BRISBANE

The departure of the game’s best forward would normally consign a team to a year of heartburn. And while Shane Webcke’s retirement leaves a cavernous hole in the Broncos’ pack, it doesn’t stop them from defending their title. In fact, it’s conceivable they’ll be better.

“Perfectionist” (Wayne Bennett’s words, not ours) performance director Dean Benton went from the club’s most loathed man last season to Messiah. In an era in which scrum plays are dead and athleticism is king, and for a club rocked by the representative schedule more than any other, Benton will be crucial. Last season, he stripped pounds of flesh off the squad; this time, he wants them to be faster. And Bennett trusts him implicitly.

Expect Petero Civoniceva to fill that aforementioned cavern. And there’s a teenage prop who has some Broncos coaching staff drooling (See “Dave Taylor”, BOTTOM RIGHT.) If Lockyer (TOP RIGHT) can capture a fingernail of last year’s form, it’s not foolish to suggest there’s another Broncos dynasty on the horizon.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA

When the Dragons haemorrhaged players last season, their ’07 aspirations were roundly dismissed. The exodus hurt the joint venture – although the loss of captain Trent Barrett and prop Luke Bailey mightn’t sting as much as the departure of the pool of quality second-tier players who left for juicier contracts elsewhere.

But chins up, Dragons fans. Canberra hooker Simon Woolford brings an experienced snarl to the pack, and oft-criticised prop Jason Ryles [RIGHT] showed during the finals that he’s ready to occupy the top shelf again. With the pressure off, life’s reportedly become easier at the Dragons. It would be so like them to snatch it just when no-one expected.

KNIGHTS

See later section “Johns vs Smith.” A happy Andrew Johns is a very happy Newcastle.

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