Movers and shakers to make presence felt

IT FEELS like the most anticipated start to a league season in years.

Truly, not since Super League have so many superstars boasted new clubs, jerseys, hopes... everything.

There’s also Cooper Cronk at the Roosters, Mitchell Pearce in Newcastle and that pair of prodigal sons – Jarryd Hayne and Benji Marshall – returning for both Parramatta and Wests Tigers respectively.

Premierships are why Canterbury not only lost a board but gained Kieran Foran. Then Aaron Woods. Why Cronulla doubled down on Josh Dugan with Matt Moylan.

And why St George Illawarra ... well, they’ve spent even more than a Mad Monday bar tab on James Graham and Ben Hunt.

All this, too, before we discuss Josh Reynolds at Wests Tigers. Or Kalyn Ponga at the Knights.

And what, besides headlines, will Bryce Cartwright bring to Gold Coast?

Elsewhere, everyone wants to know if James Tedesco can take a premiership to Bondi. And Dane Gagai at Redfern.

While down in Melbourne town, Slammin’ Sam Kasiano – or whatever’s left of him – is gunning to win the Storm back-to-back titles.

And right now, among all the star billings for 2018, everything is coming up James Maloney (pictured) at the Panthers.

For who knows more about starting at new clubs than the man who has churned through six of them? Or seven if, unlike the NRL, you’re happy to include North Sydney.

He has not only won premierships with both Cronulla and the Roosters in his first seasons, but went all the way to a grand final with the Warriors in 2011.

Yep, the Warriors. Which is a bit like saying you slayed White Walkers with the Salvation Army. Now he is to become the new face of Penrith. Just as Cronk and Tedesco are already selling a host of jerseys at Bondi ahead of the season’s March 8 kick-off.

And Hayne, reviving title talk for those Parramatta fans caught in league’s longest premiership drought. Or maybe Marshall looking for one more ounce of magic dust?