What did we learn from round one of the NRL? That there are 25 rounds to go. Seriously, no club, coach, player, journalist or fan should read too much into the opening round of the NRL.
There is a long way to go in the season, and to gauge anything seriously consequential from just 80 minutes of football – or more, for those games that went to golden point – is a little presumptuous.
However, that’s not to say that we didn’t learn a few things from round one.
New Zealand and Manly are a credit to the game
The Warriors and Sea Eagles played out a truly entertaining game of rugby league, right from the opening whistle. Both teams played with flair, but not at the expense of substance. A cracking game of football, and probably the best in an opening round that had many great games.
The Cowboys were atrocious and the Tigers were lucky
It’s one game, so let’s not hit the panic button yet, but North Queensland were easily the least impressive team on the weekend. Their attack looked completely out of sync, their defence was terrible, and their attitude was poor. Other than that, they were great…
Meanwhile, while some Benji Marshall magic saved the day, the Tigers were lucky to escape Leichhardt Oval with the win. Apart from referee blunders that hurt the Sharks dearly, the Tigers simply didn’t play that well.
As premiership favourites, they’re going to have a target on their backs all year, and they’ll need to lift their play considerably to remain the team to beat.
Timana Tahu is a liability
The question needs to be seriously asked if Tahu is worth the risk anymore.
He’s a few seasons removed from high-level productivity, and the last three football clubs he left (the New South Wales Waratahs, Parramatta Eels and Penrith Panthers) were all hardly sad when he departed.
It then took all of one game for his new/old club Newcastle to be let down by his behaviour.
His reckless, careless, hot-headed and immature kneeing cost the Knights dearly against the Dragons, and he’ll no doubt be suspended. Do the Knights really need that?
Darren who?
A few pundits expected Brisbane to struggle early without Darren Lockyer. Instead, they were exceptional. While no one doubts that the Broncos will miss Lockyer at some stage during the season, especially in tight games, if the club keeps playing like they did in round one, they won’t have too many close games to worry about.
The best signing of the off-season?
Fox Sports snared the prized signature of one of rugby league’s sharpest minds in Matty Johns.
It’s easy to forget after his terrible show on Channel 7, but Johns is one of the best on-air football talents in Australia. He combines a fantastic and articulate rugby league brain with a naturally quick wit, and has so far been brilliant on Fox Sports.
I have a feeling Channel 9 will regret not offering him a contract.
Penrith should change their name
A panther is a big black cat. Crossing one is said to bring bad luck. But at the moment, it’s Penrith that’s receiving all the misfortune.
Representative winger Michael Gordon broke his fibula in the game against the Bulldogs and is expected to be out 12 weeks. While every club will have to deal with injuries during the year, the Panthers lack of depth means they are the club that can least afford a serious injury to an important player.
Yet, after just one round, that’s exactly where they find themselves.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is dirty
The Kiwi forward is a good player, and plays with plenty of fire. No one could ever question his commitment or effort. But what you can call into question is his penchant for foul play.
At least once a game Waerea-Hargreaves can be counted on to do something dirty, and last night’s game against the Rabbitohs was no exception when he threw his body at the exposed leg of a held attacker. Dangerous, dirty and completely unnecessary.
Rugby league is at tough game. It doesn’t need to be dirty, and neither does Waerea-Hargreaves.
Try of the year already?
Take your pick.
If you like outstanding teamwork, then the Storm’s opening try is for you. Cam Smith, Cooper Cronk and Billy Slater took all of three minutes to show off their skill, precision and chemistry in a beautifully executed move that resulted in a Slater four pointer.
However, if you prefer a little bit of razzle dazzle with a touch of luck, than Manly winger David Williams’ kick for Daly Cherry-Evans is probably your cup of tea. The Wolfman flirted with the sideline before booting a perfectly weighted kick infield, on which Cherry Evans pounced. Absolutely sensational.
Or perhaps you enjoy individual brilliance? If so, Shaun Johnson’s try on the weekend was outstanding. Two steps in one play, followed by a spin, and finishing with the strength to get the ball over the line. I thought labelling him the ‘next Benji Marshall’ last year was ridiculous, but it’s clearly not as silly as I thought.
