Brisbane were the last club to win back-to-back competitions in 1992-93 (followed by Super League titles in 1997-98), and Foran is confident Manly can follow in their footsteps despite the recent upheaval at the club following Des Hasler's bitter switch to Canterbury just weeks after the grand final.

Doubts have subsequently been cast about whether the Sea Eagles can match last season's success, but Foran says the fact none of the club's star players has departed gives them the confidence to succeed.

"We've got a very similar squad to last year and we are quietly confident that by building on our combinations and keeping our heads down, we can be successful again," Foran said.

"We know we have a good side as we showed last year and hopefully we can go back-to-back."

Cherry-Evans said he was not daunted by being the face of the competition and said he understood the importance it carried.

"It's an honour to be here and representing all the players in the NRL," said Cherry-Evans.

"It's exciting to be here with Kieran, my halves partner, and hopefully we can do the role justice."

The launch took place just hours after the new ARL Commission announced the scrapping of the controversial McIntyre system for this year's finals.

In the first act of the commission, it was decided the finals format will change from the system which has been part of the premiership since 1999.

The competition will split the top four and the bottom four finalists into separate pools in week one.

Under the McIntyre system, the eight finalists were seeded so that the top four played the bottom four.

With the new format, each of the top-four teams needs to win two finals matches to reach the grand final, while the bottom four-ranked teams must win three.

The minor premiers and second-placed team are each guaranteed two home games.

Commission chief executive David Gallop said the ruling was taken after consultation with the clubs and was delighted with the outcome.

"It's a good system, it protects the top-four teams and was very well received by the teams today," Gallop said.

"We polled the clubs last year and most wanted to see it changed and I think it will be good for the game."

The Kiwi Test back rower enters into his eighth season at the Warriors since debuting in 2005.

Named the 2011 NRL grand finalists’ Lion Red Player of the Year, the Napier-born, Nelson-raised Mannering said it was important for him to have his contract situation settled before the season began with the grand final rematch against Manly at Eden Park on March 4.

“It’s a bit of a relief to have this sorted out early so all the focus is on football,” Mannering said.

“I love being at the Warriors. It’s a great club to be a part of and there’s plenty to be excited about for the future.

“I’m just looking forward now to starting the season. We’ve got such a huge game against Manly at Eden Park to start it off. It’s going to be a really big day for all of us.”

New coach McClennan said retaining Mannering was vital to his future plans for the club.

“Simon means so much to the Warriors,” McClennan said.

“This is where it all started for him and it’s so important he stays because of what he has to offer our team and our club right now and in the future.

“It’s also great that we were able to let our Warriors members know about this first. They provide such wonderful support for our club.”

Mannering, who missed seven games with injury in 2010, has an impressive 28-18 win-loss record in his two years leading the side.

With 46 matches as captain, he is destined to go ahead of his successor, Steve Price’s record of 91 for most games as the club’s captain.

Last year Mannering featured in all 28 of the team’s NRL matches – one of only three players to do so – and he also played four of the Kiwis’ five Tests; he averaged 78 minutes a game in making a total of 32 appearances from a possible 33 elite level matches.

Despite missing the Cowboys' pre-season trial match with the Titans last week courtesy of a rolled ankle during the final training session, Tamou will be ready for the real thing.

“I’m going to give it as much chance as I can for it to recover so it can be 100 per cent for Round 1,” Tamou, who trained indoors on Wednesday, said.

“All of this week I’ll be in the gym with the injured group and then by next week, going into Round 1, I’ll be out there with the boys.”

Despite the setback, the New Zealand native was thankful that he only missed a trial and not the first game of the season

“I’d rather that then be in a competition game,” Tamou said.

“It was very frustrating especially Saturday night watching the boys out there.

“I was just running around chasing one of the boys and stood on his foot and my whole weight was on that foot.

“At first I didn’t think anything of it, I thought it would be sweet but I just couldn’t walk and it blew up.”

Playing in all but two matches last season, Test prop Matt Scott’s front rower partner is desperate to hit the football field following a long and tiresome pre-season.

While the Cowboys have already faced the Titans in a 36-28 loss, the first round sets up a rematch for two points on the NRL ladder.

