Manly stars Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans insist there is no curse attached to being 'the face' of the game after officially opening the 2012 season at the NRL's new headquarters in Sydney on Wednesday night.
A year ago Benji Marshall launched the season and just days later found himself on assault charges after an altercation with a fan outside a city McDonalds.
And in 2009, Sea Eagles fullback Brett Stewart was reluctantly made the face of the game and launched the season with brother Glenn.
Two days later he attended the boozy Manly season launch and was later arrested and charged with sexual assault.
The NRL stood him down for four games and edited him out of the television advertising campaign, making then Storm star Greg Inglis the focal point.
The curse continued with Inglis charged with assaulting his girlfriend later that season.
Stewart and Marshall were both eventually acquitted while Inglis admitted pushing his partner but escaped conviction.
But Cherry-Evans and Foran have no concerns about being picked to launch the 2012 competition.
"It's definitely an honour to be here to represent all the players of the NRL," Cherry-Evans said.
"It's an exciting time for me and hopefully we can do everyone justice."
Foran added: "It's a massive honour. I am privileged to be asked to be here alongside Daly to launch the season."
"I suppose (there's some pressure) but it's a new season and a new era."
ARLC chief executive David Gallop has been involved in a three-year war with the Manly club over the Stewart affair.
He denied the decision to use two players was to avoid having one player in the spotlight as the 'face' of rugby league.
"We'll never shy away from the fact that the players are the star of the show," he said.
"These two guys took the team to the premiership in 2011. They are young, emerging talent in our competition."
"It makes sense to have the half-back and five-eighth together."
The season was officially launched by Foran and Cherry-Evans before 350 guests at League Central in Sydney's Moore Park.