<\/strong>It\u2019s time for South Sydney to go all-in on Latrell Mitchell. Already the fullback and the team\u2019s talisman, the 26-year-old needs to lead South Sydney to a title. The chances of that happening will increase if he\u2019s got the \u201cc\u201d next to his name. The added responsibility is what Mitchell needs to get him out of his comfort zone. There were suggestions last season Mitchell was given preferential treatment \u2013 let him share the captaincy duties with Cameron Murray and watch him step up and set the standards on and off the field.<\/p>\n
NZ WARRIORS<\/h3>\n
Use the NRL\u2019s money to buy an All Black The Warriors should target Ardie Savea.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Release Joseph Suaalii immediately Buy Joseph Suaalii immediately Joseph Suaalii would look good in the Red V strip.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Ban Kalyn Ponga from representative footy Buy a grizzled, old, angry forward Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Embrace your inner rah-rah Let\u2019s see more kicking duels involving Reuben Garrick.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Keep Michael Maguire Move Clint Gutherson from fullback Clint Gutherson is a weapon, no matter which position he plays.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Let Jason Taumalolo go It\u2019s time for the Cowboys to box clever with Jason Taumalolo.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Dynamic Events<\/cite><\/p>\n Just call yourself Redcliffe The Dolphins have an identity crisis.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Order Des Hasler to declare war on Brisbane Shift Matt Burton out of the halves Canterbury co-captain Matt Burton.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Janie Barrett<\/cite><\/p>\n Hire Michael Cheika Cut ties with Jarome Luai Jarome Luai, and Penrith, could benefit from a change.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Put a deadline on Craig Bellamy \u2026 and stick to it
<\/strong>The NRL is finalising a bold initiative to make the purchase of players from rival codes salary-cap exempt. The Warriors should be the first club to avail themselves of it. They already have the signature of returning cross-code star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, but now is an opportunity to inflict a real blow on struggling rugby union. All Blacks Ardie Savea, Damian McKenzie and Richie Mo\u2019unga have enough good football in them to top a short list. The Warriors are on the crest of a wave and securing a bigname, with minimal salary-cap damage, is too good an opportunity to pass.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
ROOSTERS<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>If you\u2019re struggling to work out where Joseph Suaalii fits into this Roosters line-up, it\u2019s because he doesn\u2019t. On merit, Dom Young and Daniel Tupou will be the wingers, with Joseph Manu and Billy Smith in the centres. That leaves Suaalii, who is sucking up a reported $700,000 of salary-cap space next year, surplus to requirements. That\u2019s money that could be better spent on someone elsewhere. Even more so when you\u2019re talking about a youngster who has turned their back on the club and the code to chase Rugby Australia\u2019s money.<\/p>\nDRAGONS<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>It makes perfect sense. Shane Flanagan is desperate for a fullback; already he has indicated Zac Lomax will challenge Tyrell Sloan for the No.1 jersey this season, while Joseph Manu is a target for the following one. The Roosters can provide the short- and long-term answers he is seeking. The Dragons have the salary cap space to accommodate Suaalii immediately, should he be granted a release. Everyone wins; the Roosters free up salary-cap space, the Dragons get a marquee signing and Suaalii gets a guaranteed spine spot.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
KNIGHTS<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>Kalyn Ponga is the NRL\u2019s highest-earning player. After his extraordinary Dally M season, he is justifying his hefty price tag. To continue to do so, he needs to devote himself entirely to club football. His selfless decision to make himself unavailable for State of Origin propelled Newcastle into the finals and saved the job of coach Adam O\u2019Brien. Ponga has missed a chunk of football in recent seasons and the Knights need him on deck as often as possible.<\/p>\nSHARKS<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>There is something missing from the Cronulla pack. What the Sharks need is an injection of mongrel, leadership and experience. What they need is Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Despite being contracted and in the twilight of his career, every effort should be made to prise JWH out of Bondi Junction immediately. While his judiciary record is a risk \u2013 he only has to sneeze to spend more time on the sidelines \u2013 it is one worth taking. The grizzled prop will harden up his teammates and teach them how to win. Craig Fitzgibbon should get on the phone to his old bosses at the Roosters and make it happen.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
SEA EAGLES<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>Remember when Reuben Garrick, during a clash with Penrith in August, engaged in an old-fashioned kicking duel? It didn\u2019t come off on that occasion \u2013 in fact it spectacularly backfired \u2013 but there was some method in the madness. Manly played a style of football that night which, albeit only momentarily, caught the premiers off kilter. Now imagine if they play that same bold, flamboyant style, but this time Tom Trbojevic and Luke Brooks are there to help execute it. Seibold has worked in the rugby sphere previously and might have just stumbled upon tactics that could shock the NRL.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
