CRONULLA SHARKS' NIGHTMARE YEAR
THE reputation of former Knights playmaker and popular rugby league personality Matthew Johns was torn to shreds in May when it was revealed he was involved in a group sex incident while the Cronulla Sharks were on a pre-season trip to New Zealand in 2002.
Johns known as much for his alter-egos Reg Reagan and Trent the flight steward as his skills on the field was stood down from The Footy Show following revelations on the ABC's Four Corners program.
Cronulla's year went from bad to worse when chief executive Tony Zappia resigned after he was accused of sexually harassing and bullying a female staff member.
Zappia wasn't the only prominent Shark to step aside with club captain Paul Gallen removed from the top job for calling St George Illawarra forward Mickey Paea a ''black c---''.
Gallen's Sharks team-mate, former NSW and Test back-rower Reni Maitua was handed a two-year ban for testing positive to the steroid clenbuterol in June.
The Sharks certainly swam in troubled waters during 2009.
LOTE TUQIRI'S SACKING
DUAL international Lote Tuqiri's days in Australian rugby came to a sudden halt on August 1 when the ARU terminated his multi million-dollar contract for unspecified reasons.
Since switching from rugby league to union in 2003, Tuqiri featured in 67 Tests matches for the Wallabies.
But his time as a rah-rah was always tainted with controversy, the former Brisbane Bronco was punished for alcohol-related incidents in 2005 and 2007.
By the end of the year Tuqiri had signed with English club Leicester, but he's expected to return to the NRL with the Wests Tigers in 2010.
RUGBY LEAGUE'S ASSAULTS
TWO days after being unveiled as the face of the NRL's latest advertising campaign, star Manly fullback Brett Stewart was charged with sexual assault following a big night on the turps at the Sea Eagles' season launch.
Worse was to come when fellow glamour boy Greg Inglis allegedly assaulted his girlfriend, Sally Robinson, in August.
The Melbourne livewire was banned for two games, but returned to feature in the Storm's NRL grand final victory.
The case against Inglis has been adjourned until April 12, 2010.
South Sydney sacked coach Jason Taylor after he got knocked out by second rower David Fa'alogo during end of season celebrations at a Surrey Hills hotel.
FEVOLA'S BROWNLOW ANTICS
CONTROVERSIAL Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola stole the show at the AFL's night of nights, the Brownlow Medal, with a drunken performance which led to a hefty fine, a sexual harassment accusation and ultimately a move to the Brisbane Lions.
Working for the AFL Footy Show, Fevola did not hold back as he simulated sex for the cameras, puckered up for some unsuspecting WAGs and bystanders, and swore black and blue while interviewing players and guests.
A female Herald-Sun journalist claimed she was sexually harassed by Fevola, but no charges were laid.
The AFL fined the Coleman Medallist $10,000, while the Blues duly put the full forward up for trade.
A deal was done with the Brisbane Lions, who firmed in premiership betting courtesy of an All-Australian forward line of Fevola and captain Jonathan Brown.
ANDRE AGASSI'S CONFESSIONS
ANDRE Agassi's tell-all autobiography might as well be called ''Rugs, drugs and all that other stuff''.
On November 5 excerpts from the former world No1's 60 Minutes interview in the US were released, where he revealed an addiction to crystal methamphetamine among other aspects of his life and career.
Those other aspects included wearing a mullet-inspired hairpiece on court once his hair began falling out and a tough childhood where he was beaten by his father.
Current and former tennis stars, such as Marat Safin and Martin Navratilova, have publicly stated Agassi should forfeit his eight Grand Slam titles.
BIG BAD BARRY
ONE of the AFL's last great villains, Barry Hall's mid-season exit from the Sydney Swans was as swift as it was dramatic. Hall and the Swans parted ways after the enigmatic full forward was banned for two weeks for striking Adelaide defender Ben Rutten in late June.
It was the latest in a string of rage-filled incidents, most notably the king hit on West Coast's Brent Staker in 2008.
Remarkably when many thought the boxing ring or retirement might have been on the cards, Hall was thrown an AFL lifeline by the Western Bulldogs for the 2010 season.
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter