GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 25: Jesse Bromwich of the Storm is tackled during the round 24 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Melbourne Storm at Cbus Super Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The 25th and last NRL round of season 2018 is here, and with just two games separating the entire top eight, the final makeup of the finalists is far from set in stone.
Starting at the top of the table, should the Melbourne Storm slip up to the Penrith Panthers at home on Friday night, then any of the Sydney Roosters, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks or South Sydney Rabbitohs can lift the J.J. Giltinan Shield.
Storm's match with the Panthers on Friday night is also a farewell match for the retiring Billy Slater, although depending on where the club finishes on the table, the defending Premiers will host at least one final.
Melbourne are $1.49 AUD on the NRL Round 25 odds to salute for the champion representative fullback, while the fifth-placed Panthers, who still have hopes of a top-four finish but can slide as low as eighth if they lose, are out at $2.65, according to AustralianGambling.
Should the Rabbitohs get the job done against the Wests Tigers in the opening match of the round on Thursday night, then they'll go equal with the Storm on points, although they do have a lot of point differential to make up.
The Rabbitohs are $1.38 to get the better of the ninth-placed Tigers ($3.04), who have had a frustrating season and are set to miss the finals for the seventh straight year.
Sitting just one spot above the Tigers in eighth place are the New Zealand Warriors ($1.55), who can finish as high as second should they get the job done against a Canberra Raiders ($2.45) side who've beaten two of the top three sides in the last fortnight but are set to miss the eight.
The side they defeated two weeks ago, the Roosters, are $1.23 on the betting lines to snap a two-game losing streak that may well have cost them the minor premiership, with a win over the Parramatta Eels ($4.20).
The Sharks ($1.50) and St George Illawarra Dragons ($1.75) are both favoured to keep their top-four chances alive with wins over the Canterbury Bulldogs ($2.60) and the Newcastle Knights ($2.09), respectively, while the second-shortest-priced favourites of the round are the Brisbane Broncos ($1.36), who should be too strong for the Manly Sea Eagles ($3.16) on Sunday.
Johnathan Thurston will run out for the 323rd and final time as an NRL player on Saturday afternoon when his North Queensland Cowboys ($1.53) take on the Gold Coast Titans ($2.50).
State of Origin 2018: Maroons Battle Past Blues in Game 3 Thriller
Jul 11, 2018
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 11: Daly Cherry-Evans of Queensland is congratulated by team mates after scoring a try during game three of the State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on July 11, 2018 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The Queensland Maroons salvaged some pride at the end of State of Origin 2018, as they won the final match of the series 18-12 against New South Wales Blues at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The first half was a classic smash and grab from the Blues. While Queensland dominated possession and went ahead through a try from Valentine Holmes, New South Wales roared back despite James Maloney's being sin-binned. Tries from Jake Trbojevic and James Tedesco put them 12-8 up at the break.
In the second period, it was the Maroons' turn to fight back, as Holmes levelled things up with his second try of the day, and Daly Cherry-Evans put Queensland back in front. It would eventually prove enough to secure victory.
Regardless of the result in Brisbane, New South Wales had already clinched the series, having won the first two contests to take an unassailable lead
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 11: Tom Trbojevic of the Blues is congratulated by team mates after scoring a try during game three of the State of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on July 11, 2018
Any thoughts that this match would be a friendly affair were dispelled early on, with Queensland keen to finish the series on a high.
They bossed possession in the initial stages and probed at the Blues' defensive shape. However, in the end, they went ahead through a counter-attack, as Homes telegraphed Maloney's pass inside his own 10-metre line and raced up the other end to score.
As noted below, Holmes is developing quite the reputation as an Origin specialist:
The Maroons were the dominant force from that point on, with New South Wales seemingly clinging on for the interval. Keeping the lead down to 6-0 appeared to be an even bigger challenge when Maloney impeded Billy Slater's kick and was told to sit out 10 minutes. Holmes converted the penalty to put the hosts 8-0 up.
