JAMIE LYON AND MARK GASNIER

How the game’s best centres [RIGHT] adjust to wearing the No. 6 jumper will determine if Manly and St George Illawarra have any chance of finishing at No. 1. Players such as Laurie Daley and Brad Fittler shifted to fiveeighth like silk; others, like Lockyer, needed time and patience.

At time of writing, Manly hasn’t shown its hand about where Lyon will play, but insiders are adamant it will be at second receiver. There’s no mystery with Gasnier: he re-signed on the promise he’d be playing in Barrett’s old position.

Will either succeed?

Lyon has several points to prove after signing a $2 million deal to return to the NRL. He had limited time at five-eighth for St Helens during his two years in the UK Super League. He’s abundantly talented, but made some glaring defensive lapses for Australia in the Tri-Nations. He’ll need to shake those habits before round 1.

Effectively, Gasnier has no kicking game and is best known for setting up tries with one-handed, round-the-corner flick passes. His performance for NSW in last year’s Origin decider at five-eighth was less than convincing. But while he’s a risk, he’s still so gifted that he could make the position his own.

Just how long the transition takes – for both players – is the question.

DAVE TAYLOR

At 1.85m and 115kgs, Taylor is the biggest player at the Broncos. And he’s the man, we’re told, who’ll finish the season as Webcke’s replacement in the pack. Sorry, make that boy

– he’s only 18. – Sure, it’s a big call. But insiders at the Broncos who know about these things believe the raw-boned kid from Central Queensland is rare stuff. Taylor was in high school when he made his first-grade debut last year, but his performances for feeder club Toowoomba had some of the Broncos’ wisest heads predicting he’ll finish ’07 as a permanent fixture in the Broncos’ front-row. Others go further and predict he’ll be tearing into New South Welshmen within two years.

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