RAIDERS<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>They say a man cannot serve two masters, but Maguire has done a fine job of it so far. \u201cMadge\u201d has just relinquished the Kiwis coaching gig to pick up the NSW Blues job. Rather than viewing this as a negative, Canberra should hang on to a coach who regularly interacts with the game\u2019s best players. The bloke is workaholic who won\u2019t be burdened by the extra workload and it\u2019s not like the Raiders will be able to replace him with a like-for-like premiership-winning assistant coach. It also sets up a succession plan for when Ricky Stuart eventually wants to hand in the clipboard and transition into an off-field role.<\/p>\nEELS<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>Parramatta are desperate for an X-factor back. Melbourne are desperate for an X-factor forward. It\u2019s time to do a swap deal. The Storm should loan out young gun Sualauvi Faalogo, which would give the Eels an X-factor fullback. The Eels would give Faalogo \u2013 stuck behind custodians Ryan Papenhuyzen and Nick Meaney \u2013 the chance to develop as a No.1 before returning to Melbourne. The Storm, meanwhile, would have their pick of one of several Parramatta forwards, which could potentially result in Ryan Matterson, Wiremu Greig or Bryce Cartwright being loaned out. It\u2019s a win-win-win.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
COWBOYS<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>Jason Taumalolo is halfway through a 10-year deal worth the best part of $10 million. There have been times when North Queensland have had the better end of that deal, but those days appear over. On his day, Taumalolo remains one of the game\u2019s most destructive forwards, but he\u2019s not worth seven figures. He would be a great pick-up for several rivals, especially given he spent more than a third of last season as bench forward for the Cowboys. After losing his debut boxing bout to Regan Campbell-Gillard, his new club should also ban him from any further time in the ring.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
DOLPHINS<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>They play in Redcliffe. They represent the people of Redcliffe. The club\u2019s entire history is based in Redcliffe. So just call yourself the \u201cRedcliffe Dolphins\u201d already! Forget the gibber from the consultants claiming fans living outside of Redcliffe will be ostracised. Every other NRL club has a geographical reference in their title and they don\u2019t have issues attracting fans from outside of their catchment area. Successful clubs not only know what they stand for, but also who they represent. And the \u201cRedcliffe Dolphins\u201d has a nice ring to it.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
TITANS<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>Now that they have made the brave decision to appoint Des Hasler, it\u2019s time to get out of his way. Embrace the Dessie madness that he will inevitably bring in the belief that results will follow. However, there is one directive the coach should be given: pick a fight with Brisbane. The Titans have always struggled for relevance and they are further overshadowed by a rejuvenated Broncos and the newcomer Dolphins. Hasler enjoys playing the villain, so encourage him to poach Brisbane\u2019s finest and do whatever else is necessary to put the Gold Coast on the NRL map.<\/p>\nBULLDOGS<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>Matt Burton has made it abundantly clear he wants to play at five-eighth. It\u2019s time to overrule him. It doesn\u2019t matter that he is being paid spine money, this is the big gamble Cameron Ciraldo needs to take right now. There is plenty of time in Burton\u2019s career to revert to a playmaking role while two of Toby Sexton, Drew Hutchison, Kurt Mann, Blake Taaffe and Jaeman Salmon steer the side. Burton\u2019s strength is his running game and he can still hoist those towering bombs as a three-quarter. The co-captaincy is already enough of a burden.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
WESTS TIGERS<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>As it stands, the Wests Tigers don\u2019t have a head of football. Tim Sheens was juggling that and the coaching jobs before he departed, but now that he\u2019s gone Benji Marshall hasn\u2019t got an old head to lean on. And as a rookie coach taking on the two-time wooden spooners, he\u2019ll need all the help he can get. That\u2019s where Cheika comes in. Sure, it\u2019s a gamble but he has league experience with Lebanon and the Roosters. He\u2019s reticent to shift away from coaching, but his mind should be changed. He\u2019ll bring a fresh perspective to a club that has tied itself into a pretzel doing the same old thing.<\/p>\nPANTHERS<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>Jarome Luai loves the NBA. Convince Luai that the 2024 season is \u201cThe Last Dance\u201d for him at Penrith. The Panthers should pull their $1.7 million deal to ensure other players aren\u2019t lost. Luai is worth seven figures per season and the Tigers are prepared to pay him that. The constant speculation over his future has the potential to drag well into next season and disrupt Penrith\u2019s chances of a historic four-peat. Shake hands, thank him for his service and then convince him to give it one final effort in 2024 to ensure he leaves the foot of the mountains as a winner.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
STORM<\/h3>\n
<\/strong>You can almost set your clock to it, the inevitable \u201cwill he or won\u2019t he retire\u201d stories that drag well into Melbourne\u2019s premiership campaign. Craig Bellamy\u2019s signature has been one worth waiting for, but it\u2019s now time to devise a succession plan. This year the Storm should make Bellamy adhere to the March deadline to make a call on his future. That way, if he doesn\u2019t want to go on the following year, there\u2019s plenty of time to school-up his replacement. The job is Jason Ryles\u2019 to lose \u2026 unless Billy Slater wants it.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n