Although Tamou was unable to feature in the fixture, watching from the sidelines he has seen first hand what Gold Coast's new recruits Luke Douglas, Nate Myles and Jamal Idris are capable of producing and is looking forward to battling the big men on the field.

“They look like they’re ready to go,” Tamou said.

“It would have been good to play against them before Round 1 just to see what to expect but after watching them it’s going to be a tough game and the boys have to be ready to go.”

Meanwhile, Test centre Brent Tate is recovering well from a rib cartilage injuring from last week’s trial while Ashley Graham (groin) and Robert Lui (knee) are both expected to be available for Round 1.

They will however be without back rower Tariq Sims who is battling to recover from a broken tibia and fibula.

"It rewards the top 4 teams which I think is good," Stig tweeted.

Farah said he was never a huge fan of the system, which had been in use in the NRL since 1999.

At a meeting of NRL chief executives on the eve of the official 2012 season launch, the Commission dumped the McIntyre system in favour of a top four and bottom four pooling method.

The McIntyre system ‘seeded’ the eight finalists so that the top four played the bottom four, a system which drew constant criticism.

While the move has been met with applause from the media, Farah tweeted his excitement following the announcement on Wednesday.

“NRL scrap McIntyre System! Thoughts?? Long overdue in my opinion,” Farah tweeted.

“Was never a fan of it.

“Top 4 playing for a week off. Bottom 4 playing to stay alive.

“Losers from Top 4 to retain home ground advantage like they deserve to.

“If you finish in the bottom half of the 8 you don't deserve home ground advantage when playing a team that finished higher then you at any stage of the finals. Tigers included.”

The AFL has used this system since 2000 having previously used the McIntyre System from 1994-1998.

The system is designed to give the top four teams an easier road to the grand final than the second four teams.

The top four needs to win only two finals to reach the grand final, while the second four needs to win three.

Two of the top four teams receive a bye in the second week of the playoff and then play at home in the third week, while the other two play at home in the second week.

The NRL has used the McIntyre system of seeding the top eight sides since 1999.

The new system will separate the top eight teams into top four and bottom four, with the top four needing to win two games to be guaranteed a grand final berth.

The first-placed team will play the fourth-placed side and second will play third, while fifth will play eighth and sixth will play seventh.

It is the same system the AFL has used since the 2000 season.

The NRL minor premiers and the second-placed team will be guaranteed two home finals under the new system.

ARLC chief executive David Gallop said it was the right time for a change.

“As the competition has become closer and the impact of ‘home and away’ finals matches even more significant, the system has become a source of increasing debate,” Gallop said.

“The allocation of ‘home venues’ in the second week of the McIntyre system has been a particular concern.

“After going through a thorough process we are confident that this is the right time for this change.”

The change in the finals system comes after an extensive review by ARLC football operations manager Nathan McGuirk.

“Over the past few months we have been conducting a review with clubs and with the recently formed competition committee,” McGuirk said.

“An overwhelming majority of clubs have shifted their support away from the McIntyre system and to one where the top four teams play each other in week one.

“It offers greater protection for the top four teams and the possibility of even closer matches.

“Each of the top four teams needs only to win two finals matches to reach the grand final, while the bottom four ranked teams must win three.

“The Minor Premiers and Team 2 are each guaranteed two home games.”

The finals system will continue to be played on the basis of ‘home city’ venues in week one and two and ‘home region’ venues in week three.

Entering into his third year with the Moore Park-based club, the New Zealand international is hopeful of securing a new deal with the belief that the Roosters are closing in on a breakout year.

“Absolutely his preference is to stay without question,” his manager Michael Newton told sportsnewsfirst.com.au.

“I spoke to (Roosters boss) Nick Politis last week and we’re going to sit down and have a chat over the next few weeks.

“He loves the Roosters, he loves the club, the environment and the Roosters have probably got the most formidable squad of players from 18 to 22 in the comp.

“They’re building towards something and he’d love to be a part of it.

“We’ll just have to wait and see what unfolds over the next eight to 10 weeks.”

After making his debut for Manly in 2009, he was selected to play for the Kiwis making his international debut in his rookie season.

