Into the big green bags they go: the party hats for the Storm fans; the sodden tissues of the Cowboys fans who had come all that way to see what amounted to a ritual sacrifice; the remains of Brad Arthur's shattered dreams that it might have been the Eels turn this year; and ... look there! Yes, it is one of the several dummies Ricky Stuart spat this year, over the performance of the referees, found under one of the seats by the coach's box.

Off in the distance, somewhere, a muffled roar is coming from deep within the bowels of the stadium, as the Storm engage in the team song one more time for the road. Yes, the carnival is over for another year. All the cheers, tears, jeers and beers, done and dusted for another season. But before we leave it entirely, let us pause for a few moments reflection. For when the days grow cold, and we grow old, what will we remember of 2017 when it comes to rugby league? I thought you'd never ask ...

Most memorable moment. Oddly enough, it was not the football at all, but the pre-match entertainment for the grand final, that I reckon will stand out. For Macklemore's performance, and his singing of the gay anthem Same Love, was not just the talk of the league world, but the nation, coming as it did at the height of the equal rights in marriage debate. It was a triumph for league, for Todd Greenberg and the "yes" campaign.

Most worrying trends for the NRL. Crowds were down five per cent on 2016. . My reckoning is that with the growth of Aussie rules, with now two professional clubs going really well in the AFL and league has suffered accordingly. Only one thing is certain - it is not because they are going to rugby union, where crowds have been decimated.

Most humiliating defeat. NSW at the hands of Queensland, again, in State of Origin. When NSW had them on the ropes, again, and were dancing on their coffin, again, Queensland suddenly sprung from their grave and throttled them, again.

Cameron Smith and Billy Slater with the NRL premiership trophy. Photo: AAP

2017 good boys. It really was the season to end reason for the Holy Trinity of the Melbourne Storm, Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk. In their last time at bat together, between them, they cleaned up just about every trophy, every medal going.

Booze brothers: Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan. Photo: David Moir

2017 bad boys. Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson have, again, won the Josh Dugan and Blake Ferguson perpetual trophy. Look, their atrocities and misdemeanours tend to blur into one after a while, but their stand-out performance was going on their bender five days before Origin II, on the team's day off.

Worse bit of man-management. Whoever it was who decided to room Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan together in Origin camp. Seriously, was there not one voice raised, saying, "You know what, Laurie? I am not convinced that is wise". Apparently not. Whether or not it was Laurie's fault, it was probably that affair that finished his tenure.

Quote of the year. On the Sunday Footy Show, in May, the hosts were asking the Canberra Raiders captain, Jarrod Croker, if any of the players can understand their second-rower, Elliott Whitehead, due to his strong northern English accent. Freddie Fittler chimed in, "They [Canberra] need an interpretator!" Gold!

The Raiders react to the loss to the Panthers in Bathurst, where they conceded two tries in the final 80 seconds. Photo: AAP

Unluckiest team. The Canberra Raiders. All season long, they were on the cusp of becoming dangerous, only to finish the season right there, on the cusp. Lost three matches by a single point.

Biggest disappointment. I think it fair to say, yes, that although the Hayne Plane didn't crash and burn, it never actually took off?

Biggest find. Michael Morgan. Sure league aficionados knew all about the Cowboys' Morgan and how good he was, just as AFL aficionados knew about Richmond's Dustin Martin. But for the rest of us, on the fringes, who only truly focus on the football in the lead-in to the finals, and then the finals themselves, Morgan was a revelation. The Cowboys, if they were following the script, would have fallen into a big hole the instant Johnathan Thurston was injured and operated on. Instead, Morgan fired up as never before - or at least never before while we were watching - and propelled the Cowboys all the way to the grand final, from eighth position.

All-up, 2017 was not the greatest of all NRL vintages, not the one you'd put in a bottle to take out in 20 years and say "This, this is as good as it got". But a pretty solid drop, regardless!