NRL: What we've learnt after Round 3

After three rounds in the NRL, observers of the sport will have been able to take note of a number of talking points. 

Some might come under the ‘surprise package’ category and some may just be standard news, and hopefully I can highlight a few from both sides.

Firstly, there is no doubt the South Sydney Rabbitohs have picked up from where they were last season. 

Personally, I did not think that they would be so strong in the early rounds after recent history has shown that returning champions have usually slumped off to a slow-start to the season. 

I am glad to have been proven wrong on this one.

My team Newcastle Knights find themselves in a not-so-used second position. 

For me, the Knights are playing rather good footy but have also been riding a bit of luck with some key decisions falling in their favour, particularly last week against Gold Coast Titans. 

In all honesty, I am just waiting for them to slip up starting this week against third placed Penrith Panthers. 

But for now, I am going to enjoy the ride while I can.

I have tipped Panthers to take out the minor premiership, in one of the few tipping competitions I’m involved in, and I think the tip is looking good so far. 

After an opening round win to Bulldogs, an emphatic 40-0 win over Titans, and a controversial loss to Roosters, the Penrith side has done enough to convince me as strong runners after tough fixtures to start the 2015 season.

Melbourne Storm will always be a top eight side with the super trio of Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, and hitting form hook Cameron Smith. 

They may have suffered a close defeat at Brookvale two weeks ago but they will still be around come September.

Sydney Roosters are simply a quality side to be reckoned with this season and just about belong in the same category as Souths after the classic Sydney derby a couple weeks back. 

I was excited when I first saw the signing of Blake Ferguson back into the NRL and since has been a joy to watch - and hopefully a look-in for the mighty NSW Blues.

Des Hasler will be pleased with his Canterbury Bulldogs sides first few rounds in exception to the loss of five-eighth Josh Reynolds. 

But to the surprise of most, 21-year-old fill-in Moses Mbye has been a revelation. 

To go and win at a venue like Brookvale where the Sea Eagles only lost once last season is a big sign of a quality side.

New Zealand Warriors continue to hold the hot-and-cold label going into the fourth round. 

In round one, anyone who disagrees with the fact that they only had themselves to blame for the loss against Knights are kidding themselves. 

Since that defeat they are two from two, although expected, and will be tested against Brisbane Broncos at home this week.

West Tigers are punching above its position they currently sit in the table but the clash against the Bulldogs tonight will answer more questions about this sides premiership credentials. 

I am not going to write them off yet but it is hard to judge off a last-minute winner against a depleted Titans team, a scrappy win against Dragons, and a projected loss against Souths.

For the rest of the pack, I can only potentially see Sea Eagles, North Queensland Cowboys, and perhaps Broncos making a push for the top eight. 

The loss of leading try scorer Semi Radradra through to round 10 is the only reason I am discounting Parramatta Eels at this stage. 

Sea Eagles welcome the return of five-eight Kieran Foran and Jamie Lyon and I expect them to be back to near best with all the playing contractual issues pushed aside.

Why the NRL needs a transfer window

Manly halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran futures are up in the air

The recent announcements made on the futures of Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran are clear and typical examples of why the National Rugby League needs a designated transfer window for player trades and dealings.

Cherry-Evans told his teammates of tying the knot with the Gold Coast Titans virtually straight after his side’s emphatic defeat to the Parramatta Eels on Friday night.

Foran’s news of joining the Parramatta Eels on the other hand was leaked out to the media on Wednesday night.

I can only feel for Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey, who was in the middle of making an appearance on Fox Sport’s program NRL 360 when he heard the news of his second superstar departing his club.

I still don’t understand why we see in the modern day players being able to freely sign with other clubs during the regular season. 

I couldn’t think of a bigger interruption, let alone frustration, into match preparations and the overall team chemistry from a coach and fans point of view.

The league should not allow this. Why not adapt a similar system to that of the Australian Football League [AFL] and National Football League [NFL] in America that seems to be a far more reasonable scheme. 

In other words, wait until the end of the season to do your business. It’s pretty simple, surely.

As an avid fan of the English Premier League football competition in England, I find the structure and format of the top European competitions transfer windows in summer to be a great template that could be used for the NRL.

Let players have the right to renew their contracts with their current clubs at any time of the year. 

But once the season starts a line needs to be drawn.

I understand where the players are coming from as in they would prefer to know, rather than risk, if they have a job next year in their profession. 

Because let’s face it, I would too.

 

But how hard can it be for our NRL players to get their playing futures sorted by their agents or managers in the space of one year – surely that’s what they are paid to do?

If a suitable NRL trade system is not to be introduced soon rather than later then fans, coaches, and more importantly players are continually going to be losing.

Words such as disappointment, devastation, anger, and shock are emotions that will be felt by all involved with their club when they repeatedly learn year after year that their superstar is off elsewhere when you’ve just completed the first competitive game of the season.

What could be worse? Scared players will talk with rival codes and void their contract at any time.

There needs to be a legally binding code-crossing contract. 

But due to the pride of the NRL of course, they will never agree to that.

Players want to know where and if they can still get work at the same or a different club in the future. 

It is granted the start of the season isn’t exactly the best time for players to announce their own decisions.

But let’s be realistic here. 

If someone offered you better money to do the same job, you would take it as soon as possible no matter how long you had left on your outstanding contract. 

That is sadly what the NRL is still allowing players to do.