2011 NRL Previews - Melbourne and Newcastle

Uh oh ... another looming season, another disaster. Benji Marshall - who launched the 2011 season and is hailed the best player in the game - will soon report to police for questioning about an alleged brawl outside a Sydney McDonald's in the small hours of Saturday morning. Marshall, acclaimed as a rare rugby cleanskin earlier in the week, is said to have punched a 24-year-old in the face after a series of racial slurs. 

While NOTHING justifies racism, Marshall, as the face of the game, should have worn the provocation on the proverbial chin. If he has come out swinging, then all he achieved was give the code yet another black eye. 

Remember, this incident has come in the same week a leading player agent and former star have been charged with an attempted betting sting, a current player fronted court over the same allegations and the reigning Dally M Medallist moved a step closer to ending his career. 

Oh, here's some predictions on last year's Scandal of the Year winner - the Melbourne Storm - and the Newcastle Knights, which are soon to be taken over by a billionaire Bond villain mining magnate. One will have a good year, the other, not so much. Know which is which?

Melbourne Storm

Home Ground: AAMI Park

Coach: Craig Bellamy

Premierships: 3 (1999, 2007*, 2009*) *Stripped for salary cap violations

2010 finish: 16th* Did not play for points in 2010

First five rounds: Sea Eagles (h), Titans (h), Cowboys (a), Bulldogs (h), Eels (h)

IN: Adam Woolnough, 29, prop (Out of retirement), Beau Champion, 24, centre (South Sydney), Elijah Niko, 20, wing (Warriors), Jaiman Lowe, 27, prop (South Sydney), Maurice Blair, 26, centre/five-eighth (Penrith), Troy Thompson, 31, prop (Canberra).

OUT: Aiden Tolman (Canterbury-Bankstown), Jeff Lima (Wigan Warriors - Super League), Ryan Hoffman (Wigan Warriors - Super League), Brett Finch (Wigan Warriors - Super League), Brett White (Canberra), Greg Inglis (South Sydney).

Why they can win it: Still have three (Slater, Cronk, Smith) of the best six players in the game. Bellamy knows how to unearth talent and get the very best out it. They will be PISSED about last year, where they looked like the best team going around before they were busted for salary cap violations.

Why they can’t: The exodus caused by salary cap violations. Losing Greg Inglis was bad enough, but the likes of White, Tolman, Lima, Hoffman and Finch were the guys who added depth and made Melbourne so formidable. Champion is a decent pick-up, but Woolnough and Lowe are average at best, while the other new faces carry the dreaded ‘unfulfilled potential’ or ‘journeyman’ tags.

Bottom line: 6th

Newcastle Knights

Home Ground: Energy Australia Stadium

Coach: Rick Stone

Premierships: 2 (1997, 2001)

2010 finish: 11^th

First five rounds: Panthers (a), Cowboys (a), Sea Eagles (a), Dragons (h), Broncos (a)

IN: Beau Henry, 20, halfback (St George Illawarra), Chris Houston, 25, back row/prop (Suspension), Korbin Sims, 19, back row (Brisbane Broncos), Kyle O'Donnell, 20, utility (Cronulla), Maipele Morseau, 19, fullback (Melbourne Storm), Neville Costigan, 25, back row/prop (St George Illawarra), Siuatonga Likiliki, 22, centre (Warriors), Steve Southern, 28, back row (North Queensland Cowboys)

OUT: Cooper Vuna (Melbourne Rebels - Super Rugby), Scott Dureau (Catalans Dragons - Super League), Ben Cross (Leeds Rhinos - Super League), Steve Simpson (Retired).

Why they can win it: Akuila Uate is one of the best finishers in the game. Kurt Gidley will do the job wherever he plays – fullback, half or pivot. Decent pack bolstered by the return of Houston after he successfully defended drugs charges. If Neville Costigan brings his 2010 finals form to Newcastle he could put their pack on his back and drag them over the advantage line.

Why they can’t: Major, major questions over the halves. Jarrod Mullen is decent enough at half, but his choice will either be journeyman Ben Rogers or untested rookie Beau Henry. If neither option works, Stone might be forced to bite the bullet and play Gidley in the halves.

Prediction: 13th