Lastly, tries don’t get much better than when they come right at the death, and Billy Slater, Beau Ryan and Anthony Minichiello all produced magnificent tries in the waning moments of the game, helping to win the match for their clubs.
All in all, it was a terrific opening round of football and a fantastic advertisement for the game. Close contests that went down to the wire, outstanding skills, and the rugby league prerequisites of intensity and passion.
And this was just a taste of things to come. Wait until teams are in mid-season form.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Exactly. Players take the opportunity where it is given.
robbo's rabbit's
Guest
I'm with you Todd, I listen to the ABC and watch the muted idiot box.....especially if Gould is on channel 9. Even if ABC are not broadcasting like Sunday's 4.00p.m replays I still mute Gus Gould....he is atrocious.
Todd Slater
Guest
I turn the sound down. I don't need the comments. The majority of the tv guys sound cheesy at best & just plain boring at worst. ABC radio is excellent, with Dave Morrow, Warren Ryan & more. Arguably the best caller in the game is Alan McLaughlin who calls the Warriors home games for New Zealand radio & picked by the abc here. He is impartial, funny, fair & calls a good game, Owen Wright is his sidekick and is very good too. Tim Gavel is also a cracker. I really enjoy these guys as they bring a little heard perspective to the game, plus of course it is live, complete with all the sound. They are all very knowledgeable if not more so than their television counterparts. They all speak very well too, something the tv guys all seem to have more than a bit of trouble with. I remember cringing a few years back when Laurie Daley was on nine calling a souths v warriors Friday night game in Auckland with Voss & both of them spent the whole game just mangling the late Sonny Fai's name. It was appalling. The radio guys actually call the game.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I don't know what it is about Fittler commentating, as he reminds me of a startled rabbit caught in a car's headlights,and speaking underwater at the same time. Surely ch 9 can secure the services of a former player,with the abilty to make the English language flow,instead of one having to listen to the mumbles of someone stuck in a whirlpool. I cringe at times. Mat Johns is trying to bring humour (not very effectively I might add) into his observations,plus a bit of mangled English.If he slows down and shows a bit more discretion,IMO he will make it. As for Gordie Tallis,is he a token Queenslander? Genuine guy,but doesn't come across on the box one expects a panel member should be.
oikee
Guest
What rugby league has got to do is get presenters that are not ex-players. They had Costigan in NZ, sacked him, and had Ryan Phelen on Fox, sacked him, now they have the fools running the Asylum. What a mupper run comp we have, it seems like dumb and dumber was written watching league comentators. You can have ex-players giving comments, like Gasnier who i think is very good, but you need a main presenter who is not ex-footy.
oikee
Guest
I will keep a eye on what happens Robbo's Rabbit. Your comments seem reasonable. And i also could not understand why Gus is still on nine. Gus begging has got to stop as well, nobody likes a beggar with plenty of Cash. ;)
robbo's rabbit's
Guest
What a pathetic joke and waste of money is Gus Gould. Penrith have outlayed a load of money to bring in Gus Gould as sole controller over anybody with-in the Penrith Football Club from N-Grade through to A-Grade on top of the 3 represntitive teams and he should be at the park football every Sat. & Sun instead of making more money from channel-9 whom I'm disgusted with for keeping him on board when all he does is rubbish our great game and interferes with Ray Warrens broadcast in order to be funny (about as funny as falling off the Gap). Goulds record of running before his contract is up is there for everyone to see and his excuse for running out of Penrith will be interference from the suits of Penrith that has caused an un-workable relationship......he will walk and blame others for his failure in order to stay a clean skin when in fact it is he that causes more trouble then what he is worth. Put your foot down Penrith and make this grub earn his money by attending park footy in order to show where money should be spent with-in the junior ranks instead of flights chasing around the top squad and staying in 5 star quarters..... Put your foot down or get rid of him sooner rather then later.
robbo's rabbit's
Guest
Queenslander......You are correct....Freddy doesn't do anything for me either, everything seems to be scripted and he tries to emulate the late great Jack Gibson with not much success with one line jokes. The worst of all the commentators is Phil Gould he gives the game nothing but rubbish comments and he can only form an opinion after watching the video 3-4 times so he is never wrong.
robbo's rabbit's
Guest
7 away teams won but 3 of the losing teams were the better team on the field by far.... I feel for the Sharks the most, 2 points come round 26 may well be the difference between semi-final footy or not. The Raiders should of put Melbourne away and South's should of put the sword into the Roosters instead of defending an 8 point lead....The Warriors would of won if they had more discipline and respect for the pill. All in all some great rugby league on display considering it was only round 1 and trying to fit 10 teams into 8 spots doesn't go, so every point will be treasured like gold.......
