There was no more disappointing team in the first round than the Roosters, who were totally out-enthused by rank outsiders Newcastle at home.
The Roosters’ lack of energy or creativity was a real worry for coach Trent Robinson.
A possible concern for the Roosters was it was the first game in which Sam Walker played alongside Luke Keary in the halves – and the pair both looked flat.
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Are they too similar – both tiny men with smart running games? The best halfback combinations tend to be players with different skill sets – look at Brett Kenny/Peter Sterling and Kevin Walters/Allan Langer. Time will tell if this will be a problem for the Roosters.
Panthers overcome loss of Cleary
There’s only one thing worse for a young player than being a coach’s son – and that’s being a recruitment manager’s son.
So it’s been a tough road for Sean O’Sullivan, who at 23 is already at his fourth NRL club.
But the son of recruitment guru Peter O’Sullivan was the name on everyone’s lips after the season opening game, starring for Penrith in the upset win over Manly.
‘Sully’ played his best game in top company, filling the massive boots of Nathan Cleary with ease.
He was involved in three tries in the Panthers’ 28-6 win and his kicking game and game management were top notch.
Finding a back-up for Cleary could have been a problem for the playmaker’s dad this year – but in 80 minutes that headache is gone.
O’Sullivan came to the Panthers on a bargain-basement contract – and after one round is an early contender for buy of the year.
Grim start for Manly
Remarkably, Manly have now lost nine straight round one games – and never looked like coming close to Penrith on Thursday night.
Des Hasler, to his credit, knew there was a problem and did what no other coach did during the trials – played all his big guns in both games.
It was an effort to stir up his side and get some fire in their bellies – but sadly it didn’t work.
Raiders reverse worrying trend
Canberra were flogged harder than most teams over the summer – for good reason.
Seven times last season, the Raiders lost games after holding double figure leads – a dreadful indictment on their fitness and mental application that ultimately cost them a finals berth.
It looked like a case of deja vu on Friday night when Canberra led 18-6 at halftime, only to allow Cronulla back into the game at 18-all. But it’s a different Canberra this season, apparently, with a late Hudson Young try snatching a morale-boosting first-up win.
Good signs for Brisbane
The big thing Kevvie Walters demanded from his Broncos over the summer was to show more ticker in defence in 2022, and judging by the Broncos’ splendid first-up effort against Souths, the endless hours on the tackle pads have paid dividends.
Last year, the fewest points the Broncos conceded, apart from against the Bulldogs, was 19. Yet against Souths, one of the NRL’s gun attacking machines, they let in just four points to lay the platform for a fine win.
Special mention to Patrick Carrigan, who made an outstanding comeback from ACL surgery, running for 182 metres – nearly 20 more than the dynamic Payne Haas.
Positive signs for Knights
The Knights came within three minutes of equalling a 30-year record in their stunning 20-6 win over the Roosters at the SCG on Saturday afternoon.
The Knights hadn’t held the Roosters tryless since way back in 1992 – and came oh so close.
A desperation crossfield kick saw Paul Momirovski score for the Roosters in the 77th minute – but it mattered for nought as the Knights totally out-enthused their fancied opponents in a major upset.
Newcastle have laid the foundations for a great season, with new buy Dane Gagai giving them much more strike power out wide.
Few clubs in the NRL can match the Knights for clout out wide, with Gagai on the right edge and the dynamic Bradman Best on the left.
New halfback Adam Clune played like a seasoned veteran and his combination with talented five-eighth Jake Clifford was a highlight of the win.
It was a special day all around for the Knights – they had never previously won a match at the old home of football in Sydney, the famous SCG.
Ravalawa’s stunning start
We have had some wonderful Fijian wingers in our game over the last 20 or so years – and Mikaele Ravalawa is putting his name right up their with the best of them.
The powerhouse flanker had a magnificent start to the new season, with his hat-trick the difference between the Dragons and a determined Warriors outfit on Saturday afternoon.
But the three tries weren’t Ravalawa’s only contribution to the Dragons’ 28-16 win.
He also produced a try-saving tackle on fellow Fijian Marcello Montoya and ran for 173 metres – more than any player on the field.
It was a somewhat shaky start to a new era for the Dragons, with six new recruits – Jaydn Su’A, Aaron Woods, Moses Suli, Francis Molo, Moses Mbye and Jack Gosiewski – but they got the job done to end a run of nine straight losses in Queensland.
Melbourne’s remarkable run continues
The Storm’s feat of 19 straight first round wins must go down as one of the most remarkable records in rugby league.
While fellow big guns like Manly, the Roosters and Souths suffered shock opening losses, the Storm kept their streak alive despite serious injuries to three key players.
To come from behind to score a 26-16 win over a determined Tigers side was all guts, and coach Craig Bellamy later described it as one of the bravest wins he has been involved in.
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