Paul McGregor obviously needs an impressive start to the Dragons' NRL campaign, to turn some of those critical brickbats into bouquets and save his career.

Matt Flinn has had his own headaches at the Hawks, including the prolonged rehabilitation process and early exit by the No.1 NBA draft prospect LaMelo Ball, the focus firmly on maintaining the player's image.

As they drift towards the wooden spoon, there's also ongoing uncertainty about what the Hawks ownership structure will look like next season, with Simon Stratford increasingly unlikely to maintain control next season.

While the positive discussions at NBL headquarters and within the walls at the Snakepit suggest the Hawks will likely soldier on as the league's great survivors, there will inevitably come a point where the question is asked whether Flinn will remain in charge.

The Hawks finish up their remarkably loveless season on Valentines Day.

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Ball may have offered Australian basketball some welcome exposure and impressive web traffic statictics.

The NBL offered Ball the necessary highlight reel platform needed to show talent scouts he's worthy of being selected early in the NBA draft.

But after single-handedly dragging the Hawks out of the mire a couple of times, his early exit, with the express approval of the NBL, even without telling his teammates, shows a lack of tact and professionalism.

It's also a cautionary tale for the Hawks about how they use the Next Stars program as part of their recruiting in future.

If Flinn has felt the pressure, he'd have been wise to have the ear of McGregor, who knows all too well how uncomfortable sitting in the hot seat can be.

The Hawks were 5-19 before Friday night's game in Cairns, the Dragons limped to 8-16 to finish second last.

The Dragons new campaign begins on March 15, and while it might seem obvious, the best decision they made was to appoint Cameron McInnes as captain.

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The rape allegations trial of Jack de Belin and co-accused Callan Sinclair start next week. De Belin's on-field absence due to the NRL's controversial 'no fault' stand down policy cast a long shadow over the Dragons last year.

"I don't think it needs to be addressed, it's all out there, it's well documented what the process is going to be," McInnes said when appoin.

"Jack's welfare is our concern and we'll deal with that but, when you walk through these gates, it's about doing what's important out on that field.

"That's our job and that's what I expect from myself that, no matter what's happening, I get the job done out here. I expect that from everybody.

"At the end of the day this is the job we do and we've got clock in, do it, and go home."

McInnes can offer a level of certainty as they seek a fresh start this year, the kind of consistency fans of the Dragons - and the Hawks - are craving.

Dragons players only need to watch the replay of his amazing charge down against Souths, or the remarkable one-on-one try-saver against Cronulla to see where the bar is set.

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