2007 NRL season

The 2007 NRL season was the one hundredth season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the tenth run by the National Rugby League. Sixteen teams contested the NRL's 2007 Telstra Premiership, and with the inclusion of a new team, the Gold Coast Titans, the competition was the largest run since the 1999 NRL season.

2007 National Rugby League
Teams16
Premiers Melbourne Storm [1]
Minor premiers Melbourne Storm
Matches played201
Points scored8539
Average attendance16,578
Attendance3,332,114
Top points scorer(s) Hazem El Masri (210)
Player of the year Johnathan Thurston (Dally M Medal)
Top try-scorer(s) Matthew Bowen (22)

The Melbourne Storm were the minor premiers in 2007, six points clear of second-placed Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. The Storm eventually ran out 34–8 winners in the 2007 NRL Grand Final to claim the premiership. However, they were subsequently stripped of both their minor premiership and premiership titles on 22 April 2010, after they were found to be guilty of breaching the league's salary cap.[2][3]

Season summary

Pre-season, 2006 premiers the Brisbane Broncos travelled to England to play the Super League champions in the 2007 World Club Challenge.

The 2007 NRL Season kicked off on Friday 16 March 2007 with eight games to be played in each round. The 2007 season saw the return of Monday Night Football, which helped the NRL to set new first round aggregate attendance record of 174,475.[4] The opening round also saw two matches at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, one featured reigning champions Brisbane playing fellow Queensland side the Cowboys, while the second match introduced the newest club to be admitted to the competition, the Gold Coast Titans.

The North Queensland Cowboys' Jason Smith was the NRL's oldest player in 2007 at 35 years and 186 days.[5]

Teams had fewer byes in 2007 than in the 2006 competition. With an odd number of teams contesting between 2002 and 2006, the draw meant that at least one team would have to have a bye each weekend. With the inclusion of the 16th team for the 2007 season, the National Rugby League had the option of reverting to the system used between 2000 and 2001 in which every team played in each round. However, this option was not chosen. In 2007, teams had just a single bye during the year, grouped in periods that will assist clubs around representative fixtures.

The top eight was not settled until the final round as the Brisbane Broncos and Wests Tigers were both on 24 points in 8th and 9th position respectively, with the Broncos ahead on points differential. Both teams lost their final regular season match and as a result of this, the South Sydney Rabbitohs made the top eight for the first time since 1989. The New Zealand Warriors secured a home final: the second match in the history of the National Rugby League Finals played outside of Australia. The first was the Warriors' victory over the Canberra Raiders at Mt Smart Stadium while on their way to the 2002 Grand Final.

On the other end of the ladder, the Newcastle Knights and Penrith Panthers were both in contention for the Wooden Spoon – the traditional label for last place. The Knights performed well in their last match and denied the Wests Tigers a spot in the top eight, winning by two points, whereas the Panthers were defeated by the New Zealand Warriors, seeing them finish last.

2007 saw a total of over 3 million spectators attend regular season matches for only the second time in history.[6]

Records set

Advertising

The National Rugby League kept use of the Hoodoo Gurus' "That's My Team" for a fifth consecutive season, with their advertising agency MJW Hakuhodo reworking the track "What's My Scene" and the "That's My Dream" slogan. With a design change for the Telstra Premiership logo (after months of off-season deliberation on whether Telstra would sponsor the code again), the commercial was a fast-paced action clip, with key players from all teams superimposed to appear as if they are playing in front the famous landmarks of their team's area. They are as follows:

As with previous seasons, all team captains featured prominently in the ads, holding aloft the premiership trophy as the advertisement closes, replicating the 2006 equivalent. Only weeks after it was put to air, Newcastle Knights captain Andrew Johns' career was ended by a neck injury.

Sponsorship

Telecommunications giant Telstra once again held the naming rights to the premiership season and for the seventh season the competition was known as the "Telstra Premiership". For the second time, however, a change was made to the Telstra Premiership Logo to align with the telco's own new logo.

Spirit producers Bundaberg Rum sponsored Monday night football – as Bundaberg Monday Night Football. Electronics wholesaler Harvey Norman continued their support of the State of Origin Series, The insurer AAMI sponsored the City vs Country Origin.

Teams

For the 2007 season the number of teams in the NRL had increasing from fifteen to sixteen with the re-inclusion of a Gold Coast, Queensland-based club for the first since 1998, now as the Gold Coast Titans. It was the first time the number of Premiership teams had changed since 2002 when the re-inclusion of the South Sydney Rabbitohs saw the number of teams increase from 14 to 15. The Titans were the NRL's first expansion team since the Melbourne Storm, who entered the League in 1998.

The sixteen teams participated in the competition over the regular season, making it the largest it had been since 1999 when there were seventeen. Of the sixteen clubs, ten were from New South Wales (nine from Sydney's metropolitan area), three from Queensland and one from each of Victoria, the ACT and New Zealand.

Just two foundation clubs from New South Wales Rugby League season 1908 played in this, the 100th season of the competition: the Sydney Roosters (formerly known as Eastern Suburbs) and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Of these two clubs, only the Sydney Roosters played their 100th full season, as the South Sydney Rabbitohs were in recess during 2000 and 2001. Two foundation clubs, the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs Magpies, had played in every year since 1908, but the two sides merged to create the Wests Tigers who competed every year since the merger in 2000.

Brisbane Broncos
20th season
Ground: Suncorp Stadium
Coach: Wayne Bennett
Captain: Darren Lockyer
Bulldogs
73rd season
Ground: Telstra Stadium
Coach: Steve Folkes
Captain: Andrew Ryan
Canberra Raiders
26th season
Ground: Canberra Stadium
Coach: Neil Henry
Captain: Alan Tongue
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
41st season
Ground: Toyota Stadium
Coach: Ricky Stuart
Captain: Brett Kimmorley
Gold Coast Titans
1st season
Ground: Carrara Stadium
Coach: John Cartwright
Captain: Scott Prince & Luke Bailey
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
58th season
Ground: Brookvale Oval
Coach: Des Hasler
Captain: Matt Orford
Melbourne Storm
10th season
Ground Olympic Park Stadium
Coach: Craig Bellamy
Captain: Cameron Smith
New Zealand Warriors
13th season
Ground: Mt. Smart Stadium
Coach: Ivan Cleary
Captain: Steve Price
Newcastle Knights
20th season
Ground: EnergyAustralia Stadium
Coach: Brian Smith
Captain: Andrew JohnsDanny Buderus
North Queensland Cowboys
13th season
Ground: Dairy Farmers Stadium
Coach: Graham Murray
Captain: Johnathan Thurston
Parramatta Eels
61st season
Ground: Parramatta Stadium
Coach: Michael Hagan
Captain: Nathan Cayless
Penrith Panthers
41st season
Ground: CUA Stadium
Coach: Matthew Elliott
Captain: Tony Puletua
South Sydney Rabbitohs
98th season
Ground: Telstra Stadium
Coach: Jason Taylor
Captain: David Kidwell & Roy Asotasi
St. George Illawarra Dragons
9th season
Ground: OKI Jubilee Stadium & WIN Stadium
Coach: Nathan Brown
Captain: Mark Gasnier
Sydney Roosters
100th season
Ground: Sydney Football Stadium
Coach: Chris AndersonBrad Fittler
Captain: Craig Fitzgibbon
Wests Tigers
8th season
Ground: Campbelltown Stadium & Leichhardt Oval
Coach: Tim Sheens
Captain: Brett Hodgson

Ladder

Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Melbourne Storm 2421031627277+35044
2 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 2418061597377+22038
3 North Queensland Cowboys 2415091547618−7132
4 New Zealand Warriors 24131101593434+15929
5 Parramatta Eels 24130111573481+9228
6 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24120121575528+4726
7 South Sydney Rabbitohs 24120121408399+926
8 Brisbane Broncos 24110131511476+3524
9 Wests Tigers 24110131541561−2024
10 Sydney Roosters 24101131445610−16523
11 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24100141463403+6022
12 Gold Coast Titans 24100141409559−15022
13 St George Illawarra Dragons 2490151431509−7820
14 Canberra Raiders 2490151522650−12820
15 Newcastle Knights 2490151418708−29020
16 Penrith Panthers 2480161539607−6818

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
1 Melbourne 2468101214141618182022242628303234343638404244
2 Manly-Warringah 2468101212141618202022242424262830323436363638
3 North Queensland 24688810121212141616161820222222222426283032
4 New Zealand 24446810101010101010121416161820222325252729
5 Parramatta 00246668810121414161820202224242626262628
6 Bulldogs 002446688881012121416181820222224262628
7 South Sydney 24666888810101012121416161618202022242626
8 Brisbane 00022446668810121416182020222222222424
9 Wests 000024681012141416161618202020222222242424
10 Sydney 00000244668810121212121416181921212123
11 Cronulla-Sutherland 222446681012121214141416161616161618182022
12 Gold Coast 0224668888101214161818181818182020222222
13 St George Illawarra 222224466881010101012141416161818182020
14 Canberra 00224466810121214141414141616181818202020
15 Newcastle 244466881012121414161616181818181818181820
16 Penrith 024444446881010101010101212121414161818

