On the verge of a new era under an independent commission, NRL clubs have stars in their eyes – and none will be keener to close the book on the last chapter than the Melbourne Storm.
The new regime – yet to be ratified but set to be installed before the 2011 season kick-off – carries with it promises of riches such as the game has never seen before, while also removing the clutter of management levels which have hampered it for so long.
The future of rugby league has scarcely looked brighter, the prospect of a $1 billion television deal set to fund a war chest to ward off AFL and rugby union incisions into the code’s playing ranks and heartlands, while increasing the likelihood of spreading the game via expansion.
NRL clubs should be able to compete more strongly with other competitions and countries for top talent, with bosses no doubt envisioning the day when they can put together a squad littered with superstars to dominate the competition.
Dominate in the manner Melbourne did when they reached four straight grand finals from 2006-09, capturing premierships in 2007 and 2009.
A playing roster which included the likes of Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk plus a litany of representative stars was the envy of the league and seemed too good to be true – and in the end proved to be so with the club found guilty of rorting the salary cap.
With their premiership titles struck from the record books, the Storm were left with the thankless task of playing out the majority of the 2010 season for nothing but pride as rival clubs at home and abroad circled the carcass of their playing roster.
Three of the big four remain at Melbourne, with Inglis set to join South Sydney – provided he gets NRL approval – but in the wake of the Storm’s demise a new top dog emerged as St George Illawarra delivered on years of unfulfilled potential by securing the joint-venture’s first NRL premiership.
Returning with a roster missing only departed hard men Jeremy Smith and Neville Costigan, the Dragons will begin 2011 favoured to do it again.
But the man credited with delivering their greatest hour – master coach Wayne Bennett – could prove to be their biggest obstacle next season.
Having accomplished his premiership goal, there is widespread speculation 2011 could be Bennett’s last with the Dragons, and the thought of the game’s greatest coach looking to move closer to his family base in Brisbane would surely have an effect on the club.
An off-kilter Dragons could open the door for defeated grand finalists Sydney Roosters to make it fifth-time lucky for their coach Brian Smith, or maybe even Wests Tigers, who went within one unawarded penalty against the Dragons of playing in the decider.
The addition of Inglis will give the Rabbitohs faithful hope that they can erase the disappointment of the 2010 campaign, while it remains to be seen if new coach Stephen Kearney can turn around a Parramatta club which started last season as favourites before a disastrous run which cost Daniel Anderson his job.
Kearney will at least enter NRL coach ranks with a pair of impressive notches on his belt, with New Zealand’s Four Nations victory over Australia solidifying the world champion Kiwis status as the No.1 force in the international game.
In a healthy advertisement for the much-ridiculed Test program, Kearney’s Kiwis have now won three of their past four finals against Australia, with the Kangaroos only win in that time coming via a Darren Lockyer extra-time try in 2006.
Kiwis skipper Benji Marshall collected the Golden Boot award as the game’s best player, while it was another No.6 in Todd Carney who walked away with the majority of the other awards – the one-time bad-boy producing a massive career turnaround to gather the Dally M and RLIF player of the year trophies after a year out of the game.
Having set up a fascinating NRL rivalry with Marshall, it should not be long before Carney is duelling with him regularly at Test level as well, with the Roosters star the heir apparent to Kangaroos playmaker Darren Lockyer.
First however, Carney will likely be entrusted with reviving the hopes of the NSW Origin side, the Blues suffering a 3-0 whitewash in 2010 – an unprecedented fifth straight series loss.
The last man to coach them to victory – Ricky Stuart – has again been installed at the helm, though he will be up against it taking on what some believe to be the best Queensland side ever assembled.
But Stuart, never one to shirk from a challenge, is confident that like the game itself, his Blues can move into a great new era.
NF
Guest
GoGWS it's best to just ignore Masters all together I ignore AFL journalists when they say mindless garbage about NRL so it's best you do the same, lighten up and merry Christmas. Don't let Masters put a piece of coal in your Christmas presents.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/santa-to-scrooge-olympic-sport-stripped-of-promised-federal-gold-20101223-196mt.html For what it's worth, another article of utter jibberish from Masters... 'Santa to Scrooge' (24 Dec) - a thinly disguised moan about RL supposedly being dudded once again (and sure enough a few barbs at another code, this time RUnion has raised his ire rather than the AFL). Another very lazy effort from Roy - perhaps exusable on 24 Dec - but if he insists on comparisons he simply has to do far better than this. He has included a short quote that more-or-less implies there could be some legitimate basis for the discrepancy (by quoting ASC spokesman who makes the point about two states verses national) but then is totally mute about whether that discrepancy is in fact justified. He just raises it and offers no further attempt at analysing this claim, or offering his opinion about it. OK so RUnion gets marginally more for its national program verses RL for its NSW/QLD program - who cares!! It's a non-issue and a non-story..... The big question I have is who at smh is checking this garbage that goes out in Master's name?..He's overdue for retirement...Everything he pumps out is either error-filled or irrelevant...