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
I don't think the Cowboys' defence was terrible. Two of the three tries that the Titans scored were off kicks. The Titans didn't actually score off a linebreak until the last few minutes of the game. The Titans didn't throw that much at them, so the Cowboys' defence looked to be better structured than it was last season. I thought Thurston was woeful. A few of his passes failed to find their mark. He didn't take the line on that much. Bowen didn't play to his strengthes. He's at his best when he's running for a chip kick or close-by to the ball-carrier so that he can capitalise on second-phase play. When he syncs with Payne and Thurston then he has a habit of turning an offload into a long range try. I thought Ray Thompson had a good game. The Cowboys have not scored a point in the last 120 minutes of football (premiership, not trials) that they've played.
Queensland's game is rugby league
Guest
The best thing Channel 9 could do is get rid of Brad Fitler. He might have been a great pivot, but a commentator he is not. He reminds me of a 4-year-old kid who is easily distracted by anything that comes within an inch of his peripheral vision: I heard he once mistook a Christmas tree for a person.
peeeko
Roar Guru
and plenty of kiwi reps (cayless and pritchard and nightingale) that were born and have lived entirely in Australia
Steve War
Guest
Matthew "Matty" Johns could barely kick his IQ in field goals within a golden point.period Seriously bad staffing mistakes by both 9 (Hadley) and Fox - they are treating us like idiots - liking league does not mean you can barely walk upright Other than that, Cronulla showed some promise in the second half after a long time in the doldrums (Johns influenced) Broncos, Storm, Saints, Manly, Warriors all impressed a lot - these guys will be tough despite a few personnel changes Penrith vs Canterbury just confused me, Panthers looked streets better, but lost - need a few more games to judge those two, Souths and Canberra look the same as last year Newcastle have bought poorly - has-beens from yesteryear (Tahu and Buderus - a bit of Mining Tax would be a better investment), Titans and Sharks may have bought well Roosters and Tigers?????? Wins without conviction, but entertaining So even and yet so unpredictable, we look to be in for a great year!!!!!!
Football Fan
Guest
Agree Gareth! Observation from round 1? The Raiders get screwed on the calls as normal service resumes!
Pete75
Guest
Agree. And I reckon everyone will recognise it by season's end. The lines he ran on Sunday were outstanding. Beyond that, it was when he chose to run that was just as impressive.
oikee
Guest
I agree, and you should never take notice of Gus talking down the super-league. The poms are pretty good.
oikee
Guest
Hey cc, some ruggy club in nz has hit the wall, been around for over 100 years i heard. I have never heard of them before. nz i think are coming to terms with how small a fish they really are. Anyhow, that is another story, my last post got deleted by mods again. :) The smart money is coming for league, after the first round, yes, who can blame them. We could have 4 billionaires soon owning clubs. My post just popped up, mods let it through.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
He played his first game of League in New Zealand. That is where he got his opportunity. What is a disgrace is the lack of funding and opportunity for him and his future if he chose to play for Tonga. He would be just another young rugby wannabe had the Warriors recruits not pulled him over to League. There are plenty of young Kiwi's that have been lured to commit to the green and gold. i see no difference.
Todd Slater
Guest
The only thing i learnt took out of round 1 was that the so called 'home ground advantage' is a fallacy. All the away teams won with the exception of the WestsTigers who scrapped in in extra time. Two golden point games, only highlight the fact of what i already knew & suspected, that, yes it's going to be one hell of a close competition this year, with many games to be decided within the last 10 minutes. There will be on average at least one golden point game every round & referees will be under more pressure & scrutiny to get it right. Their decisions will have an even bigger impact on the game than in previous seasons and will amplify the momentum changes in play.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Paul Gallen was the same. Every team needs one of those abrasive characters that can get under the skin of the opp.