That has been assisted by a draw that has avoided as many potential early-season blowouts as possible, together with TV commentators talking up the play.
The Raiders have added to the excitement by defying expectations, especially after the departure of Jack Wighton to the Rabbitohs. They are third on the ladder after round six, defeating more favoured teams, such as Newcastle and Parramatta.
South Sydney are spluttering because their halves, especially Cody Walker, are struggling to impose themselves.Credit: Getty
The common factor among the winning teams is a pair of clever halves and the Raiders’ resurrection has been led by Jamal Fogarty, a 30-year-old thrice rejected by the Titans. Conversely, South Sydney, sitting at the bottom of the ladder, are spluttering because their halves, especially the experienced Cody Walker, are struggling to impose themselves.
Even the top teams can lose cohesion when they are missing their best halves. The Storm’s only defeat so far was against Newcastle when half Jahrome Hughes was suspended and five-eighth Cameron Munster was sidelined with injury.
Television lifts the dullest of contests. Those who watched from their lounge rooms as the Roosters and Storm made 24 errors and conceded 17 penalties on Thursday night had a better experience than those at Allianz Stadium.
The TV camera, by focussing on the ruck that separates the lines of attack and defence, fits the play neatly into the screen. This is a phenomenon I observed very early in my coaching career when I left Leichhardt Oval after a spluttering, error-ridden midweek Amco Cup match, fearful of how it would be a turn-off for viewers, only to be amazed when I watched the delayed telecast to see how much the players had improved in the time it took to return to the club.
The Raiders have surprised many with their fast start to the season.Credit: Getty
However, the NRL draw is now approaching what looks to be a vanilla period when the top teams will play the less skilful ones. The Anzac Round has three potential blowouts in the Storm-Rabbitohs, Warriors-Titans and Broncos-Tigers.
Raiders boss Ricky Stuart – who swallows losses as if they were castor oil – will be looking for revenge against Cronulla. Other than the round-nine Las Vegas rematch between the Broncos and Roosters, there are no obvious blockbusters during the next couple of rounds.
Nevertheless, injuries, suspensions, bunker blunders, sin bins and HIAs will produce upsets over a month of possible one-sided contests.
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But then comes Magic Round mid-May and, with all teams playing in Brisbane before big crowds, most teams should lift. Curiously, the NRL staged potentially the best match in terms of quality at 1.50pm on a Sunday, when last year’s fourth-placed team, the Warriors, meet the premiers. You can excuse this glitch in a draw which must be a permutation nightmare for the NRL’s boffins, forcing their computer to occasionally gag on its bytes.
The first State of Origin match comes less than three weeks after Magic Round, meaning that if the quality of play survives the next few weeks, the NRL will have reached mid-season in stellar condition.
The Las Vegas venture was essentially about the pursuit of the US wagering dollar but the best gamble the NRL pulled off was to showcase its big games early, producing a halo effect, especially on TV.
