2001 NRL season

Rugby league competition 2001 National Rugby League File:NRL Logo 2001.png February 17 – September 30, 2001 14 16x16px Newcastle 2nd 16x16px Parramatta 4th 191 9,333 14,043 2,682,210 16x16px Andrew Johns (279) 16x16px Ben Walker (279) 16x16px Nathan Blacklock (27) Cronulla 16 Preston Campbell Dally M Medal Penrith Panthers 3rd 2000 2002 The 2001 NRL season was the 94th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the fourth run by the National Rugby League. Also called the 2001 Telstra Premiership (due to sponsorship from Telstra) it was contested by thirteen Australia-based clubs plus one New Zealand–based club. The Newcastle Knights claimed their second premiership in five seasons, defeating minor premiers Parramatta Eels in the NRL's first ever night-time grand final. Season summary Early in the season NRL matches involving the Bulldogs were marred by off-field violence from the club's supporters. Mercer Phil Australia's game of shame BBC News UK BBC 2001-04-25 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/1296079.stm 2010-01-01 The Parramatta Eels looked set to break their fifteen-year premiership drought as they compiled one of the most dominant season records in rugby league history, losing just four of their 26 regular season games with the League's best attack and defensive record. In 2001 they established the standing record for most points by a club in a season with 943, blitzing the Brisbane Broncos' previous record tally of 871 set in 1998. The Eels tally was significantly contributed to by Jason Taylor, who that year surpassed Daryl Halligan's mark of 2,034 to become the greatest point-scorer in the history of club competition in Australia.Aubrey Jane 2001: Bennett's Coup - 'Operation Alfie' http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=925222 7 March 2014 wwos.ninemsn.com.au 10 October 2001 https://web.archive.org/web/20140307024803/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=925222 2014-03-07 dead The Warriors made the finals for the first time in their seven-year history under rookie coach Daniel Anderson, but were hammered 56-12 by the aforementioned minor premiers. After Warren Ryan retired in 2000, the Newcastle Knights appointed former player Michael Hagan to the coaching position. Hagan proceeded to become the first coach since Phil Gould in 1988 to win a premiership in his first season as coach. Ricky Stuart would follow suit with the Roosters the following season. Tim Sheens was sacked as the coach of the North Queensland Cowboys during the season and was replaced by Murray Hurst. Mal Meninga resigned as Canberra coach following the club's disappointing season and in turn was replaced by Matthew Elliott. Preston Campbell was a deserved winner of the Dally M medal after being an instrumental player in the Sharks' rise to fourth position on the table. Newcastle's Andrew Johns would have been clear winner but was not in contention due to missing two matches through suspension. Brian Smith was recognised as Coach of the Year whilst Braith Anasta won Rookie of the Year. It was during the 2001 finals series that the new NRL Telstra Premiership logo was used, first seen on the field in the first qualifying final between the Sharks and the Broncos. That logo was to be used until the end of the 2006 season. Coincidentally, the Brisbane Broncos were also involved in the last match to use that logo, albeit in a modified finals version seen on the ground in the 2006 NRL Grand Final. At the end of the season a squad of players from the NRL premiership went on the 2001 Kangaroo tour. Every team except Penrith played at least one drawn match during the course of the season. The Bulldogs had three drawn matches, the most of any team during the season. Teams Auckland were renamed the New Zealand Warriors for the 2001 season. Brisbane Broncos 14th seasonGround: QSACCoach: Wayne BennettCaptain: Gorden TallisBulldogs 67th seasonGround: Sydney ShowgroundCoach: Steve FolkesCaptain: Darren BrittCanberra Raiders 20th seasonGround: Canberra StadiumCoach: Mal MeningaCaptain: Simon WoolfordMelbourne Storm 4th seasonGround Docklands StadiumCoach: Chris Anderson → Mark MurrayCaptain: Robbie Kearns & Rodney HoweNew Zealand Warriors 7th seasonGround: Ericsson StadiumCoach: Daniel AndersonCaptain: Stacey Jones & Kevin CampionNewcastle Knights 14th seasonGround: EnergyAustralia StadiumCoach: Michael HaganCaptain: Andrew JohnsNorth Queensland Cowboys 7th seasonGround: Dairy Farmers StadiumCoach: Tim Sheens → Murray HurstCaptain: Paul BowmanNorthern Eagles 2nd seasonGround: Brookvale Oval & Grahame ParkCoach: Peter SharpCaptain: Geoff TooveyParramatta Eels 55th seasonGround: Parramatta StadiumCoach: Brian SmithCaptain: Nathan CaylessPenrith Panthers 35th seasonGround: CUA StadiumCoach: Royce SimmonsCaptain: Craig GowerSharks 37th seasonGround: Shark ParkCoach: John LangCaptain: Jason StevensSt. George Illawarra Dragons 3rd seasonGround: Kogarah Oval & WIN StadiumCoach: Andrew FarrarCaptain: Craig SmithSydney Roosters 94th seasonGround: Sydney Football StadiumCoach: Graham MurrayCaptain: Brad FittlerWests Tigers 2nd seasonGround: Campbelltown Stadium & Leichhardt OvalCoach: Terry LambCaptain: Darren Senter Advertising With a new CEO in David Moffat from 2000 the NRL late that year moved their account to a new advertising agency in Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney. There was no umbrella campaign in 2001, no season launch gala ad. NRL Marketing Director, Mark Wallace insisted that the League's marketing budget remained the same as in prior years but that the focus was to be on promoting individual games and complementing the clubs' own marketing activities.Wallace interview B&T Magazine March 2001 An ad was produced to promote certain key games. The scene is a deserted, eerie CBD street. The sound of a squeaky wheel gets louder until a clown rides into the middle of shot on a tricycle and turns to camera pouting and frowning. The voice over comes up: "This Easter long weekend the Dragons v Roosters at Sydney Football Stadium. You'd be a clown to miss it". Regular season 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 BroncosNQL+1PEN+16PAR−8WTI+18NEW+34NZL−1CBY+28MEL+2SYD−2SGI+24CRO+19CAN0NTE+16NQL+44PEN+13PAR−16WTI+34NEW−44NZL+36CBY−7MEL−4SYD−14SGI−2CRO−8CAN−22NTE+28CRO−16SGI+16PAR−8 Canberra RaidersNZL+16CBY−10CRO−6SYD−7SGI+10PAR+16WTI−2NEW−2NQL+8PEN−7NTE−8BRI0MEL−4NZL−12CBY+32CRO−14SYD+10SGI−32PAR−28WTI−6NEW−28NQL+19PEN−2NTE−14BRI+22MEL+26 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsMEL+4CAN+10NEW0NTE+20PEN+12SYD−26BRI−28NZL0WTI+2PAR0NQL+12CRO+14SGI−12MEL+2CAN−32NEW+28NTE+2PEN+26SYD+16BRI+7NZL−26WTI+14PAR−8NQL+8CRO+2SGI+2SGI−1CRO−42 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksSGI−24PAR+1CAN+6MEL−10NQL+8PEN+19NTE+6SYD−9NEW−10NZL+10BRI−19CBY−14WTI0SGI0PAR−30CAN+14MEL+22NQL+30PEN+32NTE+22SYD+8NEW+19NZL−30BRI+8CBY−2WTI+24BRI+16CBY+42NEW−8 Melbourne StormCBY−4NQL−4SGI+4CRO+10WTI−30NEW−8PAR−24BRI−2NTE+34SYD−1PEN+44NZL+20CAN+4CBY−2NQL+14SGI+6CRO−22WTI+64NEW−32PAR−44BRI+4NTE−8SYD−22PEN+4NZL0CAN−26 Newcastle KnightsNTE−2SYD+7CBY0PAR+18BRI−34MEL+8NZL+21CAN+2CRO+10WTI+50SGI+8NQL+8PEN+7NTE−2SYD−10CBY−28PAR−40BRI+44MEL+32NZL+7CAN+28CRO−19WTI−4SGI−26NQL+16PEN+42SYD+34XCRO+8PAR+6 New Zealand WarriorsCAN−16NTE+8WTI−19SGI+28PAR−6BRI+1NEW−21CBY0PEN+44CRO−10SYD+12MEL−20NQL−17CAN+12NTE+4WTI−5SGI−20PAR+11BRI−36NEW−7CBY+26PEN+16CRO+30SYD+6MEL0NQL−12PAR−44 North Queensland CowboysBRI−1MEL+4SYD−24PEN−14CRO−8WTI+14SGI−36PAR0CAN−8NTE−2CBY−12NEW−8NZL+17BRI−44MEL−14SYD−26PEN+6CRO−30WTI−2SGI+24PAR−62CAN−19NTE0CBY−8NEW−16NZL+12 Northern EaglesNEW+2NZL−8PEN+8CBY−20SYD+1SGI−30CRO−6WTI+16MEL−34NQL+2CAN+8PAR−12BRI−16NEW+2NZL−4PEN+10CBY−2SYD+22SGI−10CRO−22WTI−32MEL+8NQL0CAN+14PAR−16BRI−28 Parramatta EelsPEN+36CRO−1BRI+8NEW−18NZL+6CAN−16MEL+24NQL0SGI+18CBY0WTI+54NTE+12SYD+16PEN+26CRO+30BRI+16NEW+40NZL−11CAN+28MEL+44NQL+62SGI+20CBY+8WTI+14NTE+16SYD+1NZL+44XBRI+8NEW−6 Penrith PanthersPAR−36BRI−16NTE−8NQL+14CBY−12CRO−19SYD+14SGI−28NZL−44CAN+7MEL−44WTI+4NEW−7PAR−26BRI−13NTE−10NQL−6CBY−26CRO−32SYD+10SGI−22NZL−16CAN+2MEL−4WTI+34NEW−42 St. George Illawarra DragonsCRO+24WTI−2MEL−4NZL−28CAN−10NTE+30NQL+36PEN+28PAR−18BRI−24NEW−8SYD0CBY+12CRO0WTI+5MEL−6NZL+20CAN+32NTE+10NQL−24PEN+22PAR−20BRI+2NEW+26SYD−13CBY−2CBY+1BRI−16 Sydney RoostersWTI+14NEW−7NQL+24CAN+7NTE−1CBY+26PEN−14CRO+9BRI+2MEL+1NZL−12SGI0PAR−16WTI+13NEW+10NQL+26CAN−10NTE−22CBY−16PEN−10CRO−8BRI+14MEL+22NZL−6SGI+13PAR−1NEW−34 Wests TigersSYD−14SGI+2NZL+19BRI−18MEL+30NQL−14CAN+2NTE−16CBY−2NEW−50PAR−54PEN−4CRO0SYD−13SGI−5NZL+5BRI−34MEL−64NQL+2CAN+6NTE+32CBY−14NEW+4PAR−14PEN−34CRO−24 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 Opponent for round listed above margin Ladder Finals series To