Finally the NRL returns tomorrow night. We were given a taste of what 2014 has to offer thanks to the Auckland Nines but the 13-a-side game is obviously a different beast and there were plenty of big name stars who didn't make the trip across the Tasman.
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What we did see from the Nines was new Warriors signing and international superstar Sam Tomkins. In partnership with excitement machine Shaun Johnson, the former Wigan custodian set the competition alight and it whets the appetite for what could be a very successful season for the New Zealand side. But how he will handle the size and physicality of the NRL is still one of the many unknowns surrounding this season.
Will Sam Burgess still perform for the Bunnies even though he is heading to union in 2015? How will the Sharks respond to the ongoing controversy? Will Ricky Stuart have the same success or lack thereof with the Raiders that he had with the Eels? Will Ben Barba recapture the form that won him a Dally M medal, now that he has a fresh start with the Broncos? Will the new look Panthers live up to the hype surrounding them this year? These are just some of the intriguing subplots of the 2014 premiership race. But the one question I'm really looking forward to being answered is whether or not Will Hopoate can still compete at the highest level despite a two-year hiatus?
I mean it's obvious he's a prodigious talent. You don't get picked for NSW in your second year of first-grade while still in your teens if you're an average footballer (no matter how badly the Blues are struggling). But if he excels again this year, after getting away from the daily grind of the NRL for two full seasons, it will be one of the great achievements. Last time he was playing in a red-hot premiership winning Manly backline but now he will have the weight of expectation on him to lead the Parramatta revival from wooden spooners to top eight contenders. Bring on the footy!
