Round 1 of the NRL was certainly an interesting affair as the teams got underway. Canberra and Penrith picked up wins in Vegas, while the Storm, Broncos and Sea Eagles demolished their opponents. Newcastle just got by the Tigers, and the Rabbitohs and Bulldogs got their seasons started on the right foot as well.
Canberra Raiders vs New Zealand Warriors (30-8)
The Raiders really came out swinging in Vegas. Even though it was over a week ago now, their intensity was something the Warriors couldn’t handle which got them to a healthy 16-4 lead. From there they just ramped up, Jamal Fogarty kicked home 4 out of 5 conversions, and Sebastian Kris and Xavier Savage scored two tries each. Just confirming Canberra’s dominance. Some key stats for the Raiders proved to be half the missed tackles of the Warriors, and double the amount tackle breaks and triple the linebreaks. As stated before, their intensity was great. Now can they keep it up over the course of a season or will another fade out be on the cards? Can the Warriors bounce back against Manly this weekend? It’ll be a challenge but as we know their home form is usually something that helps them.
Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla Sharks (28-22)
This one was close, and fairly back and forth too, Cronulla took an early lead, before Penrith snagged it back and made it 12-4 30 minutes in. The sharks dragged it back before half time, making it 12-10 at the break. The Panthers scored the first two tries of the second half, quickly giving them a 14 point lead. Off the back of a Penrith error the Sharks pulled on back, and then 10 minutes later put another try on the board to bring it back to 24-22. Then five minutes from time, Daine Laurie breaks through the line to score one more try to win the match.
These two sides put on great performances, Penrith showed they’re hungry for a fifth, and Cronulla maybe in the hunt for top 4 again? They will have to prove more based upon their recent track record the past couple of years. But both sides have shown that they could be contending this season.
Sydney Roosters vs Brisbane Broncos (14-50)
Two sides have been shown in this game. Clearly the Broncos are back, still definitely a good side, but they just couldn’t follow up last season. It seems that things have clicked for them under new coach Michael Maguire as they smashed the Roosters 50-14. The halves combination of Ben Hunt and Adam Reynolds is going well in such a short space of time. Selwyn Cobbo was brilliant, scoring three tries, Reece Walsh scored a try, Ben Hunt and Jesse Arthars picked up one each. It really was a complete showing. The Roosters, as we know are in a rebuild phase but 50-14 is damning. Dom Young put down two tries giving them a positive, Sandon Smith did well too. But this was all about the Broncos, premiership contenders once again?
Wests Tigers vs Newcastle Knights (8-10)
Positives for both sides, Newcastle may have come out on top but the Tigers had a marked improvement from last year. Lachie Galvin and Jarome Luai played very well together in the halves. The Tigers also capitalised on the Knights shaky first half, to bring them 8-0 up at half time. Clearly in the Knights dressing room, there were words said as things improved for them throughout the second half. After a number of try attempts thwarted by the Tigers defence, Dylan Lucas had a superb run, being stopped short of the try line, played the ball quickly to Fletcher Sharpe who put it under the posts to score. It took them another 12 minutes to score another try, after a messy sequence, Greg Marzhew managed to scrape the ball up and get it to the try line to make it 8-10. Both sides can take positives out of the game, but Newcastle did get a little bit lucky to win this one. The Tigers showed some serious promise in this game, the second half may have not gone to plan, but they may not have to wait too long for that first win of the season.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Dolphins (16-14)
A close game between one team that is trying to improve drastically from last season and the other who are looking for a first finals campaign. The Dolphins look good even still in defeat, and the Bunnies may surprise a few in this season. The lead switched hands a couple of times. Tyrone Munro and Jamayne Isaako of either side respectively, scored two tries each. The Dolphins had a good start to the second half, with two tries within 5 minutes from the 47th minute. Isaiah Tass scored what ended up being the match winner in the 67th minute. That 16-14 scoreline possibly came down to conversions, Souths converted two, whereas the Dolphins converted one and the final scoreline was separated by one conversion. But positive signs for the Bunnies as they look to improve under Wayne Bennett. The Dolphins will be looking to get back in the win win column next week as they head to Newcastle, while Souths face the Dragons.
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury Bulldogs (20-28)
While the game ended up being close, the Bulldogs got themselves up to a 28-6 lead by the 52nd minute, and while the Dragons tried to come back, they just left themselves with way too much to do, they managed to pull one back not long after the last Bulldogs try, and then they scored two in 5 minutes from the 67th to 72nd but it just wasn’t enough and the Dogs held on. Christian Tuipulotu was a bright spot for the Dragons, collecting three tries for the match, and on the Dogs side Sitili Tupouniua picked up two in quick succession early into the second half. Both sides showed positives, the Bulldogs are clearly carrying a lot of momentum and the Dragons have what looks to be a renewed energy.
Manly Sea Eagles vs North Queensland Cowboys (42-12)
If this match proved anything, it is that pre season results mean nothing. Manly hammered the Cowboys. And if not for two late tries by Scott Drinkwater and Braidon Burns, then this would have looked even worse. 42-0 was the scoreline until the 72nd minute. By that point, Manly would’ve surely dialed down a bit, saving some energy for the next game ahead. But credit to Manly, they have looked positive in pre season and it has translated. Of course the question now is, can they bring this kind of energy and form to the top sides in the league? We will have to find out but for now, really positive result for the Sea Eagles, everyone getting in on the try scoring action, getting 11 linebreaks to 3, more errors but they made the most of their possession. The Cowboys did not. The Cowboys will have to improve drastically by the time they play Cronulla up in Townsville, and the Sea Eagles will travel across the Tasman to face off against the Warriors.
Melbourne Storm vs Parramatta Eels (56-18)
Absolute thrashing again this past weekend, this time it was the Storm battering the Eels. They showed no mercy as they piled on the points in the first half, scoring 46 in the first half alone. It does mean Parramatta were a little better in the second half but the Storm showed they are coming back strong from the final defeat last season. It was virtually conversion practice for Nick Meaney as he had 10 chances at conversion, and scored 8 of them. But the whole Storm side were just working like it was nothing, carving through the Eels defence time and time again. Incredible performance. The Eels went on to score two converted tries late in the game, both down the same side of the Melbourne defence. But must be better for Parramatta in round two when they head back to Sydney to take on the Tigers in what looks like an intriguing match. The Storm will have a bye and will be back in action come round three against the Panthers in a rematch of last seasons final.