TammyS
Guest
Maybe 10 years ago, Redb but not now. Redfern is quiet safe nowadays
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Rabbits are not indigenous to Australia, correct.Neither is the non aboriginal population ,if one is to be pedantic. BTW it is a fact Redfern is becoming more up market and gentrified,with a younger pro population moving in,but if you are in taxi desperate to get back to Melbourne and admire the beauty of the Yarra,you may not notice.
captain nemo
Roar Guru
how correct you are Redb, Rabbits are not native to Australia, but here is a cut from wiki on the so called history of the term Rabbitohs, "The most famous story of how the club got the "Rabbitohs" nickname comes from their rugby union days at the turn of the 20th century. During that period, players wearing their cardinal red and myrtle green football jumpers, earned some extra money on Saturday mornings by hawking rabbits around the district with the traditional cry of "Rabbitoh!" echoing through the narrow streets. As they made a sale, they would sling the bunny from their shoulder and skin it on the spot, inevitably accumulating some of the fur and blood on their jerseys as they did so. When they played in those blood stained jumpers that afternoon, opponents from wealthier rugby clubs did not always appreciate the aroma and would mockingly repeat the "Rabbitoh!" cry." Wow, living ones life through google and wiki is easy???
Redb
Roar Guru
see the world through South Sydney? right. Most people avoid the place, only visitors have to endure the taxi drive back to the airport through Redfern. :)
Redb
Roar Guru
"How about we deride the self declared Australian game for having nicknames of non Australian animals? Are there are any white swans native to Australia? Any lions? Any giants? Any bulldogs?" Rabbits are not indigenous to Australia.
captain nemo
Roar Guru
due you know Redb what a rabbitoh is and why South Sydney were called the rabbitohs. In the great depression, the Rabbitoh was part of the poorest lives and some of the poorest lived in South Sydney. Redb, sometimes you say some foolish things on here. You need to travel my friend!!!!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I think in 2011 like Warne the Sharks will be punching above their weight,both on the field and financially off it.Unfortunately Liz Hurley is not a cheerleader. Good to see Rusty promoting his beloved Rabbitohs(the origin of which is steeped in Sydney history) not only with Oprah but with other US talk show hosts and stars.The growing interest in the U.S with new cities expressing interest in having AMNRL teams,adds to the benefit. I am amused someone has a shot at the name Rabbitohs, when they have a team in their code called the Cats.
Dan
Guest
The great Australian game's cheerleader Redb declares "“Rabbitohs’ is the worst nickname in Australian sport". What is more uniquely Australian than to end a word or nickname with an "O"? Milko? Righto? Unbelievable. How about we deride the self declared Australian game for having nicknames of non Australian animals? Are there are any white swans native to Australia? Any lions? Any giants? Any bulldogs?
Whites
Guest
Probably sources from the TV side of things. They would be interested in downplaying expectations from the AFL and NRL.
captain nemo
Roar Guru
was chatting to a friend in Washington just a few minutes back who had just watched the Oprah Sydney circus. When I said hi to her on Skype, her first comments were, how is the whole Oprah thing going in Sydney, she also asked me about Russell Crows rugby team and were they a popular team. Redb, thats priceless mate!!! :) You couldn't buy that sought of publicity.
Redb
Roar Guru
You must be a fan. Green and red not exactly great either but each to their own. If they were known as the 'South Sydney Kangaroos' would that have more marketing benefit to Americans than Rabbitohs, yes or no?
TammyS
Guest
I disagree. I reckon "Rabbitohs" is one of the best nickname in australian sport. I prefer that to a lot of the Americanised names we have now and more importantly its a nickname that has to do with the actual history of the club and area their from. I also reckon they have one of the best jerseys in australian sport.
Jason
Roar Guru
'Absolutely. Oprah says” I love Australia and Australians” to which 6,000 Australians cheer themselves. Embarassing cringeworthy stuff. I sometimes wonder how far we’ve come when we still need to seek assurance from an American TV celebrity to tell us how good we are.' I'll take your word for it. I wasn't watching. '“Rabbitohs’ is the worst nickname in Australian sport, it might have relevance in the Sydney sporting market but I’d imagine Americans would think its a strange name for a team.' Why, dare I ask, would you imagine that?
Redb
Roar Guru
Absolutely. Oprah says" I love Australia and Australians" to which 6,000 Australians cheer themselves. Embarassing cringeworthy stuff. I sometimes wonder how far we've come when we still need to seek assurance from an American TV celebrity to tell us how good we are. "Rabbitohs' is the worst nickname in Australian sport, it might have relevance in the Sydney sporting market but I'd imagine Americans would think its a strange name for a team.
Mark Young
Guest
I think that John O'Neil hasn't done enough to get Rugby in this country running well. Has equal relevance to this article to the Roy Masters rubbish.
Mark Young
Guest
The big question for NRL right now is how well parramatta and Cantebury will go. Both teams were enormously disappointing next year and have shed players and a coach into the new year. I expect Parramatta to hit the ground running under Steve Kearney, he is a great coach and will have the players really pumped up. As for the Dogs, I don't know, they seem to be so up and down year to year. Who can tell how they will play this year?
Mark Young
Guest
Massive exposure through Russell. Like him or loath him he puts his Bunnies first and gets them out there on Mainstream American TV. Redb if Oprah has been wearing a Carlton or Essendon hat would you still find it a complete embarassment?
Redb
Roar Guru
Plenty of sand around.