Bondi rescue is just tip of the iceberg as NRL finally launches
The 2019 NRL season launch was the cake cutting moment rugby league heavies have waited all summer for. Finally, the footy is back and we can focus on the talent set to light up the new season.
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Beautiful Bondi Icebergs.
The iconic Sydney location. A perfect place to party and celebrate.
Thursday night’s 2019 NRL season launch was the cake cutting moment rugby league heavies have waited all summer for.
More than a few suits within League Central, thought it would never arrive.
The purpose of holding last Friday’s press conference, where NRL CEO Todd Greenberg metered out an unprecedented string sanctions to clubs and players, was deliberate.
It was a strategy to put valuable air between the guaranteed debate over the punishments — and the official launch of the 2019 season on Thursday night.
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“Right, that’s over — now we can talk footy,’’ was the belief.
The NRL did it’s best last night to play-on, get through their sets and momentarily ignore the dark shadows of Jack de Belin’s court challenge and the fear of more videos emerging than just Penrith’s Tyrone May.
And to be fair, so they should.
Thursday night reminded every fan how close the action is. The players too.
“I’m sick of training — I just want to play,’’ Roosters premiership-winner Victor Radley said.
In his speech, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg stuck with the theme; A New Era; which is the game’s marketing campaign of 2019.
Surrounding the famous Icebergs pool, the guest list included senior players Greg Inglis, Cam Smith, Wade Graham, Josh Jackson and Daly Cherry Evans.
But it was the presence of the game’s next crop of rising stars like Lachlan Lewis, Nathan Cleary, Jayden Brailey, Kalyn Ponga, Tom Trbojevic and Radley who Greenberg wants to lead the code through troubled waters.
“Cleary, Ponga … this game always finds a way to regenerate its talent pool. Tonight is about showcasing that,’’ Greenberg said.
“2018 is behind us — every Club has a clean slate, and a fresh start is around the corner.
“Every Club can make an impact … each one of these Captains could lift the Premiership Trophy on October 6 later this year.
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“Our players here tonight will be front and centre of our new era.
“Tonight, in this spectacular setting, it is their time to shine.
“To light up this stage and show the way forward for the rest of the competition, for our members, fans and partners everywhere.
“In 2019, these players will inspire the next generation, with incredible feats of athleticism, and lashings of flair and fire.
“This time next week, one of the closest competitions in world sport will explode with blockbusters and epic battles over the opening rounds
“There is simply no competition in the world like it
“Tonight, a new era launches for Rugby League.”
Play-on NRL, six again.
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