Tackle 1: Blues must ring the changes

New South Wales turned in a mighty effort in Origin I to nearly pinch the series opener but Ricky Stuart has little choice but to make at least three changes and as many as six. The props have been widely criticised with Jason King almost certainly gone. Kade Snowden and Trent Merrin are also in trouble. Michael Weyman will almost certainly return while Luke Bailey may be called out of rep retirement. Keith Galloway, Dan Hunt and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs may also come into the mix. Brett Morris was terribly disappointing on the wing and is under pressure from Jarryd Hayne. Kurt Gidley returns and will come in for Dean Young. Luke Lewis must surely be considered after Ben Creagh was awfully quiet. Ricky Stuart needs to stick to his core but he needs to pick the best team and there is no doubt a new prop rotation is needed while Gidley, Hayne and Lewis all have claims to a berth.

Tackle 2: Tigers only fuel the fire

Wests Tigers players and officials have only added credence to rumours of a violent fallout at the club involving Benji Marshall, Liam Fulton and Bryce Gibbs. Rumours have swept rugby league circles over the weekend suggesting a clash between two of the aforementioned players amid accusations of infidelity. After the Tigers' loss to the Dragons, Tim Sheens called the rumours "disgraceful" and vowed to take action against those responsible, a stance backed by CEO Stephen Humphreys. These rumours, if false, should be summarily ignored, not denied in public. There is no way trying to chase down these rumour-mongers is going to be good for the Wests Tigers or their title hopes.

Tackle 3: There is no acting in League

The biggest blight on rugby league over the last decade has been the increasing amount of "acting" by players trying to win a penalty or a more serious sanction. Scott Prince is the latest to play this card, going all Johnny Hollywood when clipped across the chops by Canterbury's Michael Ennis on Friday night. Canterbury coached Kevin Moore called Prince out on it. The shot was worthy of a penalty but Prince was obviously playing for more. Feigning injury is a disgraceful act and it has reached the point where, to avoid the code becoming like soccer, players who engage in such behaviour must be punished.

Tackle 4: The Saints can only beat themselves

Sportsbet may have gone off a little early by paying out on the Dragons minor premiership but there seems little doubt that the only team who can stop the Dragons going back-to-back is the Dragons themselves. As challengers emerge and then fall back into the pack, the Dragons just keep on winning. The Storm have shown vulnerabilities in their pack, Brisbane have scoring and depth issues, the Tigers have been gutted by injury and Canterbury's go-forward is a concern. With Wayne Bennett coaching, and representative players across the park, the Dragons look capable of beating any of the other contenders when it counts.

Tackle 5: Mullen's injury may be a blessing

There is no doubt Jarrod Mullen is a quality player but just how important he is to Newcastle, and just how good a player he is, will be seen over the next eight weeks when the Newcastle half is sidelined by a partial pectoral tear. Mullen was touted for Origin this year but his club form has been patchy at best with his kicking game bordering the wrong side of ordinary. The Knights have won only one of five games Mullen has missed over the last two seasons but with Beau Henry an able replacement at halfback, Mullen's value may quickly be revealed.

Tackle 6: A rough weekend for League's most durable

In the opening round of the 2006 season, Michael Robertson debuted for Manly after 59 games over five seasons with the Canberra Raiders while a young prop forward from Yamba named Luke Douglas played his first NRL match with Cronulla. Until this weekend, neither missed a game. After 139 consecutive matches that have netted 65 tries, a Grand Final hat-trick and a premiership ring, Robertson missed his first match on Friday night after suffering a knee injury against the Gold Coast in round 10. Come Sunday, league's most durable prop, Luke Douglas, who has played 133 straight games in the toughest position since making his debut, went down with a knee injury 10 minutes into Cronulla's clash with Melbourne. It has since been diagnosed as an MCL injury, which will sideline Douglas for four to six weeks. Rugby league's two great ironmen have been hobbled.