Monday Buzz: 50 burning questions for the 2018 NRL season

THERE are only 10 sleeps until the NRL season kicks off and Phil “Buzz” Rothfield looks at the big issues fans can’t wait to have resolved.

THERE are only 10 sleepless nights until the 2018 NRL season begins.

Sports Editor-at-large Phil Rothfield takes a look at the 50 big questions keeping rugby league-loving fans awake in the lead-up to kick off.

1 How long will Stephen Kearney last as coach of the New Zealand Warriors?

2 Can Greg Inglis recover physically and mentally from a forgettable 2017?

3 When will Premier Gladys Berejiklian work out that Allianz Stadium only needs 30,000 seats and not 45,000, saving $250 million?

4 Can Erin Molan arrest The Footy Show’s ratings slide on Channel 9?

5 Will Fatty Vautin make a hosting comeback when Erin has her baby in June?

REVEALED: 50 burning questions from 2017 — the answers

MORE WHAT’S THE BUZZ: Weekend highlights, lowlights

It’s a big year ahead in the NRL.

6 In what month will 36-year-old Paul Gallen say “I want to play again next year”?

7 Can Michael Maguire fix the NRL’s refereeing and bunker issues?

8 If Cooper Cronk’s wife Tara has a boy, will he play for the Blues or Maroons?

9 Will Anthony Griffin last longer than round 10 if the Panthers have a slow start?

10 How much will the NRL save on corporate credit cards, business class air travel and limousines now that John Grant has gone?

John Grant has left as ARL Commission chairman.

11 Will Roosters fans get life insurance before attending games at noted death trap Allianz Stadium?

12 Will Peter Doust get a testimonial game to raise money to pay off his $5 million NRL loan?

13 Can new independent commission chairman Peter Beattie unite the 16 clubs?

14 Can the NRL arrest the crowd and TV ratings slump from last year?

15 How many more months will it take the NRL to finalise the Manly Sea Eagles salary cap scandal?

16 Will Jarryd Hayne take off or crash land in his return to the Parramatta Eels?

17 How many Mitchell Pearce-Nathan Cleary Origin speculation stories will be written by round six?

18 Who will play halfback and five-eighth for the Queensland Maroons now that Johnathan Thurston and Cronk have retired? Michael Morgan? Daly Cherry-Evans, Anthony Milford? Ben Hunt? Ash Taylor?

19 Will Gus Gould finally get behind the NSW Blues now that his mate Freddie Fittler is coaching the team?

20 When will the Matt Lodge gamble blow up in the Broncos’ faces?

All eyes will be on Matt Lodge at the Broncos.

21 How long before the Sydney Roosters poach another superstar from a rival club?

22 Will Bozo Fulton get his Sunday Telegraph tips in before Saturday mornings?

23 Will the clubs get fair dinkum about lowering ticket and food prices?

24 In what round will grumpy old super coach Wayne Bennett crack his first smile?

25 When will Shane Flanagan move Valentine Holmes from fullback to his best position on the wing?

26 Will Marina Go go?

27 Will Quade Cooper get bored of club rugby and switch to the NRL? (He’s already had two offers.)

28 Will this be broadcasting legend Ray Warren’s last year at Channel 9?

29 Will the play-the-ball crackdown be properly enforced?

30 Can Mitchell Pearce lift the Newcastle Knights into the top eight?

Mitchell Pearce has plenty to prove at the Knights.

31 Ditto Ben Hunt at the St George Illawarra Dragons?

32 Will Nathan Cleary remain loyal to the Penrith Panthers or join his dad at the Wests Tigers?

33 Will Matt “Chicken Legs” Cecchin retain his position as the game’s No. 1 referee or will new referees boss Bernard Sutton push for his brother Gerrard?

34 How much will John Grant cost the game in his new role as chairman of the International Rugby League federation?

35 Sonny Bill Williams to return to the Roosters? What a ridiculous rumour. There’s more chance of me playing for them.

36 Will the NRL allow Todd Carney to make a comeback at the Sea Eagles to replace Blake Green?

37 Will the NRL finally take action against the cheating player managers from the Parramatta Eels’ salary cap scandal?

38 When will female referee Kasey Badger get a long-overdue first-grade opportunity?

39 Will Dessie Hasler make a comeback at the New Zealand Warriors once his case is settled with the Bulldogs?

40 Can Kieran Foran recapture his premiership-winning form from his days at the Manly Sea Eagles?

Will recruiting Kieran Foran pay off for the Bulldogs?

41 When will Fittler tell Nathan Peats he won’t be playing State of Origin this year?

42 When will Todd Greenberg tell us all to “grow-up” after a refereeing controversy rather than fix the problem?

43 Will boom Knights rookie Kalyn Ponga make the Queensland Maroons bench for State of Origin?

44 When will Gus admit the five-year-plan is a 10-year plan at the Penrith Panthers?

45 Has the modern game overtaken 68-year-old Wayne Bennett?

46 Will Angus Crichton’s finger amputation increase his error count?

47 Will the opening-round double-header in Perth prove that WA deserves its own NRL team?

48 Will Sam Kasiano be the same force at Melbourne Storm without the kebabs, ciggies and weight?

49 Will Alexander Brimson from the Titans, Payne Haas at the Broncos or Jaeman Salmon at the Parramatta Eels win Dally M rookie of the year?

50 Will the great Darren Lockyer get a deal with Advanced Hair Studios?