2017 NRL Round 1 Preview
Cronulla v Brisbane
Southern Cross Stadium
8:05pm AEDT Thursday 2 March
What a way to kick off the season with the reigning premiers taking on NRL powerhouses the Brisbane Broncos. Cronulla have had a two important personnel changes in key positions over the off season with Ben Barba leaving the club to join French rugby while stalwart Mick Ennis hung up the boots at the end of last season. Their halves remain steady with Maloney and Townsend steering the ship while they still boast one the strongest forward packs in the comp with the likes of Andrew Fifita, Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis and Wade Graham.
The Broncos will be looking to start fast and rebuild their confidence after a calamitous end to the 2016 season which saw them finish the season in fifth position. Custodian Darius Boyd has been thrusted with the captaincy and it will be interesting to see whether the added responsibility will have a positive or negative effect on the much maligned player. All eyes will be on Ben Hunt who used a multi-million dollar deal with St George-Illawarra for 2018 in the off season. He played well below expectations in 2016 and his new deal will only heap more pressure on the Blackwater Crushers junior.
The weather will play a major factor in this game as it will for all Sydney matches this weekend. Torrential rain is predicted until Monday so you can expect a low scoring, grinding affair at Shark Park to kick the season off.
Cronulla 2.05
Brisbane 1.80
Best Bet – Under 34.5 points $1.86
Canterbury v Melbourne
Belmore Sports Ground
6:05pm AEDT Friday 3 March
One of the schedule changes for 2017 is the 6pm game on a Friday night. Canterbury and Melbourne have the privilege of playing the first 6pm game in 2017. It is an odd time slot of a match with plenty of fans still getting home from work so it will be very interesting to see how this match is received among the punters.
Similar to the Broncos, the Bulldogs will be looking to rebuild this year as their 2016 season came to an abrupt end. Their lack of attacking 5th tackle options was well documented and halves Mbye and Reynolds as well as coach Des Hasler will be under enormous pressure to remedy these shortfalls. Off-season signing Brenko Lee lines up in the centres while Bulldogs fan will look forward to seeing fully fit Morris twins firing on all cyclinders as partner each other on the left flank.
For the Storm, a lot of mystery surrounds the final make-up of the team with Cameron Munster being named at 6 to partner Cooper Cronk while Young Tonumaipea lines up at fullback. Cronk understudy, Brodie Croft, has been named in the 17 jersey which suggests there could be a late change in the halves with Munster to move back to fullback. They’ve got a pair of excitement machines on the wing in Suliasi Vunivalu and Josh Addo-car who both have speed to burn. With Cronk & Smith steering the ship, it’s hard to think that the Storm are in for anything but a big year. One interesting stat to take into the game is you have to look back to 2001 for the last time Melbourne lost an opening round match. Meanwhile, Canterbury haven’t won a round 1 fixture since 2012.
Canterbury 2.05
Melbourne 1.82
Best Bet – Melbourne 1.82
South Sydney v West Tigers
ANZ Stadium
8:05pm AEDT Friday 3 March
Robbie Farah will face his former club when the Rabbitohs take on the Tigers in the second game on Friday night. Robbie may have left the Tigers but the controversy has not with Tim Simona and Kyle Lovett in the headlines for all the wrong reasons in the off season.
While the Bunnies suffered a huge blow on the eve of season opener with Adam Reynolds being ruled out for the first month of the competition. He’s such an important player in their team with his game management and pinpoint long and short kicking games, not to mention his deadly goal kicking. They have Luke Kelly to replace him but far from a like for like replacement. Their front row looks light on with Zane Musgrove and David Tyrrell starting at 8 and 10 respectively. It will be interesting to see how they fare against Kangaroos prop Aaron Woods.
Despite their off field dramas, the Tigers line up well on paper with new signing Jamal Idris replacing Tim Simona on paper while they’ll look to James Tedesco to continue his red hot form from 2016. Bunnies to edge out the Tigers in a scrappy affair.
South Sydney 1.70
West Tigers 2.20
Best Bet - South Sydney 1.70
St. George Illawarra Dragons vs. Penrith Panthers
UOW Jubilee Oval
Saturday 4 March 4.30pm LOCAL
A ball is yet to be kicked in 2017 however fans and pundits alike have already drawn a line through the Dragons for this season. Following their dismal performance in the Charity Shield, there is much to say that those claims are warranted.
Paul McGregor has opted to go for experience with Josh McCrone taking the number 7 jersey, while promising youngster Jai Field will make his first grade debut from the bench. It’s a bold move from McGregor considering they were the worst attacking team in 2016, and he will no doubt be under enormous pressure in the early rounds of this season.
The Penrith Panthers have a-lot to look forward too this season after some promising signs towards the back-end of 2016. Te Maire Martin will partner Nathan Cleary in the halves, with the young halves combination limited to just six games together after Martin suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
Their forward pack will be boosted by the addition of former Cowboy James Tamou, who joins the likes of Trent Merrin and Bryce Cartwright in one of the strongest line ups in the competition. They will be hurt by the absence of NSW winger James Mansour, with his kick returns and hard fought runs a massive asset to the Panthers side.
Although the Panthers have won only four times in their last 28 visits to Kogarah, it’s safe to say they will start their season off in winning style despite being away from home.
Tip: Dragons will start strong but won’t hold on in the later stages of the game. Panthers by 14.
Dragons $3.00
Panthers $1.40
Best Bet - Panthers -6.5 ($1.80)
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Canberra Raiders
1300Smiles Stadium
Saturday 4 March 7.00pm LOCAL
The North Queensland Cowboys have flown under the radar in the off-season and reports say they have had another solid pre-season. They will be lead by future immortal Jonathan Thurston, who takes the field with a near full-strength squad on Saturday night.
