2005 NRL season

Summary

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 Eels (5th title)
Matches played189
Points scored8861
Average attendance17,337
Attendance3,276,675
Top points scorer(s) Brett Hodgson (308)
Player of the year Johnathan Thurston (Dally M Medal)
Top try-scorer(s) Matt Bowen (21)
← 2004
2006 →

Season summary edit

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.[3] 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 edit

Brisbane Broncos
18th season
Ground: Suncorp Stadium
Coach: Wayne Bennett
Captain: Darren Lockyer
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
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
Coach: Craig Bellamy
Captain: Robbie Kearns
New Zealand Warriors
11th season
Ground: Ericsson Stadium
Coach: Tony Kemp
Captain: Steve Price
Newcastle Knights
18th season
Ground: EnergyAustralia Stadium
Coach: Michael Hagan
Captain: Andrew Johns
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: Penrith Football Stadium
Coach: John Lang
Captain: Craig Gower
South Sydney Rabbitohs
96th season
Ground: Aussie Stadium
Coach: Shaun McRae
Captain: Bryan FletcherPeter Cusack
St. George Illawarra Dragons
7th season
Ground: OKI Jubilee Stadium & WIN Stadium
Coach: Nathan Brown
Captain: Trent Barrett
Sydney Roosters
98th season
Ground: Aussie Stadium
Coach: Ricky Stuart
Captain: Luke Ricketson
Wests Tigers
6th season
Ground: Campbelltown Stadium & Leichhardt Oval
Coach: Tim Sheens
Captain: Mark O'NeillScott Prince

Advertising edit

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[4] 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.[5]

