Wednesday 31 December 2014 18:43, UK
We look back on a memorable year of rugby league that includes one heck of a tackle, some trying-scoring acrobatics and THAT punch...
Rugby league is a physical game but this incident marred the Grand Final between St Helens and Wigan. Wigan were reduced to 12 men after just two minutes when Ben Flower lost all composure and punched Lance Hohaia. We have seen punches thrown in league before but the second punch that Flower landed on Lance Hohaia when he looked to be out cold on the floor left us speechless. Saints went on to win the showpiece 14-6 but neither Flower or Hohaia - who was too groggy to carry on - took further part in the game. Flower has held his hands up and apologised profusely for his actions. He has accepted the punishment handed out to him and will look to redeem his reputation when he is allowed back on the field after his six-month ban. The final word on this unfortunate incident must go to St Helens chairman, Eamonn McManus: “We must assist him [Ben Flower] in any way that we can and accept him back into the sport. The sport of rugby league should not be judged by this event but by how it deals with it.”
There were a lot of people who were tipping Castleford to be relegated after they lost players like Rangi Chase, but they surprised everyone and Daryl Clark was a revelation. Not only was he named the Young Player of the Year but he also lifted the coveted Man of Steel award. The 21-year-old is only the third player in the history to claim both individual titles and joins Leeds hooker David Ward and Widnes centre Joe Lydon in this exclusive club. Clark was the most instrumental player in Super League and helped Cas get to the Challenge Cup final and make the Super League play-offs. We can’t wait to see how much more he can develop in 2015!
After a 41-24 loss to Warrington Wolves, St Helens star Paul Wellens did not mince his words when he said their performance was not good enough and every player needed to have a long hard look at themselves. Wellens is a one-club man and is almost part of the furniture at St Helens. He is a Saints man through and through but he went on national TV and criticised the club, himself and his team-mates. Many see this as a turning point in their season and what he said really hit home. This was a club that every week someone would say they were in crisis; they were not good enough and they had too many injuries. However this was one of their own questioning their attitude and their performances. All credit to Saints for proving their doubters wrong and all credit to Wellens for throwing down the gauntlet and issuing the challenge to himself and his team-mates.
The tries that St Helens winger Tommy Makinson scored in 2014 were just outstanding. To play this game you need to be so athletic and quick but Makinson took that to a new level – he was like an acrobat. He is a phenomenal talent and to be able to put his body into some of the positions that he did to score tries was just amazing. Tacklers were hitting him with everything bar the kitchen sink but he still had the focus and the strength to get over the try-line. He is just a superb talent and did his club and himself proud. A talent like that should have definitely been in the England squad for the Four Nations! Let’s hope that in 2015 Makinson gets the international honours he deserves.
We were used to seeing winger Ade Gardner finishing off moves and scoring tries for Hull KR but we saw another side to his game in 2014. Wigan’s attack and try-scoring prowess was the scourge of Super League with Dan Sarginson often rounding off their play. Not this time. With Wigan on attack and with an overlap all the Warriors needed was to get the ball wide, however Gardner timed his tackle to perfection and smashed Sarginson into the ground. A brilliant tackle that helped Hull KR secure a well-deserved 14-14 draw against the Warriors.
Get set for another season of rugby league action! Super League kicks off in February 2015!