Finals series

To decide the grand finalists from the top eight finishing teams, the NRL adopts the McIntyre final eight system. The finals series was contested over a period of four weeks, culminating with the NRL Grand Final being held on Sunday 30 September 2007. For the first time, the week 2 and week 3 final matches were played in the cities of previous week winners rather than Sydney only.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Crowd
Qualifying Finals
New Zealand Warriors 10–12 Parramatta Eels 7 September 2007 8:30pm Mt. Smart Stadium Tony Archer 28,745
North Queensland Cowboys 20–18 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 8 September 2007 6:30pm Dairy Farmers Stadium Paul Simpkins 24,004
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 30–6 South Sydney Rabbitohs 8 September 2007 8:30pm Brookvale Oval Shayne Hayne 19,875
Melbourne Storm 40–0 Brisbane Broncos 9 September 2007 4:00pm Olympic Park Stadium Steve Clark 15,522
Semi-finals
Parramatta Eels 25–6 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 15 September 2007 7:45pm Telstra Stadium Shayne Hayne 50,621
North Queensland Cowboys 49–12 New Zealand Warriors 16 September 2007 4:00pm Dairy Farmers Stadium Tony Archer 21,847
Preliminary Finals
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 28–6 North Queensland Cowboys 22 September 2007 7:45pm Sydney Football Stadium Paul Simpkins 32,611
Melbourne Storm 26–10 Parramatta Eels 23 September 2007 4:00pm Telstra Dome Tony Archer 33,427

Finals Chart

Qualifying finalsSemifinalsPreliminary finalsGrand Final
1 Melbourne40
8 Brisbane01W Melbourne26
4W Parramatta25 Parramatta10
4 New Zealand102L Canterbury6
Melbourne34
5 Parramatta12
Manly8
3 North Queensland202W Manly28
6 Canterbury183W North Queensland49 North Queensland6
1L New Zealand12
2 Manly30
7 South Sydney6

Grand final

2007 NRL Grand Final
Sunday, 30 September
19:15 AEST (UTC+10)
Melbourne Storm 34 – 8 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Tries: 7
Quinn rugby ball 12', 76'
Inglis rugby ball 23', 55'
Crocker rugby ball 44'
King rugby ball 52'
Newton rugby ball 72'
Goals: 3
C Smith rugby goalposts icon 13', 74', 76' (3/8)
1st: 10–4
2nd: 24–4
Report
Tries: 2
Matai rugby ball 39'
Hicks rugby ball 62'
Goals:
Orford (0/2)
ANZStadium, Sydney
Attendance: 81,392[8][9]
Referee: Tony Archer
Touch judges: Steve Chiddy, Russell Turner
Clive Churchill Medal: Greg Inglis (Melbourne)

Player statistics

The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 25.

Dally M Awards

The Dally M Awards were introduced in 1980 by News Limited. The most prestigious of these awards is the Dally M Medal which is awarded to the Player Of The Year and many other awards. The other prestigious award is the Provans Summons Medal which is the season's best player as voted by the public. As well as honouring the player of the year the awards night also recognises the premier player in each position, the best coach, the best captain, representative player of the year and the most outstanding rookie of the season. The awards night and Player of the Year medal are named in honour of Australian former rugby league great Herbert Henry "Dally" Messenger. The top try-scorer and top point-scorer tallies are made at the end of the last round of the regular season and hence may be different from the overall top-scorers by the end of the finals.

