In the five months that have passed since the Sydney Roosters mounted the premiership podium on October 6, rugby league fans have killed the time by doing a lot of things, some sports-related, some not.
They have watched Australia dominate England in the cricket for hours, mourned the death of Nelson Mandela, ushered in a new year, endured numerous 40-degree-plus days, saw Stanislas Wawrinka and Li Na reign at the Australian Open, seen Schapelle Corby leave Kerobokan Prison (for the time being) amidst a media scrum and watched as the Aussies flopped at the Sochi Winter Olympics.
After all those events, plus a couple of trials, the Auckland Nines and the World Club Challenge, the NRL is back for another year. And what a way to open the season with two grudge matches, both of which will be detailed in preview here.
Rabbitohs versus Roosters
The season kicks off with the reigning premiers, the Sydney Roosters, facing who many believe will be the biggest threat in their attempt to become the first repeat premiers since the Brisbane Broncos in 1992-3, the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Any doubts as to whether the reigning premiers could repeat their phenomenal season from last season under rookie coach Trent Robinson were all but distinguished as the Chooks thrashed the Wigan Warriors 36-14 to win their third World Club Challenge from as many attempts last month.
The bulk of their premiership winning squad have been retained from last year, with the notable exception being that of Luke O’Donnell, who announced his retirement from the game late last year.
Martin Kennedy is the only major loss from the club; he has packed his bags and headed north to the Brisbane Broncos.
As far as the Rabbitohs are concerned, this season will be about trying, for the third time, to reach their first grand final since winning their most recent premiership in 1971.
The Bunnies must forget about failures past and hope that their senior core remain free from injury throughout the season, in particular Greg Inglis, who has either been suspended (2012 for a shoulder charge on Dean Young) or injured (during the final game of the 2013 Origin series) midway through the season for the last two years, indirectly damaging the Rabbitohs’ premiership aspirations.
The two meetings between the teams last year were split, with the Rabbitohs winning at Allianz Stadium in Round 1 before the Roosters not only returned serve, but also won the more important meeting – the minor-premiership deciding final round showdown at ANZ Stadium.
The feature of this match will be the duel between premiership winning halfback Mitchell Pearce and Rabbitohs counterpart Adam Reynolds, as well as union-bound forwards Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Burgess, making this Thursday night match compulsive viewing.
With both teams expected to contend for the premiership again in 2014, picking a winner for this match alone might be hard. But I’ll pick the Roosters by 10 points.
Bulldogs versus Broncos
It’s only Round 1 but already Bulldogs fans will be out in force and in full voice when they welcome Ben Barba and the Brisbane Broncos to Sydney the following evening.
The Broncos are coming off their worst ever season in a quarter of a century of existence and it’s hoped by the fans that their off-season imports, headed by the 2012 Dally M Medallist, will have an impact as the six-time premiers look to return to the top half of the ladder in 2014.
Barba’s arrival led to rumours that Josh Hoffman might be headed south to the Bulldogs as a direct trade, but what matters more is that Hoffman remains in the maroon and yellow and also remains central to the club’s chances in 2014.
Already a major surprise has been pulled off with the Broncos naming Hoffman at five-eighth alongside Ben Hunt, in their latest attempt to find stability in the halves following the retirement of Darren Lockyer at the end of 2011 and the subsequent departures of Corey Norman (Parramatta) and Scott Prince (retired).
As expected, Barba will line-up in his most comfortable position of fullback, where he starred for the Bulldogs in their run to the 2012 grand final.
Speaking of the Bulldogs, moving on from his departure will be their biggest obstacle as they fight to stay in the top half of the ladder this year.
Des Hasler-coached sides have not missed the finals since 2004 but Barba’s departure, as well as that of Dene Halatau (Wests Tigers) and Kris Keating (English Super League), could have Bulldogs fans in for a long season this year.
The teams split their two meetings last year with the Bulldogs winning in round eleven before the Broncos ended their worst season on a high with a 16-11 victory at home in the final round.
