FIVE halves pairings and five potential headaches.

The 2018 season is two weeks away but there’s so many questions left unanswered.

With a pre-season for new recruits to settle in and work on their fresh combinations, it’s almost time for the rosters to deliver on their potential.

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Round 19

We’ve taken a comb to the halves to examine the pairings and what it’ll take for them to fire.

These are our five most intriguing combinations ahead of the 2018 season.

ROOSTERS: CRONK AND KEARY

Strengths: It doesn’t take a genius to realise these players will complement each other. Styles make partnerships and these men have complementary skills.

Luke Keary is a runner, while Cooper Cronk is the architect who will steer the ship. Keary is a player who thrives off playing off the back of momentum.

With Cronk at first receiver, Cronk will have control just like Mitchell Pearce did before him and the No.6 will pick his spots from there.

Aside from implementing the game plan, their kicking attributes will also complement each other. Cronk has the longer kicking game, while Keary has a great short kick at the line.

Fall-backs: Building a partnership takes time. While Keary and Jake Friend remain at the club, James Tedesco and Cronk are new recruits and none of the foursome has ever played with each other.

Due to Keary’s broken jaw, they won’t be able to trial together either.

“Combinations might take a while to form there with the players around him,” assistant coach Andrew Johns said.

“When they do, they’re going to be a dangerous team. Be patient, Roosters fans. It may take a while for them to gel but when they do it’s going to be a dangerous team.”

There’s a lot of pressure on Friend in this circumstance. While the No.9 is a workhorse, he’s a stand and deliver passer, something Cronk isn’t use to.

Cooper Cronk of the Roosters looks on. Source: Getty Images

Having played with the greatest hooker of all-time in Cameron Smith, Cronk is use to his rake engaging the markers and adding a further creative threat. How this dynamic impacts Cronk’s game will have a huge bearing on the success of the spine.

The key to success: Cohesion. It all comes down to personalities and how they dominate a game. Fortunately for Trent Robinson, his halves are like-minded players.

Neither man gets overwrought having played in big games. Both are premiership winners and understand what it takes to win big games. That’s why the Roosters were so eager to extend the contract of Keary after signing Cronk.

While the fans haven’t seen this side to Keary’s personality, he’s similar to Cronk in the sense he lives football and enjoys breaking down plays.

SHARKS: MOYLAN AND TOWNSEND

Chad Townsend celebrates with team mates after his try. Source: News Corp Australia

Strengths: Chad Townsend was handed the keys to the team a few years back and thrived in the role. This is perfect for Matt Moylan who can play to his strengths as a damaging runner.

With Townsend playing as a traditional first-receiver, Moylan will be free to appear where and when he wants with Shane Flanagan keen for the halves to play both sides of the ruck.

With a licence to roam both sides of the field, Moylan will be able to play a similar role to when he was at fullback with Penrith.

Fall-backs: The biggest unknown is how long it will take for Moylan to understand the dynamic of their team, knowing where to be and when to be dominant. You can get away with being less vocal at fullback but he’ll need to find his voice in the halves.

How dominant he wants to be is intriguing. Staying in a game for 80 minutes as a half isn’t easy but Moylan’s under no illusions he faces some challenges as he continues to adjust to life in the halves.

Matt Moylan at training. Source: News Corp Australia

“Defence is one,” Moylan told Fox Sports when asked what he needs to work on.

“I’m going to see a lot more traffic there. Being over all the players and being real direct with my ball playing and making sure I’m taking the right option for the team.”

The key to success: Both halves have some defensive deficiencies. Keep in mind, Moylan hasn’t defended in the front line for long. Fatigue will be sure to become a factor with teams sending traffic at him on repeat efforts. Fortunately he’ll defend alongside Wade Graham who did a phenomenal job of taking care of James Maloney during his time in the shire.

STORM: CROFT AND MUNSTER

Strengths: Cameron Munster has experienced success and top flight football at a young age.

A player who oozes confidence, he’s a natural runner of the game and will compliment Croft’s style.

Croft has been able to get his education through a quality system where the team will play a similar style to that they played with Cronk.

The Storm will continue their halves structure with Munster posted on the left and Croft on the right.

Fall-backs: Croft is 20 with six games to his name. Does he have the experience to run the length of a season?

That’s the question. It was a fear Penrith had with Nathan Cleary last year but the youngster proved his body could handle the load. The Storm are hopeful Croft can do the same but are still asking the same questions.

Cameron Smith alluded to as much when appearing on NRL360 this week.

“The challenge for Brodie now is when we get into that grind, the week in week out intensity of the NRL, being able to perform like that every week,” Smith said.

Will they handle the intensity of the competition without Cronk steering the ship?

The key to success: The added workload and defence of Croft. There were games where Croft was exposed in defence while playing for the Sunny Coast. It’s something the club are serious about him getting right. Craig Bellamy doesn’t accept deficiencies in his teams.

DRAGONS: HUNT AND WIDDOP

Strengths: The Red V has a general. Ben Hunt was signed on as the man to bring them direction. It’s something the team has lacked for several seasons.

The arrival of Hunt means Gareth Widdop can play a similar role to what he had with Cooper Cronk in Melbourne. Widdop is at his damaging best as a floating five-eighth.

When he’s playing what he sees and challenging the line, Widdop is at the top of the premier No.6s in the game.

Finally they have two halves with experience but a key figure to these two is how Cameron McInnes performs at hooker.

The No.9 is caught somewhere between a Jake Friend and Cameron Smith style of player. He’s advantageous with the ball without being a legitimate game changer.

If McInnes can continue to challenge the markers, his halves are set for a huge season.

Ben Hunt of the Dragons in action. Source: AAP

Fall-backs: Does Hunt have the ability to run a game plan?

Many will argue Hunt has never closed a big game. Still, he’s arrived in Wollongong as their main man but there’s no cooling off period. He’ll be forced to stand up in that role and deliver. If he doesn’t, you’ll see Widdop move away from his natural game.

Previously when the Dragons have lacked direction, Widdop has assumed the role of leader which takes away from his game.

So who will McInnes give the ball to when the Dragons are at the line in a clutch moment? When that time comes, that decision will tell us just who has the dominant call.

The key to success: It’s a very exciting time for the joint venture. They have the blend of youth, experience, ball playing and speed. It’s the mix of the spine that will make or break their season.

TIGERS: BROOKS AND REYNOLDS

Strengths: On paper these two should be able to complement each other. Luke Brooks is a traditional half, while Josh Reynolds is the livewire support player. The 2018 season will be the year to make or break Brooks as an NRL player. So can he deliver a game plan? He’ll be given every chance to do it. This is his team. Reynolds has been brought in as a floating half to spark the attack which should take the pressure off Brooks. At least, that’s the plan.

Luke Brooks of the Tigers runs the ball. Source: Getty Images

Fall-backs: Brooks is yet to show he can play a consistent 80 minutes. With that in mind, will Reynolds try to fill the void if Brooks floats out of a game? Reynolds has a habit of overplaying his hand. He’s a competitor but this fierce will to win needs to be tempered. Who steps up in moments of pressure? Reynolds needs to put his faith in Brooks to be the general for this to work.

The key to success: It comes down to maturity. Has Reynolds matured enough as a player to let Brooks shine? If Reynolds can keep his cool in clutch moments and stick to the game plan, it should allow Brooks to be the man in Tiger town.