But the Blues were able to rally, as Trbojevic showed great instincts to score an almost identical try to Holmes' earlier on, as we can see here:
Remarkably, things would get even better for New South Wales before the break. The Queensland defence switched off with time ticking down, as Tedesco waltzed in to score. Somehow, they had a 12-8 lead at the halfway point.
The Brisbane Broncos' Andre Savelio commented on a breathless first period:
In the second period there was a response from Queensland, as they started to make the most of their possessional and territorial dominance.
They levelled the match with a slick passing move that was eventually finished well by Holmes, who grabbed a high kick to the corner and touched down. While he couldn't add the conversion, at 12-12 the momentum was back with Queensland.
Within seven minutes, so was the lead. Cameron Munster did brilliantly to cut through the Blues' lines and then moved possession on quickly. It meant Cherry-Evans had space to surge into before touching down. Martyn Sadler of theRugby League Expresscommented on a great move and a thrilling game:
Who said that Daly Cherry-Evans wasn't popular with his Maroons team-mates? What a great try made superbly by Cameron Munster! The Maroons now lead 18-12. This is one of the greatest #Origin matches I've seen.
Having previously appeared leggy after a tough first half, the New South Wales players seemed to be sparked by falling behind, and they did their best to get back in front with a potential whitewash there for the taking.
After being handed a fresh set of tackles deep in the Maroons' half with four minutes remaining, the visitors were in an excellent position to get back into the game. But Holmes proved he's the man for the big moment once again, as he swooped to intercept what would've been a try-assisting pass.
State of Origin 2018: Date, Start Time, Live Stream for Blues vs. Maroons Game 3
Jul 10, 2018
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 06: Boyd Cordner of the Blues talks to team mates during a New South Wales Blues State of Origin training session at Coogee Oval on July 6, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Queensland Maroons will look to salvage some pride on Wednesday when they take on the New South Wales Blues in the third and final match in the 2018 State of Origin series at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.
The Blues have already won the series, having achieved 22-12 and 18-14 victories in the first two matches.
New South Wales' victory in the second match gave them only their second State of Origin series win since 2006, and they will be eager to make it a clean sweep on Wednesday.
However, there has only been one whitewash in that time, when Queensland won all three matches in 2010, so the omens don't look good for the Blues to do so here.
The Maroons will need to win without captain Greg Inglis after he broke his thumb, though:
Billy Slater, who missed the first clash because of a hamstring injury, will captain Queensland in what will be his last State of Origin game.
He's hoping for a repeat of the 2014 series, where Queensland ended on a high after losing the first two matches.
Per the Australian Associated Press (h/t Stuff.co.nz), he said:
"We were in this position in 2014, we lost the series. It is important to gain a bit of momentum to go into next year and hopefully get that winning feeling for these boys.
"I know the series isn't on the line any more and NSW have wrapped it up and fully deserve it. But we are playing for Queensland.
"This team is pretty important to the people of Queensland. I have always remembered that pulling on this maroon jersey."
As well as hoping Slater can inspire them to victory, the Maroons will also be looking to Valentine Holmes, who has been one of their top performers with two tries and three conversions in the first two matches:
The momentum will be with the Blues after their two victories and it will be a difficult match for Queensland, but they performed well in the last match and were controversially denied a try that could have proved decisive.
If they perform as well on home soil, they have an excellent chance to take a little of the shine off New South Wales' series win.
State of Origin 2018: Blues Beat Maroons, Clinch Series in Game 2 Thriller
Jun 24, 2018
SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES - JUNE 24: Joshua Addo-Carr of the Blues celebrates with team mates after scoring a try during game two of the State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at ANZ Stadium on June 24, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
New South Wales Blues are the State of Origin champions for just the second time in 13 attempts. They overcame Queensland Maroons 18-14 at the ANZ Stadium on Sunday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Queensland flew out of the traps, as tries from Valentine Holmes and Dane Gagai gave them a 10-0 lead. However, the home side roared back, with tries from Josh Addo-Carr and Boyd Cordner giving the Blues a 12-10 lead at the break.
