Almanac Rugby League: 2025 Round 1 – Moving on from Vegas

 

Before we start on Round 1, here’s a reminder about our Almanac rugby league lunch to be held at Juniors Kingsford on Saturday 29 March. Just remember that we’re not footy code specific – it’s a case of come one and all! Check out the details at this link to register for what promises to be a very entertaining afternoon – https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/almanac-rugby-league-lunch-the-almanac-lunch-caravan-hits-sydney

 

The season kicked off in Las Vegas last weekend with matches galore, possibly even to the point of overload for a season opener. The Wigan v Warrington Super League game turned out to be a real fizzer with Wigan totally dominant from go to whoa. Sam Burgess has a lot of work to do at Warrington.

 

The women’s international between the Jillaroos and England was even more lopsided! 90 – 4! Only the record books got any enjoyment out of that one. Let’s not go into the details of the game to protect the defeated from further humiliation. The gap between the NRLW and Super League Women’s is both wide and deep, suggesting that Australia and New Zealand are the real deal in the women’s game while the rest make up the numbers.

 

In the NRL clashes, the Raiders exposed the Warriors with some energetic and entertaining footy to come away with an easier than expected win. I told you that ‘Sticky’ would have them up for this one. There’s work to be done over the ditch, however, if they want to be competitive this year. The Penrith v Sharks clash lived up to expectations with a high standard encounter for an opening round. The Sharks didn’t lose any friends with their dogged effort but they had enough ball and field position, especially in the second half, to actually win. They took some very poor final tackle options which cruelled their chances. Perhaps the Panthers simply frustrated them into making such poor choices. Penrith, by contrast, were menacing in the attacking zone and took their opportunities with crisp, precise options. They were ominous at times.

 

Round 1 will be completed this weekend with the Roosters v Broncos match leading off tonight. The Roosters have a different look about them and are missing a few first choice players. Nevertheless they still look ok on paper. Brisbane, under ‘Madge’ Maguire, also look a bit different but have been in good touch in the preliminaries. A Roosters ambush won’t surprise me but I’ll go with the bookies and choose Brisbane.

 

On Friday evening the Wests Tigers host the Knights. It’s all hype for the home team with the arrival of lots of new troops but the question is whether or not it will all come together. It may be a bit much to ask for straight up. The Knights have a comparatively established, experienced look about them. Early season tipping is fraught with difficulties and this is a good example. I’ll go with past experience and tip the Knights. In the later game, the Dolphins take on the Rabbitohs in Sydney after their Lang Park venue was changed in the light of Cyclone Alfred. Perhaps that’s a bit of a boost for the Rabbitohs to start the season at home. But it probably won’t be enough as they are down on troops and have a leaky defence. Tom Gilbert returns for the Dolphins and we can only hope he has better fortune this year. At his best he is of Origin quality and that will add real power to their pack. I’ll go with the Dolphins.

 

On Saturday evening the new look Dragons host last year’s big improvers, the Bulldogs. This is another of those first round tipping conundrums! If Gutho and Cookie can bring all their skills and experience to help guide the Dragons around, and with Lomax hopefully maintaining his supreme 2024 form, I can only see improvement, even though they’ve lost so much with Hunt moving  on. The Bulldogs may still have that flaw in the middle, as Prop by the Sea keeps saying. Can they sustain and improve last year’s surge? We’ll see but I’m going with the Dragons. In the later game game, it’s the Sea Eagles hosting the Cowboys, a big season opener for both sides. Both were there or thereabouts last year but not strong enough when it counted. To me, the forward packs cancel each other out, leaving the backs to sort it out. The loss of Holmes will hurt the Cowboys, leaving more and more for Dearden and Drinkwater to do. Manly look more settled and have DCE and Brooks in the halves and Turbo at the back. I’ll go with Manly.

 

Finally, on Sunday, the Storm are at home to the Eels. Bellamy hasn’t lost a Round 1 match since 2001 and I can’t see that changing this year. I think they’ll be better than last year if they can get the best out of Utoikamanu, a mountain of a man with power and skill to burn. Melbourne look close to full strength while the Eels will look to Brown to get things going. No Gutho anymore means a loss of leadership and example. But let’s see if Iongi lives up to the hype. Melbourne for me.

 

Actually, on the topic of tipping, I’d be happy to blow the full-time siren right now after getting 2/2 in Vegas. Maybe I should have gone to the casino while I was at it. But we’ll endure to September and see who’s crowing then.

 

Now go and register for the March 29 lunch!

 

 

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Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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