Footy is back on our screens and there have only been minor changes to the Channel Nine coverage. We have the Ray Warren/Phil Gould combination still attempting to mimic the Tony Grieg/Bill Lawry dynamic (and failing).

A few more fancy graphics showcased by a very nervous looking Andrew Johns, Freddie Fittler swiveling on his chair and not facing any of the cameras and swap Tom Waterhouse.com for Joel Caine and Sportsbet and it’s pretty much what was served up last year.

There were a few newer camera angles thanks to spider cam, but can we do away with the halftime interview as players head to the sheds? Has anything remotely interesting or noteworthy been revealed in these snippets?

What will be next? Players mic’d up and interviewed while they are playing like the T20 games? Perhaps Freddie can run on and interview the hookers during scrums – it’s not they are needed for anything else.

Souths versus Easts
Is it too early to say grand final preview? Probably, but it is the grand final the NRL Marketing Department are dreaming about and the match-up we would have had last year, had Souths not collapsed in the preliminary final.

The NRL couldn’t have picked a bigger game to start the season, yet a meagre 27,282 fans turned up in person.

The bro-mance between Sonny Bill Williams and Mitchell Pearce was in evidence, sporting matching mo’s, possibly trying to channel some Mitchell Johnson mojo.

The effect, however, was about as menacing as Nathan Lyon off the long run-up.

The rule changes were apparent, with the third man in tackles not allowed to hit below the knees meaning there was less gang tackling where the first two tacklers would catch the man, hold him up and dance then the third to finish them off – taking the ball carrier to the ground and ensuring a slow play the ball and the tacklers peel off.

With this rule in place, Cameron Smith may end up with a 0 tackle count…

The rule certainly didn’t help the Roosters, as Souths dominated the ruck with the go-forward of their big pack led by the Burgess brothers.

Guru tip #2 is ‘Control the ruck, control the game’ and Souths made the reigning Premiers look very ordinary and at times, rather appropriately, like chooks with their head cut off.

Surely Adam Reynolds’ professional foul in taking out Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to stop him from scoring deserved some punishment? The referee warned him and said that if the try hadn’t been scored Reynolds would have had 10 minutes in the sin bin.

The fact the try ended up being scored by Michael Jennings, despite the foul, is irrelevant in my opinion.

Reynolds committed a blatant, deliberate professional foul – he deserved 10 in the bin regardless of the outcome of the play and if not the sin bin, then why wasn’t it an eight point try for a foul committed in the act of scoring a try? Souths got off pretty lucky there.

Souths fans worrying that Sam Burgess’ play would be affected by his defection to rugby at the end of the season will be breathing easier after a powerful display, and also notice who it was that tackled Jennings as he dived on the ball for the Roosters points – none other than Sam Burgess.

A prop would have been forgiven for giving up the chase, so a lot of credit and a sign of his commitment for persisting for the full 90m and beating the majority of his faster teammates back.

Perhaps the Roosters used up most of their petrol in defence as their attack was pretty poor, their one try being an extremely lucky one against the run of play and managing only one penalty goal.

Although it didn’t help them much on the night, Panthers fans must still be wondering who is walking around in the skin of Michael Jennings. Jennings touched the ball more in this game than he did for his whole last season at Penrith.

The Roosters didn’t look much like the defensive juggernaut from last year that conceded only 13.5 points per game, despite fielding much the same side.

But Roosters fans shouldn’t be writing the season off just yet, as one of the three occasions the Roosters conceded 28 points last year was in Round 1 when they went down to Souths 28-10.

They’ll be hoping history repeats itself.

Canterbury versus Brisbane
Another anticipated match-up marking the return of Ben Barba to his former club and it perhaps says something about the average Bulldogs fan that their big marketing ploys to the fans has been to turn up to boo ex players; SBW last year and Barba here.

The Dogs 2013 disappointing season finished in insipid fashion where they were mentally absent. They started 2014 in the same manner, making basic errors to suggest their minds weren’t on the job.

Sam Perrett made a meal of a relatively simple bomb; Brisbane scored from the ensuing set from a Ben Barba kick.

Perrett compounded that error by breaking Guru Tip #19 ‘Defence yields, find the field’. When the opposition scores, the absolute worst thing you can do is put the kick out, giving the opposition a penalty on half way and inviting them to score again immediately.

Perrett did exactly that and in no time Brisbane were ahead 12-0 and looked to be doing it easy.

The Bulldogs fought back, but Brisbane got home on the back of some gritty defence in the second half.

Pink Panthers versus Newcastle
Something that has been apparent in recent years and even more so in the couple of games this year, is the importance of the spine of the team – 1,6,7 and 9 and the need for a good rotation to cope with the increased speed of the game.

When Newcastle’s two best players – fullback Darrius Boyd and hooker Kurt Gidley – went down injured in the first half and couldn’t return, it doomed Newcastle on both fronts.

It was just a matter of time before Penrith took over the game and got their 2014 season off to a good start with their new look side.

The season couldn’t have started any worse for the Knights; Jarrod Mullen ruled out for a while after being injured in the Nines, now Darius Boyd has a torn hamstring which is the sort of injury that can turn into a recurring season-long niggle.

Manly versus Melbourne
The NRL certainly stacked the first round with some interesting match-ups, this game and the Thursday night opener meaning the top four sides from last year faced each other in the first round.

Towards the end of 2012, Manly went through a bizarre period where they scored heavily in the first halves of their matches while running south, then in the second half the points dried up when running uphill.

That trend disappeared last year, however after commenting to Guru Jr that at 20-0, it was game over, I was reminded that Manly can’t score in the second half.

