NRL Round One Preview

NRL season launch: This Is How We League... the geeks at NRL HQ 'on fleek' with the young brigade - photo: source - www.nrl.com

The wait is over the NRL has finally arrived to begin season 2018. The rugby league vibe is rising to fever pitch levels and a trendy campaign launched “This Is How We League” that appeals to Millennials and murders the English language at the same time, so cray cray. Round One is always hard to pick as trial form means bugger all, big name players have barely touched the turf and some sides have been completely gutted so combinations will take time. The season begins with Melbourne hoping to defend their title and fifteen Storm chasers trying their darndest to knock them off. Strap yourself in, it’s always quite a ride, the NRL helter skelter takes off in Sydney.

Ben Hunt desperate to break the Broncos - photo: source - www.foxsports.com.au

St George Illawarra Dragons v Brisbane Broncos

The Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop halves combination is giving Saints fans hope they’ll march into finals footy. They improved in the trials but Hunt needs to find his voice and take more responsibility. This game is the perfect opportunity to take the reins. Hunt will be primed to put one over his old teammates. The Broncos are missing new signing Jack Bird but Darius Boyd will line up as his gammy hammy has recovered. Boyd’s presence will spark the youthful backline so expect the Broncos to be as polished as Wayne Bennett’s after dinner speaking one-liners. The Broncos must win the battle up front as the Dragons will come hard at them. Controversial Broncos prop Matt Lodge’s clash with super sledging Saint James Graham will test the young man to his core, Lodge probably glad to get this out of the way after being highlighted on both TV and CCTV this week. The Corey Oates back row experiment has been put on the backburner and with the heat on in the middle might be a good one to watch from the wing. The Dragons hit hard and in front of an expectant home crowd breathing fire will sneak home in a tight one.

Dragons by 2

Mitchell Pearce's move to Newcastle makes him feel eight foot tall or he's surrounded by pom pom shaking toddlers? - photo: source - www.zimbio.com

Newcastle Knights v Manly Sea Eagles

A Knights debut for Mitchell Pearce, along with half the side, and Pearce will be pumped along with a packed stadium attending a match they are a chance of winning, a feeling not experienced for a few years. Newcastle were given a timely reminder by the Eels in their last trial of where they’re at but this match being played for points will give a better gauge. The Knights will be spurred on by the home crowd and the Sea Eagles forwards better be up for this one but the Eagles pack can rock. Martin Taupau and Addin Fonua-Blake will try to get over the top of the Knights and set the platform for Daly Cherry-Evans. Young Lachlan Croker alongside DCE won’t be expected to do more than assist Manly’s main man. DCE’s battle against Pearce will go a long way towards deciding this one. Pearce is a man on a mission this year, he’s hoping to become the hero of the Hunter and the Knights are ready to shine. The Eagles led by the brothers Trbojevic will be seeking to scratch the armour and poop on the Knights parade.

Sea Eagles by 8

JT will get a great view of the stars on show in game 300 courtesy of the Shark pack - photo: source - www.foxsports.com.au

North Queensland Cowboys v Cronulla Sharks

The Sharks face the hardest road trip in the NRL but that won’t phase these tough hombres, in fact players like Paul Gallen, Andrew Fifita and Wade Graham enjoy these battles. Maybe they get off on it, whatever floats your boat, I’m not here to judge. Their epic semi-final clash from last year won’t have been forgotten by the Sharks and they want pay back. Missing from that game for the Cowboys are returning key players Matt Scott and the legendary Jonathan Thurston playing milestone match 300, expect Gallen and Co to give JT’s shoulder the once over about twenty times. The Cowboys looked sharp in the trials and led by major metre eaters Scott, Jason Taumalolo and Jordan McLean they will march upfield giving JT and Michael Morgan plenty of territory and time to make their mark. The Sharks side looks sharp and will give as good as they get, but it might be too soon for new signing Matt Moylan and Chad Townshend to match the NQ champions. Despite missing Lachlan Coote and Kane Linnett through injury the Cowboys look to have too much class across the park and will set their 2018 stall out, it’s a quality brand.

Cowboys by 4

Teddy is ready to tame his old Tigers - photo: source - www.nrl.com

Wests Tigers v Sydney Roosters

Recovered from the mumps, new Rooster James Tedesco takes on his former club in great scheduling! Who gets the mumps at this age, maybe Teddy skipped school?!? On paper the Chooks should stroll this in, they are a powerful outfit, with classy backs, a tough pack led by the ‘Beast from the East’ Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and a hot half, not halves as Luke Keary has been named out of the side in jersey 19. The Tigers have had a complete overhaul which will take time to gel and while willing, plucking the feather dusters at this early stage may be beyond them. The Luke Brooks, Josh Reynolds halves combo holds much interest and Reynolds will be all over Cooper Cronk like a cheap suit. The problem is the Tigers will need more than a few cheap shots to get up in this match. The in doubt Benji Marshall is named on the bench and he’d love to wind the clock back and add a match winning highlight to his tremendous Tigers show reel. Spoiler alert, I’ve seen the twist to this Tiger tail, Tedesco and Latrell Mitchell grab it and run riot, sending a message to the rest of the field, the Roosters are ready to roll in 2018.

