As the NRL’s pre-season challenge edges closer, every club has holes they are looking to fill and headaches that need to be solved.
The Panthers have lost one of the competition’s premier hookers and will be hoping an impressive duo can fill the void.
Meanwhile, Anthony Seibold’s Sea Eagles have a new-look halves partnership that needs a test run.
Here’s every club’s big issue that needs solving heading into the trials.
PANTHERS
Test their hooker partnership
Following the departure of Apisai Koroisau, a big hole has been left in the middle of the park for the Panthers.
Koroisau was clearly one of the NRL’s premier hookers, and now Mitch Kenny and Soni Luke will be left to fill the void.
Both will likely feature during the pre-season trials and Kenny, with 60 games of NRL experience, will wear the No.9 jersey come Round 1.
But what coach Ivan Cleary is yet to work out is how he can utilise both players across 80 minutes.
Luke has a solid running game, while Kenny’s defence is clearly superior and his calm presence could be crucial for the reigning premiers this season.
SHARKS
Proving they are contenders
The Sharks shocked the NRL world by finishing second in the regular season in Craig Fitzgibbon’s rookie season as a head coach.
While Cronulla were bundled out of the finals in straight sets, they now have a target on their back as one of the competition’s elite teams.
The top teams will likely deploy their fringe first graders who can shine in pre-season, highlighting a club’s depth.
Now the Sharks have a chance to showcase their wealth of talent and rising stars Kayal Iro will be desperate to prove they can cut it on the big stage.
COWBOYS
Fill holes in the forward pack and utility spot
The Cowboys have lost several key figures in their starting 17 for the 2023 season.
Tom Gilbert flew under the radar for Todd Payten’s side and was ultimately awarded with an Origin appearance in Game III.
The 22-year-old departed for the Dolphins in the off-season, with Heilum Luki likely being the man to replace him with strong pre-season performances.
Meanwhile, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow played as the club’s utility at the back-end of the year and both Tom Chester and Jake Granville will be desperate to stamp their claim in the coming weeks to become the No.14.
Luciano Leilua has also been stood down after being charged over alleged domestic violence offences.
EELS
Test their new-look pack
The Eels have lost five key members of their forward pack this season, and Reed Mahoney, Ray Stone, Isaiah Papali’i, Marata Niukore and Oregon Kaufusi will be sorely missed.
However, Parramatta have made a number of savvy signings who are preparing to fill the void.
Veteran Josh Hodgson takes over at hooker and will be hoping to forge combinations with his new teammates.
Meanwhile, Jack Murchie, Jirah Momoisea and Matt Doorey will all be looking to stamp their claim for a spot in Brad Athur’s starting 17.
The Eels also signed Penrith prodigy J’maine Hopgood, who could line-up at lock to start the season with Ryan Matterson suspended and Nathan Brown free to negotiate with rivals.
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STORM
Fill the void left by mass departures
Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Brandon Smith (Roosters), Jesse Bromwich (Dolphins), Kenny Bromwich (Dolphins) and Cooper Johns (Sea Eagles) all left the Storm after the 2022 season.
Bellamy has now lost four regular members of his starting forward pack and will be searching for players to fill the void left by the experienced players.
Tariq Sims, Eliesa Katoa, Joe Chan and Aaron Pene all made the move to the Storm for the 2023 season.
Bellamy now will be hoping to work out who takes the Bromwich brother’s starting spots in both the front row and backrow.
Katoa and Sims will be the frontrunners for the edge while multiple players will be vying to pack the scrum.
Look for Chan, Alec McDonald, Trent Loiero and Jordan Grant as potential bolters to start for Bellamy in the trials.
ROOSTERS
Build combinations in their spine
Former Storm gun Brandon Smith joins the Roosters and makes up an impressive spine including James Tedesco, Sam Walker and Luke Keary.
On paper, that quartet looks to be one of the most dangerous in the competition.
However, the Roosters have struggled for consistency and have been hit with an injury crisis over the last two seasons.
Master coach Trent Robinson will likely use his trial games against the Storm and Sea Eagles, hoping to forge the combinations between his halves and new hooker.
Interestingly, Smith’s first start for the Tricolours could be against his former club when the Roosters face Melbourne in Geeling on February 12.
RABBITOHS
Make a call on their second winger
The Rabbitohs have one of the most prolific tryscorers on one wing in Alex Johnston, but Jason Demetriou’s first choice for the right flank is still unknown.
Izack Thompson, Richard Kennar, Jaxson Paulo and Taane Milne all featured on the wing and Paulo has since departed the club for the Roosters, leaving the remaining trio to fight for the spot.
Taane Milne was handed a six-game suspension in the Rabbitohs preliminary final against the Panthers, but is free to play after serving his ban at the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Thompson played only two games, scoring two tries and Kennar also featuring twice, scoring four tries.
Each player will likely get their chance to show their skills outside right centre Campbell Graham as Demetriou makes the big call.
RAIDERS
Solve their hooker headache
Following the signing of former Bronco Danny Levi, Ricky Stuart has a big decision to make regarding his hooker pairing.
Zac Woolford became the Raiders starting hooker in 2022, with Tom Starling coming off the bench.
Adam Elliott also featured at dummy-half in a handful of games as Stuart looked for his best combination off the back of a ruck.
Now the 56-year-old has an even bigger decision to make with three out-and-out hookers in his squad.
Levi was impressive for Samoa at the World Cup before heading home due to personal reasons, while both Woolford and Starling have shown glimpses of promise in their short first-grade careers.
Stuart will likely use the Raiders trials against Bulldogs and Tigers to solve the issue but already has said that his new recruit could take the No.9 jersey come Round 1, according to The Daily Telegraph.
