As the year comes to a close and a New Year arrives with a soon to be forgotten resolution, it is a good time to reflect on what has happened in the year that is just about finished, so we present our 2017 Sporting Review of the Year.
Our 2017 Sporting Review gives us a chance to remember some of the good times, recall the great forgotten moments of the 2017 Sporting Year, or just give us one more chance to have a rather large moan about all the things that shit us to tears in 2017. Because it will all improve in 2018 right? Of course it will.
We have selected a few nominations per field, and then answer our question about who is the ultimate winner per category.
So for your casually glancing eye, confused google searching, or sympathetic family member or friend, here is The Gurgler’s 2017 Sporting Review of the Year.
2017 SPORTING REVIEW – BEST OF THE BEST
Here is our nomination list of the best teams, best sports people for 2017.
LEWIS HAMILTON
Not everyone’s Cup O Tea, but few can deny the speed. Ended up cruising to the title, and only sullied his reputation via social media on Christmas Day. Still can’t wait fir the first album.
CAMERON SMITH
Won everything, as captain, and playing as well as ever. Could possibly play until he’s 50.
PNG HUNTERS
A biased selection from us, but few could deny the thrill of their last minute Intrust Super Cup Grand Final win.
MATILDAS
Beat no less than Brazil a few times this year, and our only decent chance at doing something at a Football World Cup in 2019.
MANCHESTER CITY
Few teams have almost wrapped up an EPL title before Christmas, but is looking that way with Manchester City.
LINCOLN CITY
Non League side made the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup, knocking out Premier League quality and the most mediocre sporting team on the planet on the way to the final eight. On track to securing back to back promotions in the league too.
2017 SPORTING REVIEW – BEST OF THE BEST WINNER
PNG HUNTERS
2017 SPORTING REVIEW – PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
We’ve decided the best teams/people, but what was the best single performance for the year.
DANIEL RICCIARDO’S WIN IN AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX
Got a little bit lucky from back in the field, but his move to nail three cars into the first corner during the race was the pivotal moment of the race after Hamilton and Vettel had issues – mechanical and mental respectively.
COWBOYS NRL FINALS RUN
The North Queenslanders snuck into the finals after the Dragons choked and looked busted arse and with no Thurston or Matt Scott. They then went on a run which took them all the way to the Grand Final, where they met the brick wall that is the Storm.
DANE GAGAI ORIGIN
Dane “Troy” Gagai has done well to win player of the series from the wing. Shows the quality of his output.
PENRITH v PNG HUNTERS IN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
The Panthers blew the Hunters away in the first half of the State Championship, and looked like they could have steam rolled any NRL opposition that day.
VALENTINE HOLMES SCORES 11 TRIES IN 2 MATCHES IN RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP
Australia stepped it up a notch once the knockout started and winger Holmes broke a World Cup record in consecutive weeks.
RICHMOND
In the end went through the finals series and Grand Final easy.
2017 SPORTING REVIEW PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR WINNER
COWBOYS FINALS RUN
2017 SPORTING REVIEW – DISAPPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR
Sport isn’t always great, but what disappointed us the most this year? Find out now.
AFL/NRL GRAND FINALS
On the same weekend, and both were mildly disappointing as contests. No disrespect to either winning party.
PNG HUNTERS IN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
After the euphoria of their Intrust Super Cup win, to be down by nearly 40 points at half time was a dampener to say the least.
CRICKET PAY DISPUTE
Hard to feeling any sympathy to the like of Smith, Wanrer and co. who play cricket for a living. Beaten by Bangladesh at their first effort.
SUNDAY 4pm NRL GAME
Thanks to Channel Nein it became the only game to avoid each week.
SOCCEROOS QUALIFICATION RUN TO WORLD CUP
Got there in the end, but it was underwhelming to say the least. Hard to see us beating anyone on current form.
2017 SPORTING REVIEW BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
PNG HUNTERS State Championship first half.
2017 SPORTING REVIEW – SPORTING PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Sporting personalities are becoming so bloody dull. Here’s a few that are still interesting.
ADEBAYO AKINFENWA
35 years old, and Football’s strongest man is still killing them. It may be League Two, but he’s scoring plenty with assists a plenty. And he launched a book on his life.
THE PIE EATING RESERVE GOAL KEEPER FOR SUTTON UTD IN FA CUP GAME v ARSENAL
Sutton United played Arsenal in the FA Cup, and a local betting company offered odds on if the reserve goalie would eat a pie on the bench. He did, earning a nice collect for friends and family, and the boot from Sutton Utd. In a nice irony, the reserve goalkeeper was actually required the very next weekend, but there was none. Nevertheless, it was a great moment in spot fixing.
