NRL Repeat Set: Round 3
It was a long time coming, and despite the lack of close games, Round 3 of the NRL season didn’t disappoint.
It really happened…
The NRL returned and almost 4.5 million people tuned in to celebrate.
It doesn’t matter that only one of the eight games was a thigh-slapper. We’d have taken a repeat of Eels vs Bulldogs in Round 1 just to see some rugby league for the first time in 67 days.
The great game is back and still has 17 rounds to run.
But before getting stuck into Round 4, lets take a quick look back at the weekend that was.
Perception Is Reality
Discussions around overly negative coverage creating frustrated rugby league fans have gone on for years.
Round 3, while an entertaining enough, proved one thing: Perception is reality in the NRL.
With the usual cast of moaners and groaners talking up the game and confirming their own biases with “it flows better”, “fatigue!”, and the most ridiculous of them all, “the little man is back”, fans are appear happier.
People believe what they perceive to be accurate and create realities based on those perceptions. Having people on on TV telling you something is good helps to see it in a positive light.
However, the game didn’t “flow better”. Errors were up (10.4 vs 10.1) which could come down to the amount of time teams played in possession increasing by 90 seconds (ignoring the Golden Point game) to Round 2. More football just means that — more football. That’s good, but it’s not “flow”. Whatever that means today…
Fatigue, well, my suspicion is that were soon going to learn that fatigue doesn’t equal good footy. A ten week break will have hurt even the fittest players, and it showed. The blowouts towards the end of matches produced an 18.25 points differential even with a draw involved. Meanwhile, 45 fewer points were scored in Round 3 than Round 2.
The little men (halves) scored 12 tries in Round 2 compared to three in Round 3 while recording the same number of line breaks (9).
But, despite the numbers not backing up the claims, positivity is flowing through the game. Fans are talking about rugby league, not referees and a “dying” code. The overwhelming post-weekend feeling around the NRL is positive for the first time in, how long? Ever?
It’s largely based on bullocks, but it’s refreshing to see nonetheless. Who would have thought the loudest voices in the game speaking positively would produce a more positive game overall?
Round 3 A Ratings Winner
The Broncos and Eels got things started with the largest single-game regular season audience since 2014 and the largest simulcast broadcast ever.
The Storm have only attracted one audience larger than they did on Saturday night — Cameron Smith’s 400th game.
Both Fox (+19.1%) and Channel Nine (+20%) recorded huge spikes compared with Round 3 last year.
Overall, the 4,490,336 people that tuned in over the weekend is the fifth-largest TV audience in regular-season history. It’s remarkable when considering the thousands that now flock to streaming services, numbers of which aren’t included in the near 4.5 million viewers in Round 3.
Now to see how many come back for Round 4…
Knights In Shining Armour
Moral victories are often overstated in the NRL. The Bulldogs of the last three seasons are the best example of feel-good losses not translating into competition points any time soon. However, Newcastle’s 14-all draw is one that will inspire real wins sooner rather than later.
Already without Kalyn Ponga, the Knights lost both Connor Watson and Mitchell Pearce inside ten minutes. The Panthers soon ran out to a 14–0 lead which, given the Knights’ circumstances, should have been plenty. But the Knights dug deep.
A try just before halftime cut Penrith’s lead to eight. A Bradman Best try in the 59th minute put doubt in the Panthers while another eight minutes later caused panic. While not able to get the win, the Knights managed to earn a point despite only one player in their first-choice spine being on the field.
But it’s the defensive effort that will be remembered. An effort that went unseen throughout Nathan Brown’s time as head coach.
The Knights made 525 tackles on Sunday afternoon — the most by any team since at least 2009. Brodie Jones broke the record for most tackles by a rookie on debut with 51 but he won’t have his name in the record books. Chris Randall made an extra 20 to set a record that is unlikely to be beaten any time soon.
We’ve been hearing that the Knights are ready to make the leap into the Top 8 for the last two seasons. The draw on Sunday afternoon is enough to suggest that this might finally be the year.
The Warriors Did What?!
The Warriors completed 46 of their 48 sets on Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors…
46 sets…
They became the first team to ever complete their first 40 sets in a match with Jack Murchie now having the unfortunate reputation of ending the completion streak with an error in his club debut.
Sea Eagles Spine
After touching on the Sea Eagles spine in the Round 3 Notepad, Tom Trbojevic, Dylan Walker, Daly Cherry-Evans and Danny Levi didn’t disappoint.
Trbojevic, in particular, dominated against a struggling Bulldogs outfit.
His knack for popping up at the right time isn’t a fluke. His ball-playing is still getting better while his combination of size and speed makes him a triple-threat every time he touches the ball. Now finally healthy, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and James Tedesco have genuine competition for the ‘best fullback in the game’ tag.
But it’s the overall performance of the spine and it’s potential to improve that gives life to the idea that Manly are premiership contenders.
This passage here looks exceptionally Roosters-like.
With Walker looking comfortable at five-eighth, Levi growing more familiar with his new surroundings and Cherry-Evans still one of the best halfbacks in the game, this Manly spine is only just getting started in 2020.
Play Of The Round
Scott Drinkwater received most of the credit for his double-pump and pass at the line, but this try was created before the Cowboys half had the ball in his hands.
Jake Granville shaping right as he approaches the ruck sends Phillip Sami on his bike.
Once Granville engages Kevin Proctor just enough, it becomes a simple numbers game.
This one won’t make the Best Try of 2020 list at the end of the season, but the subtlety of it is enough to be my favourite of the week.