With the ANZ Stadium crowd expected to be bathed in blue and white, Barba will be in for a tough night as he attempts to lead his new team to victory over the teammates with whom they shared the pain of grand final defeat just under 18 months ago.
The Barba factor will be what leads to me predicting a Broncos victory by 12 points.
Other matches to look forward to:
Panthers versus Knights
A new look Penrith side, led by new halves pairing Jamie Soward and Peter Wallace will look to secure their first win over Newcastle since 2010 as the third year of the Ivan Cleary era gets underway.
The Knights, however, are coming off an impressive run to the preliminary finals last year and a sixth straight win over the mountain men this Saturday night could be the first stepping stone towards potentially going one better this year.
Prediction: Knights by 6
Sea Eagles versus Storm
The latest chapter in the NRL’s modern day rivalry between Manly and Melbourne will continue on Saturday night as last year’s runners-up look to continue their not-so-regular dominance of the 2012 premiers.
The Sea Eagles will be hungry to go one better after losing to the Roosters in last year’s decider while the Storm will be out to prove that they are anything but a spent force, having crashed out of last year’s finals in straight sets.
Another explosive match between these two teams will be expected.
Prediction: Sea Eagles by 10
Cowboys versus Raiders
Two clubs armed with new coaches will look to get their sides off to a winning start when the Cowboys take on the Raiders in Townsville on Saturday night.
The Cowboys are armed with a new coach in Paul Green, who took over during the off-season after Neil Henry was informed that his services would not be required this season onwards, while the Raiders will be coached by favourite son and three-time premiership winning halfback Ricky Stuart.
But which coach will get their career off to a winning start – the rookie (Green) or the experienced head (Stuart, who will be coaching his fourth different NRL club)?
Prediction: Cowboys by 18
Dragons versus Tigers
The battle of two of last year’s underachievers will enter this season with their coaches under pressure to deliver, with a loss for either club possibly being the first step towards either Steve Price or Mick Potter not being here in six months’ time.
Both clubs missed the finals for a second consecutive year in 2013 as they look to rebuild from successful eras under Wayne Bennett and Tim Sheens respectively.
But already we have seen some young guns rise through the ranks at both clubs, notably Luke Brooks, who on debut for the Tigers slayed the Red V in their last meeting towards the end of last season.
The Dragons’ game plan will centre around trying to shut him down this Sunday. Will that happen, or will Brooks rise to the occasion again, lead the Tigers to a season opening victory and heap more pressure on Steve Price?
Prediction: A hard one to pick here. I’ll say Dragons by 10.
Eels versus Warriors
Last year’s wooden spooners, Parramatta, enter this season under the tutelage of yet another new coach in Brad Arthur, who after serving as a caretaker coach at the back end of 2012, will make his “official” NRL coaching debut on Sunday against the New Zealand Warriors.
Arthur and his Eels will have it tough in the opening round as they take on the Warriors, who will unleash English fullback Sam Tomkins, who with Kiwi halfback Shaun Johnson combined in the club’s 48-4 thrashing of the Broncos in their most recent trial last weekend.
The Eels may have other plans, with their star fullback Jarryd Hayne set to welcome Tomkins into the NRL with a performance which would make up for his injury woes last year, which partially resulted in last year’s poor season.
Prediction: Another tough one. I’ll go Eels by 10, on the basis of home ground advantage.
Sharks versus Titans
As was the case last year, Cronulla’s season opener against the Gold Coast Titans will come on the back of a controversial build-up to the match, with their coach Shane Flanagan suspended.
Last year, his suspension was indefinite and was reinstated on the eve of Round 3, but this year he will be banned from coaching until at least midway through the finals series, stemming from the Sharks’ controversial supplements program.
Can the Sharks repeat last year’s gutsy effort and knock off the Titans, or will the visitors prove too strong?
Prediction: Sharks by 6.
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