How good is it to see perennial strugglers the Wests Tigers light up the NRL like it was 2005 all over again?
Equally impressive is the form of the Warriors, who have gone 5-1 to start the year, ditto the Panthers, who haven’t really been a powerhouse in some time, perhaps as far back as the hair bear days of 2003.
The Dragons have started brilliantly, but as a lifelong fan, I’m not getting too excited just yet.
The Knights have shown massive improvement this year, however recent losses have shown that when they are only slightly off, they can be easy pickings. Still, it’s good to see them improving.
With these lesser teams performing well, it means some of the traditional powerhouses must make way, akin to the lion stepping aside for the lamb – or something like that.
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The Roosters were awful on Friday night. For too long they have dominated the competition, and it’s good to see them served up a piece of humble pie.
The Storm are in the unusual position of having only won three of their opening six games, and have been beaten by the Tigers twice already. Again it’s refreshing to see them struggling a little, and the absence of Cooper Cronk is telling.
The Cowboys have started in disastrous fashion, sitting only above the winless Eels. Looking at their performances, they don’t seem to have evolved their playing style from 2015 when they won the premiership. In the modern game, oppositions are quick to adapt, and North Queensland haven’t changed at all. They lack speed out wide and rely on Johnathan Thurston way too much. He will take time to return to his best, but it may be too late by then.
The Broncos have well and truly lost their mojo. They are currently enduring their longest premiership drought, having last tasted glory in 2006. To put that into perspective, between 1988, their first year, and 2015, they won five titles (1992-93, 1997, 1998, 2000) and were the powerhouse team of the competition.
When I first started watching the game, in the mid-90s, Brisbane were the glamour club and the Dragons didn’t have a lot of joy against them.
These days, the Broncos are a shadow of their former selves, have no direction, and no presence about them.
I say, let the good times roll!
ehx
Guest
https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/04/18/think-billy-slaters-grub-get/ Take note adam. That's how you write an opinion piece.
Da No
Roar Rookie
No need for an asterix. Storm has won 5 premierships.
Da No
Roar Rookie
Yes, rugby league is prospering down here due to a first rate football team and club and support from the government in exchange for the NRL bringing big games here. Kudos to all.
Da No
Roar Rookie
Yes, let's resume normal transmission and see an Anzac Day massacre of that other warriors team, the one that doesn't play for 80 minutes.
ehx
Guest
Matthew, I added plenty to the conversation. Rubbish article. My comment certainly got your attention. You're welcome.
ehx
Guest
Shush Paul. I have a very large mind
Matt H
Roar Guru
Thank goodness premierships are won in April. We can hand the cup to the Dragons and all go home. It worked out all right last year.
Matt H
Roar Guru
And Ivan Cleary is not even close to being the supercoach now. Bellamy is the defending champion. Flannagan before him and Green before that. Cleary has made one grandfinal and has a pretty average winning percentage.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Well he won it in 2006, then came back in 2014 and got within 30 seconds of winning it in 2015. Then a prelim in 2017. The old fella still does alright, especially when you look at the lack of star power in the current line up compared to yesteryear. I agree it's time to go when his contract is up, but he is hardly the also-ran he is made out to be.
Matt H
Roar Guru
I suspect that 'normal service' may resume for some of the 'big' clubs. The Cowboys and Eels might be the exceptions. I think for the others they have simply taken longer to adapt their game plans to the new (and better I might add) interpretations of the rules. I think you will see the Storm and Roosters around the top. The Broncos were always going to slide given their losses over the off season and the lack of depth in their pack. I see them as 6th-12th this year.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Thanks Paul, appreciate your feedback. Ehx offered nothing at all to the debate and was just trolling.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Well said. ehx and his ilk have nothing to add to a conversation. Anyone who thinks the 'Big 4' (Roosters, Storm, Broncos and Cowboys) haven;t been off their game so far is not watching the footy. But I suspect ehx doesn't like the Dragons. We will never know given he doesn't bother to log in.
matt h
Guest
In other shocks, sometimes teams are unlucky with refs and sometimes the sky is blue.
Gregory John Duff
Guest
nothing lucky about the Tigers try/s
i miss the force
Guest
lets hope not
i miss the force
Guest
ehx, i give your comment an F
i miss the force
Guest
no they didnt
Bunney
Roar Rookie
They just don't blink...
Paul
Roar Guru
Adam, one small minded person doesn't represent the rest of us who read and enjoyed your opinion. Not necessarily agreed with all you wrote, but that's the beauty about an article like this. Look forward to reading more through the season
steveng
Roar Rookie
What about the Rabbitohs? You haven't mentioned anything about them, sure they lost the first 2 rounds but, they have been improving and have shown a bigger turn of foot than allot of the sides that are being made 'premiership beaters' in 2018. The Rabbitohs nearly beat the favourites the Dragons and are really looking like a powerhouse (if they continue to improve) as they have done so far and will be a team to be reckoned with throughout this year and come finals time! We've got 10 teams that are only separated by a couple of losses and the Dragons (the favourites) are not a lay down misere to win this comp, by any means. The Panthers, Warriors, Wests Tigers are 2 points behind and then we have the Storm, Roosters, Rabbitohs and Broncos in the top 8 and 6 points behind. The Titans, Knights with 6 points, are just out of the 8 on differences. The comp is very tight and all teams can and could be right up there come round 25 (notice that its 25 and not 26 this year) and i wouldn’t give any of these teams (bar a few) the flick. Go the Bunnies!!!