JARRYD Hayne freely admits his preferred position is still fullback.

That won’t be where he starts the season and Bevan French says the two-time Dally M has put his ego aside to give some needed advice.

Welcome to Summer Slog.

EELS

Jarryd Hayne’s fitness has been all the talk this pre-season, but the positive influence on Parramatta’s squad has been largely overlooked.

One Eels star who’s been making the most of Hayne’s return is speedster Bevan French.

With Clint Gutherson likely to be sidelined for the season opener as recovers from an ACL injury, French is set to get another crack in the No.1 jumper.

Hayne has been mentoring the 22-year-old for the role.

“Jarryd’s been helping me out a fair bit at training,” French revealed to Fox Sports.

“The main thing he’s been helping me with is defence. Things that go unnoticed when you’re watching footy as a kid or just at home on TV.

“You don’t see what the fullback does away in defence as well.

Bevan French and Corey Norman at training.

“It’s a pretty important job for the fullback to get the numbers right and send the people in the right direction.

“It’s a pretty tough job at times and Haynesy’s been helping me out with that and I’m looking forward to putting that to the test.”

Asked if he’d like to play fullback full-time, French said: “Yeah, I’d like to think so, although I do realise if ‘Gutho’ or ‘Haynesy’ plays over me at the moment, I’m not going to be sad about it.

“I’ve only been in here a couple of seasons so I’ve still got a lot to learn.

“Long term that is the position I’d like to play, but if I’m not playing there anytime soon, I’m not going to be too worried.”

LISTEN: Details of Hayne’s Rugby World Cup interest - The Splash podcast

STORM

Former Melbourne player Brett Finch has warned punters against writing the Storm off in 2018.

The Victorian club has lost long-time halfback Cooper Cronk, star prop Jordan McLean and backrower Tohu Harris from the team that won the grand final just a few months ago.

They are $6 to win the title again this year with Sportsbet, behind the Roosters and Cowboys.

But Finch is prepared to put his cash on Melbourne.

“I’ve still got them to finish first,” Finch told foxsports.com.au.

Craig Bellamy and Cooper Cronk after the grand final.

“I don’t think many people remember when Matt Orford left at the end of 2005 and Cooper Cronk had his first year at halfback ... not many people gave them a chance and they won the minor premiership and lost the grand final.

“They always find a way. Cooper is a massive loss but they will find a way again.

“For so many years we’ve been expecting them to fall off. We’ve always had a reason.

“One thing about the Storm is they don’t beat themselves. If you want to win you have to beat them.

“Any team with Cameron smith and Craig Bellamy ... I think they’re going to be hard to beat again.”

PANTHERS

Penrith legend Greg Alexander doesn’t know if James Maloney’s arrival will help young gun Nathan Cleary step up to Origin, but he knows it will benefit the Panthers in 2018.

Maloney will partner Cleary in the halves this year and their combination has fans at the foot of the mountains excited.

Alexander - who is NSW Blues advisor as well as Penrith’s halves consultant - wouldn’t be drawn on Cleary’s Origin chances.

But he likes what he sees of the new halves pairing so far.

Panthers great Greg Alexander with Nathan Cleary.

“I think it will be good for Penrith. I think it will be good for Nathan to have an experienced man outside him,” Alexander told foxsports.com.au.

“James has slotted in perfectly. Didn’t train until the New Year but slotted in beautifully, they are combining well at training.”

Penrith had big expectations on them last year but struggled through the season, before a late charge into finals.

Alexander is confident the playing group will benefit from the experience of 2017.

“That’s been obvious through the off-season, the experience of players and the fact they feel comfortable in what they’re doing now,” he said.

“Not just Nathan but there’s a heap of them in that 30 to 50 games into their careers, and a lot of them look more confident than they have done,.”

BRONCOS

Troy Dargan from the Brisbane during weights training.

The name Troy Dargan doesn’t mean much to Brisbane supporters but it could soon be the name on everyone’s lips.

The halfback in Danny Buderus’ successful under 20s NSW Origin side, Dargan has joined the Broncos from Parramatta.