The Roosters soon pounced signing him for what was a breakout season for the club in 2010 where he made his first NRL grand final appearance, a loss to St George Illawarra.

Despite reports that Parramatta has expressed interest in signing the 108kg wrecking ball, Newton says he has not spoken with the club since last year.

Waerea-Hargreaves already has a link with the club, having played under coach Stephen Kearney at the international level.

“I spoke to (former Eels chief) Paul Osborne late last year and he expressed an interest in Jared,” Newton said.

“Ozzie is gone now and I haven’t pursued it any further for two reasons, firstly we don’t know where and what the cap may be and second to that he’s got a very good relationship with the Roosters.

“Until the first ones done I’ll sit down with the Roosters and should we come to a stalemate with the Roosters I’ll pursue all the other opportunities at that point.”

Newton said before any negotiation got underway he would first wait for the independent commission to rule on the increase in salary cap and the frame work for in which the cap will operate.

“He just turned 23 a couple of weeks ago,” he said of his client.

“As far as front rowers go he’s still very young and many would probably consider him to be a rookie but he’s an international.

“The Roosters will tell you he’s fantastic with their sponsors and their fans and a 23-year-old international who hasn’t been playing the game for that long is a long term prospect for any club.”

According to Robinson’s agent Sam Ayoub, while the Raiders have expressed an interest in extending his stay, the winger will take his time having also attracted the attention of other clubs.

“Reece is a player who is improving over the last two years,” Ayoub told sportsnewsfirst.com.au.

“We expect him to keep improving this year and certainly wouldn’t be rushing into anything.”

A former Brisbane Bronco, Robinson joined the Raiders in 2010 on a three-year deal, which expires at the end of this season.

After claiming 2012 would be the season to make his mark on the competition, Robinson revealed he would use his contractual status as motivation to play well and attract a new deal.

Last weekend it was a brilliant try to Robinson helped the Raiders clinch a 16-14 victory over the Canterbury Bulldogs in their final rugby league trial in Wagga Wagga.

Robinson broke the line almost 40 metres out to gift the Raiders a thrilling victory in their final hit-out ensuring big things to come.

“Hopefully this year will be a big year for me and get an extension or another contract,” Robinson said.

“I’m just focusing on this season at the moment and hopefully get a couple of games under my belt and go from there.”

Robinson split his time between fullback and wing during the trials in place of Josh Dugan, an opportunity he relished.

“I love it at fullback you get a lot more involved,” Robinson said.

“Wherever you go the ball goes.

“I’ve been thrown in there a few times, I don’t mind playing fullback.”

Although he has limited experience in the position and enjoyed his time relieving Dugan, he isn’t convinced he has secured the role of understudy should Dugan miss any games due to injury or representative duties.

“There’s a few other boys injured at the moment like Nathan Massey so who knows when he comes back anything can happen,” Robinson said.

Canberra plays their season opener against Melbourne at home on March 3.

Campese said it was a great honour to be named captain of the club with his focus on trying to continue on from the great leaders of the past.

“I love the Raiders and I’m extremely honoured to be named captain of the club I have been a part of since my youth,” Campese said.

“There’s been some magnificent leaders in the past including the most recent in Alan Tongue and I hope I can continue on from where he left off.”

The five-eighth's appointment was announced at the Raiders season launch on Tuesday night in front of Raiders sponsors, VIPs and selected members.

Last season Campese, 27, played just eight minutes thanks to a knee and groin injury which had him sidelined for the 2011 season.

Despite missing the trial against Canterbury in Wagga Wagga last weekend with a slight hamstring strain, Campese has been declared a certain starter for their Round 1 home clash against Melbourne on March 3.

Campese has been with the club since he was a junior and his role as captain follows on from the retired Tongue and a host of club legends including David Grant, Mal Meninga and Laurie Daley.

The former Test half made his debut for the Green Machine in 2004.

Round 3 is an away trip to North Queensland before returning home to face Penrith and Manly.

With only six wins to their name last season, Hindmarsh said the club must make the most of the home ground advantage.

“I think we’re going to have to take advantage of that,” Hindmarsh said.

“The draws been good to us early on so we’d like to repay our fans with a few wins.”

