12 Hopes for the 2018 rugby and league seasons

Hurricanes'

Magnificent Seven comes together The Hurricanes have set the standards for backline star power, particularly in the days of Christian Cullen, Jonah Lomu, Tana Umaga, et al. The original Blues backline, fired by the rising Carlos Spencer, was pretty hard to beat. The Brumbies had a very slick combination based around halves George Gregan and the incomparable Stephen Larkham.

But at full strength, the current Hurricanes unit at least matches those after Ngani Laumape and Vince Aso showed the right stuff last season.

What about a line-up of TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Julian Savea, Ngani Laumape, Vince Aso, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Jordie Barrett?

That combination has it all, from the brilliance and innovation of Beauden Barrett, Laumape's blunt force, Savea's athletic power and Milner-Skudder's magical feet.

If things go to plan, with MilnerSkudder due back around late April, they could blow teams away at the business end of the season.

Jordie Barrett can move all over that backline, and the quality additions include Wes Goosen and Matt Proctor. This Hurricanes back division is potentially the best I've seen in Super Rugby alongside the original Blues brigade of 1996.

The pressure is on coach Chris Boyd, in his final season, to deliver on that potential. Ioane kicks on There's an assumption the rising superstar of world rugby is unstoppable. But when it comes to the Blues, life is not always smooth.

Mannering wins an NRL title This isn't going to happen, sadly. The Warriors stalwart deserves so much better. He has held the constant NRL disappointments together, the way Steve Price did before him.

Who knows where this club would be without Mannering? He has put up with all sorts of nonsense such as the ridiculous recruitment of Kieran Foran and teammates who lack his professional dedication.

Mannering could have departed for a starting spot in a title-contending club, even if he is not the type of player who attracts a top dollar contract. The lion hearted forward has given the Warriors everything he has without any fuss on or off the field. He at least deserves more finals footy, after six lean seasons outside the playoffs. rugby

scrums don't become a mess There's a scrum contest going on in world rugby — the Northern Hemisphere mob still treasure the battle, while the Southern Hemisphere sees scrums as more of a restart method. The new rules include insisting that the team putting the ball in must attempt to