The NRL loves a blockbuster match to kick off the season, but there are a lot of question marks about the teams that will get the competition underway in 2017.
I’m not saying it won’t be a good game when premiers Cronulla play host to Brisbane on Thursday, March 2, but the thought of the two clashing so soon after after both teams lost in the World Club Series in England last weekend is intriguing, rather than exciting.
Both the Sharks and the Broncos were beaten on their merits, by Wigan and Warrington respectively. There were no excuses for either side and thankfully their coaches – Shane Flanagan (Cronulla) and Wayne Bennett (Brisbane) – didn’t try to make any.
The two biggest worries for the Broncos coming out of their 27-18 loss was the fact they were outplayed in the forwards and Ben Hunt had an unhappy game.
While a halfback’s ability to perform is usually closely connected to how his team’s forward pack fares, Hunt couldn’t blame anyone else for the mistakes he made, which involved bad decision-making in defence and a poor kicking game.
They will get a couple of forwards back who didn’t play against Warrington, but it is already clear they miss the retired Corey Parker. In the short-term, at least, it’s going to be hard for them to get used to being without their former inspirational leader.
The Sharks couldn’t get on top in the forwards either and weren’t able to find any spark out of the back to start their sets with better field position.
Fullback Ben Barba has, of course, left the club and his natural replacement, Valentine Holmes, didn’t play in the World Club Challenge match because of a hamstring injury.
The word before the rest of the Sharks left for the game in England was that Holmes was unlikely to be fit for Round 1.
It remains to be seen whether Holmes, switching from the wing, can be as dangerous, in his own way, as Barba was at fullback for Cronulla.
When you have a look at Barba’s statistics for last season, you realise just how big a challenge it is.
In 27 games, Barba made 18 line-breaks and had 16 line-break assists and 27 offloads, as well as scoring 16 tries and running for an average of 100.1 metres per game.
The loss of retired hooker Michael Ennis is another obstacle the Sharks are going to have to overcome.
Ennis would have been very handy this year because of his extreme competitiveness and ability to drive teammates on. When you’re coming off winning a premiership, it’s easy to have a let-down.
The Sharks appear set to go with Jayden Brailey at hooker to start the season, since they have been unable to sign James Segeyaro. Brailey, who played against Wigan, is only 19. It’s going to be a huge challenge for him.
Flanagan said the Sharks didn’t execute well against Wigan and made a lot of errors in the play-the-ball and with passes out of dummy-half.
Bennett said the Broncos dropped too much ball and gave away too many penalties and that the result was a reminder of what makes you a good team and what makes you an ordinary team.
Both coaches were clearly keen to get back to Australia and work on the things that need working on in the limited time left heading into Round 1.
It’s a long season ahead and things can change dramatically from what we will see in the early rounds, but I’d still be a bit worried if I was a fan of whichever team loses the Cronulla-Brisbane clash, particularly if it’s the Sharks at home.
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
How did the Broncos even get an invite to this one, seriously? They didn't even finish in the top 4 for goodness sake! If the NRL allow teams like the Storm to back flip on the NRLs commitment to this concept it will soon become a farce. This should be a competition for the top 3 teams of both competitions. What happened to the 3rd team? With the 5th ranked NRL team stepping in and the Sharks losing two key players from their spine and others through injury this was always going to gift the trophy to the SL. Perhaps THAT was the idea as support in the UK for the WCS concept would soon be abandoned if the poms got "spanked" every year and were forced to watch the Aussies return home with the silverware. After tying an anchor around the English national team by appointing Wayne "Clint Eastwood" Bennett as their coach the NRL probably felt responsible in part for England's poor showing in the recent Four Nations when England barely finished above Scotland and footage of the coaches box showed Bennett slept through most of the games. No doubt he was missing the more tropical climate of Brisbane and struggled with the cold, or perhaps it was just boredom from England's on field performance.
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
Ennis looks to be in his element and already is showing a hint of "niggle" with some of his jokes to the current players. I think he definitely makes a welcome addition to the FOX team. Meanwhile Parker resembles a bear learning to dance at times. To be fair though it isn't an easy or natural transition for a former player who never appeared to be an extrovert. Even Lockyer doesn't look comfortable yet. Given time, no doubt they will come good. Lockyer in particular has many valuable insights but Parker is still trying to master where to point the microphone. On an unrelated topic SewingMachine, you aren't related to a toaster I once found in Milton are you? Funny as it seems that wasn't meant to be a smart ass comment but more of a subtle enquiry. Are you an exile too or have you been on this site for some time?
