It’s been another big year O Sport, with winners showered with praise and losers booed until throats are sore, and everything in between. But before the year O Sport is boxed and buried, The Gurgler and their writing team have come up with a variety of awards and merit badges to hand out with our Gurgler’s 2025 Sports Awards.
Like most things we do to wrap up 2025, we come up with nomination in categories that tickle our fancy, but unlike 2025 Person of the Year and 2025 Jerk of the Year where the winners are decided by a vote, we also select the winner. It’s only fair, it’s our awards.
The Gurgler’s 2025 Sports Awards
THE SPACE CITY KALLANGUR OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD STAND-OUT SPORTING PERFORMANCES OF THE SEASON
NOMINATION – REECE WALSH’S LAST TWO MONTHS OF NRL
Every now and again one sports person puts on a clinic for short time and a good time if you are a Broncos fan. The Brisbane based rugby league team looked like they could miss out on the finals at one stage, then Reece Walsh became the rugby league version of Superman and Midas combined and everything he touched turned to gold. And trophies.
NOMINATION – MAX VERSTAPPEN
Max Verstappen had arguably his finest season in F1 for 2025, and that’s saying something about a driver who has previously won 21/24 races in a season. But that year, and other years the Red Bull was unstoppable or at worst equal best. The 2025 Red Bull was so bad at times in the hands of others that they could barely outpace Lance Stroll. Meanwhile Max Verstappen took early season poles and wins against all expectations. And once Mr Netflix aka Christian Horner left, the Red Bull turned around, and so the Verstappen wins flowed more frequently. With an assist from McLaren’s plank, Max Verstappen was in contention for the title until the last few laps of the season, and won more races than either McLaren driver, who had clearly the best car for most of the season.
NOMINATION – BRISBANE LIONS 13 GOAL SECOND HALF OF AFL GRAND FINAL
For the second straight season the Brisbane Lions won the AFL Flag with a heft advantage on the scoreboard, but hard to believe the Lions kicked 13 goals in the final two quarters to go from a deadlocked half time margin to a 47 point win.
NOMINATION – TRAVIS HEAD
He doesn’t do things all the time, but when he does, it’s usually good, and at important times. Although, having him as a full time opener feels like being spoiled.
WINNER – REECE WALSH
Can be a little or a lot unlikeable, but his run to the Grand Final win was top shelf and premiership winning.
The Above-The-Top-Shelf Sporting Event of the Year
NOMINATION – 2025 NRL Finals – Canberra v Broncos
What a game to end the first week of the NRL Finals. The Broncos were down and out, and even had a player sent to the sin bin, but the late second half turnaround was enough, but then the golden point thriller made it the game of the season.
NOMINATION – 2025 F1 Season
It’s been a while since we had a F1 title race, let alone one without the controversy of a Hamilton-Verstappen battle, let alone one that has three genuine chances to win. But that was the 2025 season, where the faster McLarens battled among themselves for a while until Red Bull took some of their own potion and gave themselves wings for a Verstappen sneaky title tilt. A lot of the races were either entertaining or intriguing, and unlike other seasons, you were never quite sure who was going to be the fastest package until Q2 / Q3 of qualifying.
NOMINATION – Ryder Cup
Just when it looked like Europe were going to win the Ryder Cup in a canter, which was all good, they almost choked big time and just hung on a for the win. Which made for a very exciting final day. Of course, being golf, the only other thing it needed was Greg Norman.
NOMINATION – BATHURST 1000
Doesn’t really matter how good the race is, there’s no better sporting sloth day than watching and snoozing to the Bathurst 1000.
WINNER – RYDER CUP
Golf is usually boring, but the combination of team golf, America bashing, a giant golfing choke and still Europe winning ticked all the boxes.
THE IAN “TURPS” TURPIE FOR BEST SPORTING ENTERTAINMENT
NOMINATION – DOLPHINS NRL
The NRL’s newest team had their best year yet, and for a while and on selected nights, they were the greatest rugby league team in the country, racking up huge scores, and beating top opposition with ease, and courtesy of Ray Stone. Whilst some of the bad times were bog ordinary, they gave so much in general in 2025, and asked so little.
NOMINATION – CANBERRA RAIDERS
Similar to the Dolphins, but not quite as exciting, but they won a lot more games.
NOMINATION – F2
While the F1 season was more interesting than usual, it usually doesn’t top the feeder formula F2 for action most races. And if F2 can’t make a track exciting, there’s a fair chance it’s not them, it’s you. Not only do you get to have a sneak peek at the next batch of potential World Champions, but you also get to see some drivers whose level of ability means that you will never see them in F1, and they race in F2 accordingly to our entertainment.
NOMINATION – SNOOP DOGG’S AFL PERFORMANCE AND GENERAL ATTENDANCE IN PRE GRAND FINAL
Snoop Dogg may not be everyone’s cup of tea or spliff, but he sure brings a big name with him to Australia, and his presence leading up to the AFL Grand Final was well received from most people outside of Sky News. As for his pre-game show, it had songs that most of us know, and some we pretended to know, but didn’t really need to, because it was all about being caught up in the moment.
