Leading up to the 2012 NRL season, BPL's Nick Tedeschi and Will Evans will answer the big questions facing every team. This week, Brisbane, Canberra, Canterbury and Cronulla.

BRISBANE

1) Who gets Darren Lockyer's old jersey and how much does Peter Wallace have to lift to cover for the champion playmaker's loss?

NT-There is a three-way battle in place for the Broncos No.6 jersey between Corey Norman, Ben Hunt and Luke Capewell. Hunt is reportedly in the lead but my money is on Norman. He offers a lot more spark in attack and is a real zippy type who can win games off his own back.

WE-Ben Hunt appears to have the inside running, but Corey Norman is a better long-term replacement at five-eighth. Norman offers more variety in attack and is more robust than the diminutive Hunt. The versatile Luke Capewell is a handy back-up option, but has played just six games at pivot during stints with Souths and Gold Coast. Wallace fought back admirably with a fine 2011 season, after dropping his bundle in the absence of Darren Lockyer as the Broncos missed the 2010 finals. Lockyer's permanent departure shapes as Wallace's sternest test - an ordinary season may prompt the Broncos to enter the bidding war for Melbourne No.7 Cooper Cronk.

2) What kind of influence will Petero Civoniceva have in his return to Brisbane this year?

NT-Big Petero is such an inspirational leader and a fine example to everyone. His work ethic is phenomenal and the long-term benefits to forwards like Josh McGuire will be huge.

WE-Josh McGuire, David Hala and Dunamis Lui will benefit enormously from his experience, while Civoniceva helps fill the leadership void created by Lockyer's retirement. For the club's sake, the 35-year-old should quit representative football. Much of Civoniceva's four-year stint at Penrith was hampered by injury, and Queensland is well-stocked in the front-row department.

3) The Broncos outside backs - Jack Reed, Josh Hoffman, Gerard Beale, Jharal Yow Yeh - had breakout seasons in 2011. Can any or all of them go on with it in 2012?

NT-I think the Broncos have an outstanding young list of outside backs and I can see no reason why they won't all go on with it. Josh Hoffman looks a supreme talent. Jack Reed could become a Jamie Lyon like type. The worry is Jharal Yow Yeh, who has already been disciplined for a training mishap. He should be right but if one was to go backwards, he'd be my tip.

WE- Having made their first grade debuts in 2009, Yow Yeh, Hoffman and Beale are experienced enough to avoid the traps that burden many overnight stars. The doomsayers will be frothing at the prospect of Reed falling victim to second-year syndrome, but his outstanding Four Nations campaign with the England side has accelerated his development. The four backline stars are level-headed and mature beyond their years, and - with the possible exception of Test winger Yow Yeh - appear to have unflappable confidence.

4) Who is the player to watch at Brisbane this year?

NT-He isn't their best player but the Broncos'2012 season will swing on halfback Peter Wallace. The halfback will need to step up with Darren Lockyer gone. If he shows more life running the ball and controlling the team, the Broncos will be contenders once more. If he struggles, it could be a long year in Brisbane. Off-contract at the end of the year, I expect a big improvement from the former Origin No.7.

WE- Matt Gillett was one of the Broncos' trumps in the second half of 2011. After an injury-hampered start to his sophomore NRL season, Gillett established himself as a genuine match-winner and performed admirably in Brisbane's gallant preliminary final defeat to Manly filling in for the sidelined Darren Lockyer. Best suited to the backrow, Gillett provides tremendous utility value and will push hard for Queensland and Australian jumpers in 2012.

CANBERRA

1) How much improvement do Canberra have in them with such little recruitment but with the return of Terry Campese?

NT-Terry Campese is obviously a great player and will provide invaluable help in the halves but he can't cover the defensive deficiencies out wide, the poor coaching or the lack of discipline in the pack. The Raiders don't have a lot of upside this year.

WE- The Raiders possess an almost identical line-up to the one tipped to challenge for a top-four spot at the beginning of 2011, besides retired skipper Alan Tongue, who has been adequately replaced by veteran utility Shaun Berrigan - the club's only ‘name' signing. Marquee five-eighth Campese gives Canberra the look of a finals contender on paper, but depth could be a major issue if injuries strike again. Meanwhile, the Raiders' management has made the bewildering decision to revive the comical ineptitude of Michael Bani, who plagued Manly and North Queensland in 41 error-riddled first grade outings. Canberra's confidence-sapping 2011 campaign should be too much to overcome to snatch a finals berth, but the Raiders have a habit of proving the pundits wrong - for better or worse.

2) How long does coach David Furner have if he doesn't get results early in the season?

