Four eye-catching moments of brilliance highlight the NRL's Defy Impossible advertising campaign for the 2021 Telstra Premiership.
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said the competition defied impossible when it returned to the field last year on May 28 despite the COVID-19 pandemic and completed 180 games safely.
As part of the campaign to promote the 2021 season, the NRL is featuring four memorable moments:
- Bulldogs rookie Jake Averillo's spectacular try in the corner against the Eels;
- Cowboys co-captain Michael Morgan's long-range field goal against Brisbane, which would now be worth two points under the new rules;
- Dragons centre Zac Lomax's high-flying leap to score against Canterbury; and
- Raiders prop Josh Papalii's memorable chase-down to ankle-tap Titans halfback Jamal Fogarty.
There are 16 other ads highlighting a moment from 2020 where each team seemingly defied the impossible.
Defy impossible: The cannon
"This year we are celebrating our players, the best athletes in the world, who defy impossible every week and the tribalism of our fans and what those moments of brilliance mean to them," Abdo said.
"Rugby league’s most entertaining moments have lived where the impossible becomes possible.
"This campaign focuses on the speed, intensity and agility of our players and what those magical moments mean to our fans. A big forward like Josh Papalii reaching a top speed of 31.6km/h to run down Jamal Fogarty or Jake Averillo scoring a try with 94% of his body beyond the sideline.
Defy impossible: The chase
"We have released four 30-second campaign ads, which will air nationally, showcasing some of the many moments in 2020 where our players defied the impossible.
"We have also produced 16 different ads, one for each club, highlighting a moment where a player from that club defied the impossible.
"This gives every fan of every club the opportunity to celebrate one moment where their clubs made the impossible, possible."
Defy impossible: The leap