Set of Six: Big Questions Heading Into The 2017 NRL Season

As the NRL pre-season kicks off this weekend with the Auckland Nines, Jarret Filmer asks a few questions of the coming year in rugby league.

Any day now Trevor Gillmeister will emerge from his months-long slumber and declare the league season fit to commence. The long league-less days of summer where fans have to entertain themselves with pointless debates like “Doesn’t Nick Kyrgios look like he should be playing hooker for the Tigers?” are nearly done. Some die-hard leaguies have even turned to depraved acts like watching the Big Bash or talking to their families. The Auckland Nines signals the return of rugby league and while the season proper doesn’t start for another month it’s the perfect time to consider a few big questions looming for the coming season.

1. Which contender will find their season ruined by an off-the-field scandal?
Despite a steroid ban, a couple of drunk driving incidents and a former star involved in shirtless street brawl the off-season has been relatively uneventful by the NRL’s usual standards. Even Australia Day passed without the merest suggestion of simulated bestiality. The streak likely won’t continue – invariably one team will at some stage find themselves shorn of a key cog by some off-the-field brain explosion. But trying to pick exactly which team is the NRL equivalent of playing Cluedo with half the pieces missing – last season few Roosters fans would have picked “Mitchell Pearce in the living room with a Corgi” but we all know how that turned out.

2. Will the Warriors finally break their premiership duck?
The only thing more predictable than an NRL star embarrassing themselves off the field is Warriors fans convincing themselves that this year is finally the year. A new coach, a team laden with representative superstars and a rabid fan base. The past two seasons have seen the Cowboys and the Sharks claim their maiden premiership – will 2017 see the Warriors make it three in a row? Stephen Kearney has made a bold choice in naming Roger Tuivasa-Sheck skipper – will this new attitude signal a change in fortunes for the club across the ditch?

3. Will the Hayne Plane soar again or crash back down to earth?
The return of rugby league’s great dilettante from his global wanderings is a cause for celebration, despite the distasteful obsession with his every move. There are few more exciting players than Hayne whose unpredictability and electrifying physical talents dragged a mediocre Eels team to the grand final in 2009. Hayne showed flashes of brilliance in his extended cameo last season but was clearly carrying too much weight from his stint in the NFL. A full off-season under his belt and a return to his favoured position of fullback should see him set to take off again.

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4. Will the Bunker create more problems than it solves (again)?
The introduction of the Bunker last season was designed to eliminate the controversy and inconsistency surrounding the video referee but somehow only managed to amplify it. While the frequent sight of the Bunker ruling flashing up on the big screen undoubtedly sold a lot of fried chicken it did little to streamline the game. League fans love arguing over dodgy refereeing calls almost as much as watching the game itself but the slew of ropey and arcane rulings by the Bunker were almost enough to drive a man to drink. Given that the Bunker is the pet project of NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg there is little chance of it going away anytime soon.

5. How will Ben Hunt play after signing with the Dragons?
Broncos half Ben Hunt signed a massive deal to shift to the Dragons in 2018, a deal that has been widely panned as a desperate move for the Red V. Hunt is a capable playmaker who has been overshadowed by his crucial error in the 2015 decider that ultimately gifted North Queensland the premiership. Given the relatively short shelf life of a professional footballer few fair-minded fans could begrudge Hunt taking advantage of such a lucrative offer, but if he struggles to deliver strong performances in his final season with the Broncos it won’t take long for the criticism to start.

6. Will the match fixing allegations amount to anything?
Last July revelations that NSW’s Organized Crime Squad was investigating allegations of match fixing in games involving the Manly Sea Eagles, Parramatta Eels and South Sydney Rabbitohs sent shockwaves through the league community. The internet buzzed with whispered accusations and gossipy half-truths, fans filling the void of official information with rampant speculation. Over six months later there have been no further developments in the investigation with several prominent players having their reputations smeared by fan conjecture. Is there going to be a finding in this investigation or is this another witch hunt like the ASADA saga where the eventual crimes uncovered pale in comparison to the claims being made?