Great to have the footy back but just what did we see? Many so-called ‘heavyweights’ down on their high standards and a number of ‘unfashionables’ really catching the eye.
I watched all eight games closely and here is what I made of the teams and their prospects for 2014:
Rabbitohs
20-point winners over the defending premiers and certainly looked fiercely committed and composed.
They were a lot hungrier than the Roosters and had top performers from fullback right through to the front row.
Greg Inglis, Sammy Burgess, Adam Reynolds and Dylan Walker were terrific and even though it was Round 1, the Rabbitohs look to be serious title contenders.
Roosters
Trent Robinson’s men were not themselves, they actually looked overawed by the big occasion.
This team had the best defence in the league last year but conceded 28 points in their first game as defending champs. Lots of work to do in attack and defence but I am sure they will learn from it and be the testing material in 2014.
Did the World Club Challenge take away their NRL focus?
Sea Eagles
Faultless in the first half, with heaps of possession and brilliant momentum to build a 20-0 lead.
Second half was diabolical from Manly, conceding five straight penalties and missing tackles that would normally be made in their sleep.
When the Storm found their rhythm, Manly looked threadbare for big men and muscle up front. Problems surfacing for sure.
Storm
I thought they were going to be creamed by 30 or 40 after 15 or so minutes. Cooper Cronk’s absence was a telling blow as the Storm looked rudderless and the Manly boys ran riot.
The second half was a complete turnaround. Cam Smith grabbed the game by the throat and began calling the shots.
A superb comeback and then a golden point victory. You cannot count these guys out.
Eels
Well done Brad Arthur, an excellent first-up win. Lots to like about this highly enthusiastic and creative display by Parra.
Plenty of good stuff in defence, lots of brilliance shown in attack. No shortage of signs the blue and golds will not be finishing at the tail-end this season.
Warriors
Another worrying (losing) performance away from home. New Zealand had the players to win this one but got out-muscled, out-manoeuvred and outscored by a team that had almost forgotten how to do all of the above.
This club had a tremendous pre-season but wrecked it all in a shoddy 80 minute display. New Zealand will never win a thing without week-to-week consistency.
Raiders
It must be said Ricky Stuart’s men were unlucky not to get the chocolates against the Cowboys. They did enough to get a win but got beaten by a flash of Johnathan Thurston brilliance and an extraordinary try by Antonio Winterstein.
I like the way they are shaping in attack and there is plenty of muscle in defence. Raiders definitely on the up!
Cowboys
Powerful back-rower Jason Taumalolo was at times unstoppable in this game – he could be forming one of the NRL’s most damaging left sided attacks with Johnathan Thurston.
This was a strong win by the Cowboys, down 0-16 in the first half but recovering in spectacular fashion to win 28-22.
JT is getting better with age but now that Matty Bowen is gone, the Cows would be next to nothing without him.
Tigers
I realise this club is missing some key players due to injury but what we saw on Sunday was alarming to say the least.
The Tigers enjoyed an early 12-0 lead but from that point it became a red and white procession by the opposition.
Halfback Luke Brooks is a fine young talent but he will need to tackle better than that to hold his first grade spot. So will the players around him and they need to reduce the penalty count starting this weekend.
Some great young talent but the Tigers’ overall prospects are not good.
Dragons
Steve Price’s men surprised me. I had no idea they had 40-plus points in them!
Congrats to five-eighth Gareth Widdop on a fantastic start to 2014. He showed the Dragons what they can achieve this season – I sincerely hope they can follow the play-maker’s lead.
If they do, the Dragons will make mincemeat of my wooden spoon prediction of last week.
Bulldogs
This was a very poor start, too many basic errors in a game the Dogs really should have won.
I saw how hard the boys worked in the off-season and the performance in this game defied logic. Can only improve on an ordinary first up effort.
David Klemmer from the bench and Sammy Perrett (makeshift fullback) were the positives on the night.
Broncos
I wasn’t too impressed with these guys, either. Once they got to the front, they seemed hell-bent on defending the lead and they failed to play any sort of constructive football.
They have a lot of work to do with their halves. I do not think Ben Hunt and Josh Hoffman are the answer.
Ben Barba might be a smart (and more dangerous) choice at No 6.
Knights
Really put in, despite enormous adversity in their opening game of 2014.
Jarrod Mullen was out to begin with, and then they lost Darius Boyd, Kurt Gidley and Tyrone Roberts.
Very hard to discuss their prospects for the season but if the injury picture doesn’t clear quickly, I cannot seem them as finals contenders.
Panthers
Very impressive in their first outing but allowances must be made as their opposition was crippled by injuries to key personnel.
Winger Josh Mansour and back-rower Adam Docker were great, along with a number of the Panthers’ new buys.
Ivan Cleary has the launching pad he craved.
Sharks
Took on the Titans last night without Luke Lewis, Todd Carney, Jeff Robson and Chris Heighington. Lost skipper Paul Gallen halfway through with a potentially serious ankle injury.
Battled gamely against a near-full strength Titans but came up short. These close games are the ones you need to win.
Early days but the Sharks will need every point on offer.
Titans
Showed plenty of grit to win this one away from home. Halves Albert Kelly and Aiden Sezer made valuable contributions along with Greg Bird, Nate Myles and Co. in the forward pack.
Far from a slick Gold Coast display but any win away from home is gold for John Cartwright’s men.
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