The 10 magic moments that made 2022 so memorable

These were the moments that commanded our attention in 2022; displays of skill, strength and brilliance that made us hit the replay button. They came mostly from the NRL but also the NRLW premiership and the World Cup.

League historian and author of the 2022 Official Rugby League Annual, David Middleton counts down the freakish and fabulous feats that had league fans out of their seats in a year to remember.

10. Moses Magic

Eels v Sea Eagles, NRL Round 11

It was pouring rain at CommBank Stadium when Mitch Moses lined up a conversion from the right touchline to win the game against the Sea Eagles. There were four minutes remaining as Moses took a deep breath and struck the ball sweetly, guiding it inside the left upright with a neat fade. 

9. Cool, Calm Kurt

Broncos v Rabbitohs, NRL Round 1

The Broncos were desperate to avoid a late fightback by the Rabbitohs and they had the chance to put the boot in with a late field goal to take them seven points clear. But they got the play horribly wrong. The ball from dummy-half to Jamayne Isaako went to ground and as the defence rushed, Isaako unloaded to the nearest Broncos jersey. It happened to be Kurt Capewell, who calmly slotted the first field goal of his career to seal the win. 

8. Tonegato's Try-saver

Dragons v Roosters, NRLW 2021, Round 5 

Roosters flyer Jess Sergis broke through from a scrum win on her own 30-metre line and had only daylight between her and the Dragons’ line. She set sail for the south-western corner but was cut down from behind by Dragons No.1 Emma Tonegato in a majestic tackle that ended with Sergis across the touchline. 

7. Heart Of Stone

Eels v Storm, NRL Round 3 

Mitchell Moses’ field goal attempt in golden point ricocheted off the right upright and into the arms of Ray Stone, who was following the kick. Stone stepped off his right foot to beat Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen for the match-winning four-pointer only to blow out his knee in the process. 

6. Off the Charts Offload

Cowboys v Wests Tigers, NRL Round 10 

It was in the final game of Magic Round that Murray Taulagi channelled Copperfield to produce an offload for the ages. Wests Tigers halfback Jackson Hastings took hold of the Cowboys winger and shunted him across the touchline where he was headed for an unceremonious landing. Before he hit the ground Taulagi fashioned an unbelievable round-the-body pass that lobbed in the arms of team-mate Scott Drinkwater for a try.

5. Feagai's Fast Feet

Dragons v Broncos, NRL Round 25 

Halfback Ben Hunt created an opening for Mat Feagai near halfway; he beat the diving attempt of Delouise Hoeter, wrestled clear of Kotoni Staggs and Zac Hosking, ran past a jogging Rhys Kennedy, beat Hoeter’s dive again, outsprinted Payne Haas and a diving effort by Brendan Piakura, beat Selwyn Cobbo’s attempt and was finally caught by Patrick Carrigan a few metres from the Broncos’ line before reaching out to score. 

4. Hastings The Hero

Wests Tigers v Eels, NRL Round 6 

The Tigers had lost a club record eight straight games before they took on the Eels on Easter Monday. They rose to the occasion in front of a big crowd and went stride for stride for 80 minutes. With seconds left on the clock and the game deadlocked at 20-all, Jackson Hastings stepped up and booted a magnificent field goal from almost 40 metres. 

3. Ben Comes Up Big

Maroons v Blues, Origin Game III

The Maroons had battled the odds, losing star five-eighth Cameron Munster to COVID and then two players to head knocks early in the decider. They were heavy underdogs but held a six-point lead with time running short at Suncorp. Nathan Cleary attempted a chip-and-regather, but it was Ben Hunt who did the regathering and sprinted 70 metres to wrap up the series. 

2. Dylan Does A Sattler

Panthers v Eels, NRL Grand Final 

The Panthers held a substantial lead when the Eels made a desperate attempt to launch a fightback in the second half of the grand final. Hooker Reed Mahoney chanced a grubber kick from deep inside his own half, the ball snapped up by centre Bailey Simonsson who sprinted clear. The Eel flyer beat a diving Charlie Staines before setting sail for the line only to be grassed by Dylan Edwards, reprising the famous tackle by Panther legend Scott Sattler in the 2003 decider. 

1. Samoa Stuns The World

Samoa v England, World Cup semi-final 

Stephen Crichton created history in London when his golden point field goal against England catapulted Samoa into their first World Cup Final. Samoa became the first new nation to qualify for a World Cup final since New Zealand in 1988. Crichton also bagged two tries in the epic contest to enhance his reputation as a man for the big occasion.

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