The 2021 NRL season started in familiar fashion, with Melbourne, Sydney and Penrith setting the pace, though there were some surprises along the way too. Welcome to a new feature on the blog, a weekly look back at the action in the NRL (similar pieces for the Super League will follow).
How good is it to have rugby league back on our screens? We have been treated to three live games on Sky Sports here in England, as the greatest competition in the sport got its season underway.
In the most hotly-anticipated clash of Round One, reigning NRL Premiers Melbourne got their title defence off to the perfect start, blowing away the much-fancied South Sydney. Though Souths came back into the game in the second half, it was too little, too late. The Newcastle Knights came from behind to claim an opening-day win over Canterbury Bulldogs, and it was a similar story in Brisbane, where the Broncos blew a well-earned lead and allowed Parramatta Eels to come away with the points. New Zealand Warriors started life under Nathan Brown in good fashion, beating Justin Holbrook's Gold Coast Titans 19-6. 2018 and 2019 Premiers Sydney Roosters got off to a sensational start, with hat-tricks for both James Tedesco and Brett Morris, as they swept Manly Sea Eagles aside, putting 46 points on them and only conceding four. Last year's Minor Premiers Penrith also started well, nilling the Cowboys and scoring 24 points of their own. The English-inspired Canberra Raiders got an opening day win over the Wests Tigers, and in the final game of the round, Cronulla Sharks got a big away win at St George by a margin of 14 points.
Round One Results
Melbourne Storm 26-18 South Sydney Rabbitohs
Newcastle Knights 32-16 Canterbury Bulldogs
Brisbane Broncos 16-24 Parramatta Eels
New Zealand Warriors 19-6 Gold Coast Titans
Sydney Roosters 46-4 Manly Sea Eagles
Penrith Panthers 24-0 North Queensland Cowboys
Canberra Raiders 30-12 Wests Tigers
St George Dragons 18-32 Cronulla Sharks
Top Five Performances of the Round
5) Warriors (beat Titans 19-6 at home)
I didn't really know what to expect from New Zealand this season but they really turned up for each other on Saturday and got a thoroughly deserved win over the Titans, who couldn't meet the expectation on them in Round One.
4) Panthers (beat Cowboys 24-0 at home)
Last year's Minor Premiers started convincingly on Saturday, nilling their opponents in a game they should have won by more - only solid Cowboys defence kept the score at 8-0 for long periods in a game that half-back Nathan Cleary dominated for the Panthers.
3) Sharks (beat Dragons 18-32 away)
It's hard to quantify how good Cronulla's performance really was, because St George were woeful for long periods, but the Sharks took full advantage and won the game comfortably. They also played some really attractive rugby - William Kennedy and Matt Moylan both very impressive.
2) Storm (beat Souths 26-18 at home)
The defending champions got off to a solid start in the opening match of 2021, beating Souths - who many, including myself, have tipped for glory, by eight points. Storm did the damage in the first half, blowing the Bunnies away as they began the post-Cameron Smith era in impressive fashion.
1) Roosters (beat Sea Eagles 46-4 at home)
The performance of Round One for me, goes to the Sydney Roosters. They were my tip to finish top of the league and I've seen nothing to change my mind so far. They were terrific in attack, with Tedesco running riot, and also very compact and resilient in defence, conceding just four points.
Top Five Players of the Round
5) Christian Welch (Storm)
Melbourne blew Souths away in the first half and dominated the forward battle. Often underrated, prop Christian Welch was a big part of their territorial domination.
4) Brett Morris (Roosters)
A hat-trick for Morris to start to the season as Sydney took the Sea Eagles apart. This was a clinic in finishing from the winger, who starts his golden boot chase in threatening form.
3) Ryan Papenhuyzen (Storm)
Full-back Ryan Papenhuyzen was brilliant on Thursday for the Storm, chiming into the line at just the right time from full-back to have a hand in numerous attacks and tries.
2) Cameron Munster (Storm)
He scored the first try of the 2021 NRL season and was involved in everything creatively, picking his passes cleverly from the halves to carve Souths open in the first half.
1) James Tedesco (Roosters)
The best player of the round was James Tedesco. The best player in the world got a hat-trick from full-back and was involved in everything positive as the Roosters romped home to victory.