The Blues carried that momentum into the second half, with Latrell Mitchell barrelling over to his side some breathing room. Will Chambers was able to close the gap for the Maroons with a try, while a sin bin for New South Wales' James Roberts set up a nervy final 10 minutes.
In the end, the home side battled to a determined victory, picking up their first Origin series win since 2014.
Queensland were able to welcome back the influential Billy Slater for this one, and he made a huge difference. He thought he'd set up a try forGagai, although the effort was ruled out by the video referee.
As theNRLTwitter account noted, the Maroons man did everything to try to get the ball down:
Dane Gagai has the top speed of #Origin II so far according to the @Telstra Tracker.
The decision didn't deter the visitors, as Queensland continued to dominate. Slater was involved again, as he fed Greg Inglis, who then found Holmes on the wing to go in untouched. While Holmes couldn't add the extra points, suddenly there was a tension around theANZ.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 24: Valentine Holmes of the Maroons scores a try during game two of the State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at ANZ Stadium on June 24, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron
Queensland capitalised. For the second time in the match,Gagaiscampered clear, breaking a tackle and getting the ball down over the try line. This time Holmes did convert, and within 20 minutes the Maroons had a double-digit lead.
As we can see here, it was a brilliant bit of play to burst open the New South Wales defence:
The Blues needed to respond quickly, and a penalty gave them a reprieve. From it, they shifted left to findAddo-Carr, who showed nifty feet to get away from a few tackles and over.Maloneynailed the conversion, and suddenly the match was back in the balance again at 10-6.
On the half-hour mark, New South Wales were ahead for the first time. A delicate kick fromMaloneyappeared set to releaseCordner, before he was taken out by Ben Hunt. The officials made the bold decision to award the penalty try.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 24: Boyd Cordner of the Blues talks to referee Gerard Sutton during game two of the State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at ANZ Stadium on June 24, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo
AsMaloneystuck a straightforward conversion over the posts, AdamHawseof Fox Sports noted how rare incidents like this are in Origin matches:
At the start of the second period, New South Wales were brilliant, pinning their rivals back from the off. In the 50th minute, at the end of some patient play, Mitchell eventually powered over.
Maloneysplit the posts with the conversion, giving New South Wales daylight at 18-10. But Queensland aren't a team to write off.
After scoring the try, an error from Mitchell gave the Maroons great territory. From there, they worked the ball to the right, where Chambers was there to finish. A sin bin for Blues man James Roberts then meant they would have to play much of the final 10 minutes with 12 men too.
As journalist Tim Barrow noted, some bad decisions were being made all of a sudden by the home side:
The pressure did come late on from the Maroons, as they sought to make the man advantage count.
However, the Blues were able to manage the period well, taking their time on the ball and defending with tremendous intensity. When the clock did tick up to 80 minutes, there were scenes of delirium on the field and in the stands for those in blue. Moments like these have been rare for those from New South Wales in recent years.
State of Origin 2018: Live Stream, Prediction for Maroons vs. Blues Game 2
Jun 22, 2018
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 06: James Tedesco of the Blues is congratulated by team mates after scoring a try during game one of the State Of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 6, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
New South Wales Blues have the chance to win the State of Origin series for just the second time in 13 attempts on Sunday, when they meet Queensland Maroons in the second match of the 2018 edition.
The Blues will be on home soil for this encounter at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney, as they seek to follow up their victory from the clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 6, when New South Wales came from behind to win 22-12.
While the Maroons started this series without a number of crucial players to call upon, there's a reason why they have been so prolific in Origin matches down the years and should not be written off. Coach Kevin Walters will want to see a big response from some of his most experienced performers.
