2014 NRL season


The 2014 NRL season was the 107th season of professional rugby league in Australia and the 17th season of the National Rugby League in Australia and New Zealand. The season started in New Zealand, for the Auckland Nines, replacing the Rugby League All Stars Match for the year, in the pre-season. After 26 rounds of the regular season, the Sydney Roosters were again crowned minor premiers and the competition had been reduced to a top eight teams to contest the finals series. The grand final was won by the South Sydney Rabbitohs, ending a 43-year premiership drought, winning 30-6 against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

Teams

The lineup of teams remained unchanged for the 8th consecutive year. The 2014 season also presents a record 7 teams naming co-captains. The NRL's salary cap for the clubs' top 25 players was $A6.3M for 2014.
ColoursClubSeasonHome groundHead coachCaptain
Brisbane Broncos27th seasonSuncorp StadiumAnthony GriffinCorey Parker & Justin Hodges
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs80th seasonANZ StadiumDes HaslerMichael Ennis & Frank Pritchard
Canberra Raiders33rd seasonGIO Stadium CanberraRicky StuartTerry Campese→Brett White & Jarrod Croker
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks48th seasonRemondis StadiumPeter SharpJames Shepherd & → Jeff Robson
Gold Coast Titans8th seasonCbus Super StadiumJohn Cartwright→Neil HenryNate Myles & Greg Bird
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles65th seasonBrookvale OvalGeoff TooveyJamie Lyon & Jason King
Melbourne Storm17th seasonAAMI ParkCraig BellamyCameron Smith
Newcastle Knights27th seasonHunter StadiumWayne BennettKurt Gidley
New Zealand Warriors20th seasonMt Smart StadiumMatthew Elliott→Andrew McFaddenSimon Mannering
North Queensland Cowboys20th season1300SMILES StadiumPaul GreenJohnathan Thurston & Matt Scott
Parramatta Eels68th seasonParramatta StadiumBrad ArthurJarryd Hayne & Tim Mannah
Penrith Panthers48th seasonCentrebet StadiumIvan ClearyKevin Kingston & Peter Wallace →Brent Kite & Jamie Soward
St. George Illawarra Dragons16th seasonWIN Jubilee Oval & WIN StadiumSteve Price→Paul McGregorBen Creagh
South Sydney Rabbitohs105th seasonANZ StadiumMichael MaguireJohn Sutton
Sydney Roosters107th seasonAllianz StadiumTrent RobinsonAnthony Minichiello
Wests Tigers15th seasonCampbelltown Stadium & Leichhardt OvalMick PotterRobbie Farah

Pre-season

The 2014 pre-season featured the inaugural Auckland Nines competition, held over a weekend at Auckland's Eden Park. Hailed a success with its large attendances, the tournament was won by North Queensland Cowboys, claiming their first piece of silverware. The following weekend the 2014 World Club Challenge was played in Sydney, the first time the match was held outside England since 1994, with the Sydney Roosters defeating the Wigan Warriors convincingly.
Unlike previous seasons' advertising campaigns that featured a pop song, in 2014 the NRL's You're the difference was a spoken-word piece that focused on the game's fans. The NRL's official season launch was on 26 February at the Sydney Exhibition Centre and featured Roosters captain Anthony Minichiello speaking as the face of the game.
In the annual pre-season Charity Shield match, the Dragons hosted the Rabbitohs but were beaten.

