This weekend's NRL clash between Wests Tigers and the Parramatta Eels means an awful lot. Both teams are locked on 18 points at the very base of the NRL ladder, meaning that the defeated side will be "awarded" the wooden spoon for finishing as the competition's worst team. Wests Tigers are hoping to avoid a record-equalling third-straight bottom-placed finish, while the Eels are hoping to avoid that ignominy for the first time since 2018. The fact these two teams, both in contention for the wooden spoon, will meet in the final round of the season presents us with a "spoon bowl" — the dubiously titled match-up between the bottom two sides in the last game of the year. But there's a lot more at stake for the losers.
The Wooden Spoon's Humble Origins
But what does the wooden spoon even mean — aside from objectifying the widespread ridicule associated with being the league's worst team? The term wooden spoon has been around to describe NRL teams finishing bottom of the ladder for decades — as well as those in the AFL, rugby union's Six Nations and plenty of others around the world. But it actually traces its roots back a whole lot further than that. In fact, we have to go all the way back to Cambridge University's mathematics course at the end of the 18th century to discover the origin of the term.
The First Wooden Spoons
Cambridge University was obsessed with ranking its students from highest to lowest, as opposed to Oxford University, where the classics were more important and the awarding of a degree was seen as an achievement in itself. This was a time when academic achievement and intellectual ability, at Cambridge at least, were starting to be recognised ahead of social standing, meaning a tabulated ranking was essential. At universities, there were a number of different degrees that could be offered: first-class degree, second-class degree and third-class degree, all of which were given various names. In Cambridge's final maths examination — the only honours exam at the university — the Senate House Examination, which later came to be known as the Mathematical Tripos, students who achieved a first-class degree were called Wranglers, a second-class degree Senior Optimes and a third class degree, Junior Optimes. The highest-ranked student in the exam was referred to as the Senior Wrangler from 1791. But given there was a term for the leader, soon attention turned to the other end of the scale. So in 1793, another term emerged for the person who passed their degree but with the lowest possible score: the Wooden Spoon. The reason why the word spoon was used to refer to the lowest-ranked student is disputed, but according to research conducted by Chris Stray from the University of Swansea, it may have been related to the slang term "spoony", which meant foolish.
The Physical Spoon and Beyond
The term physically manifested for the first time outside the gates of Clare College, Cambridge, in 1804. Clare College had provided the Wooden Spoon "winner" three years in a row and someone thought it would be a suitable prank to display that outside the college. This was the first, but certainly not the last instance of an actual wooden spoon being awarded. In 1823, The Cambridge Tart, a collection of poetry, made reference to the wooden spoon as being a "solid honour" in an eponymous verse about the award. And while he lives, he wields the boasted prize. Whose value all can feel, the weak, the wise; Displays in triumph his distinguish'd boon. The solid honours of the Wooden Spoon. In 1832, there was the first-ever tie for a wooden spoon, with one of the men, Richard Shilleto, symbolically removing a small wooden spoon from his gown and splitting it in half to share with his fellow spooner, Matthew Chapman. As the 19th century progressed, the spoons advanced in style and size, its presentation being one of theatre as it dangled from the ceiling as the students collected their degrees, its size growing to monstrous proportions until the practice was finally banned in 1909.
From Cambridge to the NRL
Wooden spoons in sport continued to be a thing though — albeit without a physical representation. Mostly. In Major League Soccer, the Independent Supporters Council hands over a physical trophy to the team that finishes bottom of the ladder. And, when supporters of rival teams want to shame the bottom side, you can count on them rummaging through their kitchen drawers to wave wooden spoons in their opponents' faces. Like in 2020, when the Brisbane Broncos finished bottom of the ladder, supporters left plenty of reminders on the field of the club's Red Hill training base.
Injury Concerns Cloud 'Spoon Bowl'
Eels star Dylan Brown could miss the start of next season after interim coach Trent Barrett told reporters that the playmaker has suffered a suspected ACL injury. Parramatta finished the Spoon Bowl win over the Tigers with just one fit player on the bench after three players suffered injuries in a brutal second half. Brown’s night against the Tigers ended early after picking up a knee injury. It was initially reported that Brown sustained a hyperextended knee, but Barrett said in his post match presser that the club suspected the worst. “They’re a bit concerned so fingers crossed for Dylan because he’s been terrific,” he said. “So yeah there’s a bit of concern but hopefully he’ll be ok, great young player and great young bloke. “They think it might be an ACL but we’re hoping not. He’s a tough kid and he doesn’t come off.”
Tigers Embracing the Pressure
Wests Tigers are embracing the pressure of a high-stakes end to their NRL season, but captain Api Koroisau insists a third straight wooden spoon wouldn't ruin the momentum building for 2025. The Tigers are coming off a bye, having recorded a gutsy win over Manly at Leichhardt Oval prior to the break. The Tigers haven't beaten the Eels twice in one season since 2012. The Eels have won nine of their past 11 matches against Wests, but the Tigers caused an upset in the rivals' round-four meeting at CommBank Stadium with a 17-16 victory. Koroisau says a third straight wooden spoon would not define their season. "We've taken a step in the right direction this year, even though the results have not gone our way," he said. "The footy that we've been playing and the way we have been trying to play." However, Koroisau admitted it was a big game for Benji Marshall's side as they confront the prospect of becoming only the second team in the NRL era to claim three consecutive wooden spoons. "Pressure is a privilege," he said. "For us it is a pretty important game, we don't want to come last." Young star Lachlan Galvin said no matter the result, the improvement by the club this season has been clear as they prepare to welcome gun recruit Jarome Luai in 2025. "We've gotten better since the start of the year and from November last year to now I think we're such a better team," Galvin said. "Adding the players next year and how hard we're going to work in the pre-season, we're really on the up. "It's going to be massive ... we're gonna go down on Friday night and give it our best attention. "It is obviously Benji's first year and a lot of us boys have debuted for our first year so no one really wants the spoon." Newcastle are currently the only club to have achieved a spoon three-peat during the NRL era, finishing last in 2015-17.
A Spoon Full of History
The wooden spoon has a long and storied history, starting from the halls of Cambridge University and making its way into the heart of professional sports. It is a reminder that even in the most competitive of leagues, there is always a bottom feeder, a team that carries the weight of being the worst. For the Wests Tigers and the Parramatta Eels, the wooden spoon is a symbol of a season that has fallen short of expectations, but it also serves as a motivation for improvement in the future. This weekend's 'Spoon Bowl' promises a thrilling clash between two teams that are eager to finish the season on a high note, leaving behind the ignominy of the wooden spoon for another year.
