Welcome to our weekly preview of NRL Round 24 – the Kick to Come – which has our thoughts about rugby league this weekend in the NRL.
Round 23 brought about some unexpected things – Souths comprehensively beating the NZ Warriors. Canberra defeating the second top 2 side in two weeks. The Sharks continue their run of losses, same with the Cowboys. Broncos winning.
It brought a few expected scenarios though. Like Newcastle sadly not having the quality to get that elusive win, and the Gold Coast being all about Hayne. At least he is living up to the hype.
Can the NRL Round 24 bring as much surprise or at least as much to talk about? Hopefully.
Here’s our top 5 things to look forward to this weekend.
ALL SYDNEY CLASH IS ALL RIGHT ON FRIDAY NIGHT
We could bitch like always about the Sydney bias on Channel Nein. And we will. But at least the Friday night edition has plenty riding on it. Two good young sides and top eight hopefuls going head to head in the race for September football.
Unlike the Sunday edition between the Roosters and Dragons. Why bother waiting until Round 20 to unveil the same biased coverage. The tale that the draw for the last six rounds was done last year is surely true.
Pity Friday night’s clash will be without James Tedesco. It might have been even closer.
HAYNE CAM IN KNIGHT VISION?
Jarryd Hayne has been the talk of Rugby League since his return, and unlike the wall to wall coverage of his NFL journey, it is about rugby league. He has been good in his return, even kicking the winning field goal last weekend. One can imagine what he could help the Titans achieve if they make the finals.
Will the Hayne Cam be available this weekend? Last week’s edition of added insets was great so you could keep an eye on the game and Hayne at the same time. One wonders if they could add extra options of different Hayne angles on the red button too. A plit screen of Jarryd Hayne from 4 different angles.
HOW ABOUT TWO IN A ROW FOR SOUTHS?
One wonders where the South Sydney that played in NZ last weekend was for most of the season.
Although, given the dross offered up by Souths for most of the year, one feared there would never be another performance like it in 2016.
In the piece written for Nothing But League last weekend, we claimed Cody Walker should be Rookie of the Year. Surely it would be a good news story for those who don’t quite make it in the NRL at an early rugby league age.
Sharks are on a mini slump, three without win, two losses in a row. A loss to Souths will really confirm they are going backwards at the wrong time.
COWBOYS V NZ
Not sure why, but this game interests the most this weekend. Maybe it is the smell of desperation of both sides who need a win for finals survival or to save their faltering season.
FIFTH AND LAST – NO FINALS FOR CANBERRA
Canberra’s great win on Monday meant two wins over the top two sides in two weeks. It also gives the NRL a bit of a headache.
If Canberra make the top four and win the first week it means they won’t get a home final in the second last week of the season. If the Raiders finish third, which seems likely at the moment, it means they will finish in the top 4 but not get a home final. Not much of a reward for a great season.
The way the crowd got behind them on Monday night will be a disappointment for fans who haven’t had much joy in the past few seasons.