It is potentially a historic day for New South Wales fans and not an occasion to miss. Here is all the information you need on where to catch what is always a fascinating sporting occasion.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 06: Greg Inglis of the Maroons and his teammates look dejected after a Blues try during game one of the State Of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Jun
Given the Maroons were going into this series without legendary Origin figures such as Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith, there was more expectation on the Blues than there has been for a long time.
When they fell behind early on, New South Wales supporters must have been fearing the worst once again in an Origin contest. But the team rallied superbly, with James Tedesco inspiring them to an important win.
As we can courtesy of the NRL Twitter account, the full-back was in sensational form from the start:
It wasn't just the try that made it such a good display from the New South Wales star, though, as he led the team with an exceptional all-round performance, running for an impressive 224 metres.
As the team Twitter account relayed, he also broke an unprecedented amount of tackles in an Origin game:
After the win, the Sydney Roosters man praised the attention to detail of coach Brad "Freddie" Fittler and how it helped with the victory.
"I've got to thank Freddie for the tight jerseys, they couldn't tackle me," he told Channel 9 (h/t SportingNews). "…He got us all fitted to get them a bit tighter and I think it helped, they couldn't grab the jerseys and I think all the boys got benefits from it."
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 19: Brad Fittler head coach of the Blues during a New South Wales Blues State of Origin training session at Moore Park on June 19, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
The Maroons will need to get a better grip on their opponents on Sunday if they are going to continue their prestigious run in this series. And with a hostile environment on the cards in Sydney, some huge characters will be required.
They have one returning to action this weekend in Billy Slater, who missed the first game due to injury. He told 7 News Sydney he feels fully fit ahead of the game:
You would expect a more seasoned Maroons side to make this one tougher for the younger Blues team, who were exceptional in the opener. The weight of history may be heavy on inexperienced shoulders, especially if the game is tight heading into the latter stages.
It appears set up perfectly for New South Wales, though. They are a team that appear to be at the start of a new era, and with another home game, they have an ideal opportunity to end a spell of suffering in the event. It will be edgy, but they will just about do it.
Prediction: Blues 24-20 Maroons
State of Origin 2018: Date, Start Time, Live Stream for Maroons vs. Blues Game 2
Jun 19, 2018
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 06: Boyd Cordner of the Blues runs with the ball during game one of the State Of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 6, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
New South Wales Blues will have the opportunity to end Queensland Maroons' run of three consecutive State of Origin titles in Game 2, as the two teams go head-to-head at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.
Blues took Game 1 of the three-match series in Melbourne, beating their rivals 22-12. Maroons have won the last three editions of the State of Origin and all but one series since 2006.
New South Wales fielded no less than 11 debutants in Game 1 in a desperate attempt to overturn Queensland's dominance in the last decade, and the gamble paid off brilliantly as the hosts battled to a dominant win.
It was a wonderful back-and-forth match, setting the tone for the rest of the series. Fans expecting a quick win for Blues in Game 2 should remember what happened last year, when NSW opened the series with a huge win in Brisbane, only to drop back-to-back matches.
The State of Origin hasn't seen a clean sweep since 2010, and it would be a mistake to write off an experienced Queensland side―they have won 11 of the last 12 series, after all.
Blues head coach Brad Fittler is showing no signs of complacency―the unfortunate Ryan James wasn't even allowed to leave town to get some clothes as the side prepare for Game 2:
State of Origin 2: @GCTitans' Ryan James is 1 of 3 new faces in the @NSWRL Blues Origin team. His selection was such a shock, that Ryan arrived in Sydney without a change of clothes. So 7 News went shopping with him today because he wasn't allow him to leave town. #7Newspic.twitter.com/khcd2OGBaH
James Tedesco finished Game 1 with 17 tackle breaks, nearly equaling Maroons' total of 24. Combined with Blues' five line breaks, compared to just one for their opponents, it's easy to see where the improvements have to come for the visitors.
