You resolve your staff’s destiny after Spherical 1 of the 2025 NRL Season!
Brisbane Broncos
Match and quick, however how lengthy will it final?
One factor is for certain, the Broncos have been on hearth in Spherical 1, however can a lot be taken from the win over a depleted Roosters? And the larger query stays, how lengthy earlier than the gamers get overtrained, and over the depth of Madge Maguire?
Subsequent up: Broncos get to Canberra earlier than it will get too chilly, and can give the Inexperienced Machine a footballing lesson
Canterbury Bulldogs
Put away a mean St George Illawarra away from house, and have began this season a lot better than final yr, after they completed sixth.
Unimaginable line pace in defence, and Toby Sexton and Matt Burton look far more settled. The Canine will win loads of video games this season.
Subsequent up: Belmore will probably be rocking with a giant, massive win over ex-coach Des Hasler this Sunday
Canberra Raiders
Don’t take something out of beating a battling Warriors, most groups price their salt will hammer the Warriors this season.
Whereas the Raiders confirmed appreciable enchancment in Spherical 1 from Season 2024, they may wrestle towards real top-eight groups whereas Ricky Stuart retains making up excuses and blaming referees.
Subsequent up: Broncos at house. Good luck!
Cronulla Sharks
No hurt taken from a good loss to the four-time premiership-winning Panthers.
Addin Fonua-Blake provides loads of starch upfront, while Nicho Hynes ought to get used to taking part in second fiddle to the very gifted Braydon Trindall.
Subsequent up: The Sharks may have a very good win, and a very good drink in Townsville after towelling up the Cowboys
Liam Martin runs the ball towards Cronulla. (Picture by Ethan Miller/Getty Photographs)
Dolphins
Stick strong Dolphins followers.
Their playmakers didn’t rise up after they have been wanted towards the Bunnies. With Kodi Nikorima again this week, and different gamers who didn’t journey, they may bounce again in Spherical 2.
Subsequent up: It gained’t get a lot simpler than taking part in the Knights this Thursday. The Dolphins will get the win in Newcastle
Gold Coast Titans
The Titans get their marketing campaign off and operating this Sunday towards the Doggies at Belmore.
No Kieran Foran, no likelihood to begin the season with a win. There may be solely a lot massive Tino can do.
Subsequent up: It is going to be a bloody Sunday at Belmore for the Titans
Manly Sea Eagles
Preserve dreaming Manly followers.
Beating a horrible Cowboys outfit at house to begin the season has excited media commentators and so-called pundits. However that doesn’t imply Santa Claus is coming to Brookvale this winter.
Whereas Tommy Turbo regarded robust, and DCE retains on producing, it’s not onerous to look good towards a staff who’re an excellent likelihood to win the Wood Spoon this yr.
Subsequent up: The one staff wanting worse than the Cowboys and Tigers after Spherical 1 have been the Warriors. One other win for the Sea Eagles, to maintain the followers believing
Melbourne Storm
Wow. The Storm Look higher than the place they left off as runners-up in 2024.
Good luck for any staff outdoors of the Panthers getting near the Storm this yr. While Parramatta have been disgraceful, it was a coaching run for Melbourne earlier than their bye in Spherical 2.
Subsequent up: Bye
Ryan Papenhuyzen makes a break to attain a strive. (Picture by Quinn Rooney/Getty Photographs)
North Queensland Cowboys
Todd Payten ought to begin searching for a job outdoors the NRL, as I posted in my season-opening column two weeks in the past.
A halfback on debut, a small and sluggish ahead pack, and no Valentine Holmes or Kyle Feldt to tackle Manly at Brookvale. A troublesome ask, however a clumsy show of defence and angle.
36 missed tackles and solely three line breaks for all the match. It’s going to be an extended season for Cowboys followers.
Subsequent up: The Cowboys will obtain a mauling from the Sharks
Newcastle Knights
Survived a bludger of a sport towards a bludger of a staff.
‘Strive Bomber Greatest’ ought to be Bradman’s new title. And Kalyn Ponga stays overrated. And so they simply snuck house towards a toothless Tigers lacking their finest participant, and captain Api Koroisau.