NT-He should be gone now. He is without question the worst coach in the game. It seems wins don't matter so who knows how long he will be around. Signed to 2014 and with the Raiders never having fired a coach mid-season, it is hard to see Canberra changing bosses until at least the end of the season.

WE- Furner's bloodlines saved him from a mid-season exit in 2011, but he will be lucky to see the halfway mark of 2012 if the Raiders are again anchored to the bottom of the table. The club's credibility is at stake if CEO Don Furner puts family first.

3) Which player's career is at the crossroads this season?

NT-There are plenty of Raiders under the pump but for mine, it is centre Jarrod Croker who is feeling the hammer above his head. Highly touted for some reason, Croker was awful last year after costing the Raiders a finals win in 2010. His defence is abhorrent and his size is a worry. Not sure he offers much and I wouldn't be surprised to see him fade Daniel Vidot-like this year.

WE- Blake Ferguson was the Raiders' top tryscorer in 2011, producing plenty of his freakish line-finding brilliance to rack up 13 touchdowns. But the cocky, outspoken former Sharks winger's season was peppered with brain explosions that resulted in him finishing on the negative side of the ledger. Ferguson has the potential to play representative football, but another rollercoaster year will see him permanently tarred with the ‘enigmatic' brush.

4) Will Josh Dugan stay at Canberra in 2013 and how distracting will his contract negotiations be for the team?

NT-My gut feel is that Dugan is gone. It will be a huge blow for the Raiders, who are desperate to keep their best homegrown talent in a generation. He is so important but he has stars in his eyes and a want for the big money so he is looking at Sydney and the Bulldogs, Roosters and Dragons. Whatever way it goes, the longer it drags on, the worse it is going to be for the Raiders.

WE- You have to feel for Dugan. He clearly harbours a strong emotional attachment to the Raiders, but what 21-year-old wouldn't want to leave Canberra for the bright lights of Sydney after spending his whole life in the dreary, freezing nation's capital? Not to mention the crazy money being thrown at him by rival clubs. The quicker his future is settled, the less destabilising it will be for the Raiders. Expect a stellar season from Dugan regardless of the decision he makes.

CANTERBURY

1) What kind of improvement do you see Des Hasler brining to the Bulldogs?

NT-Look, Canterbury will improve long-term under Hasler but I'm not sure that will be shown on the ladder this year. There will certainly be a more intense and scientific approach taken to training. Discipline will improve no end. I expect Trent Hodkinson to rediscover his 2010 form. But Hasler can't work miracles and with some fairly large holes out wide, in the backrow and in the key positions, Canterbury's improvement will best be seen in reduced errors and missed tackles and greater fitness than results.

WE- Des Hasler will reintroduce the defensive steel Canterbury is famous for that went missing during 2010-11. Manly's success under Hasler was built around aggressive defence and the Bulldogs possess a forward pack more than capable of muscling up to their rivals. Hasler's relationship with halfback Trent Hodkinson, who wore Manly's No.7 during his excellent 2010 rookie season, is a bonus. Hodkinson and pivot Kris Keating struggled for consistency in 2011 and Hasler's first order of business will be moulding the youthful pair into a cohesive halves unit.

2) Canterbury seem to be lacking speed outside. Is there any potential gamebreakers among the outside backs at the Bulldogs?

NT-The lack of speed out wide is a major concern at Canterbury with the club likely to field the slowest wing combination in Steve Turner and one of Bryson Goodwin/Michael Lett/Jonathan Wright. Josh Morris has some toe but his defence is a worry and he needs to keep his first grade spot. The one player that there is great hope for is Tim Lafai. Lafai showed nice footwork and decent speed in eight first grade showings and could be just the match-winner to replace Canterbury need.

WE- Lack of punch in the three-quarter line is the most glaring deficiency in the Bulldogs' line-up. Josh Morris went off the boil in 2011 and his selection in the Kangaroos squad - just two months after being demoted to NSW Cup duty - was ludicrous. Canterbury's wing contenders - Steve Turner, Bryson Goodwin, Jonathon Wright and Michael Lett - are handy finishers, but don't create many opportunities. Jamal Idris' likely replacement, 2011 rookie Tim Lafai, is a dynamic young prospect, but the acquisition of serial club-swapper and recent RU-dabbler Luke MacDougall is a pointless exercise.

3) Will Michael Ennis lift with the captaincy or will it hinder him?

NT-He will lift. I expect the captaincy to have the same kind of impact on Ennis as it had on Paul Gallen at Cronulla. He really matured and Ennis will do the same.

