Tigers: Team Preview

Dual international Lote Tuqiri is the major off-season acquisition for the Tigers with the former Bronco to join the club on a three-year deal. He is back for the season-opener after being granted an early release from English rugby club Leicester. Prop Jason Cayless returns to the NRL from a four-year stint with English giants St Helens, while England-born utility Mark Flanagan joins countryman Gareth Ellis on the Tigers' books. Liam Fulton is back from a brief stint with Huddersfield while troubled half-back Arana Taumata has been handed an NRL lifeline after getting the boot from several other clubs. Dene Halatau, John Morris, Dean Collis and Daine Laurie have all moved on.

What has to go right: The Tigers must learn to win the tight games after suffering several narrow losses which ultimately cost them a finals berth for the fourth consecutive season in 2009. The Tigers showed what they are capable of by beating the Bulldogs in the final round of the regular season - but can they do it when it counts? Of course, Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah must stay healthy and Tuqiri needs to hit the ground running when he returns from a stint in English rugby union.

What could go wrong: Tuqiri is still a good footballer but he is a shadow of the player that scored that famous hat-trick for Queensland back in 2002. The pace of the game could prove too much for the 30-year-old, particularly in the first half of the season.

Nightmare headline: Marshall to undergo shoulder surgery

Sportal prediction: 9th