Thomas Howell wrote in 1570, “Counte not thy Chickens that unhatched be, Waye wordes as winde, till thou finde certaintee.” On the eve of National Rugby League, version 2016, truer advice couldn’t be found.

It is hard however to curb enthusiasm as fans dream of October miracles, winning streaks, footy boots on concrete and the smell of hot dogs in the winter rain. This is the time to be optimistic but herein be warned: more perish than succeed in this vicious sixteen club dogfight to rugby league’s promise land. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.

Adding fuel to the modern day fire is the mighty equaliser – the salary cap. While it isn’t perfect and certainly not full proof, the cap has enforced a higher turnover of players then yesteryear. Gone are the days of one club players, giving fans of battling teams a fresh resolve knowing that a spending spree is just around the corner.

Look at the Parramatta Eels for example. They have every right to be pumped going into the new season after winning the Auckland Nines. The Eels also purchased impressively bringing in Kiwi International Kieran Foran, Aussie representatives Michael Jennings and Beau Scott and goalkicking fullback Michael Gordon (who also played a game for the Blues in 2010). Add them into a mix that includes Semi Radradra, Corey Norman, Anthony Watmough and Nathan Peats and you’ve got a damn good squad on your hands.

Reality is the great slayer and opinions on Parramatta should be held until the end of their opening round clash with the Brisbane Broncos at Pirtek Stadium.

On the 17th of February Foran publically said new halves partner Corey Norman was as good as ex-Manly team-mate, Australian and Queensland pivot Daly Cherry-Evans.

“Corey’s a phenomenal talent. He’s as good a player as I’ve played alongside. His skillset and the way he moves is so exciting. He’s just a natural footballer. He’s just able to provide that skill that we need,” Foran said.

Then by Saturday night Foran admitted to a hamstring injury that could effectively hamper the Eels’ chances of a good start to the year. Parramatta defeated rivals Penrith in a trial at Pepper Stadium but Foran was quick to downplay the confidence from a few days earlier.

“[We will] give ourselves two weeks now leading into round one, [to get] clicking and combinations gelling but I think it’ll take time.”

Pressure building.

Then there’s the Canberra Raiders who this writer saw firsthand as lead caller for their trial match against Newcastle in Orange on the weekend.

Watching Ricky Stuart’s men demolish the Knights in the opening stanza would have had any Raiders supporter frothing at the mouth – in fact if you read comments from their social media pages you would guess they already were. But trial matches, or more to the point, trial results are as useless as a shit-flavoured lollipop.

Nothing matters until round one.

Pressure building.

The Broncos and Sydney Roosters smoked their English opposition in the United Kingdom on the weekend but will that help their chances against the Eels and South Sydney respectively in a few weeks’ time?

They now return from the other side of the world and guess what? The pressure is building.

From World Champions North Queensland to Jason Taylor’s Wests Tigers – expectation is on all teams.

For Taylor, a winning a season means more than anything.

To win more games than they lose, or even a split, is a good result. They’ll do it early without former skipper Robbie Farah who is out for more than a month with a knee injury. Above all else, it’s time for young halves Luke Brooks and Mitch Moses to stand up and be counted. Farah has given his blood and carried the club, now it’s on them.

There’s no time like the present and for Brooks and Moses – pressure can be their friend or the thing that sinks them further into the abyss.

@woodward_curtis

Video source: Rugby League Videos