Rabbit in the Vineyard is keen to see Season 2024 get underway.
Here he is in training along with Murray the golden retriever in 2023.
(Image: Russel Hansen)
There was plenty to like about the first weekend of preliminary matches in the NRL. The Indigenous v Maori clashes were entertaining, the Charity Shield had its annual run and Wests Tigers had a win. The Broncos put on a performance that suggests they’ll be in the running again this year as they try to put the Reynolds/Carrigan push and shove behind them.
Both men’s and women’s Indigenous teams had good wins over their Maori opponents with The Foxx showing good early form after an indifferent end to last season. The women’s clash was a bit one-sided by contrast but engaging nonetheless.
To watch highlights from the men’s Indigenous v Maori clash click HERE.
To watch highlights from the women’s Indigenous v Ferns clash click HERE.
The Charity Shield match suggested that the Dragons have a way to go yet if they hope to be contenders in 2024. It could be another long winter ahead. South Sydney looked good but weren’t really tested so it’s hard to rate their performance accurately.
To watch highlights of the Charity Shield match click HERE.
Looking to this weekend, the main match is the World Cup Challenge between Wigan and Penrith scheduled for 7.00am on Sunday morning AEDT. (Check local details.) The main talking point ahead of the game centres around the interpretation of tackles about the armpits. Super League is taking a very hardline approach with four players sent off last weekend for tackles that resulted in hits to the head. But the Challenge game is played under international rules so the stricter interpretation may not be used. Nevertheless, the proactive approach by Super League may well be the forerunner to what we’ll see here in the not too distant future.
To read a history of the World Cup Challenge and see results to date click HERE.
The major off-field story of the week was the not unexpected announcement by Jared Warea-Hargreaves that season 2024 will be his last in the NRL. You have to admire JWH’s record – 3 premierships, 33 Tests for NZ, 10 World Cup games and almost 300 NRL matches. But there’s a niggling thought that somehow it could have been even more impressive if he hadn’t spent so much time off the field due to suspensions. In fact he’s in the the middle of a lengthy one right now. His robust style is a hark back to an earlier era in the code. The prospect of setting a club record for appearances might temper his approach a bit this year – nah!
Otherwise it’s more of the pre-season challenge in the coming days leading up to the season openers next weekend in Las Vegas. The whisper coming my way is that we may have an Almanac correspondent there – watch this space.
Take advantage of the next week to make sure that all is in readiness for kick-off in the desert.
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To see the full 2024 season draw for the NRL click HERE.
To see the full 2024 season draw for the NRLW click HERE.
To see the details for State of Origin in 2024 click HERE.
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A former teacher with a (very) modest sporting CV enjoying his retirement years. A Queenslander through and through, especially when it comes to cricket and rugby league. Enjoys travel, coffee and cake, reading, McWilliam’s Cream Apera and a glass or three of wine. Footy Almanac’s Thursday online editor who moonlights as a hobby editor.
JWH – robust style … many would use other descriptions, Ian!
A season in the UK Super League – will be interesting to see if he misses games over there, too.