2021 SL Season Commences

Picture from warringtonwolves.com

The UK 2021 professional competition (Super League) season has kicked off. The matches are without crowds for now but hopefully, that situation is not for long. The atmosphere they generate will be missed. So how are teams are likely to go? 

Top-notch: St Helens were the team to beat in 2020 and still will be this season. They have a settled squad that oozes talent. The Wigan Warriors will be in the mix this year again when the business end of the year arrives. These are the two sides that you can bank on unless hit by an horrific injury run. 

In the running: With a new coach at the helm, I like the loom of Hull FC. They have the ability to go far but have not realised their potential. The Warrington Wolves are considered the bridesmaid side, perhaps a bit unfairly. They need to prove the doubters wrong but while they can't be written off, they need to deliver. 

The Leeds Rhinos won the Challenge Cup last year but would like to improve their league and finals results from last season. Down in the south of France, the Catalan Dragons have a useful squad capable of doing great things but extra travel hurts them. Could this be their year?

Long shots and no-hopers: Castleford, Huddersfield and Wakefield will have their good patches but are long shots. I'd classify Salford, Hull KR and Leigh in the no-hopers category and likely to provide a relegated team at the end of the season.  

2021 NRL Season Commences

The 2021 season kicked off and nearly caught me off guard. There are crowds and even an NZ team yet again based in Australia for the foreseeable future. So how are teams are likely to go? I haven't studied the sides that closely so will rely on gut instinct.

Top-notch: Despite losing Cam Smith, the Melbourne Storm will be in the mix at the top end of the table, again. It may be asking too much for them to win the grand final though. The Sydney Roosters have a winning look about them. If they peak at the right time - unlike 2020 - then they look the side to beat. Of course, the Penrith Panthers will be wiser for experiencing an 'almost their year' season in 2020. 

In the running: The Canberra Raiders are a settled side and will surely go well but maybe still lack that something to go all the way. The Parramatta Eels are a threat to any side in top form but can lack consistency. The South Sydney Rabbitohs have class and speed but getting to the grand final is proving elusive. 

Long shots and no-hopers: That's the other ten sides. A few may surprise in the finals or if not at least make up the numbers in the last eight playoffs. Then there is always half a dozen teams that will ultimately lack the class to do more than try to avoid the wooden spoon. 

2020 RL Season In Review

NRL: The best pro comp in the world just got better in 2021. The standard was high and despite Covid, went off better than could be expected. The NZ Warriors were most affected and got respect for the sacrifice of locating in another country to fulfil their match schedule.

The Penrith Panthers (in black, above) were outstanding all season. The Melbourne Storm was just behind them and were both worthy grand finalists. The more experienced Storm took out the big one.  

Super League: The northern hemisphere's pro comp continued to lose ground, standard-wise. It even managed to bleed the Toronto club dry, which has now been thrown on the scrap heap. This was a golden opportunity to expand the game, not advance self-interest. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!

As for on-field success, the Leeds Rhinos won the cup, Wigan the league and St Helens the grand final. Nice to have the trophies shared around. 

The team to replace Toronto could have been a second French side but instead, Leigh did. In case you don't know, its located within the Wigan metropolitan borough. Pull up the drawbridge lads. On a more positive note, a team from Newcastle is moving up a division to replace Leigh in the second division Championship. 

Player welfare: Rugby league is a tough sport, not helped by the huge, rapidly repeated impacts players subject each other to. Reducing the defensive line from ten to five metres would lessen the jarring. Also, taking a much stricter stance on late tackles after a player passes the ball is a must. The whiplash is damaging to the brain. 

As to why nothing has been done is apathetic, to say the least. I wrote to the RFL in England some years back, warning them of future lawsuits if nothing was done. I heard nothing back and nothing changed. I think litigation is just starting and those in charge can only blame themselves. 

True, the fans want action but player welfare comes first. Often a series of changes are required, as one in isolation can adversely affect the game greatly. I put a series of suggestions which can be read by clicking here. They are a framework only but I tried to seek a restructuring of rules in a way that reduces brain trauma while retaining plenty of action.

2021: The World Cup is scheduled to be played in the UK, but the way the Covid virus is persisting, I don't think it's a given. Empty stadiums aren't right for such an event.