- National Rugby League season 2001
Infobox rugby league season
year = 2001
competition = National Rugby League
imagesize = 100px
caption =
teams = 14
premiers =
count = 2nd
minor premiers =
mpcount = 4th
matches = 191
points = 9333
attendance = 2682210
top points scorer = (279)
top try scorer = (27)The year2001 saw the fourth season of theNational Rugby League premiership, the 94th season of professionalrugby league football in Australia. TheNewcastle Knights claimed their second premiership in five seasons, defeating theParramatta Eels in the first ever night-time grand final.eason summary
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 theBrisbane Broncos ' previous record tally of 871 set in 1998. The Eels tally was significantly contributed to by Jason Taylor, who that year surpassedDaryl Halligan as the greatest point-scorer in the history of club competition in Australia with a tally of 2,107 points.After
Warren Ryan retired in2000 , the Newcastle Knights appointed former playerMichael Hagan to the coaching position. Hagan proceeded to become the first coach sincePhil Gould in 1988 to win a premiership in his first season as coach.Auckland were renamed the New Zealand Warriors and subsequently made the finals for the first time in their seven-year history under rookie coach Daniel Anderson.
Tim Sheens was sacked as the coach of theNorth Queensland Cowboys during the season and was replaced byMurray Hurst .Preston Campbell was a deserved winner of theDally M medal after being an instrumental player in the Sharks' rise to fourth position on the table. Brian Smith was recognised as Coach of the Year whilstBraith Anasta won Rookie of the Year.Teams
Grand Final
The Eels went into the decider hot favourites after losing just once in 22 matches. However Newcastle produced a near perfect first half scoring four converted tries to lead 24-0 at half-time in the game's first night grand final .
The blitzkrieg stunned the 90,000 plus fans and shattered the Eels in their first grand final appearance in fifteen years. Parramatta launched a late fightback but by then
Andrew Johns had stamped his class over the proceedings, leading the Knights to their second title in five years.Newcastle Knights 30 (Tries: Peden 2, Simpson, Kennedy, Tahu. Goals: Johns 5.)
Parramatta Eels 24 (Tries: Hodgson 2, Lyon 2. Goals: Burt 4.)
Clive Churchill Medal ist:Andrew Johns External links
* [http://www.sportsphotography.net/rugbyleague/2001/gf/index.html 2001 NRL Grand Final at sportsphotography.net]
Footnotes
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