With round one of the NRL season now less than three weeks away, coaches and players will be using the trials to iron out any lingering issues before premiership points are on the line. As the club-by-club guide below shows, some clubs are facing more issues than others.
Dragons
Who will play five-eighth this year? From Junior Amone (no-fault stand-down) to Jayden Sullivan (hamstring) to Jack Bird (knee surgery), every man in the frame to partner Ben Hunt in the halves has had a setback over summer. In the case of Amone, it’s a long-standing one as he awaits court proceedings on his criminal charges. He won’t be back anytime soon. Moses Mbye might be a quick fix, but the Dragons are going to need a lot of their No.6 – whoever that may be – if they’re to ease the pressure on Hunt and have any chance of playing finals this year.
Titans
An insight into David Fifita’s mind. Is he a weapon or a waste of all that money? Does he want to stay on the Gold Coast or find pastures anew? It might only be a couple of pre-season hit-outs, but the body language of one of the NRL’s most destructive players might give an insight into his thinking. Coach Justin Holbrook is backing himself to get the best out of the representative forward, and he’s made sure he’s named to play in their first trial against the Broncos on Sunday night. If Fifita is locked in, you’ll see it pretty clearly over the next fortnight.
Victor Radley’s 2022 season didn’t end well.Credit:Getty
Roosters
Is this Roosters team ready to burst out of the blocks this year? Arguably no team had as much momentum or were playing better than Trent Robinson’s side on the eve of the 2022 finals, but after a stuttering first half of the season (losing to the Knights, Bulldogs and Dragons in the first eight rounds) they cost themselves a double chance. In a maze of Victor Radley red mist and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves elbows, they were out just like that. Robinson has shown his hand early and named an unusually strong team for the first trial – and the next fortnight will give the indication whether this team will be to put the sluggish start of last year behind them.
Eels
This is the first chance to run the eye over new Parramatta hooker Josh Hodgson. The former Raiders rake, who is coming back after another ACL injury, has impressed since arriving, but this will be his first game since going down in round one of last year. Fellow recruits Jirah Momoisea, Matt Doorey and Jack Murchie are all playing off for an opening-round forward spot vacated by Ryan Matterson, who will be missing for the opening rounds. Also, a great chance for Sean Russell, listed at fullback for the opening trial, to press for a three-quarter spot for the start of his side’s campaign.
Broncos
They are coming off a season that began with promise but fizzled into nothing. They are going to need to start well – and keep that momentum going – if Kevin Walters is going to keep his job. One of the defining calls for the off-contract coach is whether to give his son Billy or Corey Paix the No.9 jersey once the competition proper begins. Plenty of interest around some of the new faces; Reece Walsh is back at Red Hill and has the No.1 jersey on his back; Marty Taupau adds starch to the pack after almost signing for the Eels and Tristan Sailor, the son of Wendell, is trying to upgrade his train-and-trial deal.
Storm
Does Craig Bellamy see enough young talent emerging in the Storm ranks to coach beyond this year? Bellamy’s future has become an annual guessing game as he gives a host of possibles and probables a chance to shine. Word is that Ryan Papenhuyzen is still a way from returning from injury, so youngsters like Sualauvi Faalogo will get a run at the back. Christian Welch will get his first run since the luckless prop did his Achilles in round one of last year, but there is a huge void to fill in the forward pack. The loss of Felise Kaufusi and Jesse and Kenny Bromwich will require some of young trialists to stand up and bolster the pack.
Warriors
Welcome to NRL coaching Andrew Webster. Technically, this isn’t Webster’s first time in charge of an NRL side given he’s briefly been a caretaker at the Tigers and Warriors, but this will give an indication of the Warriors’ new direction. He’ll run the rule over new faces Te Maire Martin, Luke Metcalf, Brayden Wiliame and Jackson Ford. Who will be his first-choice halves? He’s got Shaun Johnson and Ronald Volkman to run out for the second trial after Martin and Metcalf showed some good signs against the Tigers. Being at home for a full season could be the biggest game-changer.
Tigers
The question that will no doubt pop up throughout the year will be in regards to the No.1 jersey. Expect incumbent Daine Laurie to get the first crack, but not everyone at the club is convinced he is the long-term answer. With Charlie Staines arriving from Penrith, pressure is on Laurie to perform, however, Staines’ defensive issues were exposed by the Warriors on Thursday. With a big-name forward pack, the Tigers have got the engine room to match it with the better sides. But there is enormous doubt over their backline. With Tim Sheens set to introduce an expansive style of football, the onus will be on the outside backs to convert pressure into points.
Cameron Ciraldo is embarking on his first NRL pre-season as a head coach.Credit:Louie Douvis
Bulldogs
New coach Cameron Ciraldo has named a strong team for his first match in charge of the Bulldogs. Crowd favourite Josh Reynolds will partner Kyle Flanagan in the halves. Reynolds is fighting for the chance to play in the No.14 role in round one after impressing over the pre-season. Young gun Paul Alamoti will partner Jake Averillo in the centres and likely both start the year in those positions. Braidon Burns will play at fullback against the Canberra Raiders on Sunday but he appears to be borrowing the jersey that will be worn by recruit Hayze Perham in the first game of the season against Manly.
