With all the problems of the salary cap breeches throughout 2010 it's easy to forget about the bad old days in the 90's, when teams were consistently thrashed 50 to nil week after week while just a handful of teams dominated the top of the table.
The Rivalry Round will showcase the success of the NRL's determination to stick with the tough salary cap.
The highlights of the Rivalry Round are
• The Broncos & Titans clash is expected to be a brutal affair fought in the forwards. State of Origin roommates Sam Thaiday and Ashley Harrison go head to head for the first time since their historic fifth series win.
• The Roosters take on the Bulldogs which is fitting for Rooster Braith Anasta who lines up against his old club for his 200th match in the NRL. Many players see 200 as the new 300 due to the speed and power of the game in the new era. Both sides desperately need a victory to keep their premiership hopes moving forward.
• Souths and St George meet in a blockbuster top of the table clash. Both sides are in great form at the right end of the season.
• The Melbourne Storm face-up against the Warriors just days after a damming investigation revealed their salary cap breaches were much worse than previously thought. Meeting an inform Warriors pack will be the furthermost thing on their minds.
• The Eels and the Hayne Train roll into the Western Suburbs to take on the Penrith Panthers. This will be another great clash of two teams looking to entrench their positions on the ladder.
In other matches
• Manly will flog Cronulla
• Wests over the Cowboys, and
• Canberra over Newcastle
Often church denominations create, and are consumed with rivalry. In fact, one of the longest running wars in Europe – the fight for independence in Northern Ireland was based around church rivalry.
The truth is there is no place for rivalry in the church – in fact Paul says in Galatians there is no place for factions.