NRL 2020 TV ratings: Exceptional results as rugby league returns in style
Rugby league is back and there’s finally on-field action to discuss — PHIL ROTHFIELD analyses the talking points from the NRL weekend that was.
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Check out the highlights, lowlights and talking points as live rugby league returned in a bumper weekend of NRL action.
HIGHLIGHT
Roosters veteran Brett Morris and his sensational defence against South Sydney on Friday night when he twice saved a try in the one movement. Unbelievable desperation.
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HIGHLIGHT II
The new six-again rule for ruck infringements that has finally taken the wrestle out of the game. It brought back fatigue. It meant fewer penalties and more football.
HIGHLIGHT III
The golden point thriller at Campbelltown. Without Mitchell Pearce, Kalyn Ponga, Jayden Brailey and Connor Watson the Knights were not entitled to even be in the contest, let alone in a position to win. A colossal game of footy.
LOWLIGHT
The million-dollar failures over the weekend in the key playmaker positions — Ash Taylor, Ben Hunt, Anthony Milford and Shaun Johnson. These boys are under enormous pressure each week because of the size of their pay packets.
LOWLIGHT II
The pathetic Josh Dugan-Chad Townsend attempted tackle on David Nofoaluma that allowed the Wests Tigers winger to score the softest of tries. Compare their commitment to that of Brett Morris.
LUKEWARM LATRELL
It was difficult to make a judgment on Latrell Mitchell’s performance in the Rabbitohs’ fullback position because the players in front of him were dominated for much of the night. He tried hard but was caught out of position in defence too many times.
PLUCKY ROOSTER
There were some outstanding performers from the big middle forwards with the extra endurance demands. I thought the Roosters’ Lindsay Collins was magnificent and will be knocking on the door for Maroons Origin selection at the end of the year.
360 VIEW
Catch you at 6.30pm Monday on NRL 360 with Ben Ikin, Paul Kent and James Hooper to discuss all the big issues from the third round of the competition.
NRL RESTART A RATINGS WINNER
As expected, the television ratings were exceptional for the NRL over the weekend.
The code matched last year’s round-three ratings figures on Fox Sports and Channel 9 before we even got to Sunday’s Penrith v Knights and Sea Eagles v Bulldogs matches.
The Storm attracted their second-highest audience ever (behind Cameron Smith’s 400th game) on Saturday night against the Raiders.
The interest in the UK, especially around Canberra’s English players, was huge on social media.
Their new halfback George Williams was the second-biggest trending topic on Twitter in the UK, while #NRLStormRaiders was also trending.
The Sharks v Wests Tigers audience was up 16 per cent on last year.
***
The referee in Melbourne, Grant Atkins, and his tough judges Gavin Badger and Todd Smith, did a sensational job considering their travel circumstances.
They drove from Sydney to Canberra on Saturday morning then joined the Raiders on a charter flight to Melbourne. They returned to Canberra on Saturday night, stayed in a hotel, then drove back to Sydney on Sunday morning. A huge effort.
***
Considering the pressure he was under, Kyle Flanagan did a wonderful job for the Roosters against South Sydney skipper Adam Reynolds.
All week the talk had been around his friendship with accused drug cheat Bronson Xerri.
Plus there was the pressure of the Roosters having to win after two losses.
Flanagan has a long way to go but it was still a promising contribution.