Brisbane and Test captain Darren Lockyer has wasted no time in proclaiming St George Illawarra the team to beat in the NRL finals beginning this weekend.

Lockyer has joined his fellow skippers from the league's other seven finalists to launch what is expected to be one of the most unpredictable play-off series of recent years.

"It's an open competition, obviously the Dragons, minor premiers, they had a great year, I think they're obviously the team to beat," Lockyer told a media conference.

Wayne Bennett's side were reinstated as $3.50 favourites for the title over the weekend following their 37-0 obliteration of in-form Parramatta on Friday night.

Dragons skipper, Ben Hornby, was absent from Monday's captain's call with a stomach bug but vice-captain Dean Young said the halfback would be in no doubt for Sunday's rematch with the Eels.

Premiers Manly, who finished fifth, will face 2007 and 2008 grand final opponents Melbourne on Friday night and captain Matt Orford said this year had been a challenging one for the Sea Eagles.

"The consistency probably hasn't been there but ... we turned up against the Titans on Saturday night with a disciplined and simple game and turned up with the right commitment and attitude," he said of his side's ominous 38-4 victory over third-placed Gold Coast.

Meanwhile, NRL chief executive David Gallop sent a warning to players that the focus should now remain on the field after a horror year of off-field dramas.

"We've had some challenges along the way in 2009,"he said.

"While we acknowledge that we've got work to do on a range of fronts off the field, hopefully over the next few weeks we get to focus just on the tremendous footy that our players have been providing."

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