NRL: New era has clubs feeling excited

NRL champions St George Illwarra could be without supercoach Wayne Bennett(C) beyond 2011. Photo / Getty Images

On the verge of a new era under an independent commission, NRL clubs have stars in their eyes - and none will be keener to close the book on the last chapter than the Melbourne Storm.

The new regime - yet to be ratified but set to be installed before the 2011 season kick-off - carries with it promises of riches such as the game has never seen before, while also removing the clutter of management levels which have hampered it for so long.

The future of rugby league has scarcely looked brighter, the prospect of a $1 billion television deal set to fund a war chest to ward off AFL and rugby union incisions into the code's playing ranks and heartlands, while increasing the likelihood of spreading the game via expansion.

NRL clubs should be able to compete more strongly with other competitions and countries for top talent, with bosses no doubt envisioning the day when they can put together a squad littered with superstars to dominate the competition.

Dominate in the manner Melbourne did when they reached four straight grand finals from 2006-09, capturing premierships in 2007 and 2009.

A playing roster which included the likes of Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk plus a litany of representative stars was the envy of the league and seemed too good to be true - and in the end proved to be so with the club found guilty of rorting the salary cap.

With their premiership titles struck from the record books, the Storm were left with the thankless task of playing out the majority of the 2010 season for nothing but pride as rival clubs at home and abroad circled the carcass of their playing roster.

Three of the big four remain at Melbourne, with Inglis set to join South Sydney - provided he gets NRL approval - but in the wake of the Storm's demise a new top dog emerged as St George Illawarra delivered on years of unfulfilled potential by securing the joint-venture's first NRL premiership.

Returning with a roster missing only departed hard men Jeremy Smith and Neville Costigan, the Dragons will begin 2011 favoured to do it again.

But the man credited with delivering their greatest hour - master coach Wayne Bennett - could prove to be their biggest obstacle next season.

Having accomplished his premiership goal, there is widespread speculation 2011 could be Bennett's last with the Dragons, and the thought of the game's greatest coach looking to move closer to his family base in Brisbane would surely have an effect on the club.

An off-kilter Dragons could open the door for defeated grand finalists Sydney Roosters to make it fifth-time lucky for their coach Brian Smith, or maybe even Wests Tigers, who went within one unawarded penalty against the Dragons of playing in the decider.

The addition of Inglis will give the Rabbitohs faithful hope that they can erase the disappointment of the 2010 campaign, while it remains to be seen if new coach Stephen Kearney can turn around a Parramatta club which started last season as favourites before a disastrous run which cost Daniel Anderson his job.

Kearney will at least enter NRL coach ranks with a pair of impressive notches on his belt, with New Zealand's Four Nations victory over Australia solidifying the world champion Kiwis status as the No.1 force in the international game.

In a healthy advertisement for the much-ridiculed Test program, Kearney's Kiwis have now won three of their past four finals against Australia, with the Kangaroos only win in that time coming via a Darren Lockyer extra-time try in 2006.

Kiwis skipper Benji Marshall collected the Golden Boot award as the game's best player, while it was another No.6 in Todd Carney who walked away with the majority of the other awards - the one-time bad-boy producing a massive career turnaround to gather the Dally M and RLIF player of the year trophies after a year out of the game.

Having set up a fascinating NRL rivalry with Marshall, it should not be long before Carney is duelling with him regularly at Test level as well, with the Roosters star the heir apparent to Kangaroos playmaker Darren Lockyer.

First however, Carney will likely be entrusted with reviving the hopes of the NSW Origin side, the Blues suffering a 3-0 whitewash in 2010 - an unprecedented fifth straight series loss.

The last man to coach them to victory - Ricky Stuart - has again been installed at the helm, though he will be up against it taking on what some believe to be the best Queensland side ever assembled.

But Stuart, never one to shirk from a challenge, is confident that like the game itself, his Blues can move into a great new era.

- AAP