Regular season edit

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 F1 F2 F3 GF
Brisbane Broncos NQL
+13
NZL
−12
SYD
+18
MEL
−46
PAR
+40
SGI
+10
CRO
+4
MAN
+26
CBY
+7
NQL
+17
X SOU
+24
NEW
+18
CAN
+8
WTI
+18
NZL
−12
CRO
+12
X MEL
+13
CBY
−7
CAN
+6
MAN
−1
SGI
−20
PEN
−2
SYD
−7
PAR
−14
MEL
−6
WTI
−28
Canberra Raiders X NEW
+25
SOU
+7
SGI
+20
SYD
+8
MAN
−22
MEL
−36
NEW
+4
PEN
+8
CRO
−6
WTI
−12
SYD
−14
X BRI
−8
CBY
−18
NQL
+1
PEN
+8
MEL
−20
PAR
+8
NZL
−8
BRI
−6
WTI
−8
SOU
−13
NQL
−3
PAR
−38
MAN
−18
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs SGI
+18
NQL
−12
WTI
−1
CRO
−14
X SYD
−13
NEW
+4
PAR
+14
BRI
−7
MAN
−8
MEL
+10
NQL
−36
SOU
0*
X CAN
+18
MAN
+19
MEL
−27
NZL
+2
PEN
+2
BRI
+7
SOU
−13
NEW
−15
PAR
−52
WTI
−52
PEN
−22
SYD
−20
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks PEN
+6
MAN
−26
PAR
+8
CBY
+14
NQL
+32
X BRI
−4
MEL
+20
NZL
+4
CAN
+6
PEN
+8
PAR
−8
NQL
−42
WTI
−16
SYD
+6
X BRI
−12
SOU
−10
NEW
+4*
SGI
−10
WTI
−40
MEL
+24
SYD
−6
MAN
+62
NEW
−30
SOU
−4
SGI
−6
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles NZL
+6
CRO
+26
MEL
+7
X SGI
−26
CAN
+22
SOU
+34
BRI
−26
WTI
+8
CBY
+8
PAR
−6
PEN
+10
SYD
+4
SOU
−38
NEW
+22
CBY
−19
WTI
−25
PEN
−4
SGI
−26
X NQL
−2
BRI
+1
NEW
−8
CRO
−62
NZL
−2
CAN
+18
PAR
−24
Melbourne Storm NEW
+38
SGI
+34
MAN
−7
BRI
+46
PEN
−20
PAR
−12
CAN
+36
CRO
−20
X SOU
+26
CBY
−10
SGI
+8
WTI
+16
NZL
−8
PEN
−14
SOU
+42
CBY
+27
CAN
+20
BRI
−13
SYD
+14
NEW
−19
CRO
−24
NZL
+12
X WTI
+12
NQL
−6
BRI
+6
NQL
−8
Newcastle Knights MEL
−38
CAN
−25
X NQL
−34
SOU
−25
NZL
−4
CBY
−4
CAN
−4
SYD
−30
WTI
−16
SGI
−2
X BRI
−18
PAR
−50
MAN
−22
PEN
+4
SYD
−14
NQL
+4
CRO
−4*
PAR
+6
MEL
+19
CBY
+15
MAN
+8
NZL
+12
CRO
+30
SGI
−8
New Zealand Warriors MAN
−6
BRI
+12
NQL
−10
SOU
+32
WTI
−18
NEW
+4
X PEN
−2
CRO
−4
SYD
−4
SOU
+18
WTI
+17
SGI
−14
MEL
+8
PAR
−10
BRI
+12
NQL
−8
CBY
−2
SYD
+2
CAN
+8
PEN
−8
PAR
−18
MEL
−12
NEW
−12
MAN
+2
X
North Queensland Cowboys BRI
−13
CBY
+12
NZL
+10
NEW
+34
CRO
−32
WTI
+24
PEN
+14
SYD
+20
PAR
−38
BRI
−17
X CBY
+36
CRO
+42
SGI
−30
X CAN
−1
NZL
+8
NEW
−4
SOU
−2
PEN
+20
MAN
+2
SGI
−20
WTI
−12
CAN
+3
SOU
+14
MEL
+6
WTI
−44
MEL
+8
PAR
+29
WTI
−14
Parramatta Eels WTI
+16
SOU
−23
CRO
−8
PEN
+10
BRI
−40
MEL
+12
WTI
+10
CBY
−14
NQL
+38
X MAN
+6
CRO
+8
PEN
+10
NEW
+50
NZL
+10
SYD
−4
SOU
+36
SGI
+26
CAN
−8
NEW
−6
X NZL
+18
CBY
+52
SGI
−3
CAN
+38
BRI
+14
MAN
+24
X NQL
−29
Penrith Panthers CRO
−6
SYD
−8
SGI
+10
PAR
−10
MEL
+20
SOU
+30
NQL
−14
NZL
+2
CAN
−8
SGI
−22
CRO
−8
MAN
−10
PAR
−10
X MEL
+14
NEW
−4
CAN
−8
MAN
+4
CBY
−2
NQL
−20
NZL
+8
SYD
+2
X BRI
+2
CBY
+22
WTI
+16
South Sydney Rabbitohs SYD
−12
PAR
+23
CAN
−7
NZL
−32
NEW
+25
PEN
−30
MAN
−34
X SGI
−32
MEL
−26
NZL
−18
BRI
−24
CBY
0*
MAN
+38
SGI
−18
MEL
−42
PAR
−36
CRO
+10
NQL
+2
WTI
−22
CBY
+13
X CAN
+13
SYD
+1
NQL
−14
CRO
+4
St. George Illawarra Dragons CBY
−18
MEL
−34
PEN
−10
CAN
−20
MAN
+26
BRI
−10
SYD
+2
WTI
+8
SOU
+32
PEN
+22
NEW
+2
MEL
−8
NZL
+14
NQL
+30
SOU
+18
WTI
−8
X PAR
−26
MAN
+26
CRO
+10
SYD
+38
NQL
+20
BRI
+20
PAR
+3
X NEW
+8
CRO
+6
X WTI
−8
Sydney Roosters SOU
+12
PEN
+8
BRI
−18
WTI
−6
CAN
−8
CBY
+13
SGI
−2
NQL
−20
NEW
+30
NZL
+4
X CAN
+14
MAN
−4
X CRO
−6
PAR
+4
NEW
+14
WTI
−10
NZL
−2
MEL
−14
SGI
−38
PEN
−2
CRO
+6
SOU
−1
BRI
+7
CBY
+20
Wests Tigers PAR
−16
X CBY
+1
SYD
+6
NZL
+18
NQL
−24
PAR
−10
SGI
−8
MAN
−8
NEW
+16
CAN
+12
NZL
−17
MEL
−16
CRO
+16
BRI
−18
SGI
+8
MAN
+25
SYD
+10
X SOU
+22
CRO
+40
CAN
+8
NQL
+12
CBY
+52
MEL
−12
PEN
−16
NQL
+44
BRI
+28
SGI
+8
NQL
+14
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 F1 F2 F3 GF

Bold – Home game
X – Bye
* – Golden point game
Opponent for round listed above margin

Ladder edit

Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1   Parramatta Eels 24 16 0 8 2 704 456 +248 36
2   St George Illawarra Dragons 24 16 0 8 2 655 510 +145 36
3   Brisbane Broncos 24 15 0 9 2 597 484 +113 34
4   Wests Tigers (P) 24 14 0 10 2 676 575 +101 32
5   North Queensland Cowboys 24 14 0 10 2 639 563 +76 32
6   Melbourne Storm 24 13 0 11 2 640 462 +178 30
7   Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24 12 0 12 2 550 564 -14 28
8   Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24 12 0 12 2 554 632 -78 28
9   Sydney Roosters 24 11 0 13 2 488 487 +1 26
10   Penrith Panthers 24 11 0 13 2 554 554 0 26
11   New Zealand Warriors 24 10 0 14 2 515 528 -13 24
12   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24 9 1 14 2 472 670 -198 23
13   South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 9 1 14 2 482 700 -218 23
14   Canberra Raiders 24 9 0 15 2 465 606 -141 22
15   Newcastle Knights 24 8 0 16 2 467 667 -200 20

