The cricket season could come early for a couple of teams this weekend.
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Fewer matches but a lot of great footy in store - unless you are a Cronulla Sharks or Newcastle Knights fan, perhaps.
The most optimistic supporters from both clubs will no doubt be looking forward to another chance to stick it to the critics, to show them what for when the chips are down.
Those fans who are maybe a tad more pessimistic have already looked up exactly when the Big Bash starts. (A word to the wise from this longtime Sharkie, the thrash and bash starts on October 25.)
But hey, it's 2020 - and the one thing we've learnt is that ANYTHING is possible. That said, it's pretty hard to go past the "home teams" - Penrith, Canberra, Melbourne and the Rabbitohs.
Besides looking at an extended run in the 2020 finals series, the good folk at Canberra also have the NRLW games to look forward to this weekend.
Disappointingly, the comp is limited to the NRL's finals series but with just four teams involved that's probably squeezing as much out of it as possible anyways. Here's hoping the NRL finds a way to support the women's game a little more authentically at the elite level next season.
And yes, COVID may have scuppered all sorts of ambitions - but it's across the board. On the plus side that means the NRLW will benefit from a few new internationals and of course, a number of cross-code players. UNion star Charlotte Caslick teaming up with Zahara Temara in the halves for the Roosters should keep the Dragons on their toes on Saturday that's for sure.
* This edition of Tackle Count was written by Janine Graham.
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