WILLIE MINOGA
The PNG Grand Final winning try scorer doesn’t need to talk too much, or showboat, he just does what Willie Minoga does best. Having an impact in every game of rugby league. Although the tears after leading the Hunters to Grand Final victory showed a different side.
PETER PSALTIS
Quality sporting commentator and radio host on the UBet Breakfast show.
ANGE POSTECOGLOU
The often grumpy Australian Football manager qualified the Socceroos for the 2018 World Cup, then quit. Someone much more boring is coming to replace him.
2017 SPORTING REVIEW PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR WINNER
Adebayo Akinfenwa aka The Beast will always be our Sporting Personality of the Year.
Why not catch up on his latest gear from the Boxing Day fixtures, showing he still has so much to offer.
2017 SPORTING REVIEW – SPORTING JERK OF THE YEAR
You can still vote for the Overall 2017 Jerk of the Year which features many from sport, but here is the sport exclusive list.
JARRYD HAYNE
Currently leading the 2017 Jerk of the Year (leading even Donald Trump) and been a big year. Always going to end in tears on the Gold Coast and so it proved. But at least he took out head coach Neil Henry on the way. He can also be blamed for being a NSW Origin jerk and costing them game Two. Ended the year nicely with the news from the US.
TENNIS JERKS – TOMIC – KYRGIOS
A real vintage year for both Kyrgios and Tomic. Whilst Kyrgios looks to have the ability and the determination to turn it around and achieve, Tomic is looking worse by the second. Soon it will be unfair to team these two together. Not for 2017 though.
NRL
Nominated for NRL Marvel Super Heroes Round, ruining the NRL during Origin, allowing Channel Nein to ruin Sunday afternoons, and allegedly going broke running the game.
KEVIN MAGNUSSEN
Drove like a Jerk for most of the season, and summed up his season when he advised Nico Hulkenberg to “Suck his Balls” in a post Grand Prix press circle.
WESTS TIGERS BIG FOUR
While NRL players are entitled to do anything to improve their short careers in the NRL, the Big 4 at the Tigers really did do the club a disservice. Mitchell Moses the worst, and Tigers unlucky the weaker of the Big 4 was the only one who is staying.
CHANNEL NEIN
Do it their way, which means they don’t care about what fans want. Their arrogance in both Rugby League and Cricket makes you glad they don’t have anything else.
2017 SPORTING REVIEW SPORTING JERK OF THE YEAR WINNER
BERNARD TOMIC
Really deserves it, and likely to be nominated again next year.
2017 SPORTING REVIEW – FEELGOOD SPORTING MOMENT
Sport sometimes makes you feel good, so here are our favourites for 2017.
PNG HUNTERS WIN INTRUST SUPER CUP GRAND FINAL
Greatest live moment of sport ever.
AUSTRALIA QUALIFY FOR FOOTBALL WORLD CUP…EVENTUALLY
It took a while, but always great once we get there.
ROY AND HG RETURN
The best duo on radio return to Saturday mornings on Triple M, and are better than ever.
CAMERON MUNSTER TEARS INTO NSW IN ORIGIN GAME THREE
Just when NSW think they’ve got Queensland we produce Cameron Munster at five eighth, win game three and the series. And look good for the future at the same time.
AFC WIMBLEDON 2 MILTON KEYNES 0
The two sides meet for the first time at Wimbledon’s home ground in Kingston, and the real Dons come away with victory.
2017 SPORTING REVIEW SPORTING FEELGOOD MOMENT WINNER
PNG HUNTERS GF WIN
One of the great moments of all time, so good enough for 2017.
2017 SPORTING REVIEW – A FEW QUICK FINAL ONES
FAVOURITE SPORTING CELEBRITY CATCH UP
Meeting the Freight Train himself aka Willie Minoga at Davies Park
FAVOURITE SPORTING CHAT
Telling Wayne Bennett at Davies Park he should sign said Freight Train for the Broncos. Maybe if he did they could have had a premiership.
BEST SPORTING THEME ROUND
Get in the Game Country Week – Intrust Super Cup – They go to actual genuine country locations.
WORST SPORTING ROUND
NRL Marvel Super Heroes – shows all that is wrong with the NRL. A long list.
BIGGEST PIECE OF SPORTING WANK
The new Australian Open Tennis Logo and the dross they tried to use to justify it. We’ve already moaned about it here.
FAVOURITE COMMENTATOR
Davide Valsecchi – the F2 expert commentator is sport’s most excitable commentator. And it is 100% genuine.
