Opinion

The biff, sledge and scandals of rugby league

I really have a soft spot for the quirky moments in rugby league. The biff, the brain explosions, the sledge, the scandals and all the other things that give our game its colour and character.

Here's just a few of my favourites:

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< b>1953: While today's players are known for getting caught in scandals, they'll have to go a long way to beat Bobby Lulham. The Tigers and Kangaroo winger made headlines when his mother-in-law, Veronica, was charged with his attempted murder after he almost died of thallium poisoning. While she was acquitted, it emerged in the trial that Bobby and Veronica had been having it off under the nose of his wife and her daughter Judith.

1978: After the Manly-Cronulla grand final finishes in an 11-all draw, a replay is scheduled for three days later - a Tuesday (due to the Kangaroo squad leaving for Europe on the weekend). When the Sharks go down 16-0 they become the first team to fail to win two grand finals in the space of three days.

1981: Newtown's Steve Bowden proves he has the hardest head in rugby league when Manly enforcer Terry Randall delivers a vicious kick to the scone - and breaks his own foot. The kick was in response to two separate brawls started by Bowden when he went toe-to-toe with Mark Broadhurst. There's a famous photo of the Jet delivering an uppercut to Broadhurst with such force that both his feet are off the ground.

1989: In the second half of the grand final, with Balmain up 12-2 over Canberra, the Tigers' Bruce McGuire takes a quick tap. Catching two Raiders defenders still retreating to get back onside, McGuire runs behind them. Referee Bill "I'm never wrong. Not ever" Harrigan penalises him for obstruction. After the kick for touch the Raiders score a try to make it 12-8. Decades later, plenty of fans are still scratching their heads wondering how an attacking player can be penalised for obstruction.

1997: The start of Super League means crappy jersey designers now have a job. The players in the rebel comp all wear jerseys so ugly that you wouldn't even use them to polish the car. While it's in the garage. Super League also introduces the "winners kick" rule which, up until this point, was only ever used if you're playing your little brother in the backyard.

1997: When they lose the Super League grand final to Brisbane, Cronulla Sutherland become the only team to lose grand finals in two different competitions. Ha-ha.

1999: The Newcastle Knights make one of the more embarrassing player signings ever when they pick up American Greg Smith. He said he played for the Philadelphia Eagles as a wide receiver for two years. Amazingly, no-one at the Knights thought to check that. Only after an awful first grade debut (which was also his only game) does the media ring the Eagles and discover that they've never heard of Greg Smith.

2001: Former Canberra Raider Mal Meninga has one of the shortest political careers in history. Just seconds into a radio interview to announce his plan to stand as an independent in the ACT election, he utters the words "I'm buggered. I'm sorry. I have to resign" and walks out of the studio.

2001: Irritating sledger John Hopoate decides it's a good idea to unnerve his opponents by sticking his finger into their backsides. Surprisingly no-one seizes this moment to launch a range of John Hopoate finger puppets.

2008: In the lead-up to the State of Origin series, NSW forward Paul Gallen thinks he's a kid in the playground and sledges Queensland by saying he hates Queensland "times a thousand". The Cane Toads decline the opportunity to respond with "Well, we hate NSW times infinity. No returns."