Top Five Tries of the Round
5) William Kennedy (2nd try)
A lovely team try from the Sharks, full-back Kennedy getting his second try of the game after a series of quick passes from the scrum ended up with Kennedy playing a neat one-two with Ronaldo Mulitalo.
4) Latrell Mitchell
His team may have lost, but my tip for the Dally M award started the season well, with this splendid try, finding a gap and exploiting it with his pace, strength and direction.
3) Xavier Coates
Brisbane looked certainties to win the game after a lead earned through two Xavier Coates tries - the first an absolute peach. A clean catch from the kick and a stunning finish. Shame to see him injured in scoring his second one.
2) James Tedesco (2nd try)
Mesmerising footwork from Teddy, moving left and the right, got him the second of his three tries on Saturday.
1) Matt Dufty
The Dragons were hopeless on Sunday but the highlight was undoubtedly Dufty's try, the full-back sprinting through the Sharks defence to score. I've often wondered whether Dufty has the size to be a high-quality full-back but with pace like that, he doesn't need it.
Team of the Round
Full-Back: James Tedesco (Roosters)
The best player on the planet showed why he is just that on Saturday, scoring a hat-trick of tries, dominating in possession, having a hand in two other tries and coming up with a superb defensive play too. What a player.
Winger: Brett Morris (Roosters)
Also bagged a hat-trick, proving too quick and too strong for the Manly defence, finishing in the corner three times with aplomb.
Centre: Peta Hiku (Warriors)
Former Warrington man Peta Hiku was superb for the Warriors this weekend, leading the charge from centre as New Zealand got off to a winning start.
Centre: Joseph Manu (Roosters)
A hard call between the two Roosters centres as both Manu and Josh Morris were very good but I ended up going for Manu, just for his reach-out try.
Winger: Brian To'o (Panthers)
A man who was desperately unlucky to see a score chalked off, as had it been allowed, he would have probably won try of the round. Phenomenal strength, handling and movement.
Stand-Off: Cameron Munster (Storm)
He ran the show from the number six position, scoring the opening try and having the presence of mind and game intelligence to make the right decisions at the right times with the ball in hand.
Scrum-Half: George Williams (Raiders)
The former Wigan man was terrific for Canberra in their Sunday win over Wests, displaying his superb kicking game, constantly getting the Raiders in dangerous scoring positions.
Prop: Christian Welch (Storm)
An underrated player but one who is finally starting to get some recognition now, Welch put in a massive shift for the Storm on Thursday, helping them win the battle of the forwards and gain territorial domination.
Hooker: Reed Mahoney (Eels)
The man who inspired Parramatta's comeback win over Brisbane. He scored their opening try with a burst from dummy-half and got an assist for the fourth try, showing his quality handling and quick passing.
Prop: Daniel Saifiti (Knights)
The Knights came from behind to beat Canterbury and Saifiti was tremendous in the front row, making 174 metres and busting seven tackles as his side started with a win.
Second Row: Hudson Young (Raiders)
A try, five tackle busts, 36 tackles and 117 metres for Young, as his Canberra side ran all over Wests on Sunday. Very good performance.
Second Row: Sitili Tupouniua (Roosters)
Hell of a performance from the second rower, who found holes with his movement to score his first try and was then desperately unlucky to see a second ruled out in the second half.
Loose Forward: Isaah Yeo (Panthers)
The new Panthers co-captain started 2021 where he left off in 2020, getting his hands on the ball and making yardage. He also got his first try of the campaign with a close-range barge-over.
Next Time Out...
Round Two sees the Eels take on the Storm in the crunch match on Thursday, while the Knights travel to New Zealand to take on the Warriors on Friday. Also on Friday, the Titans host the Broncos as both teams look to get their first win. The Panthers will look to make it two out of two as they travel to Canterbury on Saturday, while the Sea Eagles are at home to Souths, who will be looking to get their season up and running. The Cowboys take on the Dragons in a battle of two sides on the wrong end of heavy defeats this week, while early league leaders Roosters have a short trip to Wests on Sunday. Rounding off the weekend are two impressive performers from Round One, the Sharks and the Raiders.
@ALooseWire
Superb article
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