The Eels may not finish in the top four this year, but there was enough on show against the Warriors on Sunday to suggest they won't finish in the bottom four, either.
1. Grades of grey: puzzle of the shoulder charge
If the NRL's match review committee believes Sonny Bill Williams' shoulder made illegal contact with George Burgess' head in the final minute of last Thursday's match between South Sydney and Sydney Roosters, I can certainly accept he should be charged. If they consider it worthy of a grade two charge, I will accept that, too. What I can't fathom is how a grade two shoulder charge carries a base penalty of 300 points, while a grade two careless tackle charge carries a base penalty of 125 points. Brisbane's Andrew McCullough is free to play this weekend after taking an early plea for his grade two careless high tackle on Mitch Brown in Friday night's clash with Canterbury, while Williams will spend the next three weeks on the sideline after also taking the early plea for his charge. Can someone please explain to me why contact to the head with the shoulder is considered 2.4 times more dangerous than contact with the forearm?
2. The Eel deal
For the past few months I've been trying to tell anyone who will listen that Parramatta will not finish with the wooden spoon this season. The last few years have been painful for Eels' supporters, with far too many changes in management, coaches and playing rosters. When a club lacks stability, it more often than not reflects in the on-field performances of the football team. Last weekend though, all five of the major teams under the Parramatta Eels banner, from the under-16s representative team right through to the NRL side, were successful. The NRL side played with real enthusiasm and a new sense of creativity. They became more confident as the match unfolded and really put the Warriors to the sword. I know they won the corresponding game last season against the same opponent by a similarly big margin, but there was something more clinical and composed about the way they dismantled the Warriors on this occasion. Right from the start I've liked their recruitment list for this season. I'm prepared to say right now the Eels will not finish in the bottom four teams this year. In fact, I won't be surprised if they finish much higher on the premiership table. They look promising to me.
3. The fullbacks
If anyone needed further evidence of the critical role played by fullbacks in today's game then the matches played in round one will surely convince you once and for all of their increasing importance. Greg Inglis (South Sydney, right) and Ben Barba (Brisbane) were central in the majority of attacking raids of their respective teams. Brett Stewart (Manly), Anthony Milford (Canberra) and James Tedesco (Wests Tigers) sparked their teams to good early leads, while the injuries suffered by Stewart and Darius Boyd (Newcastle) during matches were a massive blow to the Sea Eagles and Knights respectively, who both went on to lose their matches. With such structured defences these days, the ball-playing and/or tackle-busting fullback, with the speed and the soft hands to create opportunities for outside supports, is vital to the winning prospects of any team.
4. Cameron Smith
I was delighted with the news on Tuesday that Cameron Smith has signed with Melbourne for a further four years and will undoubtedly now finish his NRL career at the club where he made his NRL debut (as a half back) in 2002, at just 18 years of age. The Storm, Queensland and Australian captain will play his 263rd game for the Storm on the weekend, the most by any player at the club. His achievements in the game are phenomenal and if he can stay relatively injury-free for the remainder of his career he will have the opportunity to set records that may never be broken. His representative career is far from over and he has already played 30 Origin matches and 34 Tests. A World Cup win as captain, two Origin series wins as captain, eight Origin successes as a player, three premiership wins with the Storm, he captained the Storm to a title in 2012, along with the dozens of individual awards already make him one of the greatest players our game has produced — his new contract will just give us all the opportunity to marvel at his performances for a few more years.
5. Bellamy brilliance
I don't think it's a coincidence that since taking over as Melbourne coach in 2003, Craig Bellamy's side has won 11 of their 12 first-round matches, including the last 10 in a row. The phrase "supercoach" has lost all meaning in recent years due to constant misuse, but the ability of Bellamy to prepare his sides for the NRL season is really quite remarkable. The Storm players are physically and mentally ahead of the pack each and every year, despite the constant changes in personnel and the now regular alterations and interpretations to the rules of the game. With no ball in the early part of their clash with grand finalists Manly at Brookvale, the Storm fell behind 20-0 in the first half. They methodically dug their way out of trouble and came away with a deserved 23-22 win. The Storm may not go on to win this year's title, (although they will certainly give it an almighty shake), but if they don't it will not be a result of poor preparation or coaching. Bellamy really is a master at his craft.
6. Game has direction
It's been two years since the ARL Commission was formed to govern rugby league in this country. I would just like to go on the record as saying I think they have done an outstanding job in that time. Not the least on their list of achievements has been the appointment of David Smith (above) as the NRL boss. Between Smith and the commissioners, our game finally has real leadership and, as a result of this leadership, a solid strategy and direction to take our game into the future. I hope the story one day gets told of the mess they inherited when they took over in February 2012. The majority of their work since has been behind closed doors and without recognition for the significant changes they have made. Smith quickly recognised the needs of his organisation and the appointment of Jim Doyle and Todd Greenberg have resulted in a remarkable improvement in the communication lines between the clubs and NRL management. There is still plenty of work to be done, but gauging by the financial success of the NRL in the past 12 months and the plans this administration has for the future, our game is in great hands.
