Yes, theoretically these are supposed to be produced after a round has been played, but rugby league’s return has us far too excited to wait. Get ready, because here come your somewhat presumptive NRL talking points for Round 1!
A belter first up
What a game we get to kick us off, with Melbourne and Craig Bellamy’s unbelievable run of first-up victories in genuine peril as they head to Parramatta.
Melbourne haven’t lost in Round 1 since 2001, meaning Bellamy, who took the helm in 2003, has never lost a season opener. It’s an incredible stat.
While they still have Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes, Harry Grant, Christian Welch and Nelson Asofa-Solomona forming an undeniably great core, Melbourne’s got Nick Meaney covering Ryan Papenhuyzen’s absence at fullback, no Justin Olam, Munster managing osteitis pubis and winger Will Warbrick (say that five times fast) playing his first game at the top level.
Mind you, Warbrick is 193 centimetres and 105 kilos. From the footage I’ve seen, he’s not a man to be trifled with. Remember too the last fella to debut on a wing for Melbourne scored two tries in a win, that being Grant Anderson last year.
Nick Meaney. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Parramatta have won their last four against the Storm and they roll out new hooker Josh Hodgson, who in between injury stints has been one of the best No. 9’s in the game.
The Eels and coach Brad Arthur shut up plenty of mouthy types on their way to the grand final last year, but they know how quickly they’ll spark up again if things don’t go their way.
Thursday should be great fun.
New coaches, new players, new approaches
There’s a most interesting game afoot on Saturday afternoon when the new-look Canterbury visit the new-ish look Manly.
Everyone wants to see how the Bulldogs go under new coach Cameron Ciraldo, who through no fault of his own is the NRL media’s appointed coaching golden child.
Manly may well be our first (and last?) ‘preseason challenge’ champions but in the real world they’re not a great example of Round 1 success. They haven’t won their opener since 2013.
The good news is Tom Trbojevic is playing after preseason injury concerns and the squad is reasonably settled for what that’s worth, because the Sea Eagles really were deplorable in the second half of last season.
That’s what has new Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold under the brightest light. Will Manly fans get the NRL coach of the year version, the over-engineered flameout version or a reflective, improved coach who can bring them back to finals?
Cameron Ciraldo. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Remember, good teams pace themselves
Round 1 is not the time to empty the tank for victory or risk players who are dinged up. Nor is it the time when teams with top-four and premiership designs overly extend themselves if they don’t have to.
Year after year we see teams fly out of the blocks and then stumble while tried and true finals-hardened clubs pace their seasons to peak at the business end. Often this means patchy early-round form from contenders that we all massively overreact to.
Teams to keep an eye on this week are Penrith against Brisbane, North Queensland against Canberra and the Roosters in Redcliffe. All are heavy favourites and expected to win, but with their thinking being much more about the long term, a willing opponent could just be an outside chance to sneak two points.
Spread the word around, the byes are back in town
Feel that excitement, the anticipation? Jumping in on all the footy banter, the team list chat on Tuesday? Getting that feeling we all know so well, reaching for the end of the week because there’s rugby league coming and you can live or die with your team?
Sorry, Dragons fans. That’s not for you. Speak to you next week.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
It’ll be a great Friday in Wellington
New Zealand host Newcastle on Friday in front of a huge crowd at Wellington’s Sky Stadium, the first time in a quarter of a century the Warriors have had their season opener on a Friday.
New Warriors coach Andrew Webster has a sneaky good squad to play with and rolls out a host of new recruits to face a Knights side which, to be frank, has not inspired much preseason confidence. They’re not a bad team, really, but their talent has most definitely not matched their output.
It’s going to be great to see the hosts embrace the fanfare and occasion of a season launch after playing so long out of town before late last year. If the Warriors can turn it into more memberships, cash and support, all the better.
There are zero expectations for The Dolphins
The NRL’s newest crew take the field for the first time in competitive anger on Sunday afternoon when they welcome the Roosters to Redcliffe, also known as ‘The’.
Predictions for our cetacean friends are all over the joint – they’re either a squad of offcuts, has-beens and duds who’ll run dead last, or they’re a collection of shrewd pick-ups who are more than capable of playing a good spoiler role under the master motivator Uncle Wayne.
Me, I’m just keen to see that courageous, fashionable and innovative Vanilla Coke livery as often as I can.
Unfortunately the Roosters aren’t usually in the business of being accommodating guests and it’s difficult to see that changing this weekend, but keep in mind the ‘good teams pace themselves’ talking point up there. Round 1 can be a land of upsets!
Genuine Round 1 quandaries
Will Kalyn Ponga work at five-eighth for Newcastle? His coach, Adam O’Brien, sure hopes his superstar can manage a Darren Lockyer-Jack Wighton-level transition. He’s tried it before and it didn’t work; I look forward to the massive overreactions to his outing in New Zealand, win or lose.
Wests Tigers are marginal underdogs with the bookies at Leichhardt against the Titans. Both teams are tough to get a handle on. Which one is going to play to their potential?
Do Cronulla get outed as beneficiaries of a soft draw in 2022 or will they take it to South Sydney and prove they might be a genuine contender?
How much cash has Nelson Asofa-Solomona set aside for judiciary fines this year?
It’s great to be back. What’s got you talking ahead of Round 1, Roarers?
