Q: Even if Benji Marshall takes a considerable pay cut from the A$700,000 per season he reportedly turned down at the Tigers, do you think he represents good value for the Blues?
I'm happy to be proven wrong on this one, but I can't see any value in Benji Marshall going to the Blues. Sure, there will initially be a curiosity factor, meaning more bums on seats, which will please the new owner, and Benji will provide fantastic PR, but is that what the Blues are about?
No, surely they are a committed, established, hard-working rugby team that sees winning as the best form of entertainment and providing a pathway for our local talent to "live their dream" as the best PR money can buy. No one can deny his ability on the field - he is a world-class athlete - but every time we take a punt on an unknown we close the door on our future and that's a pretty big gamble to take.
Q: If things go according to seeding, it looks like the Crusaders will travel to the Chiefs in a repeat of last year's semifinal. Given the southerners dismantled the Chiefs recently, would they start favourites?