A few late reshuffles forced by injuries suggested it was anyone's game, with the Broncos sporting on paper a formidable, monster forward pack. Unfortunately for Brizzy fans, they are not the team of yesteryear.

Newcastle five-eighth Mason Lino, in particular, demonstrated he has what it takes, setting up and scoring tries and potting goals in a breakout performance for his new club. Should injuries mount as the season winds down, Lino presents as the latter-day Leo Dynevor for 1997's Andrew Johns, such is the strength of his all-round game.

Otherwise, it's on again against a Warriors outfit who have also seen better days, though they teeter themselves on the fringe of the eight. They can ambush at times, so don't expect coach Brown or his squad to slacken off, as this is two points that must be banked.

1. To borrow a line from the mighty Elton John, the Mitch is back! For most, the "careful what you wish for" adage springs to mind. Not for Mitchell "JJ" Pearce, as he's thrust back into the Origin spotlight with nowhere to hide. It matters not that a few unfairly cite him as some sort of scapegoat for previous disappointments. That was yesterday. All that's relevant is Wednesday, among friends, taking charge. The rest will happen. Mark my words. His ounce-of-luck opportunity breathes life into years of planning and hard work tailored to this very moment, and he is to be congratulated on selection. For us punters, it will be his "heat and energy" that will excite. So look out. In Sydney, the "fever's gonna catch you when the Mitch gets back". Blues by eight.

2. Still on the Blues. Two Newcastle prop forwards selected in the line-up. Who'd have thunk it? Groundbreaking stuff for a club many wouldn't feed a few years ago. Throw our captain and champion halfback into the mix - as well as two Queensland reps - and the Knights are back in the hunt.

I'd like a dollar for every time rusted-on fans have approached this column longing for the authority and presence of the Sargents, Harragons and Parsons of yesteryear. All the while hoping the spirit of those big-bopping warriors might one day return to again steamroll opponents for a living. So, based on Dan Saifiti's retention for Origin III, and big Dave Klemmer late inclusion, it's official, we need pine no more.

3. Last year's grand final re-match lived up to expectations. This time the Storm had a little more to give in the form of a Cameron Smith penalty to take the game by two. I get the impression there is improvement left in the Storm, despite already leading attack and defence metrics like few teams have ever. From my vantage it's hard to see anyone denying them a table at the grand final breakfast.

4. The George Burgess eye-poke on Robbie Farah was one of the more bizarre versions of this despicable act. Rather than raking or "gouging" at the eye, as is more typical, big George calmly kept his fingers motionless in Robbie's eye socket presumably to control the tackle. Alternatively, he believed he could get away with it with all the cameras on him. Not likely that silly, is he? Dramatically arguing his innocence on the lives of his kids, big George's pleas were ignored by a cross-state panel. It was a bad look. So obvious was the vision on-ground, it's hard to understand why he wasn't marched.

5. So why aren't refs sending players off for foul play if the league is serious about workplace health and safety? Are the players now angels? Or are referees instructed to avoid "ruining" a game. There has to be an explanation. I wonder what influence gambling houses and broadcasters have in this mix? Who knows? All I know is the game is dangerous enough without going soft on obvious foul play. Even if, as Georgie says, it was unintentional.

6. The Tariq Sims collision that cost him his Origin jersey can be hard to avoid in the heat of the hunt. When instructions are always to pressure the kicker, who will send your team back 40 metres plus, it's a key assignment. Blocking a kicker legitimately can reap huge rewards for a defending team. The secret is to tackle around the waist, avoiding all contact with the head. Not so hard on the face of it, though not a technique many are familiar with in the NRL these days.

7. Successful on-field combinations take time to bear fruit, therefore time spent together on the field with the same line-up team is sought-after. Injury prevention, fatigue monitoring and off-field support go a long way to keeping the same side on the park, as they fine tune the skills needed to win when it matters. Interesting to see how injury-enforced roster rotations impact teams, where as at last weekend, the Storm had 14 players (of 17) on the field who have played 14 of 16 games. The Bulldogs by comparison have five. Prevention is always better than the cure.

8. A neat segue, if I do say so myself, into the hot topic of concussion and player health. Three law firms indicated this week they intend running class actions on behalf of ex-players damaged by repeated concussions over the years, in circumstances where administrations and clubs ought, or should have made themselves aware, of the risks involved to player health.

This shapes as a full-blown legal minefield. This column will spend more time on this vexing question next week. But after the revelation last week of two recently deceased NRL players' brains showing signs of the dreaded chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the game as we know it may never again be the same. At the least, get ready to have your insurance increased. Surprise, surprise.