Countdown to kickoff

Locked and loaded, the NRL is about to take off with a Thursday night opener between the Dragons and Broncos at Kogarah’s Jubilee Oval. There’s plenty to look forward to but not much different, it seems, for the Warriors. Aussie bookies have the New Zealand-based franchise at $51, or 14th, to win the minor premiership with only the Titans ($81) and Wests Tigers ($101) below them. At the top of the table at $4 are the Roosters, now with Cooper Cronk to steer the ship. They are rated ahead of $5 shots the Storm and Cowboys, with a drop to $13 for the Panthers in fourth. Jarrod Croker is top pick for most individual points at $3.50 ahead of Nathan Cleary ($5), Jonathan Thurston comes in equal-fifth at $11, with Shaun Johnson at 12th ($18). After beginning life as the NSWRL Premiership in 1908, Souths remain the most successful NRL club with 20 titles. The Warriors are one of the 11 clubs who have played every season in the league since its post-Super League creation in 1998. The Warriors and Titans, established in 2007, are the only clubs yet to win the premiership. The Eels, who last won in 1986, have had the longest wait for another title. The Warriors came closest in 2002, when they won the minor premiership before losing the grand final to the Roosters 30-8. They also played the 2011 grand final, losing 24-10 to the Sea Eagles. The Warriors open their season in Perth against Souths a week today.

Thursday 10pm; Friday 7.30pm, 10pm Canberra’s Jarrod Croker is favoured to finish as the NRL’s top scorer this season.