What would the NRL have given for “Air Coates” to have scored a try like that in Las Vegas?
As the dust settles on Melbourne winger Xavier Coates’ gravity-defying touchdown, which is selling rugby league to the world, debate has raged since Saturday: was it the greatest NRL try ever?
There is probably little argument about whether it’s the greatest try finish we’ve seen in the modern era.
His team had been trailing by eight points with only three minutes remaining. Down to the last 30 seconds and with the ball being flung from one side to the other, it landed in the hands of the towering Storm star and former athletics protege, who started his jump more than six metres out from the try line.
Cue pandemonium.
But is it the greatest try we’ve seen in a top-grade match (excluding State of Origin and Test matches) over the last 30 years? Here are the other candidates which might still edge it.
Brett Mullins v Broncos (1995).Credit: NRL
“Kick and chase by Mullins. Kick and chase again by Mullins. This will be a miracle. Oh, it is a miracle.”
On a cold night in Canberra, Raiders fullback Brett Mullins produced a try for the ages when – not once but twice – he chipped the Brisbane defence before gathering the ball one-handed to score.
But perhaps the try is remembered just as fondly for Ray Warren’s commentary (above) as the outrageous skill from Mullins.
Jarryd Hayne v Dragons (2009).Credit: NRL
It might still be the best run of form over a three-month period from any player in the game’s history.
Hayne took the Eels from also-rans to squeeze into the top eight in 2009, and on one Sunday afternoon he looked like a big kid toying with his schoolmates in the playground with a freakish individual try against second-placed St George Illawarra at Kogarah.
The week before, the Dragons had flogged the Eels 37-0. And then, with three minutes left of their finals clash, Hayne turned on a dime and stepped his way past seven hapless defenders – even sending referee Jared Maxwell running for cover – to score one of the greatest tries of the modern era.
Josh Morris v Storm (2012).Credit: NRL
It might have Josh Morris’ name on the scoresheet, but this was all Ben Barba.
Retrieving the ball on his own dead-ball line, the Canterbury fullback evaded two Melbourne defenders just to get it back into play before scorching past Cooper Cronk, Cameron Smith and then chipping Billy Slater for Morris to score.
Adam Reynolds v Roosters (2012).Credit: NRL
Much like the Mullins try, Adam Reynolds’ spine-tingling effort to beat arch-rivals the Roosters on the bell will be forever associated with caller Warren Smith’s famous line.
“You can take me now, I’ve seen it all.”
And much like the Storm on Saturday night, the Rabbitohs found themselves in a near hopeless situation: down by 10 points with two minutes to go. But when Nathan Merritt scored to draw them within four points, they came up with the winning try straight from the kick-off.
Dave Taylor ran the ball back into the defence, found Chris McQueen who surged downfield before linking with Merritt, Isaac Luke and finally Reynolds, after the ball hit the deck, to steal a 100-metre, last-minute win for the Rabbitohs.
Greg Inglis v Broncos (2014).Credit: NRL
In the Rabbitohs’ premiership year before he famously celebrated with the goanna in the grand final, Inglis had this moment.
Against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium, he scooped up a Ben Barba chip kick near his own 10-metre line and proceeded to beat eight defenders – while bumping off the referee – to score one of the most memorable tries of the modern era.
Nathan Friend try assist v Storm (2015).Credit: NRL
Much like Coates, this was another see-it-to-believe-it moment between the Warriors and Storm.
Tui Lolohea might have been credited with the try, but it was all down to hooker Nathan Friend, who caught a high bomb and – as he started crashing back to the ground head first – had the foresight to throw the ball between his legs to a teammate. The sequence ended with Shaun Johnson throwing a flick pass and Lolohea scoring, but it was Friend’s incredible act which stole the headlines.
The clip went viral and even received air time on ESPN’s Sportscenter, taking the NRL to America long before Las Vegas was a thought bubble.
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Set of six: Is Xavier Coates’ try the best of the best?
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18.03.2024
What would the NRL have given for “Air Coates” to have scored a try like that in Las Vegas?
As the dust settles on Melbourne winger Xavier Coates’ gravity-defying touchdown, which is selling rugby league to the world, debate has raged since Saturday: was it the greatest NRL try ever?
There is probably little argument about whether it’s the greatest try finish we’ve seen in the modern era.
His team had been trailing by eight points with only three minutes remaining. Down to the last 30 seconds and with the ball being flung from one side to the other, it landed in the hands of the towering Storm star and former athletics protege, who started his jump more than six metres out from the try line.
Cue pandemonium.
But is it the greatest try we’ve seen in a top-grade match (excluding State of Origin and Test matches) over the last 30 years? Here are the other candidates which might still edge it.
Brett Mullins v Broncos (1995).Credit: NRL
“Kick and chase by Mullins. Kick and chase again by Mullins. This will be a miracle. Oh, it is a miracle.”
On a cold night in Canberra, Raiders fullback Brett........
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