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Broncos
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If the objective of the one-referee and six-again rule was to bring the action and flow back to the game, the NRL got what they wanted in Thursday night’s Eels-Broncos clash.
The combination of one referee and the six-again rule was always going to hurt the team that lost control of the midfield and the Broncos paid a heavy price for their ill-discipline.
Because of the lack of stoppages, it allowed the playmakers to come into the game and it was great to see an athlete like Clint Gutherson get better as the game wore on, the Eels fullback exploiting the fatigue factor that was setting in.
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The penalty count was 1-1 at halftime and many league fans would have loved the high-octane nature of the contest.
This new genre of play will bring back the Allan Langer and Preston Campbell-style of athlete. In the final 20 minutes, we will see the big men begin to tire and it will open the game up for the little man to work their magic and entertain the fans.
But the danger is that we go too far, with the pace and tempo spinning out of control.
I thought it was a promising start, but I am conscious of the NRL premiership not turning into touch football.
If the referees don’t abuse the six-again rule, it will provide the right balance. I thought Gerard Sutton did a great job on Thursday night. He used the six-again early and then put it away and allowed the game to flow.
The key for the game is achieving the balance between the physical contact of the big bodies in midfield with the enterprising play of the smaller men in the backline.
I am very confident the overhaul will be good for the game.
As for the contest itself, two things stood out for me.
One, Parramatta are the real deal and are a serious threat to win the premiership.
Two, the Broncos are youthful and committed, but their fortitude is going to be tested by the NRL’s big guns like this week’s opponents, back-to-back premiers the Roosters.
The scoreline was disappointing for the Broncos but there was a little bit to like. They showed some resilience in defence holding out the Eels for several sets throughout the 80 minutes, but under this new era of play, poor discipline will crush you at the back end of games.
There is talent and speed in the Broncos, but they need momentum through the middle and repeat sets to pressure the top teams.
You can’t put an old head on young shoulders overnight, so it will take time and patience for this Broncos squad to grow into an experienced, premiership-winning unit.
Execution let the Broncos down, but it was compromised because their troops were tired from the defensive workload and it led to some ill-discipline in defence, in addition to not having enough energy with the footy once they got it.
I thought Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas were very good again, but it’s important the more experienced blokes like Matt Lodge and Joe Ofahengaue step-up to shoulder some responsibility in the midfield now they are back.
They both hadn’t played any footy since the February trials, so they will be better for the run.
Haas ran for 164 metres and he is simply a machine.
He will produce those sorts of numbers most weeks, but it’s important he doesn’t run one-out and gets support from his more experienced teammates like Lodge and Ofahengaue.
While Haas’ numbers were good, the Eels contained him well at the ruck and controlled the play-the-ball speed, which affected Jake Turpin’s ability to create anything out of dummy half.
This is a good challenge for Lodge and Ofahengaue. They have been around longer and with the loss of the experienced Alex Glenn, they will need to lead the charge, bringing a young guy like Haas and Carrigan along with them in this week’s clash against the defending premiers.
The Eels, meanwhile, were a joy to watch. Gutherson reminds me of Roosters fullback James Tedesco, he is just so busy and always probing.
I think Canberra can win the premiership but looking at the balance of this Parramatta team, they will take some stopping.
Ryan Matterson and Shaun Lane are big skilful bodies on the edge, Waqa Blake and Michael Jennings are lethal in the centres, and then you factor in the bulk of Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Junior Paulo in the front row.
The Eels have all the skill and firepower. The premiership window is open for them this year.
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