WE- Niggle is a major weapon in Michael Ennis' arsenal, but he often takes it too far, to the detriment of his team (Origin III, 2010 immediately springs to mind). Hopefully the responsibility of skippering the team will persuade Ennis to be more selective with his spoiling tactics. Ennis is a natural leader and the Bulldogs' key player - he will take the captaincy in his stride, retaining the NSW Origin No.9 jumper ahead of Kangaroos back-up Robbie Farah in the process.

4) What kind of year can we expect from Ben Barba? Will he be better under the high ball?

NT-Barba is such a wonderful talent and he will be in the Canterbury first grade side for a long while yet but it may not be at fullback if he struggles with bombs again this year. Catching the high ball is a confidence thing and Barba had it knocked out of him last year. He starts afresh with a new pre-season and new coach - one who respects the fundamentals - and with his wonderful ability to score, Barba should be a key component of the Bulldogs' 2012 campaign.

WE- The spectre of superstar Canberra fullback Josh Dugan joining the club in 2013 won't be instilling Barba with much confidence, but the diminutive livewire remains one of the NRL's most electrifying attacking exponents. Scoring 23 tries in 24 games for a team that missed the finals is a phenomenal effort (and the second-highest total in a season by a fullback in premiership history) and more of the same can be expected in 2012. The lure of a Queensland bench spot will keep Barba motivated, regardless of the developments with Dugan. Hasler will be leaving no stone unturned in curing Barba's high ball woes during the off-season, while it should be remembered Billy Slater was a shaky proposition under bombing raids early in his career, and still comes up with the occasional howler.

CRONULLA

1) Todd Carney, what kind of year?

NT-Every tale everyone wants to tell you is one of redemption but for mine, this punk has had enough shots to floor Boris Yeltsin. He is a recidivist and it is only a matter of time before he screws up and finds his rugby league career over. The Sharks had to take a risk on him. It was the only way they were signing a legitimate playmaker with class but his off-field nonsense and selfish ways will finish him. He may survive a season. He won't make it through two.

WE- No player in the NRL will be more closely scrutinised than the 2010 Dally M medallist. But Cronulla appears to be a good fit for Carney, despite the club's penchant for alcohol-related buffoonery. Skipper Paul Gallen has been a huge advocate for Carney, even prior to his arrival in the Shire, and is eager to assume the role of his minder on and off the field. Carney will have more playmaking responsibility on his shoulders than at the Roosters, but when injury-free he ranks as one of the premiership's most dominant players.

2) How much do the losses of Kade Snowden and Luke Douglas hurt the Sharks?

NT-Cronulla were expecting to lose one of their star props last year but losing them both was a massive blow to a team short on class. Snowden and Douglas get through a power of work and really ensured that some very bad Cronulla teams remained competitive. The Sharks have signed a handful of plodders to replace them but it is hard to picture the Sharks being as sound around the middle without their two big boppers.

WE- Cronulla's aggressive recruitment sees the club in a better position than 2011 - particularly in regards to depth - in the engine-room department, despite the loss of the elite duo. Tigers pair Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Fifita are the big-name additions, while the acquisition former Origin prop Ben Ross, Knights hard-man Mark Taufua and Saints tyro Jon Green sets up fierce competition for first grade spots. The explosive Fifita could prove an outstanding buy if he can shrug off the disappointing end to his stint with the Tigers.

3) Can we expect another monster season from Paul Gallen?

NT-The Mayor of Wentworthville is going to have another big year and with Snowden and Douglas gone, he could shoulder even more responsibility. His numbers are just phenomenal with no forward in the game even close to his metres gained while he doesn't shirk his responsibilities in defence. He is a real moose and he is one of the few pillars of strength at the Sharks.

WE- NSW captain Gallen is the most valuable forward in the game and invests every drop of energy into each game he plays, but signs of burnout began to emerge late in the 2011 regular season. The Sharks' bolstered forward pack is set to ease the workload on Gallen and another season of exceptional achievement at representative and club level beckons for the 30-year-old.

4) Where do the Sharks' tries come from?

NT-They don't. It is hard to see the Sharks scoring too many tries this year. They haven't had a double-digit tryscorer in three years and they don't have too much pace or strength out wide. Todd Carney is going to not only have to create but to score.

WE- A lack of backline firepower and a consequent lack of tryscoring ability shape as the Sharks' bugbears yet again. Cronulla's non-threatening, workmanlike three-quarter contingent offered little in attack during 2011. Carney and livewire fullback Nathan Gardner will be required to provide the bulk of their team's line-breaks, and are odds-on to be the two top tryscorers at the club.