Despite the loss of both their pre-season trial games, Hindmarsh said there is no cause for concern.

The club recruited well during the off-season with the new talent and halves combinations still slotting into their new surroundings.

Hindmarsh said regardless of their pre-season form, the club will be stressing the importance of starting the season with a victory.

“This time last year we beat them 30-6 and 30 blot and ended up playing for the wooden spoon,” Hindmarsh said of the trials.

“In the past we haven’t started seasons too well.

“We got away with a win over against the Warriors first up last year so hopefully we can continue that (trend) and start well with a win against the Broncos.

“There’s no panic in the ranks.

“It’s a long season, as long as we’re there abouts during the year I think we’ll be alright.”

Thanks to the pre-season Parramatta may be forced to kick-off their season minus three of their star players.

Jarryd Hayne (knee), Tim Mannah (knee) and Ben Smith (pectoral) were all casualties of the trials however Hindmarsh has taken Parramatta’s injury toll with a grain of salt.

The skipper backed Luke Burt to fill Hayne’s boots at fullback should Hayne not be fit for Round 1 and placing faith in the clubs depth to fill any other positions necessary.

“Haynesy is a big part of the team and if he does happen to miss round one it would be a big loss,” Hindmarsh said of the fullback.

“Burty can fill in there, we’ve got to do what we came to do with the players we’ve got.

“They’re all capable of playing first grade rugby league at a high level so we’ll just have to grin and bear it.”

Gordon, who is locked in a battle with Coote for the number one made it a point to set the record straight.

“The actually article was fine but just the headline made me look like an arsehole or I’m up myself and I don’t think that’s the case,” Gordon said.

“If I was like that I would have left the club years ago but I’ve always played wherever they want me to.

“Me and (Ivan) had the conversation three or four days before it came out and then we did have a chat about it but he said he had no problems with it because we had the conversation there at all.

“I had a chat to 'Cootey' and he knew I wouldn’t say anything like that and most of the boys knew exactly the same.”

Gordon said the story did not cause any tension between him and Coote as they continue to fight for the right to start in the custodian’s role in Penrith’s first round clash against Canterbury on March 3.

“All I can do is try my best every week,” Gordon said.

"I’ll always put the team first.

“If they asked me to play front row I wouldn’t worry about it so.

“I only put my hand up for (fullback) because it’s somewhere I enjoy playing and hopefully I can get a crack there.”

Last weekend Gordon was a standout in the Panthers trial match 26-10 victory over Parramatta.

Splitting the halves with incumbent Coote, Gordon scored a try and kicked three goals in a solid first half performance.

Despite his tremendous workload, coach Cleary was coy about who was the front runner for the role.

“I thought both of them played well,” Cleary said post match.

“There’s a lot to take into account, we’ve picked up a lot of injuries over the past week actually so a lot can happen in two weeks so we’ll see what happens.”

Cleary refused to rule out a utility role for the player who misses out on fullback or pushing them onto the wing.

Gordon played some of their Newcastle trial on the wing and while he was seen icing his hamstring on Friday night, he assures it is simply precautionary.

“Its fine,” he said of his hamstring.

“The medical staff erred on the side of caution because it was a trial.”

Although he played no part in the trials, Panthers captain Luke Lewis will be available for the first round.

Luke took the early guilty plea for a grade one contrary conduct charge involving a referee Jason Robinson.

As a result he will miss the Rabbitohs first round game on March 5 against the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium.

Having come off the bench, Luke was alleged to have pushed Robinson in the back as he chased down a clearing kick in the 31st minute.

This latest incident follows a two-match ban for a controversial leg twist tackle on England's Rangi Chase in the Four Nations tournament.

Luke’s discipline has come under the microscope over the last 12 months with the New Zealand born rake after he was cautioned throughout the year for the outlawed "cannonball" tackle.

Luke’s teammate, back rower Eddy Pettybourne was also cited for his high shot on Dragons centre Chase Stanley.

Fortunately for the club an early guilty plea has kept him available for the first round.

Pettybourne’s 10th minute high shot will see him carry 67 points into the season.

After speaking to children at Kellyville High School about the importance of an education and promoting Rugby League in the west, Hindmarsh said the omission of Civoniceva would be an added bonus for his side largely due to the former Test props work rate.

