SMITHY: Souths well ahead of the pack after two rounds of NRL

While no one wins a premiership in March, two rounds of NRL action have given us a few early indicators as to which clubs are on the right track and which already need a drastic overhaul.

Ahead of the pack
South Sydney have started so aggressively, they look like they are striving to win the race for the pies at half time!

The others will hope they can’t keep it up for the season – I wouldn’t bet on it as I seen signs of real improvement in almost every individual, including newbie star Glenn Stewart.

Surprise packet
The Newcastle Knights have beaten two big hopefuls in the Warriors and then the Cowboys away. Senior players are calling their coach Rick Sone ‘Chocolates and Roses’.

The change to a positive attacking style with that backline getting the ball more often and in better situations has got all of them smiling.

Read more from Brian Smith at SmithySpeaks

Pretty pink Panthers
With all those youngsters graduating to NRL and playing a style of footy that people enjoy watching, are they becoming everyone’s second team?

Can they keep up the pace against the top teams? It starts this weekend away to Roosters.

Shock jocks
North Queensland have yet to break their duck despite two home games in summer heat, with performances which have been lame at times.

It wouldn’t be the first time a club got its focus wrong early, then started winning matches based competing to win the first play off the kick off, followed by winning the first set of the game, the first five sets – and so on – instead of striving to win the comp.

Stuck in the blocks
Cronulla sent out preseason signals of making up for lost time in 2015 but haven’t heard the gun go off.

Returning coach Shane Flanagan has some very big decisions to make very early in the season, primarily what Ben Barba’s role in this team is, and how to ignite a misfiring attack. Home losses to Canberra and the Broncos are not good on any CV.

Still stuck in the blocks
Canberra’s first-up win at Cronulla may have been a mirage, with last season’s attacking problems looking pretty much the same.

Don’t worry it’s alright
The Bulldogs looked a little unsettled and under-prepared in their opening-round loss to the Panthers. Those big units up front might need a few weeks to reach peak fitness. However their fullback dilemma has been solved – and how!

Keep producing players
No Jarryd Hayne means coach Brad Arthur needs to find new blood but, the same as Round 1 in 2014, Parramatta jump-started their season.

And didn’t Danny Wicks show the way in his first start? It was the best performances by a front rower in the NRL so far.

Just like 2014 too
The Warriors repeated last season’s Round 1 with a disappointing loss at Newcastle, so their Round 2 trip to Canberra became a real test, which they met pretty well.

They always seem to get off to slow starts and will improve with match fitness, meaning we won’t really know about sustained improvement of this crew until mid to late 2015.

Top of the table Tigers
Two from two is just like the old days, for those of us who can remember Balmain starting like world beaters every season.

Can this lot with a new coaching staff sustain this bright beginning? Souths might tell them more about where they are really at this weekend.

Too early to tell, but…
Melbourne’s start has been a bit confusing. They never looked like a dominant force against the Drags and then fell way behind the Eagles before rocketing home for a loss that seemed unlucky.

Is Blake Green the attacking answer to assist running the team with the Big Three?

It’s new and shiny but does it work?
Paul McGregor has brought a new attacking plan to this Dragons group, one that looks a bit like what he used with his NSW Cup team.

I love the innovation, but it is difficult to gauge if it works in the NRL or if it’s just that his players need more time to make it work. Tough gig for all concerned doing that under pressure.

That’s what friends are for
The Roosters will hover around the top again, with that proven group and some hot youngsters waiting their turn. But winning the big games is always the main thing for the club with highest expectations.

Losing to Souths again means it’s vital to reverse the 2014 playoff loss to the Panthers rookies. Not all will be gloom if the Chooks end up losing this weekend, as Jake Friend is close to a return – and he is the most important cog in their wheel.

Coastal warning
History, very recent history, will be in the minds of all at the Titans and hopefully NRL headquarters. After the Sharks’ 2014 season of turmoil ended in a wooden spoon, whatever moral rights and wrongs are involved, getting the Titans and its player roster sorted ASAP is vital.

Crisis, what crisis?
Manly were all set to crash and burn after that Round 1 loss at Parra. Round 2 saw a rally and a surprise win over massive rivals the Storm.

Now another defection, in Keiran Foran, to deal with sees a fresh challenge for Round 3.

Never go back?
Brisbane’s win over Cronulla away may have seemed unimpressive to some, but I reckon it might have settled some nerves north of the border.

But with Broncs meeting the Cows this week, someone is going to be be in the hole come Saturday morning. Finding form under super pressure so early in the season shows the ultra competitiveness of NRL 2015.