50 things we can’t wait to see this season

There’s nothing like the pre-season high, drinking in the promise of what might be.…before the hangover of grim reality sets in. But for even the most sceptical out there, here are 50 talking points getting us excited for the new season ahead.

1 THE FUTURE OF THE ROOSTERS IS NOW A BUNNY

The most dramatic player saga has oÿcially drawn to a conclusion. Dual premiership hero Latrell Mitchell’s messy exit from the Sydney Roosters had left the centre virtually blacklisted from the club, after rejecting a renewal of his original contract ending in 2021. Mitchell’s commitment issues led to other NRL teams shying away to one of the game’s most talented stars but a controversial move to arch-rivals South Sydney Rabbitohs means a new chapter in this tale will be written, beginning with their round 3 encounter. There will certainly be no love lost between the Roosters and the man they were grooming to be the face of their organisation this upcoming decade.

2 WILL NSWPARTY LIKE IT’S 2005?

Oh 2005, it was a simpler time. Long before Queensland asserted one of the most brutal lopsided rivalries in the sporting world, the Blues had clinched their third series in a row. Now without the prospect of facing a side littered with future hall-of-famers and immortals, NSW ended the decade with two successive Origin wins. This season marks an opportunity for the Cockroaches to send more alarm bells north of the border as the pain felt from 2006 onwards has started to ease.

3 WILL THE BRONCOS TURN IT AROUND?

The Brisbane Broncos, the pinnacle of NRL clubs, ended the decade poorly. In 2018, they were humbled at home by a limping Dragons outfit in the first week of the finals. In 2019, after finishing closer to 12th than they did to 6th, they were embarrassingly bundled out of the competition, again in week one, losing 58-0 and setting a new record for the largest deficit in a finals match. Off-field issues surrounding players and incredibly high expectations have plagued the club in recent seasons but a lot of pressure will be on Anthony Seibold to get his side firing.

4 THREE-PEAT ON THE HORIZON?

The Sydney Roosters’ short but sweet love affair with Cooper Cronk ended with the rugby league legend clinching successive premierships in his final two seasons in the game. Now as the former hal›ack slides into his new role within Trent Robinson’s coaching staff, the major theme heading forward for the Chooks is how to win another title without their prized jewel. Another major alarm was the saga surrounding Latrell Mitchell which caught the Roosters by surprise. With bridges burnt and a controversial move to bitter rivals South Sydney,