The Newshub panel reflects on some of the more underwhelming Kiwi sporting moments of the year.
Henry Rounce: Silver Ferns failure
2018 was a resounding failure for the Silver Ferns, highlighted by a calamitous Commonwealth Games campaign that saw the captain in tears, the resignation of coach Janine Southby, and one of those independent reviews that has now become a household staple of New Zealand sport.
A shock loss to Malawi on the Gold Coast summed up their season, as they crashed out of the Games for the first time without a medal. It was also a tough year against their neighbours across the ditch, winning just once against Australia in seven attempts.
The introduction of Noeline Taurua and Laura Langman has offered fans some hope, but they’ve got plenty of work to do to get the team back on track.
Sam Ackerman: The ugly side of New Zealand sport exposed
The lid was lifted into the culture of many of this country's sporting organisations and it wasn't pretty to look at.
Cycling, football, rowing and others were thrust into uncomfortable spotlights over the last year, with a seemingly never-ending series of reviews set up both independently and through High Performance Sport NZ.
In a country that prides itself on both success and fair play, the lengths gone to in the quest for the former should never come at the expense of the latter.
Caley Callahan: Race-fixing scandal
The race-fixing scandal that rocked the Harness Racing industry in September has to be up there in terms of the ugliest side of New Zealand sport. What's worse is that it wasn't related to on-field performance, but alleged deliberate corruption off it.
The investigation dubbed "Operation Inca" was launched by Police last April after information from the Racing Integrity Unit. Since then, 14 people have been arrested and face a variety of charges related to fixing. Some of the industry's most prominent players are involved but court suppressions prohibit them being named or identified. More arrests and charges can't be ruled out.
This is a dark time for the industry and the debacle is likely to take up much of next year too.
Grant Chapman: Shaun Johnson's unceremonious exit from the Warriors
How did this situation escalate so quickly and disastrously?
Sure, the Warriors felt they were overpaying their superstar half and challenged him to test the market to find his true value.
And Johnson was absolutely justified in feeling the club he had aspired to play for as a kid and gone through so much turmoil with over so many years had ultimately betrayed him.
This whole process, which probably didn't need to play out in the public forum, was handled appallingly and hopefully both parties can find a way to land on their feet next season - but particularly Johnson.
His departure echoed the manner in which new Breakers owners ruthlessly dismantled their playing roster in their quest for an up-tempo NBA style and then failed to deliver on that promise.
Oh well, at least we now have a reason to broaden our support for other teams around those two Aussie competitions - go Cronulla Sharks, Melbourne United, Brisbane Bullets and Cairns Taipans!
Newshub.
