Round 1 of the 2024 NRL season was completed back in more familiar surroundings, with plenty of upsets and much to ponder.
Read on as we take a look back over the weekend at some of the biggest hits and misses.
MISS
Long year ahead for Bulldogs if things don't change up front
The Bulldogs may have rebuilt their entire squad in three years, but they clearly haven't done a very good job. For a start, they have overlooked the most important part of any building, the foundations, which in rugby league terms is the front row forwards.
The result was clear against the Eels on Saturday, particularly in the first half where the Bulldogs barely saw the ball, and the majority of their hit-ups out of trouble were taken by their outside backs. Josh Addo-Carr destroyed his shoulder in his first charge into the Eels engine room, while wiry backs Jacob Kiraz and Blake Wilson hit the ball up repeatedly and largely ineffectively from deep inside Bulldogs territory.
According to NRL stats, the Bulldogs prop rotation of Max King, Samuel Hughes and Poasa Faamausili had 16 runs between them all game, while fullback Blake Taafe 18, Wilson 16 and Kiraz 19 all topped or equalled that tally. When the front rowers did have a run, they were flattened by the bigger, more enthusiastic Eels pack. The Bulldogs were completely dominated in the middle of the park and were lucky to leave their own half for most of the game. The Eels had all the possession and all of the points, apart from a couple of late consolation tries.
The Bulldogs are obviously aware of this issue having recently signed props Daniel Suluka-Fifita and Zane Tetevano. Suluka-Fifita is on the back-end of an ACL recovery, while Tetevano is sharpening up in the lower grade alongside Liam Knight and Chris Patolo. If the Bulldogs don't sort out something with their front row rotation, what lies ahead is another very long and painful year for supporters.
HIT
Change of scenery suits two former Dogs
On Saturday night two players that were cleaned out by the Bulldogs killed it in their club debuts for the Dragons against the Titans. Raymond Faitala-Mariner, elevated to the starting pack before the game, was destructive on the edge, slipping passes effortlessly and always proving a handful to tackle. He was always a quality player at his best, but struggled for consistency at the Bulldogs. Perhaps Shane Flanagan has found the secret, but only time will tell.
Flanagan's son Kyle was never the worst player at the Bulldogs and might have been a little unlucky to have been squeezed out. He showed his full set of skills against the Titans. Like Luke Brooks at Manly, Flanagan is playing alongside a veteran superstar half and can play without the pressure of being the most important player on the team. He was able to chime in when needed and his try early in the second half was a classic case of defenders expecting him to offload as he slid through untouched with a deft show and go.
It wasn't all former Bulldogs for the Dragons however, as fullback Tyrell Sloan crossed for three tries in a stand-out performance. It was an unexpected win for the Dragons against a Titans side that many are predicting will play finals football this year.
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Warriors throw away strong start against Sharks
A quick play-the-ball by Luke Metcalf inside the 10 metres saw Wayde Egan draw a scrambling defender before setting Addin Fonua-Blake free to cross for the first try of the game as the Warriors hosted the Sharks in their season opener.
The dynamic front rower, who has made a habit of scoring short range tries through disorganised defences, has already signed with the Sharks from 2025. When he is on the charge, it usually takes three men to tackle him and if the defenders can't number up, there is virtually no stopping him.
Just five minutes later the knife was twisted further when Metcalf, himself a former Shark, split the defence from 20 metres out to score the Warriors' second try. It looked like being a run-away victory for the home team, but 12 was the full extent of their point scoring for the day. The Sharks, gifted a more than fair share of possession, slowly ground their way back into the match, going on to win 16-12.
It was a very disappointing start to the year for the Warriors who seemed to be caught up in their own publicity as they raced to a dominant early lead.
HIT
Storms' phenomenal opening game run continues
Coach Craig Bellamy had never lost a first round game during his 21-year tenure at Melbourne Storm, but this year the NRL and fate dished up possibly his greatest challenge. The Storm were drawn to face Penrith Panthers first up and when star five-eighth Cameron Munster was ruled out late with a groin injury, the odds looked stacked against them. At least they were playing at home and as always Bellamy had a trick or two up his sleeve for the reigning three-time premiers.
Panthers star halfback Nathan Clearly is arguably the best in the game and players of his class always look like they have more time on their hands when in possession. Bellamy's answer was to have defenders sprinting at him at key moments, cutting down his time, and it rattled the Clive Churchill medalist.
The Storm were relentless in defence, throwing three into almost every tackle and taking an eternity to unravel the mess each time. On the back of the frustrating Storm defence, the Panthers seemed to make more handling errors in the first half than they had in total over the three premiership years. No matter what they tried, the Storm scrambled and shut them down. It was a monumental victory, holding the Panthers to zero points is just about miraculous, and one that is full of promise for the season ahead.
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Awful work from Sunday's bunker
We saw our first penalty try of the year in the Dolphins capitulation to the Cowboys on Sunday. Fortunately for the match officials the game was already well decided when a grubber through the line by Cowboys half Chad Townsend was chased by two Cowboys with Dolphins winger Jack Bostock in close attendance. As the ball veered away from Cowboys centre Zac Laybutt, Bostock gave him the slightest of shoves and everyone missed the ball.
Part of awarding a penalty try is being almost certain that a try would have been scored if not for the foul play. There was no way of being even mildly confident that Laybutt could have stopped his forward momentum in time to reach back and across to ground the bobbling ball. Regardless, the bunker decided it was a penalty try.
To even the ledger, in the closing minutes of the game, Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt was denied a try after what looked like a correct put down in the corner. Again, with the result well and truly decided, both decisions were thankfully inconsequential.