NOMINATION – MIGUEL ANGEL JIMNEZ
Still smoking cigars, warming up like no one else does or can, and winning. Doing it the way we’d all like to win.
NOMINATION – LIVE CROSSES TO CRAIG BELLAMY GOING BERSERK IN THE COACHES BOX
We do enjoy seeing Craig Bellamy going ballistic in the coaches box, and thankfully not only do a lot things piss him off, but Fox League are quick to get the camera in his vicinity.
NOMINATION – DARTS WALK-INS
Darts, especially the annual one at Ally Pally is great, but the walk-in is the best part. Darts gets samey-samey after a while, so the walk-ins really break it up. And ham it up.
NOMINATION – DAN GINNANE
Fox League caller add a dimension to every game he calls. Not over-the-top like others can be in other sports, but the right amount of extra and humour.
NOMINATION – WHEN THE BASEBALL MANAGER WALKS OUT TO DUMP THE PTICHER
OK, so not confined to 2025, but still good.
WINNER – SNOOP DOGG
Took guest appearance at an Australian Grand Final to the next level.
The Ipswich Town Award for Most Disappointing Sporting Performance or Moment
NOMINATION – IPSWICH TOWN
Promoted in glory after going from third division to Premier League in consecutive seasons, playing great football, and with some great signings, it all looked so good for Ipswich Town and their triumphant return to top flight football after more than 20 seasons away. Instead they tried to play like Barcelona and were routinely punished. Won four games all season and were often terrible. Only silver lining is that Club World Cup Champions Chelsea failed to beat them in two attempts. So bad, we started hating all football in general.
NOMINATION – LEWIS HAMILTON @ FERRARI
One sprint race aside, the first season of Lewis Hamilton was a bit of a disaster. While the Ferrari hasn’t been the world beater it has been back in the day, Hamilton did less with it than his team mate did and his huge salary would suggest he does. New rules for 2026 mean it can all turn around. Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton both need it to happen.
NOMINATION – ASHES
There was so much to look forward to for this Ashes series. England arguably stronger heading to Australia than they have ever been, and a full 25 days of slothing on the couch to watch enthralling and occasionally dull Test Cricket. Sadly those Andy Capp-sleeping backwards into the lounge moments were taken away from us with a couple of express tow-day specials. Sure it was entertaining to a point, and most were the right result, but where’s the other half of that series?
NOMINATION – WOLVES
Their 2025-26 season to date has them on track to be the worst team of the Premier League era, “chasing” down Derby County’s worst ever title after they secured 11 points in 38 games from one win and eight draws – their only win coming in game six of the season. Wolves are currently winless after 17 games, and have two draws to show for their efforts so far. Of course they still have time to turn things around – they did score 26 points in the second half of the 2024-25 season. If they did that again, they’ll probably still be relegated, but keep their pants.
NOMINATION – MONACO GRAND PRIX
For all the hype and glamour of the Monaco Grand Prix, it’s usually pretty dull, and 2025 proved no exception. They introduced a mandatory two tyre stops, which saw the teams try and go even slower than usual for team tactics. It made the race even duller than usual. Maybe next year make it five pit stops and we could be talking.
NOMINATION – OSCAR PIASTRI’S AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX
Everything seemed to be going well for Piastri at this stage of the F1 season, although the previous race in Italy where he had to hand back second place after a botched Norris pit stop seemed to irk the Aussie F1 driver, and it showed in Baku. He followed up an ordinary qualifying by running into the wall on the first lap. Whilst he wasn’t punished too badly at that race by his title rivals, it did lead to a massive drop in form, one that cost him the World Championship.
NOMINATION – NO EUROPEAN CRICKET
The European Cricket series is a bit of cult sport, with so much to offer as we have previously mentioned here. But that was 2024, and we waited with the usual amount of anticipation for the 2025 serving. Genuinely. No just for the moments you see replayed on weekly sports shows, but the many sixes disappearing into the Spanish countryside, and of course the commentary, especially Mr Maximo himself. A Maximo is European Cricket for a six, but much more fun. Sadly the 2025 edition never happened, the future is uncertain according to this BBC article. So who knows if we’ll ever get to experience the joy again. And in a 2025 year that was mostly awful, couldn’t we all do with a little more joy.
WINNER – NO EUROPEAN CRICKET
Fewer Maximos makes the world a sad, sad place.
The Winter Olympics Award for Least Entertaining Sporting Moment, Person or Thing
NOMINATION – VAR
Ruining football with micro-decisions that aren’t even always right.
NOMINATION – NRL BUNKER
Like VAR, but significantly worse.
NOMINATION – HALF TIME INTERVIEWS WITH PLAYERS ABOUT TO GO TO THE CHANGE ROOMS
Putting a microphone in the face of a player as they leave the field usually produces nothing more than a bog ordinary TV analyst could come up with themselves. So why not leave the players alone then.