Blues' youthful side will have the advantage in raw speed and athleticism, but the more experienced Maroons were expected to make up the difference with their intelligent play in Game 1.
That didn't happen, and missed tackles were a major reason for it. They're unlikely to serve up another poor outing like that, especially now they've seen Blues' tactical approach in the first match.
Prediction: Queensland tighten things up around the ruck and use their experience to force a decider in Brisbane. Maroons beat Blues in another tight contest.
State of Origin 2018: James Tedesco Leads Blues to Game 1 Win vs. Maroons
Jun 6, 2018
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 06: James Tedesco of the Blues runs away to score a try during game one of the State Of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 6, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
New South Wales Blues are halfway to just a second State of Origin series victory in 13 years after beating Queensland Maroons 22-12 in Game 1 of the 2018 edition at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
Fullback James Tedesco starred for the Blues in a breathless end-to-end encounter, scoring the first try of the game before playing key roles in Latrell Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic and Josh Addo-Carr's second-half scores.
The Maroons dominated large swathes of the 80 minutes and overturned an 8-0 deficit through Valentine Holmes and Dane Gagai to lead 12-8 just after half-time.
However, they were undone by some clinical Blues attacking play and could not take advantage of their possession when necessary.
The Maroons will now head to Sydney for Game 2 on June 24 needing a win to tie the series up.
Queensland dominated the opening exchanges, but when New South Wales finally put an attacking set together in the sixth minute, it was clear they would be dangerous.
JamesMaloneygot the first points on the board with a 17th-minute penalty before then playing a key role inTedesco's brilliant opening try four minutes later, per the NRL:
At 8-0 down, Maroons winger Holmes then dropped the ball in a promising position, but he more than made up for his mistake with an opportunistic intercept in the 28th minute that he ran with for 80 yards to score under the posts.
The try turned the momentum of the game and, after heading into the break in the ascendancy, Queensland went ahead throughGagaiin the 43rd minute, finishing in the corner after an inch-perfect grubber kick from Ben Hunt.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 06: Josh Addo-Carr of the Blues (L) tackles Dane Gagai of the Maroons during game one of the State Of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 6, 2018 i
Five minutes later, Mitchell tied the game up at 12-12 after bursting through the Maroons defence following more fine work fromTedesco, who delayed his set-up pass to draw the defenders.
And in the 50th minute, after anotherTedescobreak, the impressive Maloneysent a high kick into the corner, where Trbojevicdispossessed Holmes in the jump and went over to put the Blues ahead.
At 18-12 Blues and with half an hour to go, there was another shift in the Maroons' favour. Their hits were harder, their kicking more accurate, and they started to pummel the New South Wales defensive line.
But it just would not break and, when finally given the opportunity to put the game to bed with 11 minutes to go, the Blues took it.
Tedescobroke through the middle, swung the ball left andMaloneyset up Addo-Carr, who had impressed defensively all night, to finish in the corner.
Blues outside backs on debut Trbojevic: TRY Addo-Carr: TRY Mitchell: TRY
The Blues will not get too carried away with their victory. They won Game 1 last year but lost the series.
However, they have landed the first blow and looked impressive doing so.
State of Origin 2018: Date, Start Time, Live Stream for Blues vs. Maroons Game 1
Jun 4, 2018
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 12: Queensland celebrate with the trophy after game three of the State Of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on July 12, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
The Queensland Maroons will be seeking to extend their recent dominance in the State of Origin series against the New South Wales Blues, starting on Wednesday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Following a 2-1 win for Queensland a year ago, they've won 11 of the previous 12 competitions between the two states. However, they head into the 2018 edition without some players that have previously been key to their stranglehold on the tournament.
The Blues will be looking to capitalise on this in front of a home crowd on Wednesday. They won the opener in Brisbane a year ago but fell to defeat in the two subsequent clashes.