decide the grand finalists from the top eight finishing teams, the NRL adopted the McIntyre final eight system. HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeCrowd Qualifying Finals 16x16px Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks22 – 6 16x16px Brisbane Broncos7 September 2001Shark ParkSteve Clark15,508 16x16px Newcastle Knights40 – 6 16x16px Sydney Roosters8 September 2001Marathon StadiumBill Harrigan22,061 16x16px Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs22 – 23 16x16px St. George Illawarra Dragons8 September 2001Sydney ShowgroundPaul Simpkins17,975 16x16px Parramatta Eels56 – 12 16x16px New Zealand Warriors9 September 2001Parramatta StadiumTim Mander17,336 Semi-finals 16x16px Brisbane Broncos44 – 28 16x16px St. George Illawarra Dragons15 September 2001Sydney Football StadiumPaul Simpkins19,259 16x16px Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs10 – 52 16x16px Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks16 September 2001Sydney Football StadiumBill Harrigan21,507 Preliminary Finals 16x16px Newcastle Knights18 – 10 16x16px Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks22 September 2001Sydney Football StadiumPaul Simpkins31,438 16x16px Parramatta Eels24 – 16 16x16px Brisbane Broncos23 September 2001Stadium AustraliaBill Harrigan34,184 Chart 16x16px Parramatta 56 16x16px Brisbane 6 16x16px New Zealand 12 16x16px Cronulla 22 16x16px Canterbury 22 16x16px Sydney 6 16x16px St. George Illawarra 23 16x16px Newcastle 40 16x16px St. George Illawarra 28 16x16px Brisbane 44 16x16px Cronulla 52 16x16px Canterbury 10 16x16px Parramatta 24 16x16px Brisbane 16 16x16px Newcastle 18 16x16px Cronulla 10 16x16px Parramatta 24 16x16px Newcastle 30 Grand Final 2001 NRL Grand Final The 2001 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2001 NRL season. It was contested at Stadium Australia in Sydney by the Newcastle Knights (who had finished the regular season in third place), and the Parramatta Eels (who had finished the regular season in first place), after the other six teams that had competed in the top-eight finals series had been eliminated. The attendance of 90,414 was the third-highest ever seen at a rugby league match in Australia and it was the first nighttime grand final in the competition's 103-year history. Domestically, live free-to-air television coverage was provided by Nine's Wide World of Sports. The match was also broadcast live in the United States by Fox Sports World. National Rugby League Grand Final, Live on Fox Sports World This Sunday Business Wire Los Angeles 2003-10-03 446309241 Newcastle Knights won, with their captain Andrew Johns receiving the Clive Churchill Medal for man-of-the-match.Keeble Brett Newcastle Knights recall 2001 grand final glory https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/476921/newcastle-knights-recall-2001-grand-final-glory/ 27 May 2012 Newcastle Herald 1 October 2011 scoreboard Records and statistics Parramatta Eels scored the most points in a season by any club in history scoring 839 points in total. Wendell Sailor ran 4,452 metres with the ball in 2001, more than any other player in the competition.Proszenko Adrian Gallen set to smash record http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/gallen-set-to-smash-record-20120505-1y5lo.html 7 May 2012 Sydney Morning Herald 6 May 2012 On July 5, the Melbourne Storm beat the Wests Tigers 64-0, which is the Storm's biggest ever win and Tigers biggest loss until the North Queensland Cowboys beat them 74-0 in 2023 . The very next day the Newcastle Knights beat the Brisbane Broncos 44-0, which set at the time, was the Broncos biggest ever loss. In round 23, Wests Tigers recorded their biggest comeback when they came from a 24-0 down after 30 minutes of play to win 36-32 against the Newcastle Knights which is the Knights worst collapse. Also equalled the second biggest ever comeback. The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 26. Top 5 point scorers PointsPlayerTriesGoalsField Goals279Northern Eagles Ben Walker181031254Canterbury Hazem El Masri18910245Newcastle Andrew Johns13953245Canberra Clinton Schifcofske101021239Parramatta Jason Taylor71051 Top 5 try scorers TriesPlayer25St. George Nathan Blacklock20Brisbane Lote Tuqiri18Canterbury Hazem El Masri18Northern Eagles Ben Walker16Canterbury Nigel Vagana16Newcastle Timana