Regular season

The regular season commenced on Thursday, 6 March in Sydney between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters. A number of themed rounds featured in the 2014 season, including Men of League Heritage Round, Women in League Round, and Indigenous Round. In addition, the NRL chose to designate round 19 as 'Rise for Alex' round in order to allow the rugby league community to show their support for Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon, who suffered a severe neck injury in round 3. One dollar from each ticket sold across all eight games were donated to support McKinnon's recovery, where it raised over $147,000 in total.
For the first time in the code's 106-year history, not one player was sent off from the field during the regular season.
Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526F1F2F3GF
Brisbane BroncosCBY
6
NQL
4
SYD
4
SGI
16
PAR
7
GCT
4
NEW
26
SOU
2
NQL
13
GCT
14
WTI
2
MAN
26
CAN
24
XNZL
9
CRO
2
XPEN
1
NZL
6
MEL
22
MAN
12
CBY
31
SOU
26
NEW
42
SGI
8
MEL
10
NQL
12
Canberra RaidersNQL
6
NEW
6
GCT
12
SOU
12
PEN
6
NEW
14
MEL
2
MAN
36
NZL
42
PEN
6
NQL
30
SYD
14
BRI
24
XCBY
8
WTI
1
XGCT
16
MEL
14
SOU
16
NZL
36
PAR
8
SGI
18
CRO
10
WTI
15
PAR
13
Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsBRI
6
CRO
38
PEN
2
MEL
28
SYD
1
NZL
1
SOU
1
NEW
4
SGI
32
NZL
4
SYD
20
XMAN
22
PAR
10
CAN
8
XMAN
7
MEL
2
WTI
28
NQL
8
PEN
6
BRI
31
PAR
2
WTI
20
SOU
7
GCT
1
MEL
24
MAN
1
PEN
6
SOU
24
Cronulla-Sutherland SharksGCT
6
CBY
38
SGI
2
NEW
30
NZL
31
MAN
20
SYD
6
PEN
4
PAR
18
WTI
2
SOU
18
XSGI
30
XMAN
26
BRI
2
SYD
2
NEW
13
NQL
18
PEN
2
PAR
20
NZL
4
MEL
42
CAN
10
NQL
1
WTI
16
Gold Coast TitansCRO
6
WTI
30
CAN
12
NQL
1
MEL
2
BRI
4
PEN
2
WTI
16
SOU
22
BRI
14
NZL
8
XPEN
22
MEL
4
SGI
1
XSOU
4
CAN
16
NEW
14
PAR
6
NQL
20
SYD
8
MAN
3
SGI
28
NZL
42
CBY
1
Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesMEL
1
SOU
2
PAR
4
SYD
8
WTI
16
CRO
20
NQL
5
CAN
36
MEL
3
NEW
1
XBRI
26
CBY
22
XCRO
26
SYD
8
CBY
7
WTI
32
SGI
9
NZL
10
BRI
12
SOU
19
GCT
3
PAR
10
PEN
1
NQL
14
SOU
16
CBY
1
Melbourne StormMAN
1
PEN
1
NEW
8
CBY
28
GCT
2
SGI
4
CAN
2
NZL
6
MAN
3
SOU
13
XNQL
22
SYD
20
GCT
4
PAR
26
SGI
12
XCBY
2
CAN
14
BRI
22
WTI
22
NEW
2
CRO
42
PEN
14
SYD
12
BRI
10
CBY
24
Newcastle KnightsPEN
22
CAN
6
MEL
8
CRO
30
NQL
26
CAN
14
BRI
26
CBY
4
PEN
22
MAN
1
XNZL
20
WTI
3
SYD
17
NQL
8
PAR
6
XCRO
13
GCT
14
SYD
4
SOU
40
MEL
2
NZL
6
BRI
42
PAR
30
SGI
30
New Zealand WarriorsPAR
20
SGI
19
NQL
4
WTI
24
CRO
31
CBY
1
SGI
10
MEL
6
CAN
42
CBY
4
GCT
8
NEW
20
SOU
16
XBRI
9
PEN
10
XPAR
48
BRI
6
MAN
10
CAN
36
CRO
4
NEW
6
SYD
34
GCT
42
PEN
16
North Queensland CowboysCAN
6
BRI
4
NZL
4
GCT
1
NEW
26
WTI
12
MAN
5
PAR
28
BRI
13
SYD
32
CAN
30
MEL
22
PAR
2
XNEW
8
SOU
2
SGI
3
XCRO
18
CBY
8
GCT
20
WTI
58
PEN
1
SOU
12
CRO
1
MAN
14
BRI
12
SYD
1
Parramatta EelsNZL
20
SYD
52
MAN
4
PEN
16
BRI
7
SYD
2
WTI
3
NQL
28
CRO
18
SGI
36
XPEN
26
NQL
2
CBY
10
MEL
26
NEW
6
XNZL
48
SOU
20
GCT
6
CRO
20
CAN
8
CBY
2
MAN
10
NEW
30
CAN
13
Penrith PanthersNEW
22
MEL
1
CBY
2
PAR
16
CAN
6
SOU
16
GCT
2
CRO
4
NEW
22
CAN
6
XPAR
26
GCT
22
SGI
4
XNZL
10
WTI
16
BRI
1
SYD
20
CRO
2
CBY
6
SGI
12
NQL
1
MEL
14
MAN
1
NZL
16
SYD
1
XCBY
6
South Sydney RabbitohsSYD
20
MAN
2
WTI
9
CAN
12
SGI
20
PEN
16
CBY
1
BRI
2
GCT
22
MEL
13
CRO
18
SGI
19
NZL
16
WTI
22
XNQL
2
GCT
4
XPAR
20
CAN
16
NEW
40
MAN
19
BRI
26
NQL
12
CBY
7
SYD
4
MAN
16
XSYD
10
CBY
24
St. George Illawarra DragonsWTI
20
NZL
19
CRO
2
BRI
16
SOU
20
MEL
4
NZL
10
SYD
20
CBY
32
PAR
36
XSOU
19
CRO
30
PEN
4
GCT
1
MEL
12
NQL
3
XMAN
9
WTI
16
SYD
8
PEN
12
CAN
18
GCT
28
BRI
8
NEW
30
Sydney RoostersSOU
20
PAR
52
BRI
4
MAN
8
CBY
1
PAR
2
CRO
6
SGI
20
WTI
24
NQL
32
CBY
20
CAN
14
MEL
20
NEW
17
XMAN
8
CRO
2
XPEN
20
NEW
4
SGI
8
GCT
8
WTI
44
NZL
34
MEL
12
SOU
4
PEN
1
NQL
1
SOU
10
Wests TigersSGI
20
GCT
30
SOU
9
NZL
24
MAN
16
NQL
12
PAR
3
GCT
16
SYD
24
CRO
2
BRI
2
XNEW
3
SOU
22
XCAN
1
PEN
16
MAN
32
CBY
28
SGI
16
MEL
22
NQL
58
SYD
44
CBY
20
CAN
15
CRO
16
Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526F1F2F3GF

