A mini rant
It was a miserable Round 1 for those of us with a maroon tinge to our leanings – 0-4 to be precise, an aggregate 58-148 on the scoreboard at an average of 14-37. Not even close! Remember the old axiom – defence wins matches. GMS! C’mon!! I’ll stop before I blow a fuse.
Rest of Round 1 wrap
Well, we know after one round that neither the Eels nor the Titans will win the comp this year after both conceded 50 points over the weekend. And then there were 16. Bloody Craig Bellamy, what a phenomenon – 24 straight wins in Round 1, and a real belting to boot. And what about Harry? Just too good, carved them up. Parra? That must really hurt after going in with so much hope. Big pressure on them this week. The Roosters flopped, the Warriors flashed – an impressive game from Tanah Boyd. More big pressure – this time on the boys from Bondi. Beware the wounded Panthers who gave Brisbane a real pantsing. Brisbane were never in it and might have been lucky to go down by only 26. The ravenous Sharks looked the goods but I’m holding back on too much praise just yet as they only beat a pathetic Titans outfit – what an embarrassment they were for new coach Hannay. The Manly/Canberra game was the pick of the weekend, mainly due to the frantic finish. Credit to both teams for doing so well in the very wet conditions. The Rabbitohs may have scored 40 points and, at times, looked good doing it, but they conceded 30 – don’t expect to get away with that every week. Great to see Cameron Murray back fit and well, and Kaloamatangi was sensational.
Round 2
How can it be only Round 2 and already several sides are under big pressure to perform or face the reality that they’re already off the pace? It starts tomorrow night when the Broncos host the Eels. Both walloped first up, both looked inept, both supposed contenders in 2026. 0-2 would not be a good look, nor would it be much good for morale. I think the hosts have the greater potential for improvement so I’ll go with the Broncos.
Friday evening sees a confident Warriors outfit pitted against the dangerous Raiders. The Hyphens at home can be a fearsome proposition and Canberra will have to play the full 80 to be in it, not clocking off and nearly throwing it away as they did against the Sea Eagles. I’ll go with the Warriors. Later on it’s deliver time for the Roosters when they host the Rabbitohs. As they say in the classics, we’ll find out a lot about both sides by the end of this one. I don’t believe the Roosters can be so poor two weeks in a row, nor do I think the Rabbitohs have 40 points in them every week. But maybe AJ will equal or beat the Irvine mark this week – I’d be happier putting money on that. A good test for both but I’ll go with the Roosters.
Saturday afternoon footy sees the Wests Tigers make their season debut against the Cowboys who disappointed in Vegas. They’re expecting good things in the RL version of Tigerland this year while the Cowboys are under pressure to not fall behind the pace setters. I think the hype will buoy Benji’s boys and the Wests Tigers will emerge victorious and put Payten’s position under pressure. In the twilight game the Storm travel north to meet the Dragons. Is any discussion worth the time and space? Melbourne. Then in the late game it’s the Panthers v the Sharks, both impressive first-up winners. Are the Sharks a genuine contender? We’ll find out on Saturday night when I think the answer will be ‘no’. Stick with the Panthers.
Sunday starts with the Sea Eagles up against the Knights. Manly showed quite some pluck to fight back against the Raiders, only to fall short in golden point; the Knights looked good in Vegas. Another game that will tell us a lot about the respective combatants. Is Dylan Brown the key? If so, Newcastle win. Then, to end the round, the Dolphins meet the Titans, both last time losers. It’s hard to see the Titans coming back from such a shellacking and so I have to go with the Dolphins who have more points in them.
Tipping
Only 4/8 in Round 1 – too much heart and not enough head. Hopefully better things this week.
This weekend’s fixtures
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About Ian Hauser
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.
Will history repeat?
I recall being at the FA NRL event at South Sydney Juniors on 29 March 2025. As we were listening to the wonderfully inspired collection of speakers, the NRL game being telecast was Dragons v Storm from Jubilee Oval. The result, in damp conditions? Dragons 14 – Storm 8. One of the surprising upset results in 2025.
I thought the Dragons played quite well in LV and could have won the golden point battle against the Bulldogs.
Will the Dragons deliver another upset win against the Storm? Ummmmm, probably not, but with ‘history repeating’ twenty four times for Craig Bellamy in round one wins, then why not a three peat of wins for Shane Flanagan who has won all two games he has coached the Dragons against the Storm, including 18-16 at Wollongong in August 2024.
the 236th meeting of South Sydney & Easts, back to 1908
very nervous … South Sydney’s defence NEEDS WORK. Jayden ‘Bud’ Sullivan at half back … very nervous!
I must say it is strange but given the 50 point rule you are correct in saying that two teams already, that is the eels and the Titans cannot win the grand final. We could have another three or four teams to join them in the next couple of weeks. I think the real pressure game this weekend is for the Cowboys who take on the Tigers. It really is a must win for them and it is only round two.