Roosters Sonny Bill Williams makes a break during the Sydney Roosters v Manly Sea Eagles NRL Grand Final. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited
THE NRL has finally shown the foresight to schedule and promote its grand final rematch as an early-season Friday night blockbuster.
Premiers the Roosters will play the Manly Sea Eagles in a round four spectacular at Allianz Stadium on Friday, March 28, live on Channel 9.
There was criticism this year when the 2012 Storm v Bulldogs grand final rematch was played during State of Origin - when all the stars were missing - in front of only 16,000 fans at ANZ Stadium.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK - BLOG WITH BUZZ HERE
BUZZ AND BULLDOG'S ROUND ONE ANALYSIS
The much-anticipated 2014 draw will be released later today - a month after the NRL's winter rival, the AFL, revealed its full-season schedule. Officials have put far more strategic planning into the draw, highlighted by three round one blockbusters - the Rabbitohs v Roosters, Broncos (and Ben Barba) v Bulldogs and the Sea Eagles v Storm.
Ben Barba will take on his old club the Bulldogs in Round 1. Source: News Limited
With three games at ANZ Stadium, the opening round of the competition could attract more than 200,000 fans. This year only one Thursday night game will be played in the early rounds of the competition, with another three scheduled later in the season.
There will be no 2pm kick-offs in the first four rounds to protect the players from the autumn heat.
In round seven on Good Friday, the Rabbitohs will play the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium in what should attract a crowd of more than 50,000.
In week five, the heritage round, the competition's most successful and famous clubs, South Sydney and the Dragons, will play on a Saturday night at the Sydney Cricket Ground - the scene of many of their premiership glories.
The Daily Telegraph has also been leaked details of round two, highlighted by a Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles blockbuster, possibly at Gosford.
Other round two games include the Sharks v Bulldogs, the Broncos v Cowboys in the Queensland derby, the Raiders v Knights and the Warriors v Dragons. The Sharks have been scheduled for Monday night games in the opening two rounds.
Fox Sports will televise Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening matches during the year, instead of the double-up 7.30 kick-offs on Saturday nights.
Round one throws up a number of outstanding games, none more so than the Thursday night Roosters v Rabbitohs on Channel 9.
It features so many colossal one-one-one battles.
Sonny Bill Williams against Sam Burgess. Adam Reynolds v Mitch Pearce. John Sutton v James Maloney. Issac Luke v Jake Friend. And Greg Inglis v Anthony Minichiello.
Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Burgess will go head-to-head in Round 1. Source: News Limited
The Rabbitohs will be desperate to avenge the round 26 loss to the Roosters in September. Just 24 hours later, 2012 Dally M champion Ben Barba will face a hostile reception against the club he walked out on compassionate grounds.
The Canterbury players would never publicly confirm it but their falling out with Barba became public knowledge.
The irony is that Broncos fullback Josh Hoffman could be playing for the Bulldogs if he gets the release he is desperately hoping for.
Manly v Melbourne is certain to be a sellout at Brookvale Oval on the Saturday night. There will be no more anticipated confrontation than local hero Daly Cherry Evans against the Storm's Test half-back Cooper Cronk.
New Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has the toughest first-up assignment, having to travel to the heat of Townsville for a Saturday night game. The match will kick-off at 7.45pm Queensland time, 8.45pm in NSW daylight saving time.
Eels fans who desperately want to play against their former coach Stuart will have to wait until round 22 to meet the Raiders. And they'll have to travel a long way to boo him because the game is set down for Darwin.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
NRL 2014 draw revealed
Dengan url
http://sportifoclube.blogspot.com/2013/12/nrl-2014-draw-revealed.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
NRL 2014 draw revealed
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar