The Kiwis captain Benji Marshall has officially launched the 2011 National Rugby League season in Sydney.
Marshall is the face of the NRL this season and delivered a speech he wrote himself to officials, coaches and players.
Prominent in the Wests Tigers five-eighth's speech was a pledge of support for victims of the Christchurch earthquake and the floods in Queensland and Victoria.
Less prominent was 2010 Dally M medallist Todd Carney, who played no role in proceedings after he was charged with drink-driving on the weekend.
NRL officials will also be hoping for a season devoid of the massive salary cap scandal which rubbed Melbourne out of the 2010 premiership.
