Cronulla captain Trent Barrett insists his team is relishing the opportunity to kick-start their premiership campaign against premiers Melbourne. Barrett says taking on the competition's leading side – and current world club champions - at Toyota Stadium will give the Sharks a solid indication of where they may be headed in 2010. "It is a good time for us to play them first up. If we can beat them or put up a real good showing the club can get a lot of confidence and maybe gain some momentum early in the year," the skipper explained "That would be a massive boost for everyone at the club - on and off the field.

Storm hooker Ryan Hinchcliffe believes the reigning premiers are 'just as hungry' in 2010 as they were on the way to last year's NRL title. Speaking on Wednesday afternoon following training, in the lead-up to Saturday night's season-opening clash with Cronulla on the road, Hinchcliffe told Sportal that coach Craig Bellamy has the players primed for another assault at the premiership. "I think it's exactly the same if not more," Hinchcliffe said of the players' motivation ahead of another campaign. "One thing Craig teaches (us) is not to rest on your laurels (because) if you sleep for one minute you'll be beaten.

Just two months after saying he wanted out of the club, Paul Gallen has signed a new deal tying him to Cronulla for the remainder of his career. The representative back-rower will stay a Shark until the end of the 2013 season after extending his current contract in a massive boost to the Sharks' immediate and long-term future. Gallen was reportedly seeking a release earlier this year after being fined for an off-field incident. He was also stripped of the captaincy last season in a further setback to his career. But all of that is in the past, with the 29-year-old signing off on an upgraded deal which will make him one of the game's highest paid players.

Confident Wests Tigers star recruit Lote Tuqiri has taunted Manly over its plan to target him in his return to the NRL on Monday night, claiming he doesn't even know the players assigned to bring him down. The dual international flew back to Sydney on Wednesday night and despite lack of sleep and a dose of jetlag was typically self-assured as he sought to convince the doubters he can make a successful return to the NRL after seven years in rugby. Tuqiri is set to make his debut on the left wing for the Tigers against the Sea Eagles in Monday night footy at the SFS and is unfazed by Manly coach Des Hasler's plan to isolate him with a bombardment of kicks.

Newcastle skipper Steve Simpson has deflected all the off-field dramas at the club by saying the Knights are under no extra pressure heading into their 2010 NRL season opener against the Bulldogs on Saturday. The Knights have been rocked in recent weeks by the loss of key forwards Danny Wicks and Chris Houston with both players under police investigation for drug trafficking and the news has forced the club administrators into crisis talks with sponsors. However, Simpson is adamant that the players are not feeling the pressure heading into Saturday's Round 1 fixture. "No more than usual," he said.