There is always a certain mystique that surrounds an NRL off-season as fans endlessly ponder what will occur in the year to come.
But now that we’ve seen a match, we should all feel free to make some wild assumptions!
Sure, the prudent out there will tell you that you need to watch the entire first round of football before you map out the year and go off half-cocked.
But for this little black duck, I believe I’ve seen enough in 80 minutes to warrant a few certainties for 2014.
The game will be covered like never before
New and exciting ground was broken last night with the introduction of Channel Nine’s “Analyser”, which appeared to be a large screen that you could manipulate – via touch!
I know it’s probably a way off yet, but if anyone could manage to shrink these and make them affordable for the average consumer, I reckon they’d be a big hit.
Elsewhere it was good to see some light comic relief, with a funny-voiced character providing a nonsensical analysis in a clear pro-Roosters introductory segment … you have to love Brad Fittler!
Rules will be broken. Or ignored. Or misunderstood.
New third man in law?
Yeah, nah, can’t be bothered policing that one.
Shoulder charges?
Only okay if the arm is moved to a position of minimum 23 degrees from the body’s sagittal plane and the defender’s deltoid remains at least adjacent to the coefficient of the hypotenuse.
Or, if the attacker doesn’t get hurt.
Sin bin?
What is this, the ’80s?
Got to love the NRL referees keeping everyone on their toes (except Luke Phillips) as they ad-lib their way through the rule book, picking and choosing interpretations like your seven-year-old at the Sizzler salad bar.
I’ll go out on a limb and say at some stage this year an NRL coach will voice his displeasure at such perceived refereeing inconsistencies.
Sam Burgess will win a lot of man-of-the-match awards
Whether it’s a last-ditch effort to keep in the game or the selectors just want a nice place to crash in downtown Bath, Burgess looked suitably bemused last night as he took the award from Channel Nine.
But, to be fair, he probably did outplay Sonny Bill Williams.
If last night’s performance was enough to get the nod here’s hoping Burgess can clear some old signs out of the back shed for all the giant novelty cheques.
Queensland will win the Origin series
No seriously, did you see Greg Inglis out there? And, ahhh, anyone spot any NSW halves?
Souths are certainties for a premiership and Roosters will miss the eight
The rest of the regular season is a mere formality for the “pride of the league” after a scintillating and flawless victory over last year’s lucky premiers.
As for the Roosters?
Bah, may as well start blooding some juniors and trying to salvage what’s left of their season now.
They should ask Phil Gould if he’d like to ditch Penrith for Bondi again.
Or, maybe they can ask Saints if they’d still like to finally form the Sydney Dragons, never too late y’know.
No seriously, I read it on Twitter last night…
Anyone else out there see something in their crystal ball at full-time?
Mark
Guest
Ch 9 coverage of the NRL is absolutely woeful, they broadcast the same handful of teams, delay Sunday telecast, oh and did anyone notice last year after the NSW game on the Friday night Instead of talking about the rest of the round and analysing anything about the game, they invite Tom Waterhouse in the commentary box to talk about horse racing, it's pathetic. They need to give the rights to Ten.
Ret
Guest
I saw a NSW half. It wasn't Pearce though. Reynolds showed he's ready for origin with his "professional" tackle on Tupou. That's the type of underhand skullduggery that Qld have turned into an artform, and now's the time for fighting fire with fire!
Le Gaz
Guest
Footy is back. That is all.
Le Gaz
Guest
Delayed sport = dead as the dodo. Show it live or give it to someone who will.
Le Gaz
Guest
Guessing that you are a glass half empty sort of guy...
Sir Jamie Lyon
Guest
As for the Roosters? Bah, may as well start blooding some juniors and trying to salvage what’s left of their season now.
Hutchoman
Roar Pro
Is the guy doing the voice over in the attached video unable to say more than three words without taking a breath? May need some medical attention on that.
Robz
Guest
And if they were bringing us the game the way we want it would also have been live into Queensland. Another Ch 9 fail
FuzhouDave
Guest
Once an avid fan of league, I switched on 9's delayed telecast last night, if only because my wife and my brother-in-law are rabid rabbitoh supporters. My impressions? The telecast was a load of crap. Far too much rubbish to begin with. No-one cares about the stuff they do to drag the "show" out for 30 minutes at the start. Just get on with the game! The game? Pretty good, except for: 1) scrums!! Seriously when is the NRL going to either make them what they were always intended to be ie a contest for possession or get rid of them. As it stands now, scrums are a serious embarrassment to what is supposed to be a professional sport. They have been for a long time, but no-one speaks up and nothing ever gets done. Hence the embarrassment continues. 2) The Play the Ball: I can't believe that supposed top-line players cannot play the ball with their feet. Time and again players simply step over the ball, as in touch football. Penalty every time. Why don't refs enforce the rules? That's their job!! Honestly, I know of no other professional sport in the world where the rules of the game are so blatantly ignored. It makes the game a bit of a joke and that's why I am not the fan I once was.
MPC
Guest
Ray Hadlee should be taken off the nine network. He is the worst commentator out of a group of crap ass commentators. Referees should wear black and white striped shirts like in NFL and NHL. Wearing pink gives them far less respect.
scott
Guest
It was the first thing they asked.
al
Guest
SBW should receive a medal of honor for playing the game the way it should be played. And the NRL admins responsible for banning the shoulder charge should be sent to Siberia for good.
Troy
Guest
Merritt, Champion, Walker.....
Pickett
Guest
How many juniors in the South's side? Sutton, Reynolds...and...and.....?? This local juniors argument is so 1980's.
eagleJack
Guest
It wouldn't surprise me if he was awarded MOM simply so they could interview him on live TV. A sneaky ploy to corner a guy who has refused to speak to the media of late. I didn't watch the end of the match - did they ask him about his decision to leave for Union? Or is that even too low for the buffons at 9?
Mark Young
Roar Guru
They're Blooding some juniors all right Just not THEIR OWN Juniors
Mals
Guest
+ 1 hilarious!!
Will
Guest
Tv guide states the game starts at 7pm in Adelaide - Nothing beats the confidence I have in channel 9 that the advertised start time means I have 45minutes to sort out dinner before kick off.
seajay23
Guest
"Roosters.... blooding some juniors"; that will take some topping for funny of the year.
Mark Young
Roar Guru
I enjoy reading the outraged tweets of QLD League fans who can't believe that the season opener was broadcast delayed! Is there anyone working in Programming for Channel 9 aged under 60???