A Barely Interesting NRL Round 1 Preview

The new NRL season is here, and the first round of the season deserves a barely interesting NRL Round 1 Preview.

What you can expect every week is a preview full of stats, a few barely interesting, and some thoughts and a prediction on each game of each NRL round.

Sounds exciting? Sounds great? Na, it is only a Barely Interesting NRL Round 1 Preview.

NRL Round 1 Preview – Match by Match

EELS  v BULLDOGS

Thursday 8pm

WHY THE EELS CAN WIN

Parramatta look like the better side on paper, with a team full of match winners. Although, Blake Ferguson can go either way.

Parramatta have won the last two games between these sides in March.

WHY THE BULLDOGS CAN WIN

Parramatta have lost both their games at Bankwest Stadium on a Thursday night.

TIPSTRADAMUS’ FINAL SAY

Parramatta by 16

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

This will be the 22nd consecutive time this game has featured on Channel Nein.

CANBERRA v GOLD COAST

Friday 6pm

WHY CANBERRA CAN WIN

Canberra hold a 3-2 advantage over the Titans for first round wins in the last five seasons.

Gold Coast may have Daylight Savings acclimatisation issues.

WHY GOLD COAST CAN WIN

The Titans have won the only Friday clash between these sides since 1998.

Gold Coast also have an 8-3 advantage at night.

And they have won both games in Canberra in March.

Will Canberra have a Grand Final loss hangover. 

TIPSTRADAMUS’ FINAL SAY

Gold Coast by 2

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

Ricky Stuart has won five of nine games at home as a coach against the Gold Coast across three clubs. He never beat the Titans as Parramatta coach in two attempts.

NORTH QUEENSLAND v BRISBANE

Friday 8pm

WHY NORTH QLD CAN WIN

Because they have a shiny new stadium.

They have to travel the least in one of sports furthest local derbies.

North Queensland edge Broncos in first round clashes 4-2 in the last five seasons, but the Broncos do hold the 1998 record 13-10.

WHY BRISBANE CAN WIN

Brisbane have won every first round clash played between these sides in Townsville.

They have possibly the best young forward pack in the competition.

Broncos have won four of the last five clashes.

TIPSTRADAMUS’ FINAL SAY

Brisbane by 4.

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

This fixture hasn’t been played in a daytime slot since the first round clash at Suncorp in 2006.

Three of the last four games have been settled by four points.

NEWCASTLE v NZ WARRIORS

Saturday 3pm

WHY NEWCASTLE CAN WIN

The Warriors have a dreadful first round record with just six wins since 1998. Newcastle are second with 15 wins. The teams are three a piece for first round clashes from the last five seasons.

Newcastle hold the advantage 17-12 for Fox Sports only games.

They also have the Saturday advantage 10-6.

WHY NZ WARRIORS CAN WIN

The NZ Warriors have a superior H2H record from the past 10 seasons 12-5.

New Zealand have won their first game in the last three seasons.

It will be the first of six jerseys worn by the Warriors in 2020.

TIPSTRADAMUS’ FINAL SAY

Newcastle by 18

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

Stephen Kearney has won four of his five first round games as coach.

SOUTHS SYDNEY v SHARKS

Saturday 5:30pm

WHY SOUTHS CAN WIN

The Rabbitohs have an impressive 7-1 record at the home of rugby league – ANZ Stadium.

Souths hold the night time advantage 13-10.

Souths have won the last three matches in March between these sides.

WHY CRONULLA CAN WIN

Hasn’t Sharks number one fan Scott Morrison had a good 2020 so far. Perhaps he will bring his Midas touch to the Sharks.

Sharks have won twice as many games as Souths on a Saturday.

Sharks have the upper hand for Fox only clashes 15-11.

TIPSTRADAMUS’ FINAL SAY

Souths by 2

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

Although not quite relevant here, the Sharks hold an 8-1 record v Souths for daytime games.

Wayne Bennett has a 59% win record for first round games as coach since 1998.

PENRITH v ROOSTERS

Saturday 7:30pm

WHY PENRITH CAN WIN

Viliame Kikau.

See our barely interesting fact below.

The Roosters will miss Cooper Cronk, and could possibly miss Latrell Mitchell.

WHY ROOSTERS CAN WIN

The Roosters are defending Premiers. And World Champions.

They also hold the advantage over Penrith for games at Penrith Stadium, Night Games, 7pm + kick offs, H2H records since 1998 and last ten seasons, and Saturday games.

TIPSTRADAMUS’ FINAL SAY

Roosters by 8

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

Reigning premiers have won the first game of the next season seven times from the last ten seasons. Of the three times the reigning premier hasn’t won, two of them were the Roosters. The other was Cronulla in 2017.

MANLY v MELBOURNE

Sunday 4:05pm

WHY MANLY CAN WIN

Manly have a 5-3 advantage on a Sunday.

They have also won the only day clash between these sides in March.

WHY MELBOURNE CAN WIN

They have an outstanding record of winning the first game of the season. 21 times since 1998. Manly coincidentally are the very worst team with just five wins to kick off the season.

Melbourne have at least one PNG International in their side.

The Storm hold a 5-2 advantage for games on Channel Nein.

The away side won both games last season.

TIPSTRADAMUS’ FINAL SAY

Melbourne by 12

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

The for and against of these sides at this ground since 1998 and the last 10 seasons is within two points.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA v WESTS TIGERS

Sunday 6:15pm

WHY DRAGONS CAN WIN

St George Illawarra hold a 11-8 record over the Tigers on a Sunday.

WHY TIGERS CAN WIN

The away side has won five of the last six clashes between these sides, and it is five in a row on a Sunday.

Because the Tigers have recruited better than the Dragons in the off season.

Wests Tigers have a small 2-1 lead in the H2H at Win Stadium.

The Tigers have won the only kick off between 6pm and 7pm.

TIPSTRADAMUS’ FINAL SAY

Wests Tigers by 8

BARELY INTERESTING FACT

The last 12 fixtures on Channel Nein on a Sunday have featured at least one Sydney.