NRL.com has chosen the 15 biggest clashes of the 2014 NRL season following the announcement of the Draw this morning, with our boys a part of two of the biggest games in the new year.
1. Broncos v Bulldogs
Round 1 at ANZ Stadium, Friday March 7
Round 22 at Suncorp Stadium
Bulldogs fans are no strangers to seeing star players walk out on the club mid-contract, and as the return of SBW last season showed they have long memories. Canterbury may have granted Ben Barba a release on compassionate grounds but you can bet blue and white fans will be seeing red when the 2012 Dally M medal winner lines up against Des Hasler's band in Round 1. Barba will be looking to relegate a horror 2013 to the rubbish bin for him, the perfect start would be putting his old club to the sword in the Broncos' season opener. Expect plenty of niggle and trash-talking on the field when this one gets underway. The refs could have the job ahead keeping a lid on things.
2. Roosters v Rabbitohs
Round 1 at ANZ Stadium, Thursday March 6
Round 26 at Allianz Stadium
Two proud clubs. Two foundation clubs. The two best clubs of 2013 (based on the regular season), only denied an epic grand final clash by an irrepressible Manly side, will be desperate to establish dominance over the other in 2014. Rabbitohs fans will still be smarting after missing out on a chance to face the Tricolours in the season decider after trouncing their fellow foundation club in the season opener. There are also plenty of 'what-ifs' for the Bunnies faithful after a Round 26 playoff for the minor premiership was won by the Roosters, who went on to win the comp. If the Bunnies had got up in that one the finals draw would have played out differently would cardinal and myrtle fans still be singing "Glory, glory to South Sydney" in celebration of a premiership or would the Chooks have got the job done anyway? Brace yourselves for a resumption of hostilities.
3. Roosters v Sea Eagles
Round 4 at Allianz Stadium, Friday March 28
Round 16 at Brookvale Oval, Friday June 27
They may already have two premierships to their name in recent memory but Sea Eagles fans will be filthy they let the big one get away last year and doubly so that it happened on the back of some, shall we say, peculiar officiating decisions that saw the most penalised NRL team of 2013 snag a rare, lopsided penalty count. Another thing that won't please the super-competitive northern beaches side one iota is the fact their eastern suburbs rivals were too good for them not once, not twice or three times but four times in one season! The Roosters got the points in Round 9 and Round 16, banked more bragging rights in that highly entertaining 4-0 win in the opening week of the finals, and then obviously the big one on the first Sunday in October. The Roosters will have a target on them in 2014 as far as Manly is concerned.
To check out the rest of the 15 clashes that NRL.com has deemed to be the biggest of the new season CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE 2014 ROOSTERS DRAW
Membership is about showing YOUR loyalty to YOUR team and in 2014 we need your support as we aim for 20,000 Members! To show your support SIGN UP TODAY!
1. Broncos v Bulldogs
Round 1 at ANZ Stadium, Friday March 7
Round 22 at Suncorp Stadium
Bulldogs fans are no strangers to seeing star players walk out on the club mid-contract, and as the return of SBW last season showed they have long memories. Canterbury may have granted Ben Barba a release on compassionate grounds but you can bet blue and white fans will be seeing red when the 2012 Dally M medal winner lines up against Des Hasler's band in Round 1. Barba will be looking to relegate a horror 2013 to the rubbish bin for him, the perfect start would be putting his old club to the sword in the Broncos' season opener. Expect plenty of niggle and trash-talking on the field when this one gets underway. The refs could have the job ahead keeping a lid on things.
2. Roosters v Rabbitohs
Round 1 at ANZ Stadium, Thursday March 6
Round 26 at Allianz Stadium
Two proud clubs. Two foundation clubs. The two best clubs of 2013 (based on the regular season), only denied an epic grand final clash by an irrepressible Manly side, will be desperate to establish dominance over the other in 2014. Rabbitohs fans will still be smarting after missing out on a chance to face the Tricolours in the season decider after trouncing their fellow foundation club in the season opener. There are also plenty of 'what-ifs' for the Bunnies faithful after a Round 26 playoff for the minor premiership was won by the Roosters, who went on to win the comp. If the Bunnies had got up in that one the finals draw would have played out differently would cardinal and myrtle fans still be singing "Glory, glory to South Sydney" in celebration of a premiership or would the Chooks have got the job done anyway? Brace yourselves for a resumption of hostilities.
3. Roosters v Sea Eagles
Round 4 at Allianz Stadium, Friday March 28
Round 16 at Brookvale Oval, Friday June 27
They may already have two premierships to their name in recent memory but Sea Eagles fans will be filthy they let the big one get away last year and doubly so that it happened on the back of some, shall we say, peculiar officiating decisions that saw the most penalised NRL team of 2013 snag a rare, lopsided penalty count. Another thing that won't please the super-competitive northern beaches side one iota is the fact their eastern suburbs rivals were too good for them not once, not twice or three times but four times in one season! The Roosters got the points in Round 9 and Round 16, banked more bragging rights in that highly entertaining 4-0 win in the opening week of the finals, and then obviously the big one on the first Sunday in October. The Roosters will have a target on them in 2014 as far as Manly is concerned.
To check out the rest of the 15 clashes that NRL.com has deemed to be the biggest of the new season CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE 2014 ROOSTERS DRAW
Membership is about showing YOUR loyalty to YOUR team and in 2014 we need your support as we aim for 20,000 Members! To show your support SIGN UP TODAY!