“He does a lot of stuff to get them up the middle of the ruck,” Hindmarsh said.

“I think if he does take the early guilty plea and miss a week there will be a slight smile on my face.”

The charge came courtesy of the Broncos’ trial match against Melbourne in Hobart last weekend where the prop collected utility back Ryan Hinchcliffe around the head.

In a statement release by the club on Tuesday, the Broncos said; “The club did consider fighting the charge and getting it at least downgraded.

“However they would have needed to bring the charge down two levels to grade one to save a suspension.

“The risk involved was that if the case was unsuccessful, Civoniceva would have copped a two-match ban.”

"I've always wanted to continue my playing career with the Dragons having played all my junior football in and around the Illawarra area," said Morris.

A Kiama junior, Morris is a one-club player after making his first-grade debut for the Dragons against Cronulla in Round 9 of the 2006 season.

Having won a premiership with the club in 2010 under Wayne Bennett, Morris is now excited to be working under new coach Steve Price.

“He has a lot of fresh ideas for the direction of the team and I can’t wait for the season to start,” Morris said.

With 107 NRL games to his name, the Australia and NSW Blues representative was an important signing as the Dragons build for the future.

According to Dragons boss Peter Doust, the extension signifies just how integral Morris has become as part of the famous Red V family.

"Brett is an important member of our playing group and we are very happy he has chosen to extend his career here with the club," said Doust.

"Brett is a local junior who has contributed to our club on the field and I am sure our Red V members, partners and fans will be equally as pleased that he has extended his term.”

His teammate Tim Mannah also suffered the same injury in a separate incident.

Eels officials have labelled Mannah’s recovery as more straight forward than Hayne's, with Mannah expected to be available for Round 1.

Hayne, who appeared at Kellyville High School on Tuesday to promote Rugby League in the West, said that he was keeping positive that he will be available to face Brisbane at Parramatta Stadium on March 2.

“It’s as good as it can be,” Hayne said of his knee.

“I’m hopeful and faithful it will be good for next week."

Hayne said his initial thought was that his season was over however after being examined by medical staff he was confident it was only a minor injury.

“Walking off the field I wasn’t too confident,” he said.

“Only in the sheds, they checked all the main ligaments to see if they were intact and they were but they knew I had done some damage there.

"When the scans came back about the strained ligaments and other things it was positive it wasn’t too serious but the downfall was I was going to be in a race to be fit for Round 1.”

Coach Stephen Kearney is expected to give Hayne up until game day to prove his fitness in a bid to play in 10 days' time.

“It is a long season so I’m sure if I’m not around 90-95 per cent it's going to be a close call,” Hayne said.

“This is about the fourth day and each day it’s getting better so I haven’t had one of these injuries where I’m racing the clock in such a short amount of time so I’ll have to wait and see but I’m doing everything I can to get back out on the field.”

With new recruit Chris Sandow at the club, Hayne conceded missing the two final weeks of pre-season training has him pegged behind the eight ball in terms of working on his combination with the new halfback.

“I thought at the back end of that Penrith game we (Chris and I) really started to click,” Hayne said.

“We we’re able to work together well.

"It was a slow start but by the end of the game I was feeling more and more confident that we were on the same page.”

Also in the rehabilitation group is back rower Ben Smith who suffered a pectoral muscle injury.

Smith's results are expected to be known later on Tuesday afternoon however the Eels staff are expecting a lengthy recovery and surgery.

Having seen two-time premiership winning coach Des Hasler walk away from the club to join Canterbury less than a week after their grand final victory over the Warriors, as well as losing wingers Michael Robertson and Will Hopoate and second-rower Shane Rodney, longtime coaching assistant Toovey has his work cut out.

But Toovey argues the club he won two competitions with as a player, and the current playing group in particular, have always managed to come through hard times and will relish the challenge posed by the doubters.

"Great things come out of adversity," Toovey told AAP.

"This team has had several challenges put before them in the past and they've risen above and conquered those challenges.

"I think it's fair to say here at the Manly club, we do rise to those challenges and we don't let those minor obstacles get in our way.

