A number of questions were answered, but just as many were asked from an action-packed final weekend of NRL trial games.

The Warriors and the Tigers kicked it off in Whangarei on Saturday afternoon, before the Charity Shield rounded out a blockbuster final round of trials.

With a fortnight to season kick-off there’s serious excitement building around this year’s rugby league competition.

These are the biggest talking points from the weekend’s trial games!

TIGERS NO CLOSER TO SETTLING ON HALVES COMBINATION
Michael Maguire said pre-game that he would give both Benji Marshall and Josh Reynolds time in the five-eighth position, but he would have been frustrated that neither put their stamp on the game.

Luke Brooks is a lock for the No.7 jersey going forward, after signing on long term, but in order for him to play his best footy he needs a consistent halves partner to build a combination with and take the pressure off.

Granted it is just a trial, but the Tigers’ attack looked woeful at times and Marshall and Reynolds failed to ask any questions of the Warriors’ defensive line.

If Brooks is to unleash his running game on the NRL in 2019, he will need his halves partner to draw in defenders and the early signs were less than promising against the Warriors.

SEAMLESS POSITIONAL SHIFT FOR SHARKS STAR
Matt Moylan has made light work of his switch back to fullback in the Sharks’ trial win over the Knights.

He told foxsports.com.au that he was relishing playing five-eighth before Shaun Johnson was lured to the Shire to take his place in the halves.

He also suggested it may take a while for him to find his feet again in the No.1 jumper, where he starred for the Panthers over five seasons.

But from the outset the former NSW and Australia rep looked comfortable in his return to the role.

He set up the first try to Josh Dugan creating an overlap with his speed, then produced a perfectly-weighted chip kick for Josh Morris to score, and simply looked dangerous every time he had the ball in hand.

With Johnson and Moylan on the field, the Sharks look to have plenty of points in them this year.

WATSON STRUGGLING TO FILL PONGA’S SHOES
The danger in moving Kalyn Ponga into the halves was always going to be would it weaken the fullback position more than it would improve the five-eighth position.

On the evidence we saw against the Sharks, Connor Watson is not the man to fill the Knights’ fullback spot, if Nathan Brown persists with Ponga at five-eighth.

Watson was responsible for a number of glaring errors in defence and he lacked assertiveness in injecting himself into the Knights’ attacking formation.

Ponga also struggled to dominate in his new role at No.6 and while he has the talent to make the position his own, will it be to the detriment of the teams’ success if the Knights can’t fill his void at the back?

ROOSTERS FLYER PUTS HAND UP
The Chooks have recruited class wingers Brett Morris and Ryan Hall, but Matt Ikuvalu couldn’t have done much more to press his claims ahead of Round 1.

He scored two pearlers on the left flank, including carrying three Sea eagles defenders over the line with him for the second.

He also took high balls confidently, and rattled strapping centre Moses Suli with a spectacular hit.

The 25-year-old played three games last season, but with Hall injured expect Trent Robinson to throw him a lot more game time.

NEW LOOK WARRIORS HALVES GIVE CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM
Much of the focus on the Warriors heading into the 2019 season centred on the club’s ability to replace Shaun Johnson, who quit the club to link up with the Sharks.

It might only be a trial, but the performances of new five-eighth Adam Keighran and Blake Green against the Tigers will give the Warriors confidence heading into round one.

The pair featured heavily in a number of silky backline plays, that resulted in two tries for David Fusitu’a and also a double for Ken Maumalo.

Keighran in particular looked electric, with his dynamic running game putting the Tigers on the back foot on a number of occasions, while Green was his usual reliable self after filling Johnson’s old No.7 jersey.

PANTHERS HAVE WORK TO DO
The Panthers haven’t had many changes to their playing roster for 2019, but they appeared underdone against the Eels on Saturday night. A near full-strength squad sunk to a 20-0 loss against the Eels.

In a preview to their Round 1 clash at Panthers Stadium, the 2018 wooden spooners played with far more energy and consistency than their western Sydney rivals who have been touted as premiership specials by none other than Fox Sports expert Matty Johns.

Completions were low, as was urgency — but it could be put down to the negative headlines the club attracted pre-game with utility Tyrone May embroiled in a sex-tape scandal and stood down for the clash.

WHAT PRESSURE? NIKORIMA STEPS UP
The Broncos have several highly-rated young halves pushing for selection, including Sean O’Sullivan and Tom Dearden, but incumbent No.7 Kodi Nikorima has surely cemented his spot alongside Anthony Milford, after a dominant display in the Broncos’ come-from-behind trial win over the Titans.

The Kiwi international set up two of Alex Glenn’s three tries with crafty short balls at the line, and set up another to Richie Kennar with enthusiastic support play.

O’Sullivan did nothing wrong either, and will likely be next in line if there are any injuries, despite Dearden impressing in the opening two trials.

After copping criticism last season, the halves combination of Milford and Nikorima could finally click under new coach Anthony Seibold.

TOO BIG, TOO STRONG?
They have one of, if not the, best pack in the competition — and it looks as though that will count for a lot this season.

The Cowboys fielded Jason Taumalolo, Matt Scott, Jordan McLean, Josh McGuire and Coen Hess against the Storm on Saturday night, just to name a few. Any of whom would be the marquee recruit at another NRL club.

Sheer size and power helped the Cowboys to a strong win over the Storm (who are no easy beats).

It’s only trials, so we won’t get too carried away, but this could be a special season for the Cowboys if Saturday’s win is any indication.

DRAGONS NEW LOOK SPINE NOT THE FINISHED PRODUCT
It was always going to take time for the Dragons to incorporate new signing Corey Norman into their attack and based on their showing against the Rabbitohs, Paul McGregor has work to do.

Gareth Widdop’s shift from five-eighth to fullback to accommodate Norman was designed to give the Dragons another ball player at the back and take more of the pressure off Ben Hunt at halfback.

However despite glimpses of cohesion in the first half, the three players seem to be lacking a defined role within the team structure.

Granted it was a trial, but McGregor’s decision to move Widdop to five-eighth, Norman to halfback and Hunt to hooker when Matt Dufty came on, created chaos for the Dragons’ attack.

They’d be better off picking a spine and backing them to play in the one position.

DRINKWATER TO MISS SEASON START

The man earmarked to replace Billy Slater as the Storm’s new fullback has copped an injury that will likely see him miss the opening rounds of the competition proper.

Scott Drinkwater, who seemed to have claimed the No.1 jumper after a huge pre-season tussle with Jahrome Hughes, has reportedly torn a pec in the Storm’s trial loss to the Cowboys.

If it requires surgery, Drinkwater could potentially miss three months of footy.