Bold – Opposition's Home game
X – Bye
Opponent for round listed above margin

Ladder

Ladder progression

Team1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
1 Sydney02444468101012141618202020222424262830323436
2 Manly-Warringah0246681012121416161820222424262830323234343636
3 South Sydney22224668101012141618202020222426283032323434
4 Penrith22446688101214161820222224262626283032323234
5 North Queensland2222444681010121214141616182022242626283032
6 Melbourne24666888101214141416181820202224262628303032
7 Canterbury-Bankstown0224681012141616181818202224262626262628303030
8 Brisbane2446668881012141618181820202222222424262828
9 New Zealand002444468810121214161820222222242626262828
10 Parramatta22246888101214141618181820202022242626282828
11 St. George Illawarra246666888810101212141618202022222224262626
12 Newcastle0002244444666681012141416161820202224
13 Wests0244681010101212141616182020202222222222222224
14 Gold Coast22468101012121212141414141618182020202020202022
15 Canberra022444666688810101012141414141414161820
16 Cronulla-Sutherland0000222444466881012121214141414141414

Finals series

For the third year the NRL uses the finals system previously implemented by the ARL competition from the 1990s to decide the grand finalists from the top eight finishing teams. All but two teams retained a top-eight position to feature in this season's finals series. The Brisbane Broncos made a return after finishing 12th in 2013, whilst the Penrith Panthers made their first finals appearance since 2010 and only the second time since 2004.
By the time of the 2014 NRL Grand final list-determining preliminary finals, the top four finishing teams remained except for the 2nd-placed Sea Eagles, who'd been replaced by the 7th-placed Bulldogs.
† Match decided in golden point extra time.

