Questions (mostly)

This is the best time of the NRL season, because there are the most questions, and the least answers.

· Will the Storm atone for last year? Will Inglis and Slater break out of their slumps? (yes, slumps). What will defeat do to the Storm? My prediction: mental disintegration.
· Does Manly have the venom and past heartbreak necessary to win a GF? Note that ‘03 Panthers and ’05 Tigers somewhat mitigate this requirement. If the Storm crack, Manly could be the ones to pick up the goods. Will Jamie Lyon do anything in the finals except kick a couple of goals?
· Will the Cowboys get knocked out in the first or second week?
· Can the Dogs rediscover their mojo? Can they find the skill to match the arrogance? Who will Sonny Bill flatten with his shoulder and which one will it be – his left or right?
· At what point will the Eels fall apart? Because if they don’t (which they will) they could win the whole thing. Will Nathan Hindmarsh and Dallas Johnson combine for 200 tackles in a match?
· Are the Warriors really the dark horse/s? Will Steve Price crack 1000m in hitups in a single match?

I’d better reserve my next set of burgeoning questions for when the top eight is actually settled.