Read on for all the details you need on where to catch Game 1, as these two great rivals get ready to lock horns again.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 01: Tyson Frizell passes to Nathan Cleary during a New South Wales State of Origin training session at Coogee Oval on June 1, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Although the dominance of the Maroons has got followers of New South Wales a little weary when it comes to the Origin series, there's reason for the Blues to be positive going into the latest edition.
A trio of players who have caused them so much heartache down the years won't be involved. Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith will leave a big hole in the Queensland team in terms of quality and leadership.
"I hope they (NSW) are sitting back thinking it is an easy win not having those players, but I will tell you right now we are up for the challenge—we are pumped and ready to go," said Maroons prop Jarrod Wallace, per AAP via FOX News. "There's no panic here."
Their absence offers a potential opening to some younger players to start cementing their own legacies in the competition.
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 12: Valentine Homes of the Maroons scores a try during game three of the State Of Origin series between the Queensland Maroons and the New South Wales Blues at Suncorp Stadium on July 12, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by
We may have already witnessed one of those in action, as Cameron Munster was effective in the decisive match of the 2017 series on his Origin debut. Additionally, Valentine Holmes, just 22, scored a hat-trick of tries as Queensland secured another series.
As noted by 7 News Brisbane, Holmes has been in fine form in the buildup to this meeting in Melbourne too:
In some respects, it's also the beginning of a new era for the Blues. Per the NRL website, they have 11 debutants in their squad, while coach Brad Fitter will lead the team into a series for the first time too.
The boss will be relying on some of his more experienced men to help the team through in a high-pressure environment as a result. James Maloney, the top points score in the 2017 Origin, is a man with the potential to manage a game and keep the scoreboard ticking.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 21: James Maloney of the Blues runs the ball during game two of the State Of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at ANZ Stadium on June 21, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spen
Some of the new players will also be important with refreshment vital after such a tough run for New South Wales. Per the NRL Twitter account, Josh Addo-Carr is someone who may provide that:
Given they are at home and given three key players are no longer with the Maroons, the pressure is on New South Wales in this one. If they can snatch victory here, with a home tie to come in the second leg in Sydney too, they'll have a brilliant chance of finally putting some blue on the board.
There's still class in the Maroons team, and it would be unwise to write them off as such. However, there are some gaping holes that won't be filled in the 2018 Origin series, and, in the first fixture at least, they will struggle to overcome that.
World's Only Transatlantic Team Proving Distance Is Only a State of Mind
Dec 14, 2017
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 09: Blake Wallace #6 of Toronto Wolfpack breaks the tackle of Lewis Charnock #7 of Barrow Raiders during a Kingstone Press League 1 Super 8s match at Lamport Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
When you ask Paul Rowley, the second-year head coach of the Toronto Wolfpack, about the success of the team's inaugural 2017 season, he's about as matter of fact as you can be, in his Northern English accent.
"Year 1 was good to give everyone a taste of [success], not stress out too much about the results," Rowley told B/R. "It was a nice, gentle way to ease into [the league], but I think 2018 will be a different experience altogether."
What the rugged player-turned-coach is referring to is the coming season the Wolfpack are going to face as the newest team in the Championship League of the Rugby Football League. A year after winning the RFL's third-tier League 1 title, they were moved up a level to a new division, where they'll face harder hits, faster opponents and tougher competition.
Oh, did we mention that the Toronto Wolfpack play in a rugby league in the UK?
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 09: Fuifui Moimoi #8 of Toronto Wolfpack douses Head Coach Paul Rowley in water as teammates celebrate victory over Barrow Raiders in a Kingstone Press League 1 Super 8s match at Lamport Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Toronto, Ca
The Wolfpack are the only transatlantic professional sports team. In a world with an NBA commissioner who dreams of having four teams based in Europe and an NFL that plays four games in London and is laying groundwork for a permanent team there, the Wolfpack are a case study for leagues looking to go multi-continental.
