Manly coach Des Hasler is considering taking a daring gamble on boom teenager Josh Schuster in the opening round of the 2020 season.

There is no doubt that Schuster is destined for stardom - but most expected him to have to wait at least most of next season to make his top grade debut.

But word out of Brookvale is that the 18-year-old nephew of former Knights cult hero John Schuster is a big chance of filling the key five-eighth position.

That would enable the versatile Dylan Walker, who has had his problems at No.6, to move to his preferred position in the centres.

Much will depend on how Schuster, who starred for NSW under-18s last year, performs in the trials.

Hasler isn't afraid to throw young players into the fray if they are good enough - and Schuster certainly falls into that category.

CRUSHER JR A BUSH FIRE HERO

Kane Cleal - son of Manly and Roosters 1980s star Noel - was a handy player himself for Manly, Souths and the Bulldogs in the 2000s.

But Kane, now aged 35, has proved himself a real hero in recent weeks, joining the ranks of the thousands of volunteer firemen who have done their best to save both property and lives around NSW as the state slowly burns.

The Cleal family is legendary throughout bush footy, with Noel and brother Les doing great deeds for the game over many years. But Kane has written a new chapter in the family story with his tireless efforts fighting the flames on the NSW mid north coast.

Kane Cleal. (Facebook)

WHAT HAPPENED IN BRONCOS TIFF

So what exactly did happen at the Broncos with the recent 'non incident' between leading players Jack Bird and Matt Lodge?

The club denied anything happened between the pair at a bonding session on the Gold Coast - but my spies tell me that is a bit of spin doctoring.

The altercation was NOT physical, but the pair exchanged angry words and had to be kept apart by teammates.

No team has had a longer summer than the Broncos, who have had to live with the humiliation of their 58-0 capitulation to the Eels in the opening round of the finals.

The players realise they let the fans down - as well as themselves - and a little 'heat' at training leading into 2020 may actually be a good thing.

Jack Bird. (Getty)

Matt Lodge. (AAP)

ANOTHER TRAGEDY STRIKES

It's been a tough couple of weeks for rugby league, with the deaths of several popular young players and coaches.

And there was another tragedy on New Year's Day when a promising young league player from Orange died in a freak water skiing accident.

Harry Greenhalgh, just 13, had already been identified as a future star and been hand-picked for an elite camp by the Pacific Sports Management group.

Harry was also a promising cricketer and his death rocked the local community.

So much so that in just a couple of days, a GoFundMe appeal for his funeral raised more than $24,000.