Award Player Club
Dally M MedalJohnathan ThurstonNorth Queensland Cowboys
Provan-Summons MedalNathan HindmarshParramatta Eels
Rookie of the YearIsrael FolauMelbourne Storm
Captain of the YearSteve PriceNew Zealand Warriors
Rep Player of the YearCameron SmithMelbourne Storm
Coach of the YearCraig BellamyMelbourne Storm
Top Tryscorer of the YearIsrael Folau
Matt Bowen
Melbourne Storm
North Queensland Cowboys
Top Pointscorer of the YearHazem El MasriBulldogs

Team of the Year

Award Player Club
Best FullbackMatthew BowenNorth Queensland Cowboys
Best WingerJarryd HayneParramatta Eels
Best CentreJustin HodgesBrisbane Broncos
Best Five-EighthDarren LockyerBrisbane Broncos
Best HalfbackJohnathan ThurstonNorth Queensland Cowboys
Best LockDallas JohnsonMelbourne Storm
Best Second-RowerAnthony WatmoughManly Warringah Sea Eagles
Best PropSteve PriceNew Zealand Warriors
Best HookerRobbie FarahWests Tigers

2007 Transfers

Players

Player 2006 Club 2007 Club
Neville Costigan Brisbane Broncos Canberra Raiders
Casey McGuire Brisbane Broncos Super League: Catalans Dragons
Scott Minto Brisbane Broncos North Queensland Cowboys
Brett Seymour Brisbane Broncos Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Tame Tupou Brisbane Broncos Super League: Bradford Bulls
Shane Webcke Brisbane Broncos Retirement
Jason Croker Canberra Raiders Super League: Catalans Dragons
Craig Frawley Canberra Raiders Brisbane Broncos
Michael Hodgson Canberra Raiders Gold Coast Titans
Kris Kahler Canberra Raiders Gold Coast Titans
Andrew Lomu Canberra Raiders Brisbane Broncos
Terry Martin Canberra Raiders Celtic Crusaders
Adam Mogg Canberra Raiders Super League: Catalans Dragons
Clinton Schifcofske Canberra Raiders Queensland Reds (Super 14)
Jason Smith Canberra Raiders North Queensland Cowboys
Simon Woolford Canberra Raiders St. George Illawarra Dragons
Roy Asotasi Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tony Grimaldi Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Retirement
Daniel Irvine Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs South Sydney Rabbitohs
Nate Myles Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Sydney Roosters
Darren Albert Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Retirement
Phil Bailey Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Super League: Wigan Warriors
Matt Hilder Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Gold Coast Titans
Tevita Leo-Latu Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Hutch Maiava Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Super League: Hull F.C.
Darren Mapp Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Celtic Crusaders
Beau Scott Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks St. George Illawarra Dragons
James Stosic Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Gold Coast Titans
Nigel Vagana Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks South Sydney Rabbitohs
Richard Villasanti Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Retirement
Ben Kennedy Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Retirement
Kylie Leuluai Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Super League: Leeds Rhinos
Paul Stephenson Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Michael Witt Manly Warringah Sea Eagles New Zealand Warriors
Jamie Feeney Melbourne Storm Retirement
Nathan Friend Melbourne Storm Gold Coast Titans
Scott Hill Melbourne Storm Super League: Harlequins RL
David Kidwell Melbourne Storm South Sydney Rabbitohs
Glen Turner Melbourne Storm Canberra Raiders
Chris Walker Melbourne Storm Gold Coast Titans
Jake Webster Melbourne Storm Gold Coast Titans
Brian Carney Newcastle Knights Munster (Irish rugby union)
Dustin Cooper Newcastle Knights Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Matt Gidley Newcastle Knights Super League: St. Helens
Todd Lowrie Newcastle Knights Parramatta Eels
Anthony Quinn Newcastle Knights Melbourne Storm
Craig Smith Newcastle Knights Retirement
Sione Faumuina New Zealand Warriors North Queensland Cowboys
Awen Guttenbeil New Zealand Warriors Castleford Tigers (National League One)
Clinton Toopi New Zealand Warriors Super League: Leeds Rhinos
Brent Webb New Zealand Warriors Super League: Leeds Rhinos
Brett Firman North Queensland Cowboys Penrith Panthers
Josh Hannay North Queensland Cowboys Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Travis Norton North Queensland Cowboys Retirement
Mitchell Sargent North Queensland Cowboys Newcastle Knights
Matt Sing North Queensland Cowboys Super League: Hull F.C.
Wade McKinnon Parramatta Eels New Zealand Warriors
John Morris Parramatta Eels Wests Tigers
Glenn Morrison Parramatta Eels Super League: Bradford Bulls
Luke O'Dwyer Parramatta Eels Gold Coast Titans
Adam Peek Parramatta Eels St. George Illawarra Dragons
Henry Perenara Parramatta Eels Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Matt Petersen Parramatta Eels Gold Coast Titans
Paul Stringer Parramatta Eels Retirement
Michael Vella Parramatta Eels Super League: Hull Kingston Rovers
Dean Widders Parramatta Eels South Sydney Rabbitohs
Preston Campbell Penrith Panthers Gold Coast Titans
Danny Galea Penrith Panthers Wests Tigers
Lee Hookey Penrith Panthers Retirement
Craig Stapleton Penrith Panthers Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Luke Swain Penrith Panthers Gold Coast Titans
Adam MacDougall South Sydney Rabbitohs Newcastle Knights
Mark Minichiello South Sydney Rabbitohs Gold Coast Titans
Todd Polglase South Sydney Rabbitohs Newcastle Knights
Ben Walker South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement
Shane Walker South Sydney Rabbitohs Retirement
Luke Bailey St. George Illawarra Dragons Gold Coast Titans
Trent Barrett St. George Illawarra Dragons Super League: Wigan Warriors
Colin Best St. George Illawarra Dragons Canberra Raiders
Matt Bickerstaff St. George Illawarra Dragons Canberra Raiders
Aaron Gorrell St. George Illawarra Dragons Super League: Catalans Dragons
Clint Greenshields St. George Illawarra Dragons Super League: Catalans Dragons
Michael Henderson St. George Illawarra Dragons Gold Coast Titans
Reece Simmonds St. George Illawarra Dragons South Sydney Rabbitohs
Shaun Timmins St. George Illawarra Dragons Retirement
Ryan Cross Sydney Roosters Western Force (Super 14)
John Doyle Sydney Roosters Retirement
Mark Edmondson Sydney Roosters Super League: Salford City Reds
Brett Finch Sydney Roosters Parramatta Eels
Chris Flannery Sydney Roosters Super League: St. Helens
Glenn Hall Sydney Roosters Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Adrian Morley Sydney Roosters Super League: Warrington Wolves
Shane Elford Wests Tigers Super League: Huddersfield Giants
Sam Harris Wests Tigers New South Wales Waratahs (Super 14)
Anthony Laffranchi Wests Tigers Gold Coast Titans
Jamahl Lolesi Wests Tigers Super League: Huddersfield Giants
Scott Prince Wests Tigers Gold Coast Titans
John Skandalis Wests Tigers Super League: Huddersfield Giants
Brad Meyers Super League: Bradford Bulls Gold Coast Titans
Richie Faʻaoso Super League: Castleford Tigers Parramatta Eels
Danny Nutley Super League: Castleford Tigers Sydney Roosters
Chris Beattie Super League: Catalans Dragons Sydney Roosters
Ian Hindmarsh Super League: Catalans Dragons Parramatta Eels
Nick Bradley-Qalilawa Super League: Harlequins RL Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Richard Mathers Super League: Leeds Rhinos Gold Coast Titans
Andrew Dunemann Super League: Salford City Reds Canberra Raiders
Jamie Lyon Super League: St. Helens Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Logan Swann Super League: Warrington Wolves New Zealand Warriors
Michael Dobson Super League: Wigan Warriors Canberra Raiders
Scott Logan Super League: Wigan Warriors Canberra Raiders
David Myles Toulouse Olympique Gold Coast Titans
Matt Rua Central Comets (Queensland Cup) Melbourne Storm
Mat Rogers New South Wales Waratahs (Super 14) Gold Coast Titans
Jason Moodie N/A Wests Tigers

