The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once said that hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man. Nietzsche would not have coped well in rugby league and certainly not on the eve of a new season where hope is at its high watermark.
In a game whose narrative is often beset by negativity and narkiness, the last days before a new campaign kicks off are often the last days of optimism and, arguably, the NRL has never been more optimistic about a season.
Rugby league playing states seem to be moving towards the new norm of Covid. Restrictions are gone. Teams – the Warriors are the only exception at this stage – will play at home in front of fans. Financial figures released show the NRL in the most secure, stable position in its history with revenue up 37% and cash reserves up by $45m. Rule tinkering has been kept at a minimum and the one notable change – awarding a penalty rather than a six-again for a deliberate penalty on an attacker coming out of their own half – has been met with near-universal relief.
With all teams level on the ladder and an entire season to play out, it is not just the increase in club grants by 5% that has even the least realistic of clubs clinging to even the flimsiest reed of hope.
The Broncos have put their faith in Ben Ikin to rebuild the club’s list and with Adam Reynolds, Kurt Capewell and Ryan James in his first class there is a belief their leadership should lift the club back into the top eight after going 10-34 for two bottom three finishes the last two years.
The Bulldogs, fresh out of a half-decade of salary cap hell, have made it rain for a long list of recruits headed by premiership winner Matt Burton and rep star Josh Addo-Carr. Reputations held little sway with the likes of Paul Vaughan, Tevita Pangai Jnr and Brent Naden all looking for some kind of redemption after off-field incidents. Trent Barrett will need to meld together the team quickly though to get off the hottest of coaching seats.
The Raiders look to be ushering in a new generation. The Cowboys are on bended knee hoping their halves investment pays off. The Dragons are up-and-about on the back of a dominant Charity Shield win. The Titans project as big improvers as the club continues to build under highly promising coach Justin Holbrook.
No team from the bottom half of the ladder has more reason for hope though than Cronulla. The Sharks made huge waves when they snagged highly-rated assistant Craig Fitzgibbon early last season and it certainly resonated with those off-contract with big names Nicho Hynes and Dale Finucane both joining the club. Cronulla view themselves as genuine title contenders with not only the talent but the cultural changes the former Storm duo bring.
The genuine title contenders probably number at best six and likely just three. The hope at South Sydney, Parramatta and Manly is certainly there but where will they find the lift to elevate them that next step or three? None of the trio have improved their rosters. Souths have lost the most successful coach the game has ever known as well as their organising half and now rookie halfback Lachlan Ilias shoulders the burden. The Eels have a roster very similar to that of recent years that has thrived in the regular season and shot blanks in the finals. Manly are hoping for a repeat of Tom Trbojevic’s magical 2021.
When it comes to true designs on lifting that premiership trophy, the three teams that hold the aces are Penrith, Melbourne and the Sydney Roosters – coached by the three best mentors in the game.
The Panthers will need to defy nearly all recent history to go back-to-back and ride their golden generation to another title. Penrith’s depth has taken a hit and they will start their season with star Nathan Cleary on the sidelines but there is no questioning the talent on their list.
The Roosters were arguably the unluckiest – and most courageous – team of 2021 and with even a fair injury run in 2022 will be right in contention. Trent Robinson is among the game’s best thinkers and with decent health combined with the experience gained from so much young talent last year it is more than conceivable to see the Tricolours back in the grand final for the third time in five years.
No team enters the season more stung than the Storm. Craig Bellamy’s team were historic in their brilliance in 2021, breaking a tremendous number of attacking records while maintaining their classic defensive fortress. It all slipped away though during a forgettable 80-minute semi-final showing against Penrith. Redemption has historically been a major driver for the Storm and will be at the crux of their push for another title.
Come Monday, it will all be different. As it sits though, with the first match still yet to be played, hope washes over all and the unusual feeling of optimism looms large over the game.