Chart

Grand final

Regular season player statistics

The following statistics are of the conclusion of round 26.
Top 5 point scorers
PointsPlayerTriesGoalsField Goals
208 Johnathan Thurston10824
207 James Maloney4951
202 Jarrod Croker18650
175 Adam Reynolds4783
163 Shaun Johnson9631

Top 5 try scorers
TriesPlayer
21 Alex Johnston
20 Jarryd Hayne
19 Semi Radradra
18 Jarrod Croker
17 Peta Hiku
17 Sisa Waqa
17 Manu Vatuvei

Top 5 goal scorers
GoalsPlayer
95 James Maloney
82 Johnathan Thurston
78 Adam Reynolds
68 Cameron Smith
65 Jamie Lyon
65 Jarrod Croker

Top 5 tacklers
TacklesPlayer
1074 Nathan Friend
1060 Andrew McCullough
974 Matt Ballin
940 Jake Friend
923 Cameron Smith

2014 Transfers

Players

Player2013 Club2014 Club
Scott Anderson Brisbane Broncos Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Dunamis Lui Brisbane Broncos Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Corey Norman Brisbane Broncos Parramatta Eels
Scott Prince Brisbane BroncosRetirement
Lama Tasi Brisbane Broncos Super League: Salford Red Devils
Peter Wallace Brisbane Broncos Penrith Panthers
Jharal Yow Yeh Brisbane BroncosRetirement
Shaun Berrigan Canberra RaidersRetirement
Sandor Earl Canberra RaidersSuspension
Blake Ferguson Canberra RaidersN/A
Sam Mataora Canberra Raiders Newcastle Knights
Joe Picker Canberra Raiders South Sydney Rabbitohs
Joel Thompson Canberra Raiders St. George Illawarra Dragons
Sam Williams Canberra Raiders St. George Illawarra Dragons
Ben Barba Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Brisbane Broncos
Dene Halatau Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Wests Tigers
Kris Keating Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Super League: Hull Kingston Rovers
Joel Romelo Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Melbourne Storm
Steve Turner Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsRetirement
Jayson Bukuya Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks New Zealand Warriors
Jon Green Cronulla-Sutherland SharksRedcliffe Dolphins
Ben Pomeroy Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Super League: Catalans Dragons
Ben Ross Cronulla-Sutherland SharksRetirement
Mark Taufua Cronulla-Sutherland SharksRetirement
Matthew Wright Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks North Queensland Cowboys
Jordan Atkins Gold Coast Titans Super League: London Broncos
Jamal Idris Gold Coast Titans Penrith Panthers
Luke O'Dwyer Gold Coast TitansRetirement
Richie Fa'aoso Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesN/A
Joe Galuvao Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesRetirement
David Gower Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Parramatta Eels
Brent Kite Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Penrith Panthers
George Rose Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Melbourne Storm
Maurice Blair Melbourne Storm Gold Coast Titans
Brett Finch Melbourne StormRetirement
Jason Ryles Melbourne StormRetirement
Junior Sa'u Melbourne Storm Super League: Salford Red Devils
Lagi Setu Melbourne StormN/A
Siosaia Vave Melbourne Storm Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Gareth Widdop Melbourne Storm St. George Illawarra Dragons
Danny Buderus Newcastle KnightsRetirement
Neville Costigan Newcastle Knights Super League: Hull Kingston Rovers
Craig Gower Newcastle KnightsRetirement
Matt Hilder Newcastle KnightsRetirement
Anthony Quinn Newcastle KnightsRetirement
Kevin Locke New Zealand Warriors Super League: Salford Red Devils
Todd Lowrie New Zealand Warriors Brisbane Broncos
Russell Packer New Zealand WarriorsImprisonment
Steve Rapira New Zealand Warriors Super League: Salford Red Devils
