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Opinion
For those of us licking our wounds after watching our respective NRL teams take the required number of beatings to eliminate them from semi-final contention, it is time to pick another horse to ride through September.
Very few people switch off completely when their mob is rendered an also-ran and depending on rivalries, history and personal experience, most will have a team or two that they would not mind seeing lift the trophy in 2022.
However, there will also be strong sentiments in many that will have people passionately hoping that certain teams do not earn the right to the silverware in early October.
So what are the most bearable and least offensive premiership narratives that could play out across the next month? Which teams can we simply not have winning and which premiers would be generally regarded as pleasing to the majority of NRL fans?
There is no doubt that a broad appreciation of the Panthers excellence is starting to wear thin, with their bravado and perceived arrogance beginning to rub people the wrong way. Seeking a third grand final on the trot, another Penrith triumph would not shock and whilst Ivan Cleary’s machine is far from hated, many would prefer a new and fresh winner.
Aside from Melbourne Storm fans themselves, it is hard to find anyone comfortable with yet another premiership for the team that rocked the NRL world by doing you know what, you know when; forever birthing a legion of jealous Storm haters.
Under Craig Bellamy, the club has become the benchmark, on and off the field, yet there are far more pleasing potential premiership narratives than watching Melbourne remind everyone of just how damn good they are.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
The Cowboys are a nice story in 2022. Todd Payten has killed it in the coach’s box and Chad Townsend has proven a masterstroke of recruitment.
From the cellar to what looks a likely second place on the home and away ladder this season, there will be few people offended should the fairy tale continue for a few more weeks.
Despite the support of a secretive jack-of-all trades and former Prime Minister, the Sharks are also a team likely to be backed by many neutrals across the finals’ series.
Nicho Hynes is a compelling watch, the brand is exciting and clean under Craig Fitzgibbon and perhaps only disgruntled St George-Illawarra fans will have their fingers crossed hoping for a Cronulla crash.
I think we have all finally arrived at the point where the humour extracted from Parramatta’s 35-year premiership drought needs to stop.
Even the most ardent Bulldog fan must now surely be able to climb aboard the Eels’ train and hope that the decades of pain will end in a blaze of glory in 2022?
Eels fans at CommBank Stadium. (Photo by Steven Markham/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The perennial contender has been mostly harmless of late, yet fans of other clubs are feeling remorseful and as a result, a Parramatta premiership could well put smiles on plenty of faces outside their supporter base.
Neutrals being satisfied with a Sydney Roosters’ 16th premiership is a ludicrous assertion. Sorry James Tedesco, Angus Crichton, Victor Radley and co, we love your style, your skill and your talent. However, the bland deja vu of your triumphs is off-putting at best for those of us envious of the consistency and excellence.
Similarly, the sound of Glory, Glory to South Sydney after each and every Rabbitohs point is scored throughout an entire finals’ series is not something anyone other than fans of the cardinal and myrtle needs to here. Sorry Bunnies fans, there are far more likeable horses to back in 2022.
Time will tell whether the Raiders or Broncos suit up for an elimination final next weekend.
Ricky Stuart has spent another season finding further ways to seem abrupt, rude and thoughtless, no doubt making it somewhat challenging for fans looking for a team to support that could potentially provide a feel good charge from 8th.
Should the Broncos claim that spot with a win against the Dragons on Saturday, the entire state of New South Wales will be hoping they crash and burn quickly, whilst Titan and Cowboy fans up north will be more than happy with the same result.
Every now and then a grand final throws up a clash were people find it hard to choose between the better of two evils. Such a scenario is different depending on your rugby league allegiances.
I hope the two clubs lucky enough to earn the right to compete for the ultimate prize in 2022 sit well with you.
If they do not, it could make for a painful end to the season.
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