IT’S been a long and often controversial off-season for the NRL, but excitement is building for round one. The season opens on Thursday when the Rabbtiohs travel north to Suncorp Stadium to play the Broncos. Rabbitohs tragic Michael ‘Speedy’ Stratton and The Area News sports editor Andrew Piva – a Broncos diehard – discuss the impending clash.
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Andrew: Can you smell the excitement, Speedy?
Speedy: I can smell something. Here’s a word for you – deodorant.
Andrew: I was talking about the footy, Speedy. Round one of the NRL is only a few days away. The Broncos take on the Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium first up. Let me ask you, are the Bunnies a hope?
Speedy: A hope? We’re a bit more than a bloody hope. We’ll win. I think the Broncos will need a bit more than Wayne Bennett coming back. I don’t know why they call him a super coach. There are better coaches going around than him.
Andrew: Like who?
Speedy: Michael Maguire. He’s got the form on the board.
Andrew: Bah. Maguire and the Bunnies are no hope. Now that the predicted cocaine apocalypse has passed Brisbane by, I’m tipping a big year for the club. The Rabbitohs are going to cop it first. You wait and see. Ben Hunt is going to trample Greg Inglis and make him cry.
Speedy: There might be no cocaine in Brisbane, but there must be some in this office going by the rubbish you’re speaking. The Bunnies will win. It won’t be a walk in the park up there, but they’ll lift in front of 40,000 screaming Queenslanders.
Andrew: I’m calling it now. The Broncos will smash the Bunnies 36-2. Adam Reynolds will kick an early penalty goal for you blokes and that’ll be it.
Speedy: Rubbish. Souths will win on Thursday and they’ll go on and win the comp. It won’t be easy, but the boys can do it.
Andrew: We’ll find out on Thursday. Anyway, let’s talk about the cricket. How’s your heart after that match between Australia and New Zealand on Saturday?
Speedy: A bit rough. It was a terrific game. I thought New Zealand were going to romp home after we only made 150-odd. I can’t believe Mitchell Starc took 6-28 in a losing side. I’ve never heard of that before.
Andrew: The problem was Mitchell Johnson getting carted for 68 off six overs. A frontline bowler can’t be so expensive when you’re defending such a small total.
Speedy: It was a bit of a wake-up call for the Aussies. I told you before the tournament that New Zealand were the smokies, didn’t I?
Andrew: That doesn’t make you Nostradamus, Speedy. The Kiwis were everybody’s smokies, but their odds would’ve probably shortened a bit now.
