Dugan, Barba could do worse than look at Turner's demise - Sydney Morning Herald

SET OF SIX

"Make your own luck! Whatever will be will be!": Josh Dugan. Photo: Instagram

1. If Josh Dugan and, to a lesser extent, Ben Barba, need any reminder of what a privileged position they are in, they need look no further than Steve Turner, the Canterbury winger forced to retire early as a result of knee problems. Turner was never as gifted as those two stars but regularly played well above his weight. Barba is attempting to turn his career around, and he can only be applauded for that. Dugan is a different story, a freakishly gifted player sacked by Canberra after literally giving the finger to Raiders' officialdom and his teammates. Careers can end in an instant and Dugan needs to appreciate what he could be throwing away. One man might have given his middle finger for his teammates, the other gives it to them.

2. Speaking of wasted talent, Tony Williams? Anyone? OK, it's early days in the competition, and match fitness is still being gained by everyone. But Williams needs to stamp himself on matches more than he is. Many assumed Des Hasler would get the best out of him after a relatively disappointing season with Manly. But he has not shown much in the early rounds, perennially receiving the ball flat-footed and rarely looking for it.

3. While Ben Barba is likely to make his return to the Bulldogs against South Sydney in round four, don't bother telling Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, who is preparing for Thursday night's grand-final rematch as if the fullback will play. ''Yeah, without a doubt. He's back within the team, apparently,'' Bellamy told Triple M on Sunday. ''It doesn't matter what Des [Hasler, the Bulldogs coach] says … we'll be preparing as though he's playing and we will be preparing as though he is at his best.''

Doing it tough: Steve Turner. Photo: Getty Images

4. Steve Price is fast approaching an untenable position at St George Illawarra. Forget that the Dragons are winless, while looking rather ordinary in the process, the fact Dragons officials continue to be linked to other coaches ensures the pressure on him is magnified. The Dragons went in hard for Melbourne's Craig Bellamy, which is no surprise. Price could probably have lived with that. Now that the Dragons have missed out on Bellamy, it appears the club is eyeing off Cronulla's sidelined Shane Flanagan. Price is clinging on.

5. Parramatta will rue their missed chances against the Bulldogs on Thursday night but they still have reason to be optimistic for the rest of the season. Fullback Jarryd Hayne was down on himself after his performance, and certainly, he couldn't stamp his authority in attack as he would have hoped, but defensively, the Eels showed that they are a different prospect under coach Ricky Stuart. The attack will come - and it already has, in their round-one win over the Warriors. When they can combine strong attack and defence in the one 80-minute period, they will be difficult to beat.

6. It would surely not surprise many should Melbourne and North Queensland, who played on Saturday night, contest the grand final. But the 32-10 result in Melbourne's favour should give the Cowboys an idea of what's needed to get there. The Storm, again, are the most professional outfit in the competition. Despite early-season travelling, and temperature extremes, they haven't missed a beat. The Cowboys should look and learn, and surely will.