A number of rookies pressed the excitement accelerator in the weekend’s NRL Auckland Nines, but it was a seasoned professional who made me sit up and take notice as we hurtle towards the 2016 premiership kickoff.
I refer to 29-year-old Blake Green, who looks set for a terrific season alongside Cooper Cronk at the Melbourne Storm.
“You’re kidding,” I think I heard you say. “All of those extraordinary kids on show and you are raving about a bloke nudging 30?”
Yes indeed. I really liked what I saw from Green in New Zealand. He was handed a leadership role and absolutely killed it.
Storm skipper Green ran precisely when needed, his pass selection was exquisite, his kicking game was spot-on, and I saw a maturity to his all-round game that will make Green one of the first players picked at Melbourne after the Big Three of Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Cronk.
I’ll even go as far to say that Melbourne may well have a Big Four to contend with as the year unfolds.
This guy isn’t flashy, super-fast or physically imposing. But he’s quick between the ears, and has a football brain that will make him one of the most dangerous schemers in the league.
His path to season 2016 has been long and winding. He had stints of varied success at Parramatta, Cronulla, Canterbury, Hull Kingston Rovers and Wigan before lobbing into Melbourne (where he played every minute of every game) last year.
I’m enthusiastic about the skills he will bring to the table and it wouldn’t surprise if his name gets mentioned as a possible NSW Blue after the first five or six weeks of the competition. He looks that good.
Canberra’s new boy Aidan Sezer will also be a NSW candidate for the No.6 jumper, but we’ll talk about him as the year gets cracking.
There was a lot to like about the Nines again. Auckland did the tournament well, and I enjoyed the twin coverage from Fox Sports and Triple M.
Best of all, it’s like a tasty entrée to the main course, with so many up-and-comers showcased on a big stage for the first time.
Who could do anything but marvel at the speed and hunger of young guns such as Bevan French (Parra), Gideon Gela-Mosby (North Queensland), Bryce Cartwright and Waqa Blake (Penrith), Euan Aitken (St George Illawarra), Latrell Mitchell (Sydney), Agnatius Paasi and Ash Taylor (Gold Coast), Matt Parcell and Tom Trbojevic (Manly) and Tuimola Lolohea (New Zealand)?
There was also a heck of a lot to like with the skills and direction provided by established NRL stars such as Corey Norman, Shaun Johnson, Tohu Harris, Semi Radradra and Chris McQueen.
But from 2017, we will see only good first graders – not great ones – in those crazy Nines jumpers. Clubs have too much to lose. Just ask injury-hit Manly, who are probably cursing the day the comp was ever mooted.
It was tremendous to see underrated Parramatta power right through to the final and actually win some silverware.
My old mate, Pirtek Pete, lobbed at my house on finals day and was so pent-up and nervous that he stood at the back of my loungeroom until the deed was done.
I wrote recently on The Roar that PP was one of the craziest league fans I’ve ever met. Wrong. His missus, Janet, is so fiercely loyal to the blue and gold cause that she should be committed.
A thoroughly enjoyable weekend from the armchair, but can someone please recommend a sure-fire cure for my blue and gold headache?
Pirtek Pete and his missus, just like their beloved Eels, left an indelible mark on everything and everyone within earshot.
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