Couch Critic looks ahead to forthcoming NRL season in this preview brought to you by @Olimp_SA

NRL – Welcome to a brave new world mate

It’s Saturday afternoon as I type this and instead of kicking my feet up with a beer and enjoying some live sport, I’m left daydreaming about things to come… But that is about to change! And on that note, I need to talk to you about rugby, but a slightly different flavour of our favourite game. Yes, it’s time to talk Rugby League and specifically National Rugby League or NRL.

The WHY

• The NRL kicks off on Thursday 28 May whilst Super Rugby only gets back to our screens on 13 June, thus you will be getting two weekends of the alternative before the real deal gets going.

• With 16 teams in the league there are 8 matches per weekend to sink your teeth into and in contrast to something like the Bundesliga the matches stretch from Thursday till Sunday thus offering us four days of sporting action.

• Rugby League is physically the closest thing one can get to “real rugby”. Many of the basic rules of union apply to League – having to pass the ball backwards, off side, knock-ons, striving to score tries, etc (but more of that later)

• If the slow tempo in Union has become an irritation, then League is the place to be with a significantly higher amount of ball in play – no 5min scrums here.

• The controversial high tackle laws have had rugby fans pulling out their hair in frustration. In the NRL tackles aren’t officiated so harshly and leading with the shoulder is common and completely legal.

• There is certainly no lack of skill and excitement. Just think of players like Lote Tuqiri, Sonny Bill Williams and Israel Folau, that are all League converts who brought their explosive skills and dazzled in fifteens as well.

The HOW

• The facts are that League is played between teams of thirteen players aside, field dimensions are almost identical to Union and as mentioned the basic rules remain the same.

• In terms of my own opinion as a Union watcher, who only recently took up watching League, I would call this other version a mix between Fifteens, Touch rugby and Sevens. Touch rugby due to the fact that you get six “sets” and the ball having to be “rucked” back to a halfback for the next play to start. Sevens due to there being forwards and backs but for the most part roles are interchangeable and set pieces not being nearly as much of a crucial aspect.

• Differences to Union:

• Team layout wise League is Union without the two flankers.

• The biggest difference lies in the battle for possession. In League you get six “sets” or tackles before possession is automatically handed over to the opposition.

• Due to the above possession rule there is no ruck in League. After a tackle the tackler has to clear away and allow the attacking team to launch their next play.

• There are no lineouts and scrums are much less of a pillar of domination, rather merely a way of getting play back underway (much like Sevens).

• In the past League used two referees on the field but post-Covid19 only one will be utilised.

The WHERE & WHEN

There are 16 teams in the NRL. Sydney dominates with eight teams from the city and its surrounds in the league. Brisbane have the Broncos whilst the Titans from the Gold Coast are also nearby. Then the Storm is the only side from Melbourne and the Raiders the only team representing Canberra. The Warriors have the honour of being the side that represents New Zealand in the league (though there are Kiwis and other Pacific Islanders in most of the other squads). The South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters (the defending champions) are the only two remaining teams who were established at the foundation of the league in 1908.

The top 8 in the final standings make it to the playoffs and the team ending on top of the log after the regular season are crowned Minor Premiership Champions. The playoffs or finals are not merely quarter final matches as in Super Rugby. The Top 4 sides clash in “qualification” matches in the opening week of the finals with the two winners progressing to the semi-finals whilst the bottom four lock horns in “elimination” contests – suffer defeat and you go home whilst victory rewards you with a shot at the losers from the elimination matches. The 2020 version will consist of 20 rounds before we hit the playoffs.

Get on board

Well, that was a mouth full. So, do what you need to do to ensure you get to watch some of this NRL action, I promise it’s worth a watch. Physicality, skill, pace and power are all in attendance so what’s not to like?! Yes, it’s not quite the full Monty but it’s certainly worth a proper peek.

I will be doing some match previews for my friends at Betolimp so keep a lookout for that if you’re keen on a punt.

Enjoy the footy mate!

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Couch Critic