While still eligible for the NYC last year, he spent most of his time playing against men alongside Jeff Robson at Wentworthville.

So impressive at the age of 20, the Broncos lured Dargan north on a two-year-deal.

Just last month, foxsports.com.au revealed the young gun was a shock contender for a round one start.

That was until an injured hamstring derailed his pre-season.

“Troy was making some good progress but then he injured his hamstring. That took him out of action,” Broncos assistant coach Kevin Walters told foxsports.com.au.

“Without putting (pressure on him). Troy was very impressive in his pre-season before he was injured.

Troy Dargan playing a trial for the Eels in 2017.

“He’s an Australian Schoolboy. Any of those halves, you’d like to think will come through and do really well. He’ll be one for people to keep an eye on.”

Highly regarded, Dargan claimed the 2016 Eels’ NYC Players’ Player and named halfback in the NYC Team of the Year.

Currently in the rehab group, Walters expects Dargan to return to the field in four weeks where he’s expected to start the season with Norths in the Q Cup.

“I watched some of his stuff in the Intrust Super Cup with Wentworthville. He’s quite a talent,” Walters said.

“It’s a bit disappointing for him after all the work he’s done to get injured but hopefully he’ll be back to start the season, where he’s going to be playing, that’s up to Troy.”

COWBOYS

Johnathan Thurston of the Cowboys in action.

It’s the most anticipated injury return of the pre-season but Johnathan Thurston’s first game in 241 days suffered a late hiccup earlier this week when the star half was struck down by a bout of gastro.

Insisting that nerves regarding his return from shoulder surgery in Saturday’s trial against the Wests Tigers in Cairns had nothing to do with his upset tummy, Thurston was still feeling lethargic on Wednesday but was confident of turning out on Saturday at Barlow Park.

“On Monday I had stomach cramps and gastro but feeling a little bit better,” Thurston told foxsports.com.au.

“I’m still a bit flat but better than what I’ve been the last couple of days.”

SHARKS

Shane Flanagan expects his son to cop plenty of sledges from rival teams when he finally forces his way into Cronulla’s first grade side.

A graduate of the NYC, Kyle Flanagan is a half with a wealth of potential and earmarked to make his NRL debut this year.

In his second season training with top squad, the coach said he’s in no hurry to throw the No.7 into the deep end.

Instead, he’ll start the year in the ISP NSW and will see how Kyle handles playing against men to ensure he’s prepared for “the rigours of first grade” before he’s handed a start.

“When a young halfback comes in, the opposition are going to target him,” Flanagan told Fox Sports of Kyle.

“They’ll get into him and test his defence and see how he handles that bit of verbal.

Kyle Flanagan during Sharks training.

“You need to be smart when you give them (the young boys a go) a start. You want your team going well. You don’t want them coming into a team that’s not going forward or struggling.

“He’ll get his chance, I’m just not quite sure when.”

In preparing for the 2018 season, Kyle has bulked up his lean frame as he prepares his body to take on fully grown men.

In his second season of fulltime training, Flanagan will start the year in the ISP NSW where he’ll lead a pack of men around the park for the first time in his career.

Having played exclusively in the NYC last year, Flanagan will get his chance to shine in the top grade at some stage this year, most likely around the “Origin period”.

“Hopefully Moylan and those kinds of blokes are playing Origin,” he said.

“If not, I’m sure there’ll be an injury at some stage. He just turned 19 so there’s no rush.”

DRAGONS

St George Illawarra forward Tariq Sims says he’ll be out to seal his spot in the starting side during the trials following the departure of Joel Thompson.

A position in the back row has opened and Sims, along with the likes of Luciano Leilua and Jacob Host are all gunning for it.

Tariq Sims of the Dragons gestures to the crowd after scoring a try.

“I’ll be doing my best to cement that left edge spot, but if Mary every asked me to play in the middle, fullback or wing — if he says jump, I’ll say how high,” Sims told Fox Sports.

“We’ve got some great young talent coming through and it’s that competitive side is what keeps you on your toes.

“If anyone knows me, that’s probably one of my strongest sides.”

Teammate Jack de Belin also hinted that Sims would likely lock down the spot.

