EI-A330-300 - yes your right NCL does show on the CO route map as a connecting flight however it actually did show as a direct route and not a connecting one on the route map a couple of weeks ago. Infact it has done at various times this afternoon.
Whilst I doubt very much an announcement of any sort of direct route is due tomorrow I agree with Jamesair, this whole speculation has brightened up my weekend if nothing else.