The NRL Round 1 (non Vegas) Thread

[THE RED ROOSTER]

Round one, close games anticipated, there is only one match up which I can Tip with confidence the others I need to mull over before this evening.

Melbourne Storm v Paramatta Eels (Thu)

Possibly the best game of the round. A lot is made of Craig Bellamy’s record of consecutive wins on opening night, but all streaks have to come to an end someday and in Jason Ryles, The Foxx against and Jonah Pezet you have coaches and players familiar with The Melbourne way.

The Foxx himself is out which offsets the absence of Xavier Coates for the Storm. Melbourne’s depth will be tested with a new pack against a Paramatta side with Jack DeBelin making his first regular season appearance for the Eels.

It’s the forward battle that will settle the game and the big question being if Melbourne’s pack can set the platform for the backs.

Verdict – Leaning towards the Eel

New Zealand Warriors v Sydney Roosters (Fri)

The Wahs at Home to the Roosters. To be a contender you have to make home advantage count against sides crossing the ditch conversely for the Roosters if you want to be a contender you have to win at places like Mount Smart. So, we are set up for a physical contest.

Focus on the halves parings with Tanah Boyd and Chanel Harris-Tavita taking ion DCE and Sam Walker who outshone his more heralded colleague in the Gosford Trial but perhaps more interests in the contest to be the Roosters hooker with Benaiah Ioelu preferred to Connor Watson in Reece Robson’s absence.

Rooster’s slow starters in recent seasons and the Wahs need a win to get the season underway. Weather conditions could play a part, it rains a lot in Auckland and if it does that favours the kiwi side, but the forecast is good.

Verdict = Leaning towards the Rooster

Brisbane Broncos v Penrith Panthers (Fri)

Brisbane return Humbled from the World Club Challenge. Kevin Walters put it succinctly in a trial game broadcast that the Bronx had underestimated Hull KR and the Whole Super League I that although, on paper, few of Hull KR’s Starting XII would get into the Broncos starting line up and none of their replacements once you get out of Tunnel none of that applies and it’s game on.

I dare say the Bronx are not taking the Penny Panthers lightly though pre-season has highlighted a lack of depth in the panther cubs which may prove to be significant come injuries and state of origin.

Will the Bronx rebound with Ben Hunt starting ion the bench against a full-strength Panthers outfit apart from Luke Garner replacing Liam Martin. The Panthers pre-season form in the trials was none too flash, and questions remain about the quality of the Panther cubs in reserve.

Verdict – Hard to call but leaning Panther.

Cronulla Sharks v Gold Coast Titans (Sat)

Before pre-season this would have been a nailed-on Sharks win but Gold Coast showed enough in their two clashes with The Dolphins ad Melbourne Storm to show they are a different proposition to last year’s side.

No Ronaldo Mulita for a while or Tieg Wilton but otherwise a full-strength Sharks outfit that scored an impressive win in their final trial game.

The Titans continue with the reclamation of Lachlan Ilias in a halves pairing with AJ Brimson with Keano Kini at Fullback with the impressive Jaylen DeGroot on the bench.

Pre-season trials are one thing, but this game is the acid test for Josh Hannay’ new era.

Verdict -Shark

Manly Sea Eagles v Canberra Raiders (Sat)

You would not have girt a price early last season to se pundits tip Manly for the Wooden Spoon and Anthony Siebold vie with Todd Payten in the sack race.

Jamal Fiogerty makes his debut alongside Luke Brooks with a fully Turbo charged Silvertails featuring all three brothers. Despite the gloom in the media this is still a side capable of pushing for the Top 8 if not premiership contenders.

Ricky’s returning Raiders are basically at full strength for the journey to the northern beaches. The big question for the capital club being whether or not they have got that defeat against the Bronx out of their system. I will back them to make a statement of intent early on.

Verdict – Closer than you might think but leaning Raider.

The Dolphins v South Sydney (Sun)

On Paper a Dolphins win yet, the Dolphins lost both Trial games and Souths won both theirs including beating St George Illawarra’s first grade in the Charity shield.

The hammer returns, Selwyn Cobbo makes his regular season debut, and Thomas Flegler makes the Starting XIII. This is a side that can score points at will and if within two scores are never really out of the game but the two knocks on the fins are consistency and their ability not to leak more points than they put on the board.

An Injury free Rabbitohs are a decent side worthy of top 8 contention especially since Benny has realised that Jye Grey is the future at Fullback and moved Latrell to the centres where he plays internationally and for NSW.

Interesting to see what shape Latrell turns up in Last season “the Mole” was trolling Latrell by comparing the Svelte Latrell of his Rooster days with Tubby Trell at Souths.

Verdict – Closer than you might think but leaning Dolphin.

[Blotto]

The Eels are far better prepared than this time last season now Ryles has had time to get his methods and style understood.

Storm are a bit on the back foot with losing some key players and a few suspensions, the only plus is the spine is solid but if the rest of the newer members of the Squad don't gel quickly the unbeaten first match record could go!

Yet the bookies still rate a Storm win and in the Sydney Telegraph only 6 of 26 pundits have gone for an Eels win,  the rest probably been bitten too may times in the past!

[Graham]

The Storm Eels game has kicked off. For some reason WatchNRL won’t let me on, maybe it’s because I’m in a different country.

Drat!

[Graham]

I see the half time score from AAMI Park is 18-4 Storm

[Futtocks]

The experienced core of the Melbourne side (Hughes, Munster and Grant) are all having excellent performances today. The rest of the team is working well off them.

