While 2018 was full of highs and lows, there were some recurring controversies that we could all do without in 2019.

Heading into the new year, we’ve compiled a list of controversies the NRL could do without.

Coaching sagas
We started 2018 with 16 coaches and by the end of the year one has resigned, two had been sacked, two returned to their former clubs, one was deregistered and two pulled off the most dramatic moment of the year with a bizarre swap.

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Messy last-minute transfers
While most players set out to rip into pre-season training, others found themselves in a club-swap limbo.

Former Dragons utility Kurt Mann decided he’d give it a go in a No.9 jersey with the Knights, Eels playmaker Corey Norman tried his luck on the market with the Dragons picking him up, and Kiwi halfback Shaun Johnson decided to cross the Tasman and join the Sharks.

These last-minute transfers have made quite a mess for clubs and fans, exemplified by some 2019 official team calendars featuring players who have since swapped colours. With all of this transfer nonsense so close to Christmas, fans are left confused and anxious about the season ahead, many questioning whether or not to continue their club memberships.

“We were wrong”
We saw plenty of refereeing inconsistencies in 2018, several promises for improvement around the officiating of NRL games and even more apologies from the boss.

We watched the Raiders lose 28-24 against the Sharks due to a touch judge’s error in Round 19, the Tigers take a gut-wrenching 9-7 loss against the Broncos courtesy of an incorrect penalty in Round 3, and Roosters debutant Sean O’Sullivan was granted a try after an obvious knock-on in-goal against the Titans in Round 18 — all of which prompted apologies from the game’s referees.

These mishaps occurred regularly throughout the season — leaving fans, players and club staff alike shaking their heads in disbelief at some of the calls that were made.

However, it’s not the apologies that we can do without, just the mistakes in general. Apologies are of no relief to teams who miss out on a crucial two competition points.

Hopefully there’s no need for apologies in 2019.

Salary cap busts
Salary cap breaches are becoming a regular occurrence and 2018 was no different.

This year three clubs became embroiled in a salary cap investigation — Wests Tigers, Cronulla and Manly — while others faced ongoing speculation surrounding their finances.

The NRL has gone some way into providing transparency around the salary cap, this year publishing the third-party agreement values to each club — revealing a difference of around $1 million per season between Melbourne (highest) and Parramatta (lowest).

During the press conference announcing proposed penalties for the Tigers and Cronulla earlier this week, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said he was sick of clubs attempting to gain an unfair advantage by flouting the rules. As a result, fines are increasing and the threat of docking competition points is back on the table.

“The (ARL) Commission has asked me to review the penalties for salary cap offences. That means looking at increased fines, increased suspensions and stripping clubs of competition points,” he said.

“The biggest penalty, ultimately outside of (losing) your livelihood, is (losing) competition points and, if we have to get there, we will.

“We will do and we will take whatever steps are required to protect the integrity of our competition.”

We could definitely do without that headache in 2019.

Court appearances
Raiders fullback Jack Wighton missed the final 10 games of the season as a penalty for a drunken and violent rampage in Canberra in February. He then pleaded guilty to five counts of assault and public urination.

But then throughout the year Scott Bolton, Jarryd Hayne, Jack de Belin, Dylan Walker, Zane Musgrove, and Liam Coleman were all hit with either sexual, indecent or domestic assault charges, leaving fans asking if there is a culture problem within the game.

The controversy surrounding these assault charges has started to take its toll on Greenberg, forcing him to plead with clubs to help improve the image of the game. However, Greenberg isn’t the only one left with a headache — footy fans are not impressed with how often this occurs, and they have every right to feel that way.

Let’s hope to leave bad behaviour and the controversy behind in 2018.