"I don't think it would be the right thing to do. The current playing group have done a fantastic job to get the team where they are, which is a grand final this coming Sunday," Kearns told ABC radio. "I think it would be an injustice to the guys who did the job to get them there."

Former Australia captain Darren Lockyer said on Channel Nine that if he was Paul Green, "I'd nip it in the bud as soon as I can. It would be the wrong decision for Matt Scott to play. Matt Scott at his best, it's an easy decision. He might be able to come on for 10 minutes to do a job. But the chemistry of the team is very important. To break that up would be very risky".

Chiming in was Immortal Andrew Johns, who said: "You can't get the match fitness. If he made four or five tackles in a row, he'd be gassed."

2. The NRL needs to outgrow Sydney

Todd Greenberg wants rugby league to "grow up". The game can show how mature it is this week by not dwelling on the fact there are no NSW teams in the grand final and by packing ANZ Stadium on Sunday night.

A "grown-up" professional sports league does not struggle to sell tickets to a championship decider, full stop. "I hope we pack out the stadium - we'll see how we go," said Cowboy Gavin Cooper.

After a three-week break, we will return with a World Cup that will feature just two games in the Harbour City. A "grown-up" sport does not rely on one town for its continued prosperity.

A look at the home ground averages for 2017 is compelling proof of the advantages one-town teams have; it's a shame North Sydney aren't an existing team seeking to relocate.

3. What are the stories of grand final week?

Your correspondent has done plenty of grand final weeks. For reporters, it can be like you're playing.

You go to the media day and try to get players on your own and then you "sit on" angles, trying to guess what your opposition has and predict what players will say at open media conferences.

To "win", the reporter aims to have the best angle on Saturday or Sunday morning. He or she nervously checks the opposition each day hoping a story up your sleeve doesn't "go off".

Great grand final week stories include Andrew Johns' "bung lung" in 1997 and Cameron Smith's suspension in 2008.

Here's a wish list of yarns you'd like to break this week: Matt Scott is playing, Billy Slater is retiring, Cooper Cronk has joined another club, Jesse Bromwich discusses in-depth the events in the Kiwis camp that got him banned from the World Cup.

Meanwhile, can we ban "the big dance" please...

4. Gouging of a different kind

Gorden Tallis has hit out at airlines price gouging fans to travel to Sydney for the grand final, describing it as "embarrassing" that the government does not stand up to flight operators.

"I can go to Townsville for $69 for a wedding but if you want to come down here this week, it's $900," Tallis said on Triple M on Sunday. "We're a working-class game, I don't think it's fair."

Meanwhile, Slater dodged the retirement question on the Sunday Footy Show. "Whether I play next year or not, I'm not too sure. I've got no answers for you just yet."

Lockyer believes he may give it away if he wins the World Cup.

5. Refs get a bit touchie

The NSW Rugby League Referees Association fired a shot across the bows of World Cup organisers for refusing to use touch judges to man the tournament's sidelines.

Long-serving Russell Turner had hoped to make his farewell in the global showpiece but most - if not all -touchies in the World Cup will be full-time referees.

The NSWRLRA described the decision as disappointing earlier in the week; the post has since been removed.

Set of Six understands the match officials - who will also come from overseas - will be based in Brisbane and flown in and out to games. Further evidence of Sydney's declining status?

6. Captain America no more

Joseph Paulo was one of the surprise stars of the 2013 World Cup, being close to the best player on the field every time he crossed the sideline.

When the United States yesterday named their 23-man squad for this year's tournament, Paulo wasn't in it.

The new administration in America wants to pick more local players and didn't chase full-time pros, preferring to sit back and wait for the players to call them.

The result is a team without a single NRL or Super League starting player.

They'll be right up against it in pool games against Italy, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, coach Brian McDermott meeting many of his players just a few days before the first game.