Well, I must say you do gotta love footy and, of course, if you live in Queensland, you know when the football season is getting closer because the Courier Mail goes into raptures around the Brisbane Broncos. Front and back pages where we have read so much about Madge and the boys, redemption, shirts on at training, Carrigan losing the VC, Hunt the buy of the year (of course I agree with that) and how they have never been more together as a playing group (new term for ‘team’). Even how many hookers they have! It’s been never ending but you gotta love it when the game gets back closer to the first round. Even more today as I meet my Editor’s timeline – ‘Staggs in Doubt’, ‘Fight to Retain No. 9’ and, finally, ‘Madge’s Broncs Can Win The Lot’! And it will get worse next week. Who cares about Vegas!
Of course, the first round now means the Las Vegas experiment. Year 2 of what has been a major promotion for rugby league. Who will win the games? Will the Casinos be full of Rugby League loving Aussies? Will the Americans fall in love with our game? Australians can forget about tariffs and world diplomacy as the question on everyone’s lips, other than the Courier Mail, is will Donald Trump turn up!? Surely when solving world problems there has to be time for a little footy.
A never ending off season of questions we’re being bombarded with on a daily basis – but what about the actual footy? The two NRL games that are in Vegas are Penrith v Cronulla (my 2024 bogey side) and Canberra v Warriors. These games should provide great entertainment for the masses of US footy fans and certainly, back here, we are geared up for the season opener. I’m not sure about Canberra or the Warriors being in the finish at the end of the season but certainly, from my position, I still see Penrith as a major threat to win the ‘25 competition.
Let’s think about Penrith for a moment. They have played in 5 straight GFs and have only lost the first 1. Yet they have lost a full team of players (see below) since then. Most of these players have not been reserves but frontline players now at other clubs. Look to the season ahead and, for mine, they still are front and centre in terms of the competition.
Cronulla, on the other hand, may be a little stronger this year but they’re just not a team that I can warm to. I think that the Coach has done a great job with them, and he clearly has them fit, and they play good football, but they just can’t seem to compete at the business end of the season. A win for them in Las Vegas would be a great fillip, but I can’t see it.
The other game over in Las Vegas, Canberra v the Warriors, is a completely different kettle of fish. Both sides finished outside the 8 last year and would be hoping to do a lot better this year. The Warriors were a real disappointment last season after their 2023 performance finishing top 4. That season they looked (under coach Webster) like they may have been heading somewhere; however, season ‘24 was the old Warriors we knew. They never really looked dangerous and their season ended up quite poor.
Canberra, on the other hand, on their day can trouble and beat any side, but they lack the consistency that would make them a top-line team. Not since playing in the grand final loss to the Roosters in 2019 have they been anywhere near being a grand final team and, along with coach Stuart, only Papalii, Tapine and Horsburgh remain.
The Vegas experiment has certainly taken off with all positive reports on the numbers of people attending and the increasing interest from the US in the games. For mine, I think Penrith and the Warriors will win the in Round 1. Penrith will be too good, and Canberra will be a little disjointed given they had players punching on apparently with blow up baseball bats! Another Raider announced his engagement, so love and hate can hopefully fuel their performance. I am interested to see how young Queensland hooker Owen Pattie goes on debut for the Raiders.
I couldn’t take too much from the trials (one of my learned colleagues advised me “trials are only for crooks and sheep dogs”) as the form fluctuated wildly. However, Souths misfortune at training last week was a significant blow. I’m not sure Canterbury have addressed their size in the middle issue; the Titans will be hot and cold – again; Parramatta will need time; and Wests Tigers will maybe win a few more but will struggle against the top sides. Saints will struggle without Hunt and Redcliffe will be of nuisance value.
Picking the 8 based on trial form is like picking the Melbourne Cup winner in July, but here I go! Top Eight (in no particular order): Penrith, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cowboys, Manly, Roosters, Cronullaargh, Souths (with great trepidation).
Point to note: Penrith player losses since 2020:
1 Burton (Bulldogs) 2 Turuva (Tigers) 3 Naden (Tigers) 4 Crichton (Bulldogs) 5 Staines (Tigers) 6 Luai (Tigers) 7 O’Sullivan (Dolphins) 8 Fisher-Harris (Warriors) 9 Koroisau (Tigers) 10 Leniu (Roosters) 11 Kikau (Bulldogs) 12 Capewell (Warriors) 13 Hopgood (Eels) 14 Mamaroski (France) 15 Salmon (Bulldogs) 16 Hoskings (Raiders) 17 Cogger (Knights)
Now that’s not a bad side!
You gotta love footy!
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Welcome back, Prop. You’re right, the Courier Mail doesn’t miss with the hype, does it? Confected drama galore! Let’s wait for the end of March to come and see how the Broncs are going and how the paper deals with it.
Only the back 3 pages today! Plus adverts for posters galore
Good to see you back Prop and good to see the name change, as its been more than 20 years since you seen a cane field.
As I’m not a Bronco supporter, I can remember when Bronco”s would be flogged at training each year then burn out 3/4 into the season this may accure again.
It’s disappointing that you haven’t picked the Dragons in your top 8 after the per season trials.
Beenleigh is the heart of south Queenslands cane fields Uncle – but I must say my time in the Canefields had little to do with your Spanish mate Manuel Labhor- and no room for the dragons this year which I am sure makes yo happy
Welcome to season 2025 prop, name change suits so 10 out of 10 for that. Grubby half back marker of 8/10 for your trial performance, well done and here’s to a Storm of a season…. Yes you have to loose one to win one, win 4 if you are Penrith.
Very brave top 8 pick PBTS….I reckon you have a 5/8 result at best.
Love your work, Prop!
If Souths can fall into 8th place this year, the New Testament miracle chapters will need to be updated – as per my recent piece – I LIVE IN HOPE – and in this case, I HOPE YOU ARE CORRECT!
No Latrell (again …) I look forward to watching the old boy of TSS Jye Gray giving his all at fullback.
If only Latrell would play his Origin & Test position in clubland
YOU’VE GOTTA LOVE RUGBA LEAGUE
Rabbit in the Vineyard
Thanks GH and I look forward to hearing from you this season.
Yes Karl the easy 5 to pick are there so I threw caution to the wind – I’ve rolled the dice on the idiot v genius routine. I always thought Souths wound in the 8 so after the injuries I stuck with them. At least RITV and my Souffs supporting Sons family were happy although as I learned long ago Hope is not a strategy!