“We’ve got two gun backrowers in Tyson Frizell and Tariq Sims,” he said.

“Those positions are pretty well looked after.”

TIGERS

Wests Tigers recruit Mahe Fonua says he always wanted to make a return to the NRL, but it was the birth of his first child which sped up the process.

Fonua who previously played with Melbourne and Hull FC, has joined the Tigers on a two-year deal.

“There was always an ambition to come back to the NRL,” Fonua told foxsports.com.au.

“I was still young when I first left. I was only 22. I didn’t want to finish my NRL career that young.

Mahe Fonua and his Tonga team mates celebrate a win.

“An opportunity arose and I asked my manger to have a look.

“The main reason was because my partner and I were having a kid and with a baby on the way, I thought having our first child overseas we’d need that family help.”

Fonua’s played a host of games at both centre and wing, but he doesn’t mind where he ends up, as long as he’s in the 17.

“I’m not too fussed where I play,” he said.

“If you asked me for my preferred position, I’d tell you centre but as long as I’m on the field really. I can play both sides but if someone was to ask me I’d say right side.”

RAIDERS

Canberra’s barnstorming centre Joey Leilua admits he “lost the will to win” in 2017.

Following a stunning season in 2016 where he helped take the Raiders to the preliminary final, Leilua’s form marginally dipped.

Joey Leilua of the Raiders dives over to score a try.

Last year he was averaging 93 metres per game compared to 121 the previous season. His try assists dropped from 10 to five, while his tackle busts dropped from 125 to 83.

He was also more ill-disciplined, conceding more penalties.

When asked by Fox Sports what was motivating him last year, Leilua replied: “Just the will to win again.

“I lost that in 2017 when I was just in cruise mode.

“Now it’s about trying to reach my potential and being the best I can be.”



RABBITOHS

South Sydney excitement machine Adam Doueihi is eyeing off his NRL debut.

He won’t turn 20 until August but the versatile half has been a standout worker for the Rabbitohs this season which sees him in the running for a place on the bench for their season opener against the Warriors.

A halfback, five-eighth, centre and fullback, the 19-year-old is in the running for the No.14 jersey with new coach Anthony Seibold keen on having a utility on the bench.

“I’m most comfortable in the halves,” Doueihi told foxsports.com.au.

Adam Doueihi of Lebanon charges forward.

“I played all my junior league in the halves but Freddy (Lebanon coach Brad Fittler) played me at centre in the World Cup and I left I grabbed it with both hands and put my best foot forward against quality opposition.

“To play out of position really helped me and hopefully I can do that here. I don’t mind.”

Doueihi is a Wests Tigers junior who played Harold Matts, SG Ball and his first year of NYC with the joint venture before moving to Redfern.

While he joined the Rabbitohs in 2016 but this is his first full season of pre-season training.

He’s adjusting to the added workload and eyeing a start in Round One but first it starts with their trial against Wigan on Saturday night.

“I’m hoping to get a run in that half position,” he said.

“However many minutes I get, I just want to rip in and put my best foot forward for Seibs.”

KNIGHTS

Newcastle rookie Sam Stone has been hitting the gym in an effort to bulk up and make a bigger impact in the Hunter this year.

The 20-year-old played 16 games for the Knights in 2017 but faces stiffer competition for a spot in the side this year, given the number of experienced recruits.

Sam Stone of the Knights is tackled.

Coach Nathan Brown told him to put on weight if he wanted to break into the team.

“I finished last season at 97kg and now I am at 102kg, so I feel stronger and that’s what it was about for me,” Stone told NRL.com.

“I’ve just got to train very hard that’s the first thing. Secondly, I have to maintain playing good footy.

“So, it’s going to be a hard team to crack but I think that would be a solid goal for me.”

Stone has been leaning on former Origin player and Knights recruit Aidan Guerra to hone his craft over the pre-season.

“At training, I ask Aidan for little tips here and there on some tricks of the trade,” Stone said.

“He has been very good because he’s a very experienced player, so he has definitely helped me out quite a bit.”

BULLDOGS

Enforcer David Klemmer has revealed who he believes are the hardest men in the game to tackle.

