It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times, and now the Wooden Spooners have returned to cast their eye over the first weekend of rugby league for 2022 that was with the NRL 2022 Round 1 Headlines.
Going beyond the scores, the NRL 2022 Round 1 Headlines gives the extra insight in the NRL that only the Wooden Spooners can.
All reports are unconfirmed and please contact Leigh Gulfeys from our Legal team or Buzz Rothfield aka Hans Moleman for complaints.
SOCIAL OF THE WEEK – GOOD TO KNOW MANLY FANS DON’T TAKE THINGS TOO SERIOUSLY AFTER ONE LOSS
The Wooden Spooners don’t usually do the socials, we’re simply not that sociable, but we’ll try and share our favourite piece of fandom from the NRL socials.
While most of us were pumped for the first NRL game of the season, some were more so than others…..
NRL VIDEO REFEREE REMINDS EVERYONE RUGBY LEAGUE IS BACK
It didn’t take long for the Video Referee system to stamp their authority in the 2022 NRL season after they disallowed the first two times Penrith crossed the line.
The second of the two was the kind of decision that baffles the average and knowledgeable NRL fan both. Jarome Luai being the party pooper on this occasion.
Despite the questionable decision, it was also nice to know that NRL was back.
NRL PULL OFF MARKETING MASTERCLASS TO MAKE BRONCOS-SOUTHS GAME BE ALL ABOUT ADAM REYNOLDS DEPSITE NOT PLAYING
The beauty of the first round draw of Brisbane Broncos playing the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp was the pushing the Adam Reynolds narrative into overdrive.
Not for the first time in the past few seasons, Covid ruined something for the NRL, with the star halfback contracting the spicy cough and missing the first game.
But that didn’t stop the pre game, and post game being all about Adam Reynolds anyway, with reporters annoying new Souths coach Jason Demetriou with questions about their former halfback.
It also didn’t help that Souths put on the worst performance by any team for Round One. But most of that can be blamed on not having Adam Reynolds.
JARRYD HAYNE TRIES TO GET PEOPLE TO REMEMBER HE WAS A RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYER WITH A 2AM FIGHT OUTSIDE A PUB
A long time ago Jarryd Hayne was one the best rugby league players on the planet, and a few years ago he was a rugby league player.
But recently he has been in the news for loads of court time and a brief stint in jail.
Since his return we figure he’s been trying to turn his life around, or at least show everyone he was at least a rugby league. And nothing says (old school) rugby league player than some fisticuffs outside a pub at something-or-other in the morning.
Sadly he picked former Eels team mate Nathan Brown, who we wouldn’t want to annoy.
SOME QUICK HEADLINES
- ROOSTERS LOSE FIRST GAME ON PURPOSE TO COOL INTEREST IN THEIR SALARY CAP SOMBRERO FOR A FEW WEEKS
- CLOUDS ADMIT THAT RAIN DURING COWBOYS v BULLDOGS GAME WAS IN FACT TEARS OF BOREDOM
- NRL’S CONTROVERSIAL NEW HANDICAPPING SYSTEM UNDERWAY AS MELBOURNE LOSE TWO PLAYERS THROUGH SEASON ENDING INJURIES
- SHARKS LOSS IN CANBERRA TO BE MIRRORED SOON BY SUPERFAN SCOMO
THE SHANE FLANAGAN NEW COACHING GIG-O-METER
With Shane Flanagan returning to the commentary box for Fox League in 2022, we can continue to expect subtle digs at teams who are struggling and that he can see a possible way in for. Or anyone who may be competition or ahead of his son Kyle Flanagan.
So each week as part of the Wooden Spooner’s NRL Headline, we’ll bring you the New Coaching Gig-O-Meter. This features which teams are hot for a new coach, or a team that was and is going cool.
YOUR ROUND 1 BARELY INTERESTING STATS
- The Bulldogs 6-4 win over the Cowboys was the second time since 1998 that the total of 10 points or less were scored in a first round game. The other occurrence was two years ago, and also featured the Bulldogs.
- Bulldogs win was the first time since 2018 that the reigning wooden spooners won the first game of the next season. he win % from the last 10 years is 50%.
- It was South Sydney’s lowest first round score going back to 1998.
- It was Manly’s ninth first round loss in a row, and they haven’t passed six points in the last four seasons.
- North Queensland have scored a total of four points in ther last two first round games.
- It was Melbourne’s 20th first round win in a row. And Newcastle’s fifth.
THE 2022 NRL FORM-O-METER
Sometimes NRL competition points aren’t enough to judge relative performance of the team, or at least not complicated enough.
So to make things way more complicated than they need to be, we have assembled 15 stats from the weekend’s action, and ranked each team 1 – 16 for all. Then take a combined score across them all for the team of the week.
This week Penrith are a long way in front, and there’s some big names down the bottom after an underwhelming first weekend.
Stay tuned to the weekly headlines for an update.
THE WOODEN SPOONERS 2022 WOODEN SPOON POLL
Since this is the Wooden Spooners review of the weekend, we thought we’d throw in a rolling poll to who the very few readers here think will be the team that finishes the 2022 NRL season in last place.
