With the โ€˜hit and giggle' trail matches and the arduous pre-season training regimes now behind each team, fans, coaches, and players alike have set their sights on the real deal โ€“ Round 1.

For some clubs, the pre-season period could not have panned out better, whilst the unlucky remainder will be counting the cost of their campaigns.

Although there were a myriad of positives to be taken from the summer months, all teams will be striving to improve on their trail match form and learn from the lessons dealt out across them.

With the first spin of the Steeden within touching distance, we raise the big question that face each of the NRL's 16 clubs.

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Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

Do they get an โ€˜out' because of injuries?

In short, absolutely not.

Whether or not 'Tommy Turbo's' tear came while bathing or when charging down the Corso on a night out is inconsequential. When a professional athlete places themselves in these types of positions, they must be prepared for the flack they will inevitably receive.

Tom Trbojevic is far too important to Manly to be risking his health and their season's chances racing punters after a handful of schooners.

Put simply, the Sea Eagles record without their star fullback is less than ideal, so if coach Des Hasler hasn't already torn 'Turbo' to shreds, then we would be incredibly surprised.

Alarmists residing on the Northern Beaches would have been hitting the panic button after their side's 52-16 defeat to the Tigers in their trail game, but realistically this result is somewhat of a fugazi, as Daly Cherry-Evans, Kieran Foran and both top-grade Trbojevics missed the thrashing.

With all of these names expected to lace the boots for the Brookvale boys at some stage this season, the club has no realistic excuse should they miss out of finals football in 2021.

Nor should we be granting them any.

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