Raiders
Clarity out wide and at dummy-half. The Raiders have decent options for both selection conundrums as Jarrod Croker makes a long-awaited return against Canterbury on Sunday from a shoulder reconstruction – the latest in a string of injuries that have laid the Canberra captain low for the past 18 months. The rise of Kiwi pair Matt Timoko and Sebastian Kris has Croker hard-pressed reclaiming a starting spot, which in turn has captaincy implications for Ricky Stuart. At the ruck, Samoan international Danny Levi and Zac Woolford get first crack to start the pre-season and Levi has been impressing the right people in the nation’s capital. Stuart played around with Tom Starling and Woolford’s game time as Canberra finished last season with a wet sail.
Sharks
There’s serious potential in the black, white and blue play-making stocks. Craig Fitzgibbon would love to see the first steps taken toward realising that over these pre-season games. Kade Dykes’ untimely ACL rupture with Lachlan Miller’s release to Newcastle already finalised has left the Sharks short on NRL experience behind first-choice fullback Will Kennedy. Kayal Iro – son of Kiwi great Kevin ‘The Beast’ Iro – cleaned up last year’s NSW Cup player of the year award and is well-placed to take the next step to NRL. Daniel Atkinson has also been signed out of Melbourne’s feeder system and Niwhai Puru, originally from Penrith, is rated as one of the most promising halves in the game. Plenty of promise, but still plenty unknown behind regular halves Matt Moylan and Nicho Hynes.
Panthers
Will they be able to replace Api Koroisau? The man with magic in his fingers and a wizard with his feet is the Panthers’ biggest loss in the last few years as the inevitable salary cap squeeze takes effect. Ivan Cleary hasn’t gone to market for another No.9, instead putting his faith in grand final starter Mitch Kenny and the late-maturing Soni Luke. There’s only way for Penrith to go after climbing the mountain in 2021 and 2022, and the next fortnight will give a glimpse into life after the Tigers’ Koroisau – and how Nathan Cleary will cope without his main threat at the ruck.
Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic.Credit:James Alcock
Sea Eagles
More than any other outfit, all 20 fingers and toes of Manly fans are crossed for their biggest and brightest to get through the pre-season unscathed because no team relies on a few key stars as much as the Sea Eagles. Tom Trbojevic and those pesky hamstrings are good to go for round one, but it’s hard to see him getting out of anything more than second gear in the second week of trials if he’s given a run. Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic sit in a similar boat coming off the World Cup and long, draining 2022 campaigns. Already young half Jamie Humphreys has suffered a broken jaw at training, while all eyes will be on Josh Schuster – apparently 15 kilos lighter than last year – when he steps out in the halves. Youngster Kaeo Weekes can also further his claims for a bench utility role.
Rabbitohs
There is plenty to like about Souths this year, but if they are skinny in one position, it is their right wing spot. Alex Johnston scores tries for fun on the left, but Izaac Thompson and Richie Kennar appear the front-runners to line up on the other side. Kennar will get his chance to impress in the opening trial. Keep an eye out for young Josiah Karapani in the centres, along with bench forward Terrell Kalo Kalo. Blake Taaffe will start at fullback against the Knights and push for that No. 14 jersey come round one, especially with Kodi Nikorima no longer at the club, and Siliva Havili injured. This will be the year forward Davvy Moale goes to the next level.
Knights captain Kalyn Ponga.Credit:Getty
Knights
Newcastle have struggled for too long, and again all eyes will be on the form of Kalyn Ponga and his move to five-eighth. The superstar will not feature in the opening trial and remains an outside chance of also missing next Friday’s match against Parramatta. Either way, Jackson Hastings and Tyson Gamble get first crack to shine in the halves. Both players like to run the ball and are big men for playmakers, but also very vocal. Lachie Miller can play fullback and gives coach Adam O’Brien a bit of insurance to stick with the Ponga No. 6 experiment for a little bit. It’s great to see some of the big men back, including Lachie Fitzgibbon.
Dolphins
You would be a mug to assume the Dolphins will be pushovers this year. They may take time to click and struggle with depth, but Wayne Bennett’s side has no shortage of hard workers. It is no surprise to see plenty of players with NRL experience named for Sunday’s blowout up in Cairns. For Sydney-based fans, the best reason to watch this team is young ex-Panthers playmaker Isaiya Katoa. This kid was rated big time by Penrith, and had a cult following when carving up GPS rugby for Barker College. Bennett has been mindful to give him much air time. But the teen whiz is a gun.
Cowboys
Can the Cowboys go one better and make the grand final? Judging by their relaxed nature following their loss to Parramatta in the preliminary final last year, there was a sense even the players thought they had exceeded their own expectations. There are so many good players in this side. Barely any regular first-graders will go around against the Dolphins. Big Jimmy Tamou is back at the club he won a premiership at, and while a little older, his work ethic and professionalism has already been noticed in Townsville. Tom Chester, a proud local, will start at fullback, but is capable of playing almost every position