Chief executive Dave Smith says the NRL has enjoyed the strongest lead-in to a season in recent memory as he launched the rugby league year on Wednesday night.
On the back of the stunning success of the inaugural Auckland Nines earlier this month and the announcement of a profit of almost AU$50 million for the 2013 financial year, Smith and his executive teams are admittedly bullish heading into 2014.
At the season launch at the Sydney Convention Centre at Glebe Island in Sydney, Smith said the code had every reason to be.
"The Nines has been the highlight of a terrific pre-season for the NRL," Smith said in his address.
"A pre-season which saw the fierce but friendly rivalry between traditional foes - in both the Charity Shield and the World Club Challenge where the Roosters again established that the world's best club side comes from Australia.