 12 finals series, 6 Grand Finals, 2 premierships
Cliff Lyons: 15 seasons, 11 finals series, 4 Grand Finals, 2 premierships
Darren Lockyer: 15 seasons, 14 finals series, 4 Grand Finals, 4 premierships*
Andrew Ettingshausen: 18 seasons, 6 finals series, 1 Grand Final, 0 premierships
Geoff Gerard: 16 seasons, 11 finals series, 4 Grand Finals, 0 premierships
Jason Croker: 16 seasons, 9 finals series, 1 Grand Final, 1 premiership
Hazem El Masri: 15 seasons, 9 finals series, 1 Grand Final, 1 premiership
Paul Langmack: 17 seasons, 8 finals series, 3 Grand Finals, 2 premierships
Steve Price: 16 seasons, 10 finals series, 3 Grand Finals, 1 premiership
Ruben Wiki: 16 seasons, 9 finals series, 1 Grand Final, 1 premiership
Luke Priddis: 13 seasons, 7 finals series, 2 Grand Final, 2 premierships*
Brett Kimmorley: 15 seasons, 8 finals series, 1 Grand Final, 1 premiership*
Luke Ricketson: 15 seasons, 9 finals series, 3 Grand Finals, 1 premiership

*still active

So every 300-gamer has won a premiership bar Andrew Ettingshausen, who spent his entire career at Cronulla, and Geoff Gerard, who switched from Parramatta to Manly at precisely the wrong time. Every 300-gamer has played in a Grand Final but Jason Croker, Hazem El Masri, Ruben Wiki and Brett Kimmorley have only played in one with Croker, Wiki and Kimmorley all reaching their one Grand Final in the first five years of their career. Andrew Ettingshausen and Paul Langmack are the only 300-gamers not to reach the finals in at least 50% of their years played. Brad Fittler played in the most Grand Finals of any 300-gamer with six while Darren Lockyer has won the most premierships with four. Lamb, Menzies, Fittler, Lyons and Ricketson are the only retired 300-gamers to win a premiership in their finals four seasons. Eleven of the fifteen 300-gamers won premierships within their first five seasons of first grade with only El Masri and Ricketson winning their first title outside of their first five seasons.