You Gotta love Footy! Round Zero
Viva Las Vegas! 2023 finished with a stunning Grand Final where a player who scored three tries couldn’t get his team home when the star for the other team – awoken from a slumber – won the game almost single-handedly in the last 20 minutes. And now we are awaiting Round Zero form Vegas. V’Landys has potentially pulled off a master stroke and 1.30 Sunday can’t come quick enough. But more of that later.
Trial form is never good form and this year was no different. Brisbane won the $100k cheque but even they must be bamboozled as to how that worked out as they had 23 players in the air when they played the Roosters who were equally depleted. My take-outs from the trials in no particular order were
Great disappointment for Tom Gilbert who suffered a season ending knee injury which not only is terrible for him but a disaster for Redcliffe
West Tigers and coach Benji look like they have a long season ahead
Parramatta (according to their diehard fans) are certainties based on their trial form
Penrith have lost their second WC Challenge in a row (dubious decision I might add) and all four they have played in but I don’t think that will scare their supporters. They are $3.75 to win which makes them almost unbackable at this stage. Melbourne Cup winner Without a Fight is $12 and he is guaranteed a start! They are certainly a chance for four if they stay injury free even with the salary cap drain they have faced
Des Hasler has a big job ahead of him
Ben Hunt looked good
In the last 20 years only Melbourne in 2007,2009,2017 and Penrith in 2021 were able to make the Grand Final and win after losing the year before. Brisbane beware.
We are only a month away from the first coach to be under pressure – possibly Brad Arthur if Parra start slow (Wayne Bennet to the Eels anyone?)
Melbourne (or Bellamy’s) first up record is on the line against the Panthers and I am looking forward to the return of Papenhausen
Another coup de tat in the Bulldogs Boardroom
Anyway – enough of that. Round Zero has two big games. Both Manly and the Rabbitohs need to perform well to get their season away. The Rabbitohs had a spectacular fall from the eight in 23 and Manly never really challenged after Turbo was gone. Interestingly the smaller Vegas field (and it must be the only thing there that is smaller than normal) may impact on the opportunities for the star fullbacks. I think Souths will be too strong but I am very keen to watch Brooks play – a much maligned but talented player who must be over the moon to be out of the tiger’s den.
The Broncos need to make a statement in their match against the Roosters if they are to duplicate `23. In Round 1 in `23 they beat the Panthers and put the competition on notice. They need to do the same in what I feel is a critical match at the start of the year.
If you are watching the Game with friends challenge them to play the old Advance Australia game where they must sing our anthem in their best Elvis to the tune of Viva Las Vegas. It works a treat as the five syllable Viva Las Vegas matches Advance Australia. I’m working on mine. Or better still read the lyrics and think that maybe V’Landys took note of the “whole lot of money just ready to burn so get those stakes up higher”. It is certainly high stakes! My man in Vegas will send me a report from the games for next week.
Season predictions: Top 8 not in order Penrith, Broncos, Melbourne, Souths, Roosters, Cowboys, Newcastle and St George.
Anyone aware of my tipping ability should ignore all above!
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Great intro to the feast of footy in front of us in ‘24!
But St George to make the 8 – really? Despite the presence of Hunt and a new coach I’m not sure if the Red V will finish in front of the Titans and that puts them well outside the 8! ?
Hard to argue with any of this, Matt, other than your optimism about the Dragons. Key Round 1 games to me are Broncos v Easts and Melbourne v Penrith. Surely Bellamy’s Round 1 record must get cracked this time!
I agree with Ian
St G to make top 8 – can’t see it, despite having a pre-teen crush on them (big time!)
The Bellamy round 1 22 year record is amazing. It almost cracked last year – but somehow, The Storm abided. Surely it must meet it’s inevitable end this year – in only 8 days time. But weirder things have happened under the Bellamy/Storm/Melbourne reign – so a 23 year record would not surprise me.
I thought I had to put something in to draw a comment so thank you – plus my other options were the Tigers – Canterbury or Canberra – as the king would say “Lady Luck let the dice run hot – shoot a seven (hunt) with every shot”