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BRONCOS
Nail down their spine
The Broncos’ most important player is undoubtedly Adam Reynolds — and to maximise his ability, his halves partner needs to be the perfect fit.
Young gun Ezra Mam showed glimpses of his talent alongside the former Rabbitohs gun, but was axed by Walters for Tyson Gamble to close out the year.
Meanwhile, former Tiger Jock Madden will be doing everything he can to stake a claim for the five-eighth spot.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters will have the difficult task of picking his best partnership, and also has a headache at hooker.
Billy Walters and Cory Paix look set to be the dummy-half pairing, but young gun Blake Mozer is hot on their heels and with strong pre-season performances could put himself in the frame for selection.
DRAGONS
Find the star to take the load off Hunt
When the Dragons played well last season, it almost always came off the back of a strong Ben Hunt performance.
After a 10th placed finish in 2022, it was clear the gun halfback can’t always shoulder the load if the Red V want to play finals football.
Anthony Griffin will likely be using his pre-season trials to find his side’s second attacking outlet.
Regular five-eighth Junior Amone has been stood down under the NRL’s No Fault Stand Down policy, while fullback Cody Ramsey has been ruled out for the season due to illness.
The Dragons will be desperate for Jayden Sullivan, Tyrell Sloan and the centre pairing of Zac Lomax and Moses Suli to stand tall leading into the season.
SEA EAGLES
Give DCE and Schuster time to combine
Following Kieran Foran’s departure, a new man has stepped into the five-eighth role at Brookvale — Josh Schuster.
The 21-year-old has been seeking a move into the halves and finally gets his chance after showing his impressive ball-handling skills in the backrow.
Schuster has played two games in the halves in his 35 NRL appearances, and new coach Anthony Seibold will be desperate for his star halfback and young gun to forge a strong partnership with Daly Cherry-Evans in pre-season.
The Samoan international even gave up the chance to feature at the World Cup to make sure he is fit and firing for the 2023 NRL season.
TITANS
Nail down their spine
The Titans have a number of players vying for crucial spots in their spine — and Justin Holbrook has a plan.
According to the Gold Coast coach, players will battle for a spot in their two pre-season trials.
“All along, we haven’t decided on (our spine) yet,” Holbrook said in a club statement.
Kieran Foran joined the Gold Coast club ahead of the 2023 season and will take one of the halves positions — with multiple players vying for the other spot.
AJ Brimson, Toby Sexton and Tanah Boyd will all be putting their best foot forward to start for the Titans come Round 1.
Brimson could also be the man to play fullback, shifting Jayden Campbell into the utility role.
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BULLDOGS
Unlock Kikau
The Bulldogs once again have a number of new faces coming into their starting side, and welcome Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney in 2023.
While Mahoney is set to become an integral member of Canterbury-Bankstown’s spine under Ciraldo, unlocking an attacking weapon like Kikau could revitalise the Bulldogs.
The 27-year-old Fijian was one of the Panthers’ best players during their back-to-back premierships and five-eighth Jarome Luai knew exactly how to maximise his edge forward’s dangerous ball-running ability.
Matt Burton will now be tasked with forging a partnership with the hulking backrower — and the two could cause damage in 2023.
KNIGHTS
Solve the fullback headache
With Kalyn Ponga set to make the switch into the halves, one big question remains in the Hunter — will Lachie Miller succeed as a first string fullback?
The former Shark signed with the Knights on Tuesday, and will begin training with his new side ahead of the pre-season challenge.
Unfortunately for Newcastle, Ponga is unlikely to feature until Round 1 and Miller won’t get to play alongside the club’s marquee player and forge combinations.
Miller has played only seven NRL games at fullback, on the wing and on the bench after featuring for the Australian Rugby Sevens team at the 2020 Olympics.
Now the 28-year-old gets a chance to be a regular first grade starter.
English import Bailey Hodgson, veteran Dane Gagai and young gun Krystian Mapapalangi remain the club’s back-up options in the No.1.
WARRIORS
Who partners Shaun Johnson?
The Warriors made several big signings ahead of the 2023 season, and incoming coach Andrew Webster has a big decision to make regarding his halves.
Shaun Johnson will likely wear the No.7 jersey come the start of the season, but who will play five-eighth is still up in the air.
Recruits Te Maire Martin and Luke Metcalf will both be hoping to impress the club’s new coach, while Ronald Volkman, who made a mid-season move from the Roosters in 2022, will also be in the mix.
Webster will likely use his trials to nail down his spine in the refreshed Warriors team, and without Reece Walsh, Martin and Metcalf could also both feature at the back, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad also potential a fullback option.
TIGERS
Integrating the recruits
Tim Sheens, alongside assistants Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah, has introduced a number of new faces into the Tigers set up.
The merger club have struggled in seasons gone by, and Tigers fans will be desperate for these recruits to improve their side.
However, it doesn’t always work that way.
While the quality of Apisai Koroisau, Isaiah Papali’i, David Klemmer and John Bateman can’t be understated — they still need time on the field as a group to gel with their new teammates.
Especially Koroisau, who joins Adam Doueihi, Luke Brooks and likely Daine Laurie in a new-look spine following Jackson Hastings departure.
DOLPHINS
Making a splash in their debut NRL appearances
Wayne Bennett introduced the Broncos into the NSWRL in 1988 and will once again lead an expansion team into the competition in 2023.
The Dolphins recruitment has been heavily criticised coming into their debut season — but the NRL’s newest franchise get a chance to silence the external noise in pre-season.
While other teams will be able to blood rising stars and give their bench rotations valuable playing minutes, the Dolphins are a step behind.
Bennett will likely use the pre-season as a chance for his team to line-up together for the first time, hoping to build connections before the regular season kicks off on March 2.
