Controversy, KOs and an Ashes for the ages: Our 10 most-read stories of 2023

Off you go, 2023.

It was a year with plenty of glorious Australian performances, from World Cups in codes galore to remarkable solo efforts.

And locally, we saw beautiful defeats and ugly victories – including two spectacular Grand Finals in the winter codes.

But in the cold, hard light of day, it’s not always the biggest sporting feats which Aussie fans want to read about… it’s, in the words of K-pop group aespa, about the dra-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma.

Controversy reigns on the top-10 most-read articles for Foxsports.com.au in 2023 – let’s count them down.

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10. Tszyu’s statement first-round KO win over Ocampo

The Aussie superstar appears twice on this countdown, thanks to his two big knockout wins in 2023, with this 77-second clash with Mexico’s Carlos Ocampo kicking things off. Perhaps it would’ve caught the other Tszyu fight story if it had lasted a bit longer, given the Sydneysider was dominant and brutally efficient in June on the Gold Coast. It was Tszyu’s first defence of his WBO interim super welterweight/light-middleweight title; he’s now the official champion, thanks to Jermell Charlo’s decision to flee the division for a big-money loss to Canelo Alvarez.

9. Matty Johns stitched up by Fletch and Hindy in 12-month revenge prank

Fox League’s biggest names always bring the laughs but few moments, if any, were better than this one back in March. A year after Bryan Fletcher and Nathan Hindmarsh were stitched up by Matty Johns in an all-time classic segment that saw the pair dressed up in various animal outfits for what they thought was a Red Rooster commercial, they plotted their revenge – and got it, sweetly. Aussie comedian Jackie Loeb played the role of heckler at a lunch, declaring Matty was “f***ing boring”, blaming him for the Cronulla riots because his form was so poor for the Sharks at the time, and then declaring him a “piece of s***” when escorted out be security. Oh, and once Matty realised the prank was just that, they put a giant snake in his car and locked him in there. Gotcha.

8. THAT Noosa tiff between Michael Clarke and Karl Stefanovic

Now this is what we’re talking about when it comes to drama. At the peak of the Aussie summer video emerged of a stunning confrontation between former Australian captain Michael Clarke, his girlfriend… and Today Show host Karl Stefanovic. Or, as Clarke repeatedly called him, Karlos. It was the talk of the nation and Clarke apologised for his actions, taking only brief time away from his commentary duties before returning to the spotlight. Clarke even returned to Noosa just a few months later… without quite as much attention coming his way this time. Hey, we’re just giving you the top 10 stories y’all read, not passing judgement.

7. Freddy’s bold Blues calls in Game 1 NSW Origin squad

Off the back of a disappointing 2022 series defeat, New South Wales was desperate to make amends and charge into Origin for 2023. Under-fire coach Brad Fittler went big in the opener, as our story about the Game 1 squad revealed, including some big call-ups, gambles and snubs. Unfortunately for the Blues and their fans it didn’t work out, with Queensland winning the opener in Adelaide, then clinching the series in game two at home before a dead rubber consolation win for NSW in Sydney. Fittler didn’t accept a one-year contract extension and New Zealand national coach Michael Maguire took the tough job in late November.

6. Without a Fight wins the 2023 Melbourne Cup

Don’t tell the Sydney racing scene, but there’s still nothing like the great race at Flemington every November – certainly when it comes to reader interest on our website. Mark Zahra’s remarkable second consecutive win in the Melbourne Cup drew the headlines this year, after his bold call to give up the ride on 2022 winner Gold Trip to saddle Without A Fight, who he rode to victory in the Caulfield Cup earlier in the carnival. Few, if any, jockeys have completed a 12 months like that.

5. Storm gun Papenhuyzen’s heartbreaking injury just after 13-month absence

Even the most ardent Melbourne-hater couldn’t have been happy seeing Ryan Papenhuyzen stretchered off the field in the Storm’s qualifying final loss to the Broncos. Just a few games after returning from a serious knee injury which cost him over a year, Papenhuyzen’s ugly right ankle fracture saw six screws and a plate inserted into his leg. The heartbreaking scenes left the NRL world emotional. The Storm are hopeful he’ll be back for Round 1 in 2024 but he was forced into another lengthy rehab stint either way. And as commentator Dan Ginnane said on Fox League’s coverage – “sometimes this game is not fair”.

4. Ugly scenes in Lord’s Long Room as Aussies verbally assaulted

It was the brief walk that drew headlines across the world. The Jonny Bairstow dismissal – discussed below, because it was a bloody big deal – saw even the toffs inside the prestigious Lord’s Long Room blowing up. While you expected it from many of the English fans, the sight of MCC members going mad was shocking, and the vision from inside the Long Room showed how Usman Khawaja was targeted in particular. Khawaja confronted a member over his comments and called for security, with Lord’s eventually banning one member for life and another two copping suspensions. Oh, and all of this for something that was completely within the rules. Ridiculous.

3. Poms’ hypocrisy exposed after Bairstow Ashes drama

There’s nothing the English love more than complaining, and they’re still going on about Australia understanding the rules better than wandering Jonny Bairstow. The controversial dismissal of the Poms keeper turned an already-exciting Ashes series into a fiery one, but the constant declarations that the Aussies had destroyed cricket (when England had already tried to do that by creating it and then losing all the time) saw the pointed fingers turned back on them. And, as it turned out, the Poms weren’t so squeaky-clean, with Stuart Broad famously not walking after edging one to the slips in 2013, the team celebrating wildly when they similarly ran out Colin De Grandhomme in 2022, and Bairstow himself trying to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne in the same way earlier in the Lord’s Test. The utter ridiculousness of the English argument was exposed repeatedly – but they won’t admit it. And believing they’re the only team defending the spirit of cricket won’t help them win back the urn.

2. Tszyu becomes world champion after vicious KO of Harrison

It became clear a few fights before this Tszyu was more than just a famous name – but this was the moment he officially became a champion. He didn’t need to fight American Tony Harrison, the only man with a win over former champion Jermell Charlo in their division, but the Aussie took the risk and became interim WBO super welterweight/light-middleweight champion for the first time – asking “what’s my motherf***ing name?” after a ninth-round stoppage in Sydney. After three wins in 2023, the question is now what’s next for Tszyu? Nothing is confirmed just yet, but for over a month plans have been in the works for a Las Vegas spectacular on March 2, across the same weekend as the NRL’s season launch in the American entertainment capital. We await with bated breath.

1. Debate erupts over questionable Jadeja act during Australia vs India

A shout-out to our readers from the subcontinent, who ensured this controversial moment from the opening hours of Australia’s first Test in against India earned the most views of any story from 2023. The blockbuster tour began with observers questioning exactly what Ravindra Jadeja was putting on the ball as he prepared for his 16th over having already taken three wickets – Michael Vaughan summing up the views of the cricketing world when he tweeted “what is it he is putting on his spinning finger? Never ever seen this.” Given Australia’s history with ball-tampering the accusations began to fly. As it turned out, Jadeja was applying pain-relief cream to his index finger, but he hadn’t asked permission from the umpires and was fined 25 per cent of his match fee plus had a demerit point added to his disciplinary record. The Aussies copped a bad loss in that Test in Nagpur, but responded well with a thumping win in Indore plus a draw on a batting-friendly Ahmedabad track – also defeating India in the following ODI series, and in the World Test Championship final in London, and in the ODI World Cup final back in India. Safe to say the Aussies won the rivalry in 2023.