Tahu16Newcastle Darren Albert16Eastern Suburbs Craig Wing Top 5 goal scorers GoalsPlayer105Parramatta Jason Taylor103Northern Eagles Ben Walker102Canberra Clinton Schifcofske99Brisbane Michael De Vere95Newcastle Andrew Johns 2001 Transfers Players Player2000 Club2001 Club Jason Bell Auckland Auckland Warriors Retirement Joe Galuvao Auckland Auckland Warriors N/A Terry Hermansson Auckland Auckland Warriors Retirement Odell Manuel Auckland Auckland Warriors Canberra Canberra Raiders Robert Mears Auckland Auckland Warriors Leeds Super League: Leeds Rhinos Lee Oudenryn Auckland Auckland Warriors North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Scott Pethybridge Auckland Auckland Warriors Northern Eagles Northern Eagles John Simon Auckland Auckland Warriors Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Matthew Spence Auckland Auckland Warriors Retirement Tony Tuimavave Auckland Auckland Warriors Retirement Joe Vagana Auckland Auckland Warriors Bradford Super League: Bradford Bulls Nigel Vagana Auckland Auckland Warriors Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Kevin Campion Brisbane Brisbane Broncos 23px New Zealand Warriors Tonie Carroll Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Leeds Super League: Leeds Rhinos Michael Hancock Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Salford City Super League: Salford City Reds Harvey Howard Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Wigan Super League: Wigan Warriors Brad Thorn Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Canterbury (New Zealand rugby union) Ben Walker Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Northern Eagles Northern Eagles Kerrod Walters Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Retirement Nathan Barnes Canberra Canberra Raiders Retirement Anthony Brann Canberra Canberra Raiders Retirement Mark Corvo Canberra Canberra Raiders Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Brandon Costin Canberra Canberra Raiders Huddersfield Super League: Huddersfield Giants Laurie Daley Canberra Canberra Raiders Retirement David Furner Canberra Canberra Raiders Wigan Super League: Wigan Warriors Damian Kennedy Canberra Canberra Raiders N/A Justin Morgan Canberra Canberra Raiders 23px New Zealand Warriors Brett Mullins Canberra Canberra Raiders Leeds Super League: Leeds Rhinos Bradley Clyde Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Leeds Super League: Leeds Rhinos Daryl Halligan Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Retirement Jason Hetherington Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs London Super League: London Broncos Troy Stone Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Huddersfield Super League: Huddersfield Giants Ricky Stuart Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Retirement Andrew Ettingshausen Cronulla Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Retirement Mitch Healey Cronulla Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Castleford Super League: Castleford Tigers Brett Howland Cronulla Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Tim Maddison Cronulla Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Wayne Evans Melbourne Melbourne Storm Northern Eagles Northern Eagles Brett Kimmorley Melbourne Melbourne Storm Northern Eagles Northern Eagles Paul Marquet Melbourne Melbourne Storm Newcastle Newcastle Knights Tony Martin Melbourne Melbourne Storm London Super League: London Broncos Lenny Beckett Newcastle Newcastle Knights Northern Eagles Northern Eagles Tony Butterfield Newcastle Newcastle Knights Retirement David Fairleigh Newcastle Newcastle Knights St. Helens Super League: St. Helens Matthew Johns Newcastle Newcastle Knights Wigan Super League: Wigan Warriors Peter Shiels Newcastle Newcastle Knights St. Helens Super League: St. Helens Jason Temu Newcastle Newcastle Knights 23px New Zealand Warriors Graham Appo North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Huddersfield Super League: Huddersfield Giants Greg Bourke North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Burleigh Bears (Queensland Cup) Brett Boyd North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Retirement Des Clark North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Retirement Darrien Doherty North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Retirement Noel Goldthorpe