"We use them to our advantage. I think we've done that in the past and we've got that very tough culture here at Manly."

Without Hasler's respected and proven leadership, Toovey has had to rely even more on the club's senior playing group to ensure there is no premiership hangover.

And he says the work done by the team's experienced campaigners, in particular co-captains Jason King and Jamie Lyon, has left him with no doubt that this season will be a success despite an inauspicious pre-season which yielded losses to the Sharks and also to Leeds in the World Club Challenge.

"Their mental toughness that they pass on to those other surrounding players and less experienced players is very valuable for the coaching staff," Toovey said.

"It's given those two (King and Lyon) even more responsibility in that area because of the changes that have gone on.

"They've taken that on board, that extra responsibility on their own free will and they've run with it, and they've done a great job.

"The important thing I think here is that the senior player group, and the premiership winning team, is intact."

Toovey believes Manly are well placed to cover the loss of Robertson and Hopoate, with former Australian representative David Williams returning to full fitness after breaking his neck last season and young gun Michael Oldfield ready to make his mark on first grade.

"(Oldfield) is still learning the trade but he has a lot of potential," Toovey said.

"It's just a matter of us and him making sure he can fulfil that potential that he's got."

"We want to play more together, me and Sowie, as opposed to playing left and right," Hornby said.

"We want to play to each other and switch sides, but I'll be predominantly on the right.

"We think that might be more effective for us, time will tell."

Shutting down the Dragons left edge used to be a top priority for opposition defences, with Hornby's combination with Ben Creagh, Matt Cooper and Brett Morris having developed into a potent force.

But as tough as it was to shut down, the left edge attack also had a predictability about it, and with a new fullback in Kyle Stanley and right centre in Chase Stanley also added to the mix, Hornby hopes NRL rivals will find it tougher to predict where the Dragons attack is coming from.

"That will definitely help," Hornby said of adding a touch of unpredictability.

"You can't just say Ben Hornby's going to be on the left and Jamie's going to be on the right.

"We could pop up anywhere on the field which I think could help us."

The new combination could take some time to develop however, with Hornby having just returned to the training paddock after ankle surgery and then a quadriceps injury cut into his pre-season.

"We haven't had a lot of training sessions together as a team," Hornby admitted.

"We're hopeful that our attack will come as we get more training sessions together."

The Test forward faces one week on the sidelines with an early guilty plea which will see him miss the Parramatta Stadium clash on Friday March 2.

Following the match Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy indicated the club was upset over the incident and had video evidence that would condemn the veteran prop.

''Hinchy is not in a real good way, he copped a pretty bad shot,'' Bellamy said. 

"We're not sure of the actual damage. We've got the shot [on video].

"It's a bad tackle.''

Civoniceva was playing his first game back for his original club after leaving Penrith last year.

Meanwhile South Sydney hooker Issac Luke has found himself hit with a grade one contrary conduct charge for an incident involving referee Jason Robinson during Saturday’s Charity Shield loss.

Having come off the bench in the six point defeat to St George Illawarra, Luke faces a week’s suspension for an incident which occurred in the 31st minute.

The Rabbitohs host the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium on Monday March 5 for their first clash of the 2012 season.

Back rower Eddy Pettybourne was also cited for his high shot on Dragons centre Chase Stanley, however an early guilty plea will keep him available for the first round.

The Sharks were already without one of their wingers, Nathan Stapleton, who is out of action for another eight to 10 weeks with a knee injury suffered during pre-season.

Sharks physio Konrad Schultz said Gordon’s injury is to the AC joint in his left shoulder and although surgery in unlikely at this stage, a definitive decisions on that will be made later in the week.

Fortunately for Gordon, the injury not as serious as first thought and although winger Stewart Mills was a late withdrawal from the trial with the Knights due to a strained hamstring, he is expected however to be available for the first round.

Centre Ben Pomeroy picked up a corked thigh from the match but is expected to be fit for the clubs Round 1 on March 4 against the Wests Tigers at Leichardt Oval.

North Queensland may be without centre Brent Tate for their first round clash with the Gold Coast on March 3.

Tate was taken by ambulance to hospital for X-rays after a Titans player landed on his ribs after attempting to catch a high ball in the fourth minute of the Cowboys trial on the weekend.

