Whatever Benji Marshall does, his new club should be running the rule over him physically before throwing him in the deep end.

A fit and firing Benji at or close to his best would be absolutely outstanding for any team. I've got no doubt about that.

But the whispers about his fitness - or maybe lack of it - after a break from rugby union won't go away.

He's had six weeks off now.

You can't flick the switch like that and all of a sudden start playing again and be right up to speed. It's going to take time.

His new employers will need only a couple of hours to work that out when they really turn the screws on him during some testing.

A quick one on the Dragons' halfback issues. I can't imagine the confidence levels of some of their halves right now. I see Sam Williams is back in the hot seat again this week in place of Michael Witt.

Maybe he should have been told weeks ago the job is his for a couple of months and don't worry about anything else.

It does absolutely nothing for a player's confidence - in fact it often destroys it - all this meddling with combinations. And the team suffers as a result.

It's time for Steve Price to pick and stick - whoever he wants to go with.