February is upon us and the rugby league season is here. Well, kind of. Close enough.
It’s the month of grainy footage of pre-season trial matches that you salivate over simply because you can’t stand any more T20 cricket – in my humble opinion, a dumbed down version of the game for those with limited attention spans.
You look forward to trials because it’s actual footage of players playing. Your new recruit is running around for ten minutes or so, and it produces a strange feeling from within.
It’s footy, so you want your team to win, but it’s also just a trial, so the scoreline doesn’t really matter. But it still kind of does – you don’t want your team getting thumped, even with nothing on the line.
Secretly you just want the team to come through unscathed.
Hull FC and Wigan are in town for a couple of games and, as I was having breakfast in North Wollongong earlier this week, I saw some footy-ish guys at the beach. They were quite fit and joking around. They could have been Wigan Warriors, or Hull FC. Hell, they could have easily been the Dapto Canaries.
After a long summer of cricket, February is really a transitional month. The cricket is winding down, the Big Bash has thankfully ended, and focus turns to the winter codes of AFL and NRL. Sure, there’s also Super Rugby but that competition isn’t a major headline-grabber.
There’s a feast of footy on this month with the Cauldron, otherwise known as Ringrose Park, hosting Parramatta and North Sydney on February 8. Will Jarryd Hayne make his return to the Eels in this one? Is Ringrose Park big enough to hold his ego? Time will tell.
(AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Wigan and Hull FC do battle at WIN Stadium on Saturday, February 10. Do yourself a favour and grab some Chicko’s before the game. Or spend $10 for a couple of dodgy-looking chicken tenders and a handful of chips inside the ground. The choice is yours.
February 17 rolls around and the floodgates open, with a double-header at ANZ Stadium featuring the Dragons and Hull FC at 5:30pm, followed by South Sydney and Wigan at 7:45pm and the chance for Random Souths Guy to make his 2018 debut – but you can bet it won’t be here. You’re more likely to see him somewhere like Rotorua Stadium when the Storm and Warriors do battle.
In all, there are eight trials taking place that day and we’ll love every second of bad footage we can get. We’ll curse and cheer via hashtags and Rabbitohs fans will be claiming another March premiership.
Meanwhile, should the Dragons fall in any game, the inevitable chokers tag will be rolled out, and calls to Oust Doust will grow louder, even though the man has in fact ousted himself.
The month rounds out with a Cameron Smith/Johnathan Thurston testimonial game on February 23 followed by more trials in PNG, Belmore and of course the rugby league heartland of Mudgee for the annual Charity Shield.
Enjoy.
Check out The Roar’s full NRL trial schedule for details.
Maestro
Guest
The code is dying if they couldn't afford the $70K to hire the ground - are there no other rectangular grounds in Melbourne??
Greg Ambrose
Guest
Some may consider 99 a choke, that may have some truth to it. Mundine has long been criticised for not passing and trying to score himself. It's all very well after the event but I think it was a valid call by him to put the ball down for a try , he was close to the line and would clearly have good reason to think he would score. Passing is a risk in itself and there was a chance the defender would try to knock the ball down. If he did pass and something went wrong then for sure it would be said that he should have just put the ball down for a simple try. Ironically if he hadn't ducked under an attempted high shot while trying to score it might have been him getting a penalty try .
Maestro
Guest
Why is the Sydney morning herald running an old story about Rugby league brain damage on the eve of the season. Is the NRL not doing enough advertising with them?
jimmmy
Guest
I think the Dragons will go up a couple of places. Hunt / Widdop looks a good combo to me. Might just take a little while to click though.
jimmmy
Guest
According to Freud he probably has issues with his mother but we won’t go there.
Fred
Guest
I am convinced 'Maddi' has had a bad experience with a rugby league player and it's been repressed into his subconscious.
Tim Gore
Expert
No... really?
Duncan Smith
Guest
Duh...
Joe
Roar Rookie
I think they've said they'll be sending the reserves to play in Auckland on the Saturday with Ryles as coach. They will also have some Falcons and East Tigers players to make up the numbers. I fully expect their strongest side to play Leeds on Friday night and that includes putting Croft in the hot seat. Both Slater and Smith have signaled their intention to play so I reckon its going to be a full team.
Justin Kearney
Guest
Maddi is special!
RandyM
Guest
99 could be considered a choke. Coming off a convincing win over minor premiers the Sharks. Mundine in career best form... well we all know what happened in the big dance. the other 3 grand finals though, The Dragons were probably lucky to even be there
Big Daddy
Guest
If it is a charity match who does it go to. Don't want NRL to get their greasy hands on it.
Peter Phelps
Guest
That's right Scott however we must remember that with the exception of Munster, the World Cup guys (Josh Addo-Carr, Brodie Croft, Curtis Scott, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith and Will Chambers) aren't playing/ There is a rumour that Munster is in last chance territory at the Storm. Several indiscretions have him at odds with the club and Bellamy has told him that he won't suffer fools no matter how good they are. This could get interesting.
Big Daddy
Guest
I agree but it doesn't stop media ( ch9) promoting match just as that. My take is last year's grand finalists playing each other. Just watch ch9 when this match comes around. They will milk it for all its worth.
matth
Guest
I remember that English County Cricket would have testimonial years for players, with a number of events throughout the season.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Sounds like Newcastle have given it a real shake down south this arvo. 20 to go and they lead 22-16 over the Storm.
Albo
Guest
I wouldn't query the Suncorp Brisbane venue . They are both QLD icons playing in front of a likely full house of raving Queenslanders happy to pay the big bucks to say they were there ! Makes plenty of sense for raising plenty of cash !
Greg Ambrose
Guest
Saints were up against superior rosters , clearly , in the 90's Grand Finals. I've always thought Walford could have caught the Pearl in his long distance try if he was fair dinkum but I doubt if the result would be different if he did.
Albo
Guest
Not sure the 6 & 7 combine much these days ? Nowadays they are generally either side of the ruck. And I think Widdop & Hunt both prefer the left side, which they will need to get sorted out early on ? One of them will need to be the dominant playmaker calling the shots, or McInnes won't know if he's Arthur or Martha at dummy half ! It will be interesting to see who Mary wants to actually run the show, the incumbent or the new guy ?
Peter Phelps
Guest
Its will be interesting what Bellamy does here because the Storm play the Warriors in Auckland the next day (I think). I am certain he will be at both matches and he could play some interesting mixes in these games. Whilst he will not want to leave too much to chance against a full strength Leeds outfit, I suspect he might do some unexpected things like play Jacks and send Croft to NZ. I think Hoffman might Captain the Warriors game whilst big Sam will play against Leeds. I think the game against the Knights will firm some of this thinking.