All the signs that predicted shock Bachelor finale

THIS year’s Bachelor finale has made TV history as the first time a suitor didn’t pick a contestant, but in hindsight was it that much of a shock?

On Thursday night, Nick Cummins dumped both Sophie Tieman and Brittany Hockley after declaring he wasn’t enough in love with either of them to make a long-term commitment.

Here’s all the signs you might have missed that predicted Nick would be walking away solo from the season.

MORE: How Nick Cummins could’ve saved himself

NICK’S WEIRD INTERVIEWS BEFORE THE SERIES STARTED

Hitting the promotional trail before The Bachelor airs, most suitors wax lyrical about their ‘amazing journey’ and how they have found ‘the one’.

But Nick’s interviews were very different, with the Honey Badger giving awkward answers and refusing to confirm if he was with someone from the show.

Nick told Men’s Health Australia he “wouldn’t put my money on 99 per cent of those girls” winning.

When asked about his ideal partner, the former rugby player said: “It wouldn’t be one of the ones on the show, that’s for sure.”

Quizzed by the Kyle and Jackie O Show if he had found love, Nick would only say: “What I can say is, um, is not a lot, but I’m bloody happy all right. I’m very happy so take what you will.”

MORE: The Bachelor scene that never made it to air

THE FINALISTS WERE GOOD FRIENDS

In contrast to other seasons where the girls have left the show barely on speaking terms, this year’s contestants became close friends, sharing supportive messages about each other on social media since the first episode.

Sophie, Brittany and Cassandra Wood gave a joint interview to The Daily Telegraph last month, revealing how they had formed an unbreakable bond … obviously now due to the fact that they were all dumped by Nick.

“No man is going to get between us and our new friendship,” Brittany said at the time. “We formed such a special friendship on day one in The Bachelor house.”

MORE: Why Nick Cummins made the right call

THE HONEY BADGER FLEEING THE COUNTRY BEFORE THE FINALE

In a surprise move, Nick fled Australia on Monday to take part in a Kokoda Trail trek in remote Papua New Guinea.

Nick’s absence raised eyebrows because previously suitors are required to be in Melbourne and Sydney when the finale aired in order to give press interviews alongside the series winner.

His departure set alarm bells ringing as the only previous instance a Bachelor suitor wasn’t available after the finale was season two’s Blake Garvey — who famously dumped winner Sam Frost for second runner-up Louise Pillidge.

BRITTANY’S SISTER SLIPS UP ON INSTAGRAM

Brittany was the bookies’ favourite to win but her sister Sheri gave the game away last month after inadvertently sharing a private conversation on social media.

While watching an episode of The Bachelor where Brittany went on a single date, Sheri posted a video to Instagram in which a woman (thought to be either Sheri or Brittany) and a man speculated about Nick’s intentions.

“Maybe he’s not ready to settle down,” a man’s voice could be heard saying to which a woman could be heard replying: “Maybe not”.

CONTESTANTS’ CRYPTIC RESPONSES DURING INTERVIEWS

While it’s rare for contestants to slip up and drop a spoiler, both Brooke and Brittany let slip hints they wouldn’t end up with Nick.

Speaking to Who ahead of last week’s home visits episode, Brittany was asked what she would hypothetically do if Nick dumped her … and ended up giving quite the detailed answer.

“At this stage, things are getting real and there are a lot of strong feelings there … This point comes and you start to see each other together and you realise this could be something really good,” she said.

“While I’d be really hurt, everything in life depends on how you react in certain situations. I’d be hurt, but you’ve got to get on with it … For me, personally, I’m not going to lock myself in my room and cry.”

During an interview withNW magazine before leaving the series, Brooke spoke about her relationship with Nick Cummins in the past tense — before swiftly correcting herself.

“I don’t do things by halves, and the ‘L’ word means a lot to me. There was a lot of potential for the relationship … Or there is, sorry,” Brooke said.

NICK’S AWKWARD CONVERSATION WITH BROOKE

Before Brooke dumped Nick on Wednesday night’s episode, the sports star admitted he was struggling to decide which girl he would walk away with.

“I’m struggling feelings wise for everyone,” Nick told Brooke during their date. “I think as we get down to this part, I’m challenged.

“It’s like having three girlfriends, it’s a very strange concept. And I’m finding it hard to break past barriers. I’m struggling to get those feelings to move on … with everyone, anyone.

BERNADETTE’S PREDICTION DURING THE FINALE EPISODE

During Thursday night’s finale, one person predicted early in the episode that Nick would be walking away solo — his sister, Bernadette.

When the Honey Badger was reunited with his family in New Caledonia, Bernadette was shocked that Brooke was not in the final two — presumably because she thought the 23-year-old was the only one that had a chance of winning.

“So tell us (with) Brooke, what happened?” She asked Nick. “We would have thought she would have probably made it to the end.”

Speaking to producers after meeting both Sophie and Brittany, Nick’s older sister said neither women suited her brother and appeared to hint he wouldn’t chose either of them.

“I see the young boyish side coming out with Sophie, I see the mature man coming out with Brittany,” Bernadette said.

“And I don’t necessarily see that either one is the complete package for him — but that’s up to him to make the right decision for himself.”

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