North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Retirement Paul Green North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters Shane Kenward North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Retirement Martin Locke North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Retirement Scott Prince North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Jeremy Schloss North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Retirement Michael Buettner Northern Eagles Northern Eagles Parramatta Parramatta Eels Owen Cunningham Northern Eagles Northern Eagles Retirement Damian Driscoll Northern Eagles Northern Eagles Salford City Super League: Salford City Reds Andrew Frew Northern Eagles Northern Eagles Huddersfield Super League: Huddersfield Giants Daniel Gartner Northern Eagles Northern Eagles Bradford Super League: Bradford Bulls Brett Grogan Northern Eagles Northern Eagles Retirement Nigel Roy Northern Eagles Northern Eagles London Super League: London Broncos Jason Taylor Northern Eagles Northern Eagles Parramatta Parramatta Eels Jim Dymock Parramatta Parramatta Eels London Super League: London Broncos Stuart Kelly Parramatta Parramatta Eels Brisbane Brisbane Broncos David Kidwell Parramatta Parramatta Eels Warrington Super League: Warrington Wolves Ben Kusto Parramatta Parramatta Eels Huddersfield Super League: Huddersfield Giants Gary Larson Parramatta Parramatta Eels Retirement David Penna Parramatta Parramatta Eels Retirement Clinton Schifcofske Parramatta Parramatta Eels Canberra Canberra Raiders Dean Schifilliti Parramatta Parramatta Eels Retirement Dallas Weston Parramatta Parramatta Eels Retirement Brad Drew 23px Penrith Panthers Parramatta Parramatta Eels Nigel Gaffey 23px Penrith Panthers Retirement Mark Geyer 23px Penrith Panthers Retirement Nathan Brown St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Retirement Anthony Mundine St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Retirement Lee Murphy St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Luke Patten St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Wes Patten St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Retirement Corey Pearson St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Julian Bailey Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters Newcastle Newcastle Knights Richie Barnett Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters London Super League: London Broncos Darren Burns Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters Brisbane Brisbane Broncos Jack Elsegood Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters Retirement Brendan Hurst Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters Retirement Adrian Lam Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters Wigan Super League: Wigan Warriors Robert Miles Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters Northern Eagles Northern Eagles Shane Rigon Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters Bradford Super League: Bradford Bulls Nathan Wood Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters 23px New Zealand Warriors Ben Duckworth Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Parramatta Parramatta Eels Shayne Dunley Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Northern Eagles Northern Eagles Steve Georgallis Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Warrington Super League: Warrington Wolves Jarrod McCracken Wests Tigers Wests Tigers Retirement Adam Nable Wests Tigers Wests Tigers North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Karl Lovell Huddersfield Super League: Huddersfield-Sheffield Giants Northern Eagles Northern Eagles Matt Daylight Hull FC Super League: Hull F.C. Cronulla Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Ben Sammut Hull FC Super League: Hull F.C. Cronulla Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Richie Blackmore Leeds Super League: Leeds Rhinos 23px New Zealand Warriors Adrian Morley Leeds Super League: Leeds Rhinos Eastern Suburbs Sydney Roosters Danny Moore London Super League: London Broncos North Queensland North Queensland Cowboys Darrell Trindall St. Helens Super League: St. Helens Canterbury Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Willie Peters Wigan Super League: Wigan Warriors St. George St. George Illawarra Dragons Footnotes 2 External links 2001 NRL Grand Final at sportsphotography.net