Big boys come out to play as NRL nears
THE NRL launched its 2017 season in spectacular fashion yesterday, but Greg Inglis has cast doubt over whether Cronulla can get their premiership defence off the tarmac.
The Sharks will embark on the rugby league equivalent of Mission: Impossible next week when they attempt to win back-to-back titles — something which hasn’t been achieved in the NRL era.
The TAB doesn’t think Cronulla are about to break that 24-year drought, incredibly listing the Sharks on the seventh line of premiership betting at $13.
They sit alongside Brisbane and behind Melbourne ($7.50), Penrith ($7.50), North Queensland ($8), Canberra ($9) Sydney Roosters ($10) and New Zealand Warriors ($11).
On a day when the NRL launched its season before thousands of fans at Sydney’s Martin Place, Rabbitohs captain Inglis — part of the Souths team which famously won the 2014 grand final, but couldn’t back it up a year later — spoke of the pressures in trying to win two straight titles.
Asked did Cronulla face the hardest task in the NRL this year, Inglis said: “I think it has been proven over the years that it is.
“I don’t know their roster and I don’t know what’s going on down there (in the Shire) but, to answer your question, it is difficult to defend it. That has been proven over time.
“You hold the trophy and there are 15 clubs who want that big prize. There’s no doubt there’s going to be challenges along the way for every club.”