Coaches

Coach 2006 Club 2007 Club
Matthew Elliott Canberra Raiders Penrith Panthers
Michael Hagan Newcastle Knights Parramatta Eels
Ricky Stuart Sydney Roosters Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Footnotes

  1. Stuart Honeysett and Brent Read (23 April 2010) Shocking end to the Melbourne Storm era The Australian
  2. "Melbourne Storm breach NRL Salary Cap". National Rugby League. 22 April 2010. Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  3. McDonald, Margie (22 April 2010). "Melbourne Storm stripped of two rugby league titles over salary cap fraud". The Australian. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  4. Paul, Crawley (15 March 2011). "Record-breaking week for NRL". The Daily Telegraph. Australia: Herald and Weekly Times. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  5. Toohey, Barry (2 February 2011). "Still some bite in old Mad Dog". The Daily Telegraph. Australia: News Limited. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  6. Gallop, David (2007). "Australian Rugby Football League Annual Report 2007" (PDF). Australian Rugby League Limited. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-09-13. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
  7. Proszenko, Adrian (6 May 2012). "Gallen set to smash record". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  8. Middleton, David. 2007 Official Rugby League Annual. Surrey Hills: News Magazines. p. 110.
  9. NRL Grand Final History Archived 9 February 2010 at archive.today at rl1908.com

See also

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