Ladder progression edit

  • 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 2 2 4 4 4 6 8 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 22 24 26 26 26 28 30 32 32 34 36
2   St George Illawarra 0 0 0 0 2 2 4 6 8 10 12 12 14 16 18 18 20 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36
3   Brisbane 2 2 4 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 26 28 30 32 32 34 34 34 34 34 34
4   Wests 0 2 4 6 8 8 8 8 8 10 12 12 12 14 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 32 32
5   North Queensland 0 2 4 6 6 8 10 12 12 12 14 16 18 18 20 20 22 22 22 24 26 26 26 28 30 32
6   Melbourne 2 4 4 6 6 6 8 8 10 12 12 14 16 16 16 18 20 22 22 24 24 24 26 28 30 30
7   Cronulla-Sutherland 2 2 4 6 8 10 10 12 14 16 18 18 18 18 20 22 22 22 24 24 24 26 26 28 28 28
8   Manly-Warringah 2 4 6 8 8 10 12 12 14 16 16 18 20 20 22 22 22 22 22 24 24 26 26 26 26 28
9   Sydney 2 4 4 4 4 6 6 6 8 10 12 14 14 16 16 18 20 20 20 20 20 20 22 22 24 26
10   Penrith 0 0 2 2 4 6 6 8 8 8 8 8 8 10 12 12 12 14 14 14 16 18 20 22 24 26
11   New Zealand 0 2 2 4 4 6 8 8 8 8 10 12 12 14 14 16 16 16 18 20 20 20 20 20 22 24
12   Bulldogs 2 2 2 2 4 4 6 8 8 8 10 10 11 13 15 17 17 19 21 23 23 23 23 23 23 23
13   South Sydney 0 2 2 2 4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 7 9 9 9 9 11 13 13 15 17 19 21 21 23
14   Canberra 2 4 6 8 10 10 10 12 14 14 14 14 16 16 16 18 20 20 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 22
15   Newcastle 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 4 6 6 8 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 20


Finals series edit

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 edit

Qualifying finalsSemifinalsPreliminary finalsFinal
1  Parramatta46
8  Manly221W  Parramatta0
4W  Melbourne16  North Queensland29
2  St. George Illawarra282L  North Queensland24
  North Queensland16
7  Cronulla22
  Wests30
3  Brisbane182W  St. George Illawarra12
6  Melbourne243W  Wests34  Wests20
1L  Brisbane6
4  Wests50
5  North Queensland6

Grand Final edit

2005 NRL Grand Final
Sunday, 2 October
19:00 AEST (UTC+10)
Wests Tigers   30 – 16   North Queensland Cowboys
Tries: 5
Gibbs   18'
Richards   35'
Laffranchi   45'
Fitzhenry   63'
Payten   80'
Goals: 5
Hodgson   19', 37', 47', 64', 80' (5/6)
Field goals:
Prince (0/1)
1st: 12–6
2nd: 18–10
Report[6]
Tries: 3
Bowen   8'
Norton   55'
Sing   78'
Goals: 2
Hannay   10', 56' (2/3)
Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 82,453
Referee: Tim Mander
Touch judges: Steve Carrall, Matt Cecchin
Clive Churchill Medal: Scott Prince (Wests Tigers)


Statistics and records edit

  • The Broncos' Darren Smith was the NRL's oldest player in 2005 at 36 years and 284 days.[7]
  • 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 was the first (of two) 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.

Player statistics edit

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 26.

2005 Transfers edit

Players edit

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
Ben Harris   Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs   Super League: Bradford Bulls
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
David Vaealiki   Parramatta Eels   Super League: Wigan Warriors
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 edit

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

Sources and footnotes edit

  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. ^ "Knights put to the sword by Eels". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2005-06-11. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  4. ^ Pace, Daniel (2005-03-02). "Same theme, different sound for NRL ads". AAP Sports News. Australia: The Gale Group, Inc. (). Retrieved 2010-06-30.[permanent dead link][dead link]
  5. ^ B&T magazine article 2005 Archived September 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Middleton, David. 2005 Official Rugby League Annual. Sydney: News Magazines. pp. 112–113.
  7. ^ Toohey, Barry (2 February 2011). "Still some bite in old Mad Dog". The Daily Telegraph. Australia: News Limited. Retrieved 2 February 2011.

External links edit

  • NRL official website
  • LeagueUnlimited
  • Rugby League Tables and Statistics 2005
  • Sports Australia League