New signing Shaun Fensom is unlikely to play considering he only signed last week, and with the departure of James Tamou you can expect more minutes from Matt Scott and Dally M Medallist Jason Taumalalo.
Antonio Winterstein is also unlikely to take the field, as he recovers from an ankle injury suffered in their trial against the Tigers. Teenage superstar Kalyn Ponga has been named in the reserves, however rumours suggest that Javid Bowen will take his place on the wing.
Following a brilliant 2016 campaign, the Canberra Raiders will be itching to get their season started but will do so without Skipper Jarrod Croker. Despite their surprising 44-0 loss to the Newcastle Knights in their last trial, everyone knows that trials aren’t a huge indication for the season ahead.
They boast a lethal backline with the right side attack of Joey Leilua and Jordan Rapana hitting career best form last year. The two are considered as the best right side combination in the game, and will be looking to stamp their authority against a strong Cowboys outfit. The kicking game of Sezer will need to improve this year, in the hope of complementing the dynamic running game of Blake Austin.
The best attacking side in 2016 will take confidence in knowing they were strong in their performances away from home last season, but may do it tough against a Cowboys team who are looking for redemption after a tough preliminary final loss.
Tip: Expect an exciting and high scoring game of footy. Cowboys by 6.
Cowboys $1.40
Raiders $3.10
Best bet - Raiders line +7.5 ($1.92)
Gold Coast Titans vs. Sydney Roosters
CBUS Super Stadium
Saturday March 3 9.00pm LOCAL
Much of the focus that surrounds the Gold Coast Titans is primarily on the man in the number 1 jumper, Jarryd Hayne. His return to Rugby League was nothing to rave about last season but fans know what he could bring to the Titans in 2017.
The return of rookie five eight Kane Elgey will have fans salivating at the potential of the Titans spine, but his combination with Ashley Taylor is yet to be proven at NRL Level. Despite the positive signs, Hooker Nathan Peats will be spending further time on the sidelines after he dislocated his shoulder in the Titans final pre-season trial.
After a disastrous 2016 campaign which saw them come second-last on the ladder, the Sydney Roosters will be out to prove a point when Saturday night arrives. They have recruited smartly with the acquisitions of Michael Gordon and Luke Keary headlining a new-look Roosters spine that was far from stable last year.
The experienced duo will help the Roosters when attempting to close out their games this year, with the Chooks losing eight games by four points or less in 2016 – the most of any team.
The Bondi Boys will be flying high after their remarkable Auckland Nines triumph, and will take a great amount of confidence to the Gold Coast and look to start their season in the right fashion.
Tip: Roosters by 2 in a nail biter.
Titans $2.20
Roosters $1.65
Best bet - Total points under 40.5 ($1.85)
New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights
Mt Smart Stadium
Sunday 4 March 12.00pm LOCAL
Every year seems to be the year for the Warriors to finally do damage in the NRL but it just never seems to click for the Auckland based side. They will be without Kieran Foran until Round 3 of the competition, but boast a starting 13 that is considered as one of the strongest in recent memory.
Ata Hingano showed he is capable of handling the NRL with a classy performance in the trial, and will combine nicely with new captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck who will return from an ACL injury. Sheck will be looking to bounce back to his 2015 form that saw him claim the Dally M Fullback of the Year, and it’s only a matter of time before he and Shaun Johnson take the game by storm.
Newcastle Knights are expected to be in for another tough season, but there are plenty of promising signs that may see them cause some upsets throughout 2017. They are coming off a 44-0 win against the Raiders in their last trial, and despite it only being a trial match the confidence from that win will do them wonders heading into Round 1.
Dylan Pythian will make his debut at fullback after impressing in the pre-season, whilst Luke Yates has also earned his stripes and will come off the bench in his maiden first grade appearance.
Tip: I’d like to see the Knights show some fight in the opening round, but they lack too much strike power and will struggle against a lethal Warriors side. Warriors by 18.
Warriors $1.17
Knights $5.50
Best bet -
Total points over 46.5 ($1.88)
Manly Sea Eagles vs. Parramatta Eels
Lottoland
Sunday 5 March 4.00pm
It’s amazing what twelve months can do in Rugby League and the Manly Sea Eagles are a testament to exactly that. Blake Green is more than a handy signing and has slotted in perfectly to support captain Daly Cherry-Evans. Former Tiger Curtis Sironen will like up in the back-row, whilst fijian flyer Akuila Uate will take his place on the wing.
Dylan Walker has been in sublime form over the pre-season trials and will move back to his preferred centre position. The former Rabbitoh endured a roller-coaster ride at five eight last year and was exposed to some hefty criticism. The retirement of Jamie Lyon will see Walker take over the kicking duties for this year, whilst the departure of Steve Matai has seen Brian Kelly earn his first grade debut after signing from the Titans.
The Eels will want to put the past behind them after their 2016 season was fuelled with off field drama. Bevan French has been named at fullback as expected, with Clint Gutherson named at five-eight after some impressive performances last year.
Semi Radradra will hope to put in a strong performance considering his off field drama, and will hope to be at the top of the try-scorers list at seasons end.
Tip: The new look Manly outfit may take time to get their combinations flowing, and considering the Eels were one of the best defensive teams last year, you can expect a thrilling low scoring affair. Manly by 4.
Manly $1.85
Eels $2.00
Best bet - Total points under 39.5 ($1.88)
Words: Andre Cupido
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