The affliction returned as Melbourne showed that two out of three ain’t bad, with Cooper Cronk of the ‘Big Three’ missing through injury.

I cheekily suggested Cameron Smith may end with a 0 tackle count now that the cannonball tackle has been outlawed (he was credited with 36), however still found a way to make a difference by potting his first field goal of his 250-game NRL career to cap a remarkable comeback and finish the first golden point (golden point should be done away with) match of the season.

Manly will be sweating on the health of Brett Stewart, who also pulled up with a sore hammy.

North Queensland versus Canberra
Given the NRL’s apparent desire to come up with interesting match-ups in Round 1, given how infrequently Parramatta played at home while Ricky Stuart was coach, it would have been more appropriate for Canberra to travel to Parramatta as the away team.

Travelling to Townsville is a tough trip, yet the Raiders raced out to a 16-0 lead, before Johnathan Thurston decided enough was enough and took over the game, almost single-handedly dragging the Cowboys back in to the game and ensuring the Ricky Stuart era at Canberra started with a loss.

Maybe that is a good sign – Ricky started with a thumping win with Parramatta, yet we know how that worked out.

St George versus Balmain
Another intriguing match-up, although the interest in this one surrounded which team is more likely to win the wooden spoon and which coach is going to be sacked first.

The Tigers’ hopes rested with young halfback Luke Brooks.

Prior to their meeting in Round 23 last year, St George complained to the NRL they shouldn’t let Brooks play as they had made an exception under the salary cap rules to let him play first grade. In doing so, they made the big mistake of showing fear to the opposition and displayed a startling lack of self-belief. Most teams would love the opportunity to play a rookie halfback and smash him all over the park.

On a hot afternoon in the opening round, which has shown that the game is going to be played at a much faster pace this year, resilience was a dirty word.

Not quite a game of touch football, but defence wasn’t in great supply as any time either team got a string of possession, either through penalties or dropped balls, they pretty much scored.

Tigers started brightly, taking advantage of a couple of penalties and Brett Morris dropping the ball, however their fortunes started to change when Liam Fulton collided with James Tedesco’s knee, putting him out of the game.

The Dragons shocked everyone, including their ‘home’ crowd at ANZ Stadium, by managing to score some tries – something they have struggled to do under Steve Price the past two seasons.

While I don’t think you can draw too many conclusions from this game, the Dragons haven’t scored 40 points since July 2009 and almost tripled their 15.79 points per game average from 2013.

They also showed what they should be doing against a rookie halfback, targeting him in defence, and showed him what he can expect for the next 23 rounds (or until he pops a shoulder) – opposition teams will be queuing up to run at him.

Parramatta versus New Zealand
Round 1 in 2013 at Parramatta Stadium, a Matthew Elliott-coached team arrived to play the wooden spoon Eels boasting a new coach, and the Warriors adamant that this time they would play up to their potential.

They got sent home with their tails between their legs after being belted by 30 points.

Round 1, 2014 at Pirtek (Parramatta Stadium), a Matthew Elliott-coached team arrived to play the wooden spoon Eels boasting a new coach, and the Warriors adamant that this time they would play up to their potential.

They get sent how with their tails between their legs after being belted by only 20 points this time.

‘History never repeats’ according to Split Enz; one of the NZ’s more successful exports. Shows how much they know…

Parramatta have requested to play New Zealand every week. In their last 25 games, the Eels have a 100% record against the Warriors and 17% record against the rest of the NRL.

A good start to the year and nice start for new coach Brad Arthur, but considering last year, we won’t conclude the Eels are back just yet.

Cronulla versus Gold Coast
The mystery surrounding the Sharks is what have they done to so offend the football gods as their run of luck over recent years has been like they have taken a habit of smashing mirrors under ladders with black cats, or maybe the clubhouse is built on a sacred Micmac burial ground.

After a number of down years, they finally were able to get a coach with some life in him, they were able to tame Todd Carney, bought up half of the Wests Tigers team to put a competitive team on the field as well as get their financial house in order.

Yet they have borne the ongoing brunt of sins committed years ago – that didn’t even achieve the desired result at the time (improved performance).

The ASADA case drags on and has hung like a cloud over their season last year and continues again this year.

They have also lost key players at key times with injuries. Carney missed their final game last year and re-injured his hammy in the Auckland Nines and was ruled out of this game.

Luke Lewis attempted a frankly ridiculous dive for the ball in the World Cup that saw him slam into an advertising board that sat dangerously close to the playing field on the small fields in England.

At the time, Australia were cruising and leading by about 20 points. His act was praised as brave and courageous… Maybe, but it was also rank stupidity and reckless.

He is now out for an extended period after needing surgery on the dislocated shoulder.

The Sharks already had a couple of losses under their belt for the year before a ball was even kicked this season, having their appeal against coach Shane Flanagan’s 12 month ban turned down by the NRL.

Then reports that one of their signing success stories – Andrew Fifita, who has transformed from a bit part interchange player with the Tigers to superstar – has all but signed with the Bulldogs.

Sharks faced the Gold Coast on Monday night this time last year amidst all the initial drug confusion, with Shane Flanagan phoning in instructions from a nearby club, where they managed to squeak an emotional win 14-12.

The football gods turned their backs on the Sharks this year in the same clash, with a number of players ruled out through injury before the game.

To make matters worse, Paul Gallen suffered a serious looking ankle injury during the game, which could keep him out for up to six weeks.

There is a prize for the person who spots the first story saying Gallen is doing everything he can to return in time for Origin, when of course Gallen should be trying to return for the Sharks.

That’s how I saw it from the couch, let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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