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And out of no where, there it is. Like a flicker of light at the end of a dark, Omicron-infused summer, there is hope.
In the distance, someone strums a guitar. The tune becomes clear. It’s the Hoodoo Gurus. “That’s my team” baby.
Overhead, in the bright blue sky, the rugby league gods look over us and smile. Rest In Peace, Johnny Raper. The original Immortals are back together again.
And on ground, the 2022 NRL season is almost here. Almost.
In this year’s competition, a potential future immortal will likely have a sizeable say in who goes all the way. Indeed, it’s not unreasonable to suspect that Tom Trbojevic will be singing a victory song at the end of the first Sunday in October.
Manly are primed.
Looking at their rivals, some of the big hitters in 2021 have arguably gone backwards.
Souths have lost their coach and their captain.
Melbourne have lost their co-captain and the best winger in the game (although they never really seem to be affected by player departures, do they?) but they remain one of the greatest sporting organisations in the country.
Penrith will find it hard to go back to back. Only the Roosters have done it in the NRL era. That’s not to say Penrith can’t do it, but it will be tough.
The Roosters will get better, provided they avoid the wretched injury run they experienced last season.
In Luke Keary and Sam Walker, they may just have the best halves pairing in the game.
And then of course, there’s James Tedesco.
(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Their front row is a concern however, with both Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Sio Siua Taukieaho nearing the end of their careers. The return of Lindsey Collins will help, but he, like Keary, is coming back from an ACL injury. It will take the big Queenslander time to get back into the swing of things in the rough tumble of the NRL front row.
Parra? They’re missing something. Not quite sure what, but something.
Speaking of missing something, last season Manly lacked defensive resolve in the big games. This was vividly noticeable in two key finals matches against the Storm and the Rabbitohs. The best way to improve a team’s defence, however, is to keep the band together and build combinations over time.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and with another full off-season under their belt and no key losses of personnel, you can be sure Des Hasler has done everything he can to get the Manly defensive organism singing from the same hymn sheet.
They say defence wins premierships, and it does. Penrith won last year’s premiership on the back of a brilliant effort without the ball in the semi-final, prelim final and the Big Dance. But you don’t just win a premiership by tackling. You need a sprinkling of superstars – particularly in the spine – and having Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai certainly helped the Panthers there too.
On the Northern Beaches, the Sea Eagles have a certain 6 foot 4 freak of nature who can win professional rugby league games on his own.
Sure, I can hear you already: “Where was he against Melbourne and Souths?”
Fair point, they shut him down. When they shut him down, they shut Manly down. But that was then. This is now.
Last year, Manly even getting into the top four was nothing short of a miracle. A miracle down largely to Tom Trbojevic of course, but a miracle nonetheless.
At the start of the season, they didn’t know their left hand from their right. The two starting back rowers against the Roosters in Round 1 are no longer at the club. Jake Trbojevic spent some of that game at hooker. Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran played like a halves pairing who hadn’t played together in six years.
(Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
But slowly, as the season progressed, they got better. Played more like a team. Yes, a team that was heavily influenced by one player, but a team all the same.
Josh Schuster and Haumole Olakau’atu became one of the best back row pairings in the game. And their combined age is about 40.
Jason Saab and Reuben Garrick became one of the best wing pairings in the game. They’re not much older.
In the middle, Sean Keppie took the leap from fringe first grader to hard-nosed NRL front rower. Meanwhile, the evergreen Marty Taupau kept on keeping on and Taniela Paseka inched closer to his limitless potential.
Josh Aloiai was good in patches (perhaps when he played as “Oshay Olay”), but Hasler will no doubt be expecting more consistency from the front rower in 2022. Jake Trbojevic did what he does, and while he may have lost an inch of attacking impetus in the last year or so, you can be sure Manly wouldn’t trade him for anyone.
For those who steer the ship, this is highly likely to be Foran and DCE’s last dance. One of the game’s great modern halves pairings. They won a comp in their first season together, they can do it again in what is probably their last.
Lachlan Croker was another who continued to improve as the year wore on in 2021, and with more time to work with and understand his key players, he’ll be even better in 2022.
Out wider, watch out for young Tolu Koula. He may not play Round 1, but when he does, you’ll know. He’s quicker than Jason Saab.
And then there’s Tommy Turbo. The legend. One of the best players of all time. To achieve immortality, though, he will likely need to win at least one premiership. That will happen this year.
With a checkered injury history, fans will be rightfully dubious as to whether he can stay on the park for the duration of the season. This is especially pertinent when you consider his inevitable (and likely series-winning) contribution to the NSW State of Origin team.
But Tom Trbojevic is a champion. A modern great. He will find a way. And at the end of that way will be a premiership.
On the last Sunday of October, Tommy and the boys will be doing the Eagle Rock.
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