WINNER – NRL BUNKER
So bad, despite technology.
The Channel Nein Award for Worst Sporting Broadcast
NOMINATION – CHANNEL NEIN STATE OF ORIGIN
Just four times a year most rugby league fans have to suffer Channel Nein, and that’s Nein too many. Not only do they own the timeslot, which sucks, but their commentary is either pure drivel from star players who love themselves too much, or it is Mat Thompson simply screaming into a microphone. Having watched one Origin match this season on delay with fox League commentary merely confirmed the size of the gap in quality, not the existence of a gap.
NOMINATION – DANICA PATRICK
Thankfully only shows up every five or six races, and even that gap is way too small. Her contribution in punditry requires one of the world’s top five most powerful microscopes to measure. And it’s not because she is a female with no F1 experience, every one else that falls into that category is excellent.
NOMINATION – SKY F1
In saying individual commentators are excellent on Sky F1, except Danica Patrick, the overall pro-Norris, pro-UK bias was over-the-top in 2025. Yes, we fully understand that the broadcasters are based in England, but so was Murray Walker and his commentary was the greatest of any sport, any time. Yes he loved Nigel Mansell, but his commentary was the greatest of any sport, any time and gave a professional job celebrating every driver. Even Martin Brundle, the best F1 pundit of the last 20 years started losing his sheen due to over-bias to Norris. The Belgian Grand Prix was a real lowlight in their professional careers and should be ashamed.
WINNER – DANICA PATRICK
No Jenson Button side-eyes to camera needed, the worst for 2025.
The Sepp Blatter Award for Worst Sporting Administrator
NOMINATION – FIA PRESIDENT MOHAMMED BEN SULAYEM
Mohammed Ben Sulayem spent most of the year interfering with Formula 1, and especially the drivers who he really doesn’t seem to like, while forgetting they are a major part of what makes F1 popular and functional. His swearing ban the most pathetic. And like all good (bad) world leaders in history, has been re-elected in a fair, open election – unopposed.
NOMINATION – FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO
The FIFA President has spent most of the year in the USA and up it’s arse, as well as squeezing every possible dollar (and every other currency) out of football. But the awarding of the FIFA Peace Prize at the 2026 World Cup draw is among one of sporting history’s greatest suck up jobs.
NOMINATION – PREVIOUS OWNERS OF SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Let a famous club get into such a state that they are still on minus eight points heading into the second half of the season. The fact that thousands tuned into a live stream to see the seats that made up the former owner’s name ripped out of a grandstand tells you all you need to know about his standing with club’s fans.
WINNER – Gianni Infantino
And we all thought Sepp Blatter couldn’t be topped.
The Come-Uppance Award for Sporting Downfall
NOMINATION – MICHAEL SLATER
Gone from legendary Test Batsman with honours and lots of money and fame, to sharing a cell with Bubba. Dropped from commentary teams, oval namings and law abiding life itself, the downfall has been harsh and well earned for Slater. The man known as Slats ironically spent a lot of his year sleeping on beds without them, and with the downfall complete came the stories of just how awful he has been over the years.
NOMINATION – CHRISTIAN HORNER
The Red Bull Team Principal has also been cocky, but the Netflix documentary series which has sucked in so many new F1 fans took him to Trump-like levels of shit-smelling abandon. And while Red Bull were winning it was ok, but as soon as they weren’t it wasn’t. And Horner was promptly fired halfway through the 2025, which then saw a turnaround in the Red Bull’s (Verstappen’s anyways) fortunes. Coincidence or not, Horner wasn’t there for the good times. And by the end of the season, neither was his arch rival Dr Marko.
WINNER – Slats
We usually don’t too much joy in seeing people we really hate get their long overdue come-uppance. Pffft, who are we kidding, we love it. Up yours Slats.
The Chuck Norris Award for Toughest Sports Person
NOMINATION – RAY STONE
Ray Stone would hate the nomination, he tends to hate most things, but that’s what makes him one of the best. Injuries are a badge of honour. Cyclones are no reason to miss a game. And tries are a burden of glory he’d rather do without. The ultimate team man, and one of the toughest around.
WINNER – RAY STONE
He wouldn’t like or allow anyone else to win. Or even himself to win.
The Lance Stroll Award for Most Apatha-pathetic Sports Person
WINNER – LANCE STROLL
There can only be one.
The Stefan-Discover Yourself Best Looking Sports Person
WINNER – GREG NORMAN
According to our use of AI, Greg Norman has had a big year. Solving crisis after crises like Cyclone Alfred, Flooding, Tariffs, Ukraine War, State of Origin, Music Industry, Avocados and so much more.
The FIFA World Peace Award for Worst Sporting Ceremony
WINNER – FIFA WORLD CUP DRAW
All most people wanted to see was who their team was playing, but FIFA turned it into the suckfest. With way too many politicians. And Mexico and Portugal didn’ get drawn together either. Sucks.
