WHEN the NRL season kicks off on March 5 the Sharks and Dragons, like all teams , will be under the microscope.
And the two Bens — Ben Barba at the Sharks and Benji Marshall at the Dragons — are crucial to their clubs' chances.
Barba has signed for three years with the Sharks after being cut loose by the Broncos. Barba will play five-eighth under coach Shane Flanagan.
The Sharks have two players to cover fullback, Michael Gordon and Valentine Holmes. Rookie Holmes played wing this season but is considered a future No.1.
A happy and relaxed Ben Barba will be a positive for the Sharks.
Barba, 25, has plenty of good footy ahead of him.
Benji Marshall played halfback this season when he joined the Dragons. Though he was No. 7 during his days at the Tigers and for New Zealand, it was the No. 6 jersey in which he made his mark at his best with electrifying speed and footwork.
Marshall's style playing in the No. 7 jersey suits him better at this phase of his career. He mainly plays first receiver inside No. 6 Gareth Widdop.
Occasionally they switch roles.
A full off-season will further build his confidence and he will be a linchpin in the attack and crucial to the style of play coach Paul McGregor wants to employ.
And there could be more muscle to join the Dragons before Christmas with Bulldogs prop Sam Kasiano chased to bolster the pack next season.
Kasiano posted on Twitter: "Don't know where all these rumours are coming from but all I know is that I'm proud to be a Bulldog next year. That's all thank you!"
But the saying goes, where there is smoke there is fire.
The Sharks are circling and Wests Tigers hunting Kiwi and Sydney Roosters centre, Shaun Kenny-Dowall.
He is under contract until the end of 2015. But with the Roosters keen to get Blake Ferguson on their books next year, Kenny-Dowall may be may be told to look elsewhere.
And Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen will have his $35,000 fine imposed by the NRL split between White Ribbon, which works to prevent violence against women, and the Black Dog Institute, a world leader in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mood disorders such as depression.
Gallen was initially fined $50,000, by the NRL after he used an obscenity in a Twitter post slamming the hierarchy.
Now $15,000 of that has been suspended.
How do you think the Sharks and Dragons will go next year?
