You've got to feel for Kyle Flanagan - the kid has been under scrutiny all his career and that will only intensify ten-fold as he plays under his dad Shane at the new-look Dragons. Kyle may well have started the year at hooker - where he would have been under less pressure - had the Dragons completed the signing of five-eighth Ronald Volkman from the Warriors. But Volkman failed a medical, the deal fell through and Kyle will be in the hot seat at five-eighth, sharing the playmaking duties with the Dragons' main man Ben Hunt. The fullback spot is the most contentious in the Dragons side - Tyrell Sloan will get the first crack at it and while he has the ability to win games, he can also lose them with poor defence and when his concentration wavers. Another player who can be hot and cold - Zac Lomax - will get his chance in the number one jumper at some stage of the season but will likely have to bide his time on the wing with Jack Bird and Moses Suli set to start the season as coach Flanagan's preferred centres. Raymond Faitala-Mariner is another newcomer and a player I believe will be highly effective off the bench. He has the size and power to break the line and will be the perfect guy to bring on late in a tight game. Hunt says he has resolved his differences with the club and may enjoy a fresh start under Flanagan senior - but somehow I still believe he will return to Queensland at season's end.
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