The Eels are struggling to match the pace of the game.

Edited March 5 by Futtocks

[Gerrumonside ref]

Rumours of Melbourne’s demise have been greatly exaggerated I would suggest!

Been fantastic this morning (UK time).

Despite all the change, there’s still a core of talent as the commentary team suggest that is putting the Eels to the sword with ease.

 

[Futtocks]

Harry Grant has gone off hurt, which has taken some of the gloss off the game for the Storm.

[Futtocks]

Just now, Futtocks said:

Harry Grant has gone off hurt, which has taken some of the gloss off the game for the Storm.

Update: the early prognosis is that it may not be as bad as feared.

The Storm's new big lad Cooper Clarke is also off hurt - something ribular, I think.

[Futtocks]

Melbourne hit 50 with a very easy kick to come.

[Futtocks]

1 hour ago, Graham said:

The Storm Eels game has kicked off. For some reason WatchNRL won’t let me on, maybe it’s because I’m in a different country.

Drat!

It should work everywhere but Australia or New Zealand.

[Futtocks]

Melbourne Storm 52:4 Parramatta Eels at FT.

[Graham]

15 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

It should work everywhere but Australia or New Zealand.

It’s my sign in that’s the problem. Usually when this happens a few times I uninstall and reinstall and that solves it. I don’t have my account details with me so I hesitated at doing this here. 
Might try.

Edited March 5 by Graham

[Graham]

So Storm burned the Eels away on the field having come off second best in the courts and with Zac Lomax.

This was a pretty emphatic display and continues the first round winning record that they have built up.

[Blotto]

Well I admit I was a bit unsure this time but Storm exceeded my expections. will watch the match tomorrow! 

[Graham]

I’ve just resolved the WatchNRL issue I had.

I logged out and logged in again, and it worked.

When I get time later in the day I’ll look forward to watching the game on replay.

I thought the Eels would be on a high coming into this game. Storm after the events of the last few weeks were supposed to be on the back foot. 
No, this was Storm on the field making a statement that although they may be seen as depleted, they still have a team game that can produce the goods where it counts.

I still think the right decision was made with Zac Lomax. It’ll be interesting to see how that story develops in the coming days/weeks/months.

[Spotty Herbert]

Just a normal Round 1 Storm performance. However, as an Eels fan, that was diabolical. Ryles just doesn't have enough quality players at his disposal, and those he does have couldn't be arsed tonight / this morning.

[Graham]

This remember was Storm without Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jonah Pezet and uncovering reinforcements for the injured Xavier Coates, Shawn Blore and Eliesa Katoa

[Spotty Herbert]

34 minutes ago, Graham said:

This remember was Storm without Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Jonah Pezet and uncovering reinforcements for the injured Xavier Coates, Shawn Blore and Eliesa Katoa

Let's be fair, Big Nelson was a liability for most of last year and Pezet was only used when Munster needed a rest. The injury replacements all went well, particularly Moses Leo. I was also impressed with Fa'alongo : Paps won't be missed very much.

[Futtocks]

27 minutes ago, Spotty Herbert said:

Let's be fair, Big Nelson was a liability for most of last year and Pezet was only used when Munster needed a rest. The injury replacements all went well, particularly Moses Leo. I was also impressed with Fa'alongo : Paps won't be missed very much.

Fa'alongo's chip-chase try was a beaut.

[Graham]

[Futtocks]

The champions are getting nilled here.

[Futtocks]

Catching up on Warriors v Roosters, and James Tedesco has scored his 150th NRL try, his 100th for the club.

[Graham]

The story so far:

[THE RED ROOSTER]

Proof positive that games are not won on paper in this trifecta of matches, because all, on paper, looked close encounters.

Having watched the replay of the whole game, abolutely astounded by Paramatta's performance at Melbourne especially since they scored first when down to 12 men and therafter disintegrated. kudos to the Storm but Parra will rarely get a better chance to win at Melbourne with so many Storm players out.

Only seen the highlights of the Roosters loss, again while getting the win across the ditch is tough. The Wahs were without Luke Metcalf. Granted rhe Roosters had two scores disallowed one in the first half when the scores were level and one early in the second half both of which could have changed the momentum of the game but they conceded very soft tries to the marauding Wahs and while maintaining the Trent Robinson "slow start to the season" tradition looked nothibng like minor premiers. Wahs on the up if they can go on a Mount Smart winning streakj.

Finally the one I got right  The Pink Panthers over the Bronx who got nilled at home. A truly dominant performance from the Penny Panthers over the 80 minutes. Granted the Bronx may be suffering from a World Club Challenge hangover and the disruption to their preseason it causes, but a few more resuilts like this and the Queensland media will be amplifying the alleged grumbles amongst the playing group about Madge. As for the Panthers, for thoise who have written off the dynasty, provided they stay healthy and can manage the origin period, this season could be a case of - The Empire strikes back.

[Anita Bath]

It wasnt even a great performance by the Panthers….but they still hammered the ‘read your press clippings’ broncos. Dropped Clearys first three ‘tackle 6’ bombs, one horrifically by him with the astronomical social media following. I dont think they got into the panthers 20 until the 35 minute mark. Early days but Reynolds kicking was poor…he played like he might be going a season too long.

First time the reigning champs nilled in season opener since the 1950s! And they could have played until 2050 and still wouldnt have scored.
And all in front of what looked like a 50,000+ full house that had the place rocking at kick off.

Parra next week…two teams with much to prove.