Peter Jessup: NRL looks like being much closer

There are few rule adjustments as the NRL opens this weekend, no refereeing changes, only two coaching changes at the Sharks and Souths, and few significant player personnel changes in or out - Brad Fittler, Gorden Tallis and Ryan Girdler have retired while Joey Johns is back.

But the competition promises to be faster, more intense and tighter again as 2004 cellar-dwellers improve their consistency.

Souths and the Sharks should better their record thanks to coaching improvement, the Knights will improve with Johns back from injury as will the Eels with their captain Nathan Cayless injury-free.

The Warriors will be better because of the leadership from Steve Price and Ruben Wiki, not types who give up when the going gets tough. There will be no fold-ups of the type they delivered in 2004.

The salary cap is achieving a more even spread of talent and that should be reflected in both a closer points spread in games and a tighter competition ladder throughout the season.

Crowds rose last season to an average attendance of 14,671 over all games for 26 rounds in 2004. The Roosters set the record of an average 17,679 at home games, to show what consistent grandfinal appearances do for you.

The Knights and Warriors have new stands at their home grounds to increase seating capacity. The Dragons, Bulldogs and Souths are all considering moving home games to the massive Stadium Australia Olympic venue at Homebush because their existing grounds are more expensive to hire or require major renovation works.

Many of the 15 clubs have invited pre-season instruction from the NRL referees this season. There are no law changes for 2005, just some adjustment of the tackle ruling.

A player who executes a copybook low tackle will be given more time to get clear from the ball-carrier; the defence will be given more time when a ball-carrier "surrenders" in the tackle; refs will only penalise for stripping where it is clear that the intention is to rip out the ball while there is more than one tackler involved.

Reffing great Bill Harrigan will work with the NRL's ref's boss Robert Finch in a consultancy role this season.

The NRL will trial a refereeing interchange in one game of each of the first six rounds.

There are no changes to the judicial system. The Jarrod McCracken ruling is not expected to impact in any way - spear tackles are still illegal and you can be sued if intent to hurt or malice can be proved.

The league continues to offer an incentive of A$8 million ($8.6 million) to entice one of the nine Sydney clubs to move north to the burgeoning Central Coast area using the Gosford stadium as home.

The Gold Coast and Wellington consortiums remain in the hunt for a franchise licence and the NRL is expected to revisit the issue near the end of this season with an aim to a 2007 start for a 16th team.