NRL's headline acts for 2018

Dec 31, 2017 - 1:06 AM THE NRL'S BIGGEST EXPECTED STORYLINES IN 2018

JARRYD HAYNE

Hayne is a walking headline but things turned serious in the past month when his lawyers "unequivocally and vehemently" denied claims of an alleged rape in the US. Court documents have been filed in a civil case in California, while it's understood the NRL's integrity unit is keen to meet with Hayne. Meanwhile the two-time Dally M winner is expected to make his on-field return for Parramatta against Penrith on March 11.

JOHN GRANT'S REPLACEMENT

The ARL Commission's inaugural chairman will not apply for reappointment in February, ending his six-year run as the code's boss. Grant's resignation comes following years of pressure from unhappy clubs, but his replacement is still unclear. Former Queensland premier Peter Beattie looms as one possible option having joined as a director last year, however he remains in charge of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games until April.

BRAD FITTLER'S FIRST ORIGIN JAUNT

Can one of NSW's finest ever players finally provide them with the answer at the coaching level? The Blues have won just one of the past 12 series and Laurie Daley became the fourth coach to bite the dust in that period last year. Fittler has been gifted with a young and talented brigade, while Queensland have lost Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston. But the Blues will still have a mountain to climb.

CROWDS

The NRL has fixed the draw to allow for more Sunday Sydney derbies to bring back crowds, but will the fans respond in turn? Last season was on average the lowest attended since 2004, with Sydney proving a real problem. The NSW government has also chipped in, pledging to rebuild ANZ and Allianz Stadium, along with the current works in Parramatta. But if fans aren't showing, it will only add weight to those arguing against the $2 billion project.

COOPER CRONK'S BIG MOVE

For the past decade we've asked how any of the "Big Three" would operate out of the Melbourne system and in 2018 we're set to find out. Cronk's arrival at the Sydney Roosters is arguably the biggest player transfer since Greg Inglis' move to Souths in 2011. With James Tedesco at fullback the Roosters are already the favourites to go two steps better than in 2017 and win the title. If they don't though, questions will be asked whether it was worth signing 34-year-old Cronk at the expense of the far-younger fan favourite Mitchell Pearce.

RESURGENT KNIGHTS

Cronk's move to Sydney could also have gifted Newcastle the missing piece of their puzzle after three straight wooden spoon years. Pearce will join the likes of Kalyn Ponga, Connor Watson, Aidan Guerra, Tautau Moga, Jacob Lillyman and Herman Ese'ese as the Knights aim to reach their first finals since 2013. The Novocastrians have won just six games in the past two years but Nathan Brown's men could provide the fairytale story of 2018.

Source: AAP