No break was detected but the former Test and Origin representative may have rib cartilage damage which could rule him out of the opener.

For the Cowboys big-brother side Brisbane, their injury news has been better with Test winger Jharal Yow Yeh declared a certainty for the March 2 season opener at Parramatta.

Yow Yeh injured his right shoulder early in the Broncos trial against Melbourne in Hobart.

Although Anthony Griffin did not return him to the field after halftime, the coach said he will be fine to face the Eels in two weeks.

"He hurt it a bit but we took him off as a precaution," Griffin told the club website.

"I am sure he will be okay to play the game against the Eels.”

Storm hooker Ryan Hinchcliffe also left the trial worse for wear, nursing a badly bruised face and concussion due to a high tackle by Petero Civoniceva in the Storms 34-30 trial win.

The Country Origin representative is expected to be available for selection in their March 3 clash against Canberra to kick-off their season.

He changed codes in 2010 to play French Rugby before returning to Australia where he began his football career as a lower grade player in search of an NRL contract.

“I’ve spoken to his manager Chris Beattie and talked about the opportunity to stay,” Furner said of Pelo on Monday.

“He’s certainly a player that’s played a lot of first grade in the Super League comp but his experience he can play in a number of positions.

“It’s probably something I’ve alluded to it was just that outside back there to make sure we’ve got the cover.”

Furner said the 26-year-old has already expressed his desire to stay in the Nation’s Capital with an NRL deal immanent following the completion of his trial contract over the weekend.

“We need to have a look at what kind of contract I’d like to get him on board,” Furner said.

“That’s the process in the next couple of days we should get through and again I know Demitri wants to stay and be a part of the squad. I’d like him to stay so we’ve just got to work through a process.”

Despite missing chief playmaker Terry Campese for the Raiders 16-14 final trial win against Canterbury on Saturday, Furner was positive that the five-eighth will be fit for his team's NRL season opener against Melbourne.

Campese was a late omission from after pulling up sore after training and was not worth risking for a trial.

“It actually started to feel a little bit better in the warm-up,” Furner said of Campese’s groin.

“We had both the doctor and physio there on the field at the time and made that decision he wasn’t going to play.

“I’m pretty confident he’ll be right for round 1 although he might have a couple days rested but he’ll be back with the side Wednesday-Thursday leading our way into Round 1.”

Raiders big men Josh Papali and Trevor Thurling both picked up corks however will be fine to play next weekend.

“We’re still in a high phase of training,” Price revealed after his side’s six point Charity Shield victory over South Sydney on Saturday night.

“We went into this game tonight with a lot of guys under fatigue.

“That’s always been the plan so the main focus is getting right for Round 1.”

The Dragons play visitor to Newcastle in the game which will kick-off the season on Thursday March 1.

The Red V will face former coach Wayne Bennett for the first time since he moved post to coach the Knights after delivering the Dragons a premiership in 2010 where Price was an assistant under Bennett.

In his first year as head coach, Price said he is happy with where the squad’s performance is at two weeks shy of the start of the 2012 season.

One question still yet to be solved is what Price will do with Mark Gasnier’s vacant centre spot having retired at the end of last season.

Chase Stanley is the favourite to secure the role however was concussed in Saturday’s trial, the recipient of a high shot from Rabbitohs big man Eddy Pettybourne.

As a result the right centre was restricted to just 10 minutes playing time which means the coaching staff will be forced to “reassess and re-evaluate” what they do in terms of the vacant position.

“He’s had a great pre-season,” Price said of Stanley.

“We’re expecting him to play a lot of time through the season for us so we were planning on giving him a good 80-minute block, but that wasn’t to be.”

The Dragons will be without forwards Dan Hunt and Atelea Vea who are injured while captain and halfback Ben Hornby who was instrumental in his side's attack on the weekend says he is fully fit heading into the new season.

“Every time you come into a season and your first game it’s always a little bit daunting but I thought I handled myself ok,” Hornby said.

“The ankle feels great and my quads come good as well so I’m fighting fit.”

Meanwhile, back rower Beau Scott has been labelled a certainty for Round 1.