With a 64 per cent completion price with the ball, and solely two tries from 51 sort out busts, the Knights must discover a method to rating factors.
Subsequent up: The Dolphins will put the Knights to the sword
Penrith Panthers
A champion method to begin the season from a champion staff.
The Sharks are a real top-four staff, and the Panthers as soon as once more demonstrated their ruthless aggression and self-discipline to get a very good win in Spherical 1 towards them.
Cleary, Edwards and Yeo are all world beaters, and the staff are unified and hungry for a fifth straight premiership. Wow.
Subsequent up: This might get ugly for the Roosters on Friday evening. Even with Penrith giving up their house floor for the season
Parramatta Eels
Welcome to first grade Jason Ryles!
It doesn’t get a lot harder than a full-strength Melbourne in Melbourne for Spherical 1, on a scorching, dry Autumn day. Particularly with no Mitch Moses.
Dylan Brown didn’t rise up (once more) and the Eels ought to lower him unfastened. There may be quite a lot of work to do for a rookie coach earlier than this weekend.
Subsequent up: Terrible Eels towards the toothless Tigers. Flip a coin? Nah, the Tigers will probably be too robust
Dylan Brown. (Picture by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Photographs)
St George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons have been flattered with the top scoreline towards the Canine.
Coach Shane Flanagan mentioned they “beat themselves” within the press convention after the match. Actually? Who did the Bulldogs beat then?
A horrible 68 per cent completion price and a staff that crumbled chasing factors late when the Canine had put the cue within the rack.
It’s going to be one other lengthy season for the Dragons.
Subsequent up: Will wrestle towards an harm and suspension ravaged Bunnies
South Sydney Rabbitohs
“In Wayne we belief”, Bunnies followers will probably be believing.
A troublesome, gritty win towards a very good staff to begin the season has this Bunnies staff wanting loads completely different to the previous two seasons. Gritty and gutsy are two phrases not used when mentioning Souths since Wayne was final at Redfern.
With these traits again, and even lacking half a dozen first-grade gamers by harm and suspension this week, issues are wanting brighter for the Bunnies.
Lewis Dodd, the prized English recruit, appears like beginning the yr in reserve grade
Subsequent up: Souths to slay the Dragons, even lacking half their first-grade squad
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Sydney Roosters
Delusional or a deadbeat? Trent Robinson within the press convention after their humiliating Spherical 1 loss to the Broncos mentioned he was happy with the Roosters “physicality and energy”. You be the one to resolve.
Thank goodness for the invention of Robert Toia, the one good factor popping out of their embarrassing season-opening loss.
The 2 Ts – Tedesco and Townsend – are each too outdated, sluggish and wouldn’t sort out if their lives trusted it. Don’t overlook Townsend was a struggling reserve grader final yr for the Cowboys. Now he’s the Chooks’ primary playmaker.
Strap yourselves in for a tricky season Roosters followers.
Subsequent up: It is going to be a cricket rating for the Panthers over the Roosters
Payne Haas is tackled by Roosters defenders. (Picture by Matt King/Getty Photographs)
Warriors
Ouch. How are the Warriors going to attain factors this yr?
That was the query after their first-round loss to Ricky’s Raiders. With a great deal of high quality area place, and ball, the Warriors halves have been unable to exert any attacking strain on the Raiders.
The place do they play Roger Tuivasa-Sheck? Who’s one of the best match to associate the promising Luke Metcalf? These are all massive requires coach Andrew Webster to make, and make rapidly.
Subsequent up: Will give the Sea Eagles a scare at house, however gained’t have the category to get the job completed
Wests Tigers
Has something modified on the Tigers this season? The good reply is a convincing no.
68 missed tackles towards a ineffective Knights assault. Jarome Luai failing within the second half to take the sport on. An impotent attacking risk. And the Knights bombed three or 4 tries to maintain issues shut.
The Tigers want their captain, and creator, Api Koroisau again quick to allow them to a minimum of tighten up their center, and discover some factors.
Subsequent up: With Api again, they need to get house in a scrappy match towards the Eels
