On the eve of another NRL season and as record revenue and profit are about to be announced, the 17 clubs are relishing what English author Charles Dickens, in another genre, called "the best of times".
A complacent optimism now hangs over the competition, driven by the expectation of a massive TV rights deal and the desire to present a united front behind ARLC chair Peter V'landys and CEO Andrew Abdo.
Clubs are careful with public statements, knowing any hint of dissent could complicate delicate broadcaster negotiations.
Formally, every team begins the year undefeated; no side has yet lost a truly meaningful match.
The Pre-Season Challenge delivers misleading outcomes because squads either protect marquee players or deliberately mismatch lineups.
This event has largely replaced traditional trials, which used to settle bragging rights when one team clearly outplayed another.
Most clubs now treat pre-season fixtures as content to satisfy pay-TV obligations rather than serious contests.
For instance, the Dragons and Sea Eagles staged a closed-door scrimmage instead of a public warm-up.
By contrast, in the inaugural Charity Shield in 1982 between the Dragons and Rabbitohs, "charity" applied only in the sense the gate receipts went to local hospitals.
There was little goodwill on the field; tensions were high before kick-off and boiled over when South Sydney breached an agreement on interchange usage.
As coach of the Dragons, I retaliated, sparking a sideline altercation that was fuelled by a group of Souths supporters, bussed in and posted behind the bench to heckle the team.