A Test and Origin forward, Klemmer nominated two Kiwi big men as the toughest to defend against.

“I’d have to say (Jason) Taumalolo or Jesse Bromwich,” Klemmer told Fox Sports.

“They’re big people and can move like an outside back.

“When you’re a big guy like myself and you’re getting tired and you have those blokes running at you, it’s pretty hard.”

ROOSTERS

It hasn’t taken Cooper Cronk long to gain the trust of his new teammates.

In fact, hard man Jared Waerea-Hargreaves describes the halfback as “a voice you could trust”.

Having experienced a massive turnover of experienced men with the likes of Mitchell Pearce, Aidan Guerra, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Connor Watson leaving the club, the Roosters are in a transformation period.

They’re also in very safe heads according to the former Kiwi international.

“That’s the most exciting part because we didn’t know what to expect,” Waerea-Hargreaves told Fox Sports.

Cooper Cronk at training.

“We had this culture that we’d been working so hard to create and to add these new guys in and to bring them into what we’ve got is pretty cool.

“These guys like Coops have been around for so long but he’s such a professional and from day one he spoke and it was a voice you could trust.

“I’m really looking forward to hearing his calm voice out on the field each week.”

And it’s not just Cronk, the forward is mesmerised with.

Fellow new recruit James Tedesco has wasted no time exciting his teammates.

“Seeing Tedesco out the back there, it brings so much excitement. Every time I see him get the ball, I get goose bumps because I know how exciting of a football player he is,” he said.

“I’ve watched him for a number of years now and I’m happy he’s on my team.”

TITANS

He was one of the few new faces overlooked for Saturday’s opening trial against the Broncos in Toowoomba but Titans recruit Mitch Rein is on track to play next week against the Warriors on the Sunshine Coast.

The likes of Ryan James, Ashley Taylor, Nathan Peats and Konrad Hurrell have all been rested for the Toowoomba trial that will mark Garth Brennan’s first game in charge of an NRL side and which will give him a closer look at those hoping to push into the team for round one.

Mitch Rein shares a laugh.

Rein is seen as the primary back-up to Peats in the hooker position but the former Dragon and Panther has been troubled by an elbow injury in recent weeks, Karl Lawton getting an opportunity to stake his claim for the bench utility position with a start at No.9.

The other Titans not considered due to injury were Anthony Don, Michael Gordon, Ryan Simpkins and Jack Stockwell but all except Don are expected to be fit to play the Warriors next week.

SEA EAGLES

A big question remark remains over who will wear the No.6 jumper at Manly in round one.

Lachlan Croker appears the frontrunner but there’s other options available to coach Trent Barrett.

Senior News Corp reporter Phil Rothfield hopes Barrett puts a red line through one of those.

“There’s one option I hope they don’t go and that’s Dylan Walker,” Rothfield told NRL 360 on Monday.

Dylan Walker of the Sea Eagles grounds the ball.

“They’ve tried it, he’s had a dozen games at five-eighth, he’s far more effective at centre.”

But whoever partners Daly Cherry-Evans won’t be able to fill the void left by the departure of Blake Green, according to Fox Sports’ chief NRL reporter James Hooper.

“Daly Cherry-Evans, the theory is that he likes to run the show, but last year the secret was Blake Green was really driving the football team,” Hooper told NRL 360.

“He gave it direction and that allowed Daly to enjoy his footy and play what’s in front of him, which is when Daly does play his best.”

WARRIORS

Blake Green of the Warriors runs through drills.

Warriors recruit Blake Green has given a clue as to how his combination with Shaun Johnson will look this year.

Green will line up in the halves alongside Johnson, who has had a number of halves partners over the past few seasons.

The veteran Green says he will likely handle the bulk of the playmaking, which will allow Johnson to inject himself into the play when needed.

It’s designed to take pressure off Johnson and allow him to play more freely.

“I think that will be the plan, yeah,” Green told NRL.com.

“We haven’t locked into any sides of the field or anything like that just yet though.

“Shaun is a super talent. We haven’t had a lot of time together given he had an operation on his eye, but it’s coming along nicely now.”