Port Sharks will rely on local and junior talent under Tony Pascoe in 2010, and the southerners can’t be taken lightly.

They still hope to entice two forwards and a centre from Sydney once their work commitments finish in April.

Macleay Valley have been boosted by the return of top junior and front rower Sam Howe, who is back on home soil from Tweed Heads after three seasons away.

Group trials this weekend before the Easter break, and then the start of the season proper.

Sunday’s Comets-Woolgoolga match should be worth watching at Woolgoolga.

Group 2 pre-season games this weekend:

Bellingen v Sawtell (Saturday)

Woolgoolga v Coffs Harbour

(Sunday)

Port Macquarie v Macleay Valley (Sunday)

Nambucca Heads v Orara Valley (Saturday)

Bye: Macksville

NRL update

After two rounds only the Roosters, Dragons, Storm and Titans remain undefeated.

It seems you have to be 20 points behind before you start playing, a trend that’s crept into our game.

And how many referees, touch judges and video refs do we need to get it right, with bad decisions costing some teams in three games.

The referees certainly don’t notice the boot not touching the ball in the play-the-ball area.

Great to see Roosters and former Raider centre Phil Graham in top form after years of injuries, and former Mackay forward Aiden Guerva, after waiting for five years at the Storm to get a start, outstanding for the Roosters.

Former Orara Valley player Ryan Walker is knocking on the door for a first grade spot at Penrith.

Tomorrow night, the Tigers face another test with only five days rest when they take on arch rivals the Eels. The clash between Lote Tuqiri and Timana Tahu should be a beauty.

Draw for this weekend (my tips in capital letters – there were production problems with my tips last week):

Friday: Tigers v EELS, DRAGONS v Cowboys.

Saturday: PANTHERS v Storm, SEA EAGLES v Knights, TITANS v Raiders.

Sunday: BRONCOS v Warriors, Bulldogs v ROOSTERS.

Monday: Sharks v RABBITOHS.