SSTID_1970
Roar Rookie
3hats I'm not azr mate so I don't know why you are talking to him about me. Just like at "the other site" I have only one account (this one! The SAME one) the one that was first to use SSTID as we discussed before when you were only known as 3hats (and no I don't own it but please don't wear it out - as you have on this story). How about we work together to defend our team here with rational arguments and logic and try not to get wound up by every criticism of "the pride of the league". Fair enough?
Jara W
Guest
Yep. Doesn't get much easier than playing last years top 4 in the first 4 rounds. Oh wait it does. Rest of the top 8 in the first 9 rounds. FYI. You can find the draw at NRL.com.
Bugs
Guest
"Milford is the only person besides Kevin Rudd that misses Canberra." Gold!
Swanny
Guest
The nrl doesn't love blockbuster games They love the Broncos . A massive underachieving club who has 1 premiership in 16 years
Maxo
Guest
Sending them to the UK evens up the comp - and is there a 10 metre rule in the UK - the Broncos Hunt was run down first pass off the ruck
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
The beauty of each year, the great unknown. Will the Sharks do a B2B? Will the Broncos make their fans unhappy,lke their coach Joe Happy? Will the Knights grab 2nd wooden spoon? Will the Tigers bite on fright night? Will the Raiders and Penrith actually show their true potential through to the big dance? Will the Dogs and Dragons bore us witless with their attacking non style? Will the Titans finally deliver? Or the Warriors? Will Parramatta really matter with their strong side? All twists and turns.The Sharks made it in 2016 ,the chances of a repeat regardless of who is on deck, will be extremely difficult. BTW I discount games in the UK,or the 9s as somehow being the criteria for a successful 2017.Winning a decent number of NRL games on the trot,is a huge fillip.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
The World Club series is s durge for the teams traveling over, apart from some cash it serves little purpose. It's a huge schlep before the start of the season. The Sharks still have a pretty solid squad however losing Ennis is huge. He was the general marshalling the troops, his experience and guile will be sorely missed. He is excellent on Fox. I think Sharks will finish 6th or 7th. As for the Ponies, they will always be in the mix given they're production line of talent coming through. I don't think they're contenders this season but certainly top 8.
Mike from tari
Guest
Looking at the games over there I would say that both these teams will struggle, McGuire is not a no.13, he's a number 8, Blair should be their no.13, he has the skills but their props are not good enough. The Sharks don't have the skills, if they lose Fifita their forwards will be ineffectual.
Silvertail47
Roar Rookie
They showed no respect for there opposition, both sharks and Broncs , there's no desire left in the shire the porch light is off ,,, as for Broncs , maybe Bennett should have retired not there best forward
Vichy
Guest
They were two pre season games that meant absolutely nothing so i wouldn't read too much into some made up World Club thing
Rob
Guest
The Sharks will struggle without Ennis and Barba. Holmes has butter fingers so playing fullback may expose his mistakes. The pack is a year older and by what they served up in the WCC they won't be anywhere near the top 6 teams. The Broncos on the otherhand have some young bulls on the way up in Sims, Pangai, Ofahengaue and Arrow to back up experienced players McGuire,Thaiday, McCullough, Glenn and Blair. I'm confident they will be finishing well above the Sharks who were looked after last year.
Silvertail47
Roar Rookie
We will all now see the crazy decision Ole man took when forcing the retirement of there number 1 forward ,,, likewise the retirement of the one MENACE
Big Tom Bumpkin
Guest
Ennis what a freak show Weird looking guy Ultra bogan (most coffs harbouir types are) Claimed he was part indigenous (offensive to us actual Koori)
Cassia
Guest
My feeling is Sharks will not be able to fill the hole left by Mick Ennis. Also don't believe Holmes is as good as the papers claim him to be. So can see them making the 8 but not the GF. Bronoco's have a tremendous advantage with the draw but I have doubts about moral, the halves and the coach. Top 8 but not higher for mine.
Big Tom Bumpkin
Guest
Thoughts on Jessica Mauboy? Good NRL ambassador?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Agree. He's really good. The downside is that we will have at least 12 months of his buddy Parker.
The Barry
Roar Guru
No team can wait until they're at full strength before they start winning games. You're probably lucky you got six games at full strength.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I"m looking forward to this game and not because its the first game of the season. I'd like to see which of these two teams will bounce back from that defeat. Having two losses to start the season isn't going to inspire confidence and I think both these teams require confidence to make a decent run this year. I thought thought apart from the weaknesses you've described they both have a defensive issue with their centres, in this case Roberts for Broncos and Bird for the Sharks. They were pretty weak defensively and made some bad reads.