Some things to look out for as March 12 approaches

- Scandals. Good journalists will have a few saved up in case nothing comes up in the next few weeks. As noted above, League Blog has been scandal free this whole offseason.

- Combinations. Coaches love to work on them during the offseason, and even into the early rounds.

- Senior players talking up young players. "Just you watch, Player X is going to have a break out year. He's bigger and stronger and has a more fluid play the ball than any player I've ever seen."

- Reports of ruthless conditioners putting squads through their toughest offseason ever in an effort to create players able to run up sandhills really quickly.

- Crappy teams and their fanbases holding out hope that this year will be different.

Face of Rugby League

League Blog was interested by yesterday's news that Nathan Hindmarsh is the NRL's new face of Western Sydney. Now there is no doubt that he has the best cheeks in League, but it made me wonder what you had to do to get selected as the face of a geographic/socioeconomic area. Did each nomination get submitted to David Gallop with a bio, for him to peruse over. I can just him now...

"Hmmm, Hindmarsh. Picture, yes good, borderline mullet, constant dazed and confused stare. Wife? Bon Scott - nice, must love AC/DC. Kids? Oh excellent, he has three and they are all named after dogs. I think we've found our westie".

Anyway, League Blog approves.

League Blog is genuinely excited by the prospect of more announcements on this front. However, as this seems like nothing more than a nod to a rival code's expansion plans, League Blog suggests the NRL's focus remain in Western Sydney, but shift to other parts of the body such as thighs and hands.