All 17 NRL clubs announced their extended squads on Tuesday for week one of the pre-season challenge and there were some interesting selections.
Most coaches have opted to rest their star players and instead give their next generation an opportunity to shine. Although the likes of Luke Keary, Sam Walker, Victor Radley and new recruit Brandon Smith will feature for the Roosters.
Joseph Suaali’i’s move to the centres is about to launch too with the towering teen named there for Sunday’s clash with the Storm.
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Several coaches will have to shuffle things around come Round 1 with a host of players out suspended. Those coaches are using these next two weeks of trials as a chance to find their right replacements.
One of those coaches is Anthony Griffin, who has really had to get creative this week with a stack of his spine players unavailable for various reasons.
Here are the biggest talking points to come out of the first team list Tuesday of the year.
Selwood’s retirement code switch! | 01:22
STARS MAKE LONG-AWAITED RETURN FROM INJURIES
How good is it to see some of the game’s big names return after lengthy stints on the sideline? Storm duo Christian Welch and Reimis Smith are back from respective Achilles and pectoral injuries — both have been named to start in Melbourne’s clash with the Roosters. Welch suffered his injury in the first game of last season, while Smith tore his pec in May and then re-injured it again at training two months later, which ultimately ruled him out for the remainder of the season. Also back on the paddock is Raiders veteran Jarrod Croker, who dislocated his troublesome shoulder. There were initial fears the 32-year-old would be forced into retirement but he hosed those down last season and will start in the centres this week. Eels recruit Josh Hodgson is back in action too after suffering an ACL injury in Round 1 last season.
SUSPENSIONS LEAVE COACHES WITH BIG HOLES TO FILL
Some coaches have big holes to fill ahead of Round 1 with several players either suspended or unable to play under the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy. The Titans’ new recruit Aaron Schoupp will get a chance this week to prove why he should replace the suspended Brian Kelly for the first three rounds, while Roosters young gun Siua Wong also has a good opportunity to stake his claim for Angus Crichton’s spot in the Roosters’ season-opener. Cowboys coach Todd Payten will have to dig deep into his second-row stocks to replace Luciano Leilua, who is currently stood down due to domestic violence charges and isn’t due to face court until May 18. Heilum Luki is expected to miss the first three weeks with a knee injury and Tom Gilbert has left for the Dolphins. While Coen Hess is a good chance of filling the role given his versatility, new recruit Jack Gosiewski and Queensland under 19s Origin forward Kulikefu Finefeuiaki have been named to start in this weekend’s trial. Meanwhile, Eels star Ryan Matterson will miss the first three rounds after choosing to serve a suspension instead of paying a fine over an incident in the grand final. He’ll get some footy into his legs during the trials, but his likely replacement, J’maine Hopgood, won’t feature until the second week of the pre-season challenge given he’ll be playing All Stars this week.
Wallace’s new lease on life at Dolphins | 02:01
JOSEPH SUAALI’I CENTRE STAGE
The Roosters’ plans to shift young star Joseph Suaali’i to the centres will officially kick off this weekend with the 19-year-old named in the No.3 jersey. There’s been talk for a while now about getting him more involved in the action and with James Tedesco sitting comfortable at fullback, the next best option is centre. It’ll solve the Roosters’ left centre issue too — an area they struggled to fill last season. There’s a chance Suaali’i could even be given the licence to roam like fellow centre Joseph Manu.
“Joey Manu, Drew Hutchison, Joe Suaali’i, all of those guys play a part of that spine role at different times and decided on how we play and especially how we attack,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson told foxsports.com.au a couple of weeks ago.
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SPOTS UP FOR GRABS IN ROOSTERS RESHUFFLE
The flip side to shifting Suaali’i to the centres, is opening up a vacant spot on the wing. The Roosters recruited Rabbitohs youngster Jaxson Paulo and former Bulldog Corey Allan over the off-season — with the former being named to start this weekend. SG Ball gun Robert Toia is a handy outside back and has been promoted to the Top 30, while Paul Momirovski has played a handful of games on the wing.
DRAGONS’ DEPTH TESTED
Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has had to get a little creative with his spine for the first week of the pre-season challenge. His fullback stocks took a hit when Cody Ramsey was ruled out for the season due to an illness and likely Round 1 starter Tyrell Sloan is on All Stars duties this weekend. Griffin has turned to Treigh Stewart for the No.1 jersey — which is actually a well-deserved call-up after an impressive 2022 season in NSW Cup. Things are a little trickier when it comes to five-eighth though. Talatau Amone is unavailable due to the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy, his natural replacement Jayden Sullivan is injured and so is Jack Bird. With captain Ben Hunt being rested this week, Griffin has named utility Moses Mbye at halfback and development player Connor Muhleison — who played all of last season at hooker in NSW Cup — at five-eighth.
Broncos to use Federer as inspiration | 01:22
PANTHERS’ AUDITIONS BEGIN
There will be two missing faces in the Panthers’ 17 this season — Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau. Given Ivan Cleary often included two hookers in his 17 last season, it’s expected he’ll do the same and will choose to start either Soni Luke or Mitch Kenny. But filling Kikau’s spot isn’t so simple. There’s Scott Sorensen — a regular in the 17 over the last couple of seasons — or new recruits Zac Hosking and Luke Garner. Hosking will get a chance to show what he has to offer after being named to start in the second row this weekend, along with the very versatile Jaeman Salmon.
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RAIDERS’ HOOKING BATTLE
When Josh Hodgson went down injured last season, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart swapped between Tom Starling and Zac Woolford at hooker. But there’s a new face in the mix this season with Danny Levi signing a two-year Top 30 deal with the club. Starling — the Raiders’ first choice hooker — hasn’t been named for this week’s trial against the Bulldogs, but the other two have — and interestingly Levi will start. It comes after Stuart told News Corp that Levi was “100 per cent” a chance of starting in Round 1. It sets up an interesting watch on Sunday.
KNIGHTS ROOKIE’S BIG CHANCE
The Knights signed Lachlan Miller to play fullback and cement Kalyn Ponga’s move to the halves — but who’s to say young gun Bailey Hodgson can’t put pressure on the new recruit for the No.1 jersey? Miller officially joined the Knights just over a week ago on a three-year deal with only seven NRL games to his name but a lot of potential. Coach Adam O’Brien has chosen to not play him this weekend and instead will give 20-year-old Hodgson a crack at fullback. The English import made headlines when he made his Super League debut 10 days after his 18th birthday but his development here in Australia was stunted last year due to a serious elbow injury. This is Hodgson’s opportunity to show O’Brien why he should be in the mix for the No.1 jersey regardless of Miller’s arrival.
