Dunno why. But for some reason I have watched most of the opening two rounds of the NRL season and have been impressed not just by the quality of the play, but by the spectacularly theatrical nature of the results.
Thrills! Spills! Dills!
Against all expectations we have da bums ruling the roost, the Roosters ruled by the Tigers, and the long-time rulers of the Storm, starting to fade. Yes’m, somehow, those perennial easy-beats the Tigers and Knights have won both their opening matches against much more fancied opponents, as have those usually sad punch lines to a bad joke the Warriors, and they have been joined in their unbeaten status by the Riff Panthers and the Dragons. Meantime, stinking up the joint at the other end of the table with no wins, no kudos and just about no hope are the likes of the Bulldogs, the Raiders, the Rabbitohs, the Eels and that Cronulla team whose name always escapes me – the Hawks, I think, or maybe the Chickens, or Sharks?
Beyond those general observations, here are the other things that have struck me.
Dark day: The Eels assume regular position behind their try line.
Photo: AAP
Most fascinating has been the staggering collapse of the Parramatta Eels. Bear in mind they came fourth last season, were touted as possible premiership winners for 2018, and have had their prodigal prodigy Jarryd Hayne added to their roster for this season. Their coach, Brad Arthur, is highly regarded. And yet, and yet, in their first two matches they have bled nigh on 80 points, of which 50 odd were to their greatest historical rivals, Manly! While it is one thing to lose badly it is quit another to lose the will to even struggle and against Manly that it is precisely what it looked like, Their shoulders were slumped, their eyes were downcast, they had nothing! With five minutes to go on Saturday, Hayne got the ball on the boil five metres out. The Hayne who came to fame on the plane, just a few years ago would have burst through the proffered tackles like they were nothing. This one meekly succumbed. It just looked like he didn’t even care. And yes, it is unfair to say that Hayne is the direct cause of both the Titans and the Eels falling apart since he joined them, but . . . at the least it is not obvious that he has made either side stronger.
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SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
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