The Serve

THE BIG 5 - Questions after this weeks league trials

Difficult as it may seem to have a raft of issues after a weekend where only one match was available to a mass audience, there’s already a steady stream of questions up for discussion. 

5. Are the contract sagas with Sonny Bill Williams and Mark O’Meley hurting the Bulldogs?

Canterbury/The Bulldogs have never been a strong team in trials, and with 15,000 in Auckland to watch the Warriors, the home side had a lot more to play for. This week should be forgotten. If the constant chatter is hurting the club, Bulldogs management has done its bit to ensure a smooth season by bringing both matters to a head before round 1. The club has a history of departing stars and adversity. It also has a history of winning in spite of that. Example: 1995.

4. Can the Wests Tigers score enough points, even with Benji Marshall?

The Tigers had three goes at getting it right in the pre-season, for three disappointments, bringing a total of 28 points. This weekends thrashing at the hands of the wooden spoon favourites, Canberra, would appear the most disturbing. Benji was there, as was John Morris and Robbie Farah. These are the clubs three weapons of attack. They came up with one try. The warning signs were there in the Roosters match, when the side - minus Marshall - looked slow and bereft of ideas. Twenty points against a local Brisbane side a week ago isn’t exactly prolific stuff either.

3. Is Melbourne’s 46-nil thrashing of Brisbane proof the Storm are the premiership favourites? Let’s not kid ourselves. Brisbane were grossly understrength, while the Storm were dripping with talent. However the reports of Greg Inglis dominating at five eighth can only improve a side that were clearly the trendsetters in 2006. The Storm surely are the masters of their own destiny. The ankle injury which will keep Steve Turner out for the first month of the season is the sort of thing that makes you believe in karma.

2. Are Souths still back in the bad old days?

Charity Shield. Big Crowd. Tight game. Rabbitohs infront. Intercept try with seven minutes left, and the Rabbitohs find a way to lose. Classic Souths. This is a vastly new team that needs time to click. The club has a losing culture, something blokes like Asotasi and Kidwell can change, but it will take a little time. One problem though for coach Jason Taylor is number seven. Jeremy Smith is a monty to fill the role, but it could be clubs Achilles heel.

1. Can the Dragons be competitive without Mark Gasnier?

With the post-prognosis talk about Gasnier returning for the finals, the objective of the Dragons is obvious. Just make the eight, then hope for the best in September. But can they get to the finals? They are without the likes of Dean Young and Matthew Head for at least the first month, a month which sees the team take on an emotional Gold Coast in round 1, Andrew Johns and the Knights, North Queensland. the Sharks in the derby, as well as the Storm. If the Dragons can squeeze two, maybe three wins out of those first five, they could be OK. Tough ask.