Since the Titans entered the NRL to create a 16-team competition in 2007, the biggest average winning margin for first-round games was 18 in 2013. And that record was given a nudge in 2021 with 17.87 through the first round this year.

The NRL has enjoyed a recent history of tight opening week matches, including last year (10.62) and 2018 (9.12), when a number of matches went down to the wire.

Those things will fluctuate from week to week and game to game. I think it’s way too early to reach any conclusions on any of that stuff

Graham Annesley

But most of this year’s round-one fixtures were decided well before the final minutes, a turn-off for viewers and a worry for broadcasters.

Asked if it was a concern, Annesley said: “Not at this stage. It’s way too early to start trying to dissect that.

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“Some teams start quicker than others and we saw after the resumption last year it took some teams a while to come to terms with the new rules. Those things will fluctuate from week to week and game to game.

“I think it’s way too early to reach any conclusions on any of that stuff.”

Despite a number of star players expressing concern about the game’s speed reaching breaking point after more rule tinkering for 2021, the NRL could see no discernible differences as it sifted through data from the first six games.

Ball-in-play time was actually down 19 seconds per game on average from last year, but the elapsed time for matches was 1 minute and 38 seconds shorter than last year. The average play-the-balls per game was exactly the same in the first six matches of this season compared to last year (288).

“Albeit after only six games, we’re not seeing the increase many people were predicting,” Annesley said. “I think the football has been outstanding given the fact it is round one and every year it takes players a while to get into their rhythm.

“This year we’ve only had one trial match as all clubs agreed to restrict it to that because of the late finish last year.

“All that considered and the new rules as well, I think the football has been remarkable. We’re seeing similar numbers across the board to what we saw last season which is pretty amazing to reach those levels at round one.”

The introduction of repeat sets for players creeping offside has, predictably, seen a marked drop in penalties being blown by referees, with an average of 6.7 per game across the matches up until Saturday night. It was 9.9 per game last year.

NRL ROUND ONE AVERAGE WINNING MARGINS
2021: 17.87
2020: 10.62
2019: 14.37
2018: 9.12
2017: 11.5
2016: 13.62
2015: 14.12
2014: 12.62
2013: 18
2012: 6.87
2011: 14
2010: 9.25
2009: 12.75
2008: 15
2007: 10.5

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