TACKLE 1: Dragons fans have little to fear

St George-Illawarra blew their second big lead in two weeks, have claimed only five premiership points in their last eight matches and are now out of the hunt for a third straight minor premiership but Dragons fans should not fear because the club will be right when the whips are cracking. Wayne Bennett gave his players a public lashing after yesterday's horrid 34-24 loss to South Sydney, questioning the attitude of a number of his players. Bennett knows the class of cattle he has at his disposal and he also knows that they need to be kicked into gear after resting on their laurels in recent weeks. There are signs that the Dragons are ready to fire and good judges expect that to happen sooner rather than later. 

TACKLE 2: The Titans deserve the wooden spoon

There will be few more deserving wooden spoon winners than the Gold Coast Titans when they inevitably claim the least wanted "honour" in rugby league. The Titans were embarrassing on Sunday, allowing Newcastle to become the first team in 2011 to run in 50 points in a humiliating 50-20 rout. The loss followed a tumultuous week for the club where coach John Cartwright was admitted to hospital, leaving assistant Steve Harvey to deputise. The Titans missed 56 tackles in a pathetic display. The Titans have both the worst attack and worst defence in the NRL and with a three-point difference between the last-placed Titans and the second-last placed Roosters, the Gold Coast are going to get a well-deserved wooden-spoon in a year that the NRL really needed the Titans at their best. 

TACKLE 3: Justin Hodges is the best centre in the game

There can be no dispute about who the best centre in rugby league is. Justin Hodges is the man. Despite battling injuries for much of his career, including missing the entire 2010 season after rupturing an ACL, Hodges has developed into such a wonderful centre that he can be talked about as one of the great centres of the post-Meninga era. He was spectacular on Friday night, scoring three tries against Cronulla in a typically brilliant showing. Strong and fast and with footwork as good as any player's in the game, Hodges' output in terms of metres gained is well above any other centre in the game. Greg Inglis is too inconsistent. Mark Gasnier lacks Hodges' work ethic. Matt Cooper doesn't have the attacking punch. So I'll say it again: Justin Hodges is the best centre in the game. 

TACKLE 4: The Commission must introduce a Brownlow Medal equivalent

One of the great shames in rugby league is that the NRL does not have a proper award to honour the game's best players. Sure, the Dally M Medal is offered up but it is a media-selected award where voting is open for the first two-thirds of the season. The actual night means very little to fans or the players. It is imperative that rugby league does more to honour its best players while simultaneously giving the code another sure-fire ratings winner. The Brownlow Medal is such a special night and the NRL must blatantly copy it and stick with the award forever and a day as it is a model than cannot be improved upon. Secret voting and referee voting are the keys. This must be a high priority for the new independent commission. 

TACKLE 5: Canterbury should have signed Daniel Mortimer

Canterbury have made a grave error in not pouncing on the opportunity to sign young half Daniel Mortimer. Mortimer has struggled with Parramatta this season, spending much of the year in NSW Cup after appearing flat in his limited spells in the top grade. The young Eel has been told he will be released if offered a deal elsewhere. Take away the fact the Mortimers are royalty at the Bulldogs. Canterbury simply should have signed Mortimer because the club is short in key position players and there is a lot more upside than down for the kind of contract he was seeking. The Bulldogs recruitment team were simply too quick to kibosh signing Daniel Mortimer. 

TACKLE 6: Simon Dwyer's long road ahead

Wests Tigers star backrower may never play rugby league again. The rangy 22-year-old, who has played 35 games as well as representing City Origin this year, was a player with a huge boom on him. A devastating fringe runner and relentless worker, he was viewed as a future Origin and international player. That future has now been put on hold, however, with a serious nerve injury meaning Dwyer faces the prospect of never playing again. He certainly won't be back in 2012. The Tigers will be hoping he returns at some point. He is a very exciting player and one, who if he didn't play again, could consider legal action against the club after he was jerked to his feet by club trainers when he should have been taken off on a stretcher. It was a highly embarrassing incident for both the Tigers and rugby league.