Although there are no NRL fixtures week to week, the off-season surely hasn’t lacked action and talking points.
Below are 25 random statements, opinions etc going through my head right now. I’d love to get your feedback.
1. I find it hard to believe there are three sides chasing Mitch Moses, let alone seven. If I had to guess I’d say the seven sides are the Panthers (replace Wallace), Storm (replacement for Green), Bulldogs (in case Mbye doesn’t work out), Dragons (replace Benji), Sea Eagles (at five-eighth long-term), Eels (to partner Foran) and the Warriors (if Lolohea plays in the outside backs).
2. Shane Flanagan needs to find a way to give Ben Barba 60+ minutes or he needs to move the talented yet wayward star on. It’s insane to think a player on Barba’s wage would be reduced to a bit part role. I still believe he is the Sharks best bet at fullback, while Jack Bird is the best prospect the club has had at centre in years. Valentine Holmes cold become one of the best wingers in the game. Good problem to have I suppose.
3. I loathe so-called “rugby league journalists” who bag the sport on a consistent basis, yet when badmouthing other sports, talk the game up. You can’t have it both ways. No sport is perfect, and for all of league’s faults, ours is pretty good.
4. If reports re David Smith refusing to allow Israel Folau back to the game unless he signed for a club the NRL were running are true, then he has a lot to answer for. In saying that, this is a free country and Folau can sign for any side he wants. I bet money had a lot more to do with his decision than one man saying “nah”.
5. Suggestions that Sam Burgess be made the face of the game for next season make me angry. Why should a player who chased dollars in another code be given the honour? What more does Johnathan Thurston have to do? He is the face of the game until he retires.
6. I am already sick of Sam Burgess. Between Danny Weidler’s and Phil Rothfield’s Burgess updates every 15 minutes, and the Souths vs Roosters game being promoted as “the return of Burgess”, it’s going to be a long season.
7. I’m not in peak physical shape but I will attempt to do a backflip when this Robbie Farah saga is finally over. Relating back to the first point, if both halves re-signed after Farah moved clubs, it probably wouldn’t be a coincidence.
8. The Eels vs Broncos season opener isn’t exactly the blockbuster the NRL has used to kick off in years gone by. In all honesty you could put any two sides into the opener and it would rate well as fans are ravenous for the return of rugby league.
9. Manly have completely overhauled their forward pack for next season and now pose a side capable of returning to the top four. Barrett has an amazing opportunity on his debut season in first grade coaching, but the pressure will be on.
10. I think we’ll see the most star studded Auckland Nines yet with a large majority of stars having an extended off-season due to no international commitments.
11. If the Titans can’t re-sign James Roberts, I’m putting $100 on them to capture next season’s wooden spoon. If they do re-sign Roberts, it’ll only be $50.
12. Laurie Daley has said he will not consider Blake Ferguson for the Origin fullback role next season, continuing his policy of picking the side before pre-season even starts. Don’t get me wrong, it’s between Tedesco and Dugan now, but evidently form won’t matter.
13. I’m not afraid to admit I love the Auckland Nines. The two day tournament is a great preview for the season proper and helps unearth young talent.
14. More NRL trials should be played in the country. More NRL fixtures should be played in the country.
15. All the money that is being poured into Allianz Stadium and they still haven’t built a car park capable of catering for more than 10,000 people. On the plus side you can re-watch the game on Foxtel on your mobile whilst trying to exit the car park on the rare occasion there is a big crowd.
16. New Zealand were without a host of stars during their recent test series with England, and were quick to point this fact out. They weren’t so quick to point it out last season when they beat a third string Kangaroos side in the four nations final. Despite the series result, I still believe New Zealand are the second best side in the world. England are closing the gap though.
17. The proposed 6pm kick off works great for me, but unless the NRL kicks in for extra data for people travelling home from work on a Friday evening, it will bomb massively. The Warriors will have to play every Friday Night for it to work in terms of live attendance.
18. Too many major NRL awards are decided by people in the media. The Dally M, Golden Boot and Rugby League Immortals are all awarded by the media. Man of the Match awards are decided by Channel 9.
19. The Tigers have been noted for having the best young halves combination in the NRL, but if Ashley Taylor partners Kane Elgey at the Titans, they will be the best young partnership. I don’t think Tyrone Roberts signed to play QLD Cup, but I’d be playing Taylor with Elgey.
20. A draft is probably going to happen but I’m more worried about players signing years in advance. Take care of that first then work out how a draft will work.
21. I don’t know who will take the risk, but I look forward to the day the Walker brothers take over at NRL level.
22. The story of Titans players accompanying Jade Elliott to her formal should have been on the front page and the lead news story around the country. Having met Luke Douglas on numerous occasions, there is a role model the NRL should have at the forefront of every media event.
23. Speaking of role models, NRL players often say they are not there to be examples for kids. Funny thing is, you can’t chose a role-model for a child.
24. To be honest I’m not sure how some sides can come in under the salary cap, but is it really my business, or anyone’s for that matter, what players earn?
25. As much as the Warriors want to win the Nines in front of their own home crowd, there should be no way they risk Shaun Johnson in this year’s tournament. Johnson should be at 100% for the Warriors NRL premiership assault.