Elijah Taylor New Zealand Warriors Penrith Panthers
Bill Tupou New Zealand Warriors Canberra Raiders
Matt Bowen North Queensland Cowboys Super League: Wigan Warriors
Kalifa Faifai Loa North Queensland Cowboys Gold Coast Titans
Ashley Graham North Queensland CowboysRetirement
Clint Greenshields North Queensland CowboysRetirement
Dallas Johnson North Queensland CowboysRetirement
Scott Moore North Queensland Cowboys Super League: London Broncos
Cheyse Blair Parramatta Eels Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Daniel Harrison Parramatta Eels Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Matt Keating Parramatta EelsBurleigh Bears
Reni Maitua Parramatta Eels Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Ben Roberts Parramatta Eels Melbourne Storm
Matt Ryan Parramatta Eels Super League: Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Cameron Ciraldo Penrith PanthersRetirement
Lachlan Coote Penrith Panthers North Queensland Cowboys
Mose Masoe Penrith Panthers Super League: St. Helens
Clint Newton Penrith Panthers Newcastle Knights
Nathan Smith Penrith PanthersRetirement
Brad Tighe Penrith Panthers Gold Coast Titans
Luke Walsh Penrith Panthers Super League: St. Helens
Roy Asotasi South Sydney Rabbitohs Super League: Warrington Wolves
Michael Crocker South Sydney RabbitohsRetirement
Andrew Everingham South Sydney RabbitohsFukuoka Sanix Blues
Dylan Farrell South Sydney Rabbitohs St. George Illawarra Dragons
Matt King South Sydney RabbitohsRetirement
Jeff Lima South Sydney Rabbitohs Super League: Catalans Dragons
Nathan Peats South Sydney Rabbitohs Parramatta Eels
Matt Cooper St. George Illawarra DragonsRetirement
Nathan Fien St. George Illawarra DragonsRetirement
Michael Henderson St. George Illawarra DragonsRetirement
Matt Prior St. George Illawarra Dragons Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Chase Stanley St. George Illawarra Dragons Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Daniel Vidot St. George Illawarra Dragons Brisbane Broncos
Michael Weyman St. George Illawarra Dragons Super League: Hull Kingston Rovers
Tinirau Arona Sydney Roosters Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Martin Kennedy Sydney Roosters Brisbane Broncos
Luke O'Donnell Sydney RoostersRetirement
Michael Oldfield Sydney Roosters Super League: Catalans Dragons
Nafe Seluini Sydney RoostersBurleigh Bears
Blake Ayshford Wests Tigers Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Matthew Bell Wests TigersBurleigh Bears
Masada Iosefa Wests TigersRetirement
Benji Marshall Wests Tigers St. George Illawarra Dragons
Tim Moltzen Wests TigersRetirement
Ben Murdoch-Masila Wests Tigers Penrith Panthers
Eddy Pettybourne Wests Tigers Super League: Wigan Warriors
Joel Reddy Wests Tigers South Sydney Rabbitohs
Matt Utai Wests TigersRetirement
Heath L'Estrange Super League: Bradford Bulls Sydney Roosters
Keith Lulia Super League: Bradford Bulls Wests Tigers
Rémi Casty Super League: Catalans Dragons Sydney Roosters
Daniel Holdsworth Super League: Hull F.C. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Michael Dobson Super League: Hull Kingston Rovers Newcastle Knights
Cory Paterson Super League: Hull Kingston Rovers Wests Tigers
Jamie Soward Super League: London Broncos Penrith Panthers
Michael Witt Super League: London Broncos St. George Illawarra Dragons
Mike Cooper Super League: Warrington Wolves St. George Illawarra Dragons
Lee Mossop Super League: Wigan Warriors Parramatta Eels
Pat Richards Super League: Wigan Warriors Wests Tigers
Sam Tomkins Super League: Wigan Warriors New Zealand Warriors
Lote TuqiriLeinster South Sydney Rabbitohs

Coaches