Roosters by 16

Adam Blair hopefully putting some whack into the Warriors - photo: www.newshub.co.nz

South Sydney Rabbitohs v New Zealand Warriors

The first game of the double header at the new Perth Stadium. This shapes as an exciting contest with plenty of points as the Rabbitohs are promising less structured footy this season and Shaun Johnson wants to bring back Warriors footy. Stephen Kearney couldn’t give a rats about style he just wants substance to rack up wins. It is the Warriors, this could be the match of the round or a car crash in slow motion. Greg Inglis is back and he’s aiming up in the centres, a great move from Anthony Seibold to send GI wide. The Bunnies centre pairing of Inglis and Dane Gagai is an area they look to have an edge. All the talk has been how Blake Green and Shaun Johnson will set the Warriors alight but the battle must be won upfront before the razzle dazzle takes centre stage and Adam Blair will make battering the Burgess brothers his starring role. Being Oscars week, Slammin’ Sam Burgess will want the spotlight shone on him.

Rabbitohs by 10

Moses Mbye free to fly at fullback - photo: source - www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au

Canterbury Bulldogs v Melbourne Storm

The Storm pride themselves on starting seasons fast but negating this is the Bulldogs historically trouble the Storm. Brace yourselves Perth, throw in a new Bulldogs coach unleashing attacking intentions, the Kieran Foran factor, Nelson Asofa-Solomona steaming at David Klemmer and this is going to be a helluva clash. The Storm’s Cronk 2.0 Brodie Croft is a class act but will have the Dogs of War hounding him in waves, expect Cameron Smith to take a lot of the pressure off appearing at first receiver and kicking from dummy half. The Storm squad is so strong Sam Kasiano misses out on showing off his new ripped rig to his ex-teammates. The Bulldogs will threaten, Aaron Woods will want his Bulldogs career to begin with a stormer and Moses Mbye make the custodian spot his own. Melbourne have the well-oiled machine primed to perform from kickoff while the Bulldogs may take a few rounds to hone their new game, though Billy Slater’s jarred shoulder postpones his 300^th match for a week and gives the Dogs a real sniff. But all that does is move Cameron Munster to fullback his natural position, so add it up and you get a Storm warning, the stellar standard set from day dot.

Storm by 7

James Maloney ready for a debut derby duel - photo: source - www.nrl.com

Penrith Panthers v Parramatta Eels

After an offseason of upheaval, we’ll know after the first forty whether Anthony Griffin has the mountain men in his corner. Rumours continually flow about Griffin’s relationship with the players souring with Gus Gould coaching by proxy. Maybe the players are being catfished by Gus pretending to be Griffin?!? The best way to stomp out any scurrilous rumours is to win first up especially against your hated rivals out west. New Panther James Maloney has lots of pressure on him to perform and he’ll enjoy the match up opposite Mitchell Moses. The Eels have been super impressive in trials but that counts for nought and extra so when playing a local derby. Both backrows are caked in class and have the big guns to settle this showdown but it’s out wide where Parramatta has the sharp shooters. The man to watch as always is Jarryd Hayne in his 200^th game, expect the Hayne Plane to blast off to show Brad Arthur he’s a team player and all the haters he’s still got it. The Eels with a mix of bash and flash will get the cash.

Eels by 10

Ash Taylor hopes to crash Canberra's raiding party - photo: source - www.nrl.com

Gold Coast Titans v Canberra Raiders

The Raiders are notorious slow starters and begin the year on the Glitter Strip. Tongan Siliva Havili has earned first crack at Josh Hodgson’s hooking duties and he’ll need to take that opportunity with plenty of dummies in Canberra with Barnaby Joyce at the head of the queue. The big shock is Ricky Stuart has benched Blake Austin favouring Sam Williams at halfback, Austin is a better ball runner than organiser and his impact off the pine could be a masterstroke. The Green Machine have only had one trial game so may be a bit rusty which hands the Titans a great chance to spring a shock. Leilani Latu’s arrival on the Gold Coast has shifted Ryan James to the edge and his large frame could cause the Raiders problems. If Bryce Cartwright can fine tune some form he will quickly top the charts in Titans hearts, he’s a game breaking smash hit at this best. The halves is one area the Titans will believe they have an advantage over the Raiders and if Ash Taylor brings his A game to Robina the reign of Garth Brennan could begin with a win. Ricky Stuart knows his men have a favourable early season draw and won’t want to begin 2018 behind the eight ball.

Raiders by 6