The brainchild of Canadian businessman Eric Perez, the Wolfpack have gone from nothing to something in the span of one season. Based out of Toronto, the team has a travel schedule that routinely takes them to games in Whitehaven, Doncaster and Workington, England. And despite some logistical issues that any other sports team may have, and one or two that most may not, the Wolfpack have been nothing short of incredible in their only year of existence.
"From where we are now to where we've come from, we've certainly jumped from the frying pan into the fire," Rowley says about the move up to the second division. "The top-end teams of the Championship League and the bottom end of the Super League aren't too dissimilar. The environment that we're going into now is a tough one with talented and established rugby league players. We sink or swim now."
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 09: Toronto Wolfpack players celebrate with the Championship 1 Promotion Trophy after victory over Barrow Raiders following a Kingstone Press League 1 Super 8s match at Lamport Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Ph
To get here, though, has been no easy task.
"When we started recruiting (to the Wolfpack before the season), it was a hard sell because no one knew anything about it; it was like it was from Mars," Rowley says. "Year 1 was a leap of faith. There's an element of risk to it, and nothing sounds real about it."
And it's easy to see how daunting it would be to sign on with a rugby team based in a North American city better known for having an Original Six hockey team and being Drake's hometown. Still, the city possesses a deeply rooted sports history, and building a team from the ground up was a strong pull.
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 09: Fuifui Moimoi #8 of Toronto Wolfpack tackles Jarrad Stack #12 of Barrow Raiders during a Kingstone Press League 1 Super 8s match at Lamport Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
"I've always wanted to play professional rugby, and this was a great opportunity," Australian halfback Blake Wallace recounts after a preseason workout. "Being able to bring a sport that I've grown up with and love to a place where it's relatively new, and being able to grow the game in a different country, were big reasons (to come)."
As a condition of their acceptance as an expansion franchise, the Wolfpack started in the bottom tier of the RFL, which was primarily made up of semi-pro clubs. The Wolfpack were the only full-time team in League 1, and the difference showed: Through 22 regular-season games, they were 20-1-1, remaining undefeated until the end of the year. They posted a staggering 921-point differential, which was nine points more than the next four teams in the standings combined. In short, they dominated.
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 09: Blake Wallace #6 of Toronto Wolfpack celebrates a try during a Kingstone Press League 1 Super 8s match against Barrow Raiders at Lamport Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Come March, when the new season begins, those blowouts the Wolfpack once enjoyed are likely to be nothing but memories.
That the Wolfpack are in this position in so short a time is impressive, especially considering the logistical headaches that come from playing in a league based an ocean away.
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 09: Liam Kay #5 and Jack Bussey #13 of Toronto Wolfpack take to the field prior to a Kingstone Press League 1 Super 8s match against Barrow Raiders at Lamport Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridl
The distance from Toronto to Manchester, where the Wolfpack is in preseason training, is 5,491 km, or 3,412 miles. To put that in perspective, the distance from New York to Los Angeles is 2,809 kilometers, or 1,745 miles, with a flight. Traveling these distances are just not economically feasible, let alone good for an athlete's body.
To ease the burden, Toronto plays home and away games in four-week periods. The Wolfpack have become monthly sojourners, if you will, out of necessity.
While in England, they are based out of Manchester, where they now have a partnership with the city to use the Carrington Training Centre, formerly the training home of Manchester City FC. From there, the Wolfpack travel to their "road" games locally, an arrangement that allows the team's UK players time with families they are apart from while in Canada.
At "home" in Toronto, the club stays in a college dorm they are able to use as temporary housing for the entirety of the four-week homestand.
There is another side of the travel coin—the opposition needs to come to Toronto. As a condition of their league agreement, the team fronts the travel for opposing teams in both League 1 and the Championship League. Through an airline partnership, the Wolfpack has upward of 700 yearly flights allotted on their sponsor's flight service, of which about half is designated for the opposition to travel from England to Toronto. That boils down to between 35 to 45 personnel coming in per team over four games in a four-week period.
Though having two fronts on two different continents presents pricey obstacles for a budding professional sports team, the Wolfpack have embraced the situation, working to attract sponsors with the promise of exposure on two sides of the Atlantic.
The constant travel makes for a bubble of camaraderie and a shared sense of focus. To Rowley, the players couldn't be anything but professionals in how they conducted themselves because of the situation they were collectively in. It also has helped the team bond off the field. Being happily stuck with each other is a good way to describe how they managed to jell in their home away from home.
Looking as far ahead as they allow themselves, the Wolfpack is heading toward the season's February start with 22 returning players from last year's roster. Rowley, a burly figure with an easy demeanor, values allowing the players freedom on the field to be creative. Run-and-gun might be the best way to describe the Wolfpack attack, and though it doesn't fit in the sometimes-rigid structure other rugby teams employ, the players have become comfortable in it and its allowances within the game. The more free-flowing approach undoubtedly helped make Toronto one of the league's most prolific offenses as well as empowered players to make plays, which is what Rowley wants.
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 09: Craig Hall #4 of Toronto Wolfpack reaches for a loose ball during a Kingstone Press League 1 Super 8s match against Barrow Raiders at Lamport Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Imag
All of that will be tested in the season ahead as they make the jump to the Championship League. And while every team sets goals for itself to start the season, Toronto has been relatively mum on what it hopes to accomplish in Year 2, though it knows it will be seen as easy pickings as the new team in town.
"I'm sure that teams we face (this year) are going to want to beat us, and we'll have to be ready for that challenge," Wallace says. "I don't think there's (necessarily) a target on us. We're going to be going into games where the opposition wants to beat you, simple as that. That's competitive sports. They'll want to win and we'll want to win. We've had some success and we're excited to build on it and see how far this team can go."
Here's to going the distance. Again and again.
2017 NRL Grand Final Betting Preview: North Queensland vs. Melbourne Odds
Sep 27, 2017
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Jesse Bromwich, Billy Slater and coach Craig Bellamy watch as a ball bounces as they pose for their team photo with the Provan-Summons trophy during a Melbourne Storm NRL training session at Gosch's Paddock on September 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
The North Queensland Cowboys are aiming to become the first side in the history of the NRL to win the Premiership after finishing eighth on the ladder when they head back to Sydney for the fourth weekend in a row for a Grand Final against the Minor Premier Melbourne Storm.
The Cowboys have been underdogs in each of their three postseason matches so far, and this Sunday will be no different, with $3.85 AUD on offer for them to cause another boil over. Melbourne have dropped just four games all year long and are $1.27 to go one better than last season and lift the Provan-Summons Trophy,according toAustralianGambling.
The Storm head to Sydney full of confidence, having won nine games in a row and played their first two finals on their home deck. A sixth straight win over the Cowboys would be a fitting way to cap off an amazing season for the side from the Victorian capital and see the club secure a third Premiership.
Melbourne captain Cameron Smith was named the Dally M Medallist after he was voted the player of the year, and he's also considered a $2.75 wager to add a Clive Churchill medal (man of the match) to his trophy cabinet on Sunday.
This game will also be the last for Storm halfback Cooper Cronk. The 33-year-old will hang up his boots at the final whistle, but his contest against Cowboys counterpart Michael Morgan will go a long way to deciding which club lifts the trophy on Sunday night.
Morgan and the rest of his Cowboys teammates achieved a remarkable completion rate of 90 per cent in their Preliminary Final win over the Roosters, while Jason Taumalolo ran for a huge 256 metres.
That game finished in a 29-16 win for the Queensland side, but the Storm had a much easier time of it in their Grand Final Qualifier, running in four tries to none in a 30-0 win over the Broncos. Fullback Billy Slater ran in two tries and looks in great touch ahead of this one.
This game pits two of the most successful clubs of the modern era against each other. The Storm have played in seven of the last 12 NRL deciders, while the Cowboys have made the finals every year since 2011, and a win this weekend would be their second title in three years.
