The NRL season will launch into orbit on Saturday with the first unofficial trial of the year when Manly host St George Illawarra at 4 Pines Park.
It might still be January but with the NRL’s official pre-season challenge set to begin on February 9 both clubs are looking to finetune their rosters ahead of the official season kick-off on March 2.
There’ll be nowhere to hide for the Sea Eagles and Dragons’ top 30 rosters during the behind-closed-doors northern beaches hitout with temperatures forecast to reach 32 degrees.
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The Dragons will be fighting to make the finals for the first time since 2018 and must start the year without two key position players from last season in fullback Cody Ramsey and five-eighth Talatau Amone.
Ramsey is still recovering from major off-season surgery after being diagnosed with ulceritis colitis while Amone has been stood down under the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy.
Young gun Red V fullback Tyrell Sloan is expected to be given first crack at the vacant St George Illawarra No.1 jumper while experienced campaigner Jack Bird is tipped to partner Ben Hunt in the halves to begin the season for the Red V.
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The Dragons also have highly-talented rookie half Jayden Sullivan on the books but he has only recently started running again after sustaining a hamstring injury during pre-season.
Sullivan is expected to be a chance of playing in the NRL’s official pre-season challenge but will not feature in Saturday’s hitout at Brookvale Oval.
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Both clubs have arranged the unofficial trial with a view to when the regular season starts and the Dragons have a bye in round one and Manly have a bye in round two.
With the inclusion of the Dolphins meaning the NRL will now be a 17-team competition, at least one team will be granted a bye every week.
The Dragons will have a new-look forward pack this season with Tariq Sims, Andrew McCullough and George Burgess all moved on from the club.
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This means new recruit Jacob Liddle will be given the first shot at wearing the No.9 jumper with fellow new recruit Ben Murdoch-Masila expected to play left edge backrow in place of Sims.
Utility Moses Mbye is expected to fill the Red V No.14 role and play hooker when Liddle needs a rest.
It’s an equally important opening to the 2023 season for the Sea Eagles under Seibold off the back of losing the final seven games of the season following the rainbow jersey fiasco.
The Sea Eagles will kick off the new official NRL season by hosting Canterbury-Bankstown at 4 Pines Park in round one on March 4 while the Dragons will host the Gold Coast at Nestrata Jubilee Stadium in round two on March 12.
