Diehard AFL fan Tim Michell reveals why the NRL has won him over this year
Could the NRL really win over a diehard AFL fan? Tim Michell explains why he’s fallen for rugby league this year and why he will be watching Melbourne Storm — not the AFL preliminary final — on Friday.
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It hit me during the opening week of AFL finals.
As I weighed up whether to watch Collingwood’s elimination final against West Coast or Melbourne Storm’s clash with Paramatta, a force pulled me toward the NRL.
And it wasn’t just with a passing interest — I was genuinely invested.
Who would have thought 12 months ago I’d be spamming my Twitter feed with thoughts about rugby league, a game like so many ardent AFL fans I’d refused to acknowledge as football.
Maybe it’s a Victorian thing, but many of us only want to acknowledge one code as the true form of football.
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And for so long, and in fact too long, I’ve been one of THOSE people.
I’m not proud of it, especially after finding a place in my passionate sporting heart for league this year.
I was one of those who believed a game where possession was 90 per cent by hand couldn’t really class itself as football.
How wrong was I?
Locked down in Melbourne and awaiting an AFL fix, I caught the NRL bug when the competition restarted on May 28.
It seemed a bold vision from league boss Peter V’landys, but 18 rounds and two weeks of finals later the NRL campaign has reached its penultimate weekend.
It’s hard not to admire how steadfast and effective V’Landys’ leadership has been during the pandemic.
That date in late May, when new COVID-19 cases on the east coast were prominent, seemed largely optimistic.
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But on May 28, as V’Landys and his board has planned, Marata Niukore signalled the NRL’s return with a third-minute try in Paramatta’s win over the Broncos.
That May weekend I tuned into three NRL games – more than I have in the past decade.
I marvelled at the resurgent Eels storming past the Broncos, watched a George Williams masterclass against the Storm and then was enthralled by a 14-14 between the Panthers and Knights.
Of course, it’s easier to develop a passionate for a sport when you have a team to follow to be proud of and which has enjoyed an unrivalled run of success.
The Storm have been on the road – playing home games in Queensland – for much of the season yet have still qualified for a preliminary final.
I love everything the Storm stands for and the characters the club has.
This season there’s been, in no particular order, Cameron Munster pushing through the pain barrier, Cameron Smith’s ageless displays and precision kicking, Ryan Papenhuyzen’s searing pace from fullback and Justin Olam inspiring an entire nation with his fearless approach.
The Storm has given hope to many Victorian sporting fans in the toughest year many of us will experience and endeared the game of rugby league to Melburnians – me included.
Who could look past the heart shown by a club playing in enemy territory to launch itself to within two wins of claiming the Provan-Summons trophy.
The exchange between Craig Bellamy and Smith in Round 19 perhaps best summed up why I have fallen for league.
Craig Bellamy flips Cameron Smith the bird. 🤣
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) September 20, 2020
STREAM: https://t.co/PlhCsDB4lS #NRLSFS #9WWOS #NRL pic.twitter.com/GE5TsTAsxJ
Bellamy flipped Smith ‘the bird’ during another commanding win for the Storm, during which he overtook Bellamy’s career try tally of 46 tries.
Can you imagine that happening in an AFL game?
During the Storm’s 36-24 victory over the Eels in week one of the finals, I considered something I would never have dreamt of doing six months ago – buying a Storm membership for 2021.
NRL might not be the No. 1 game in Victoria, but boy was I wrong for doubting just how good it can be.
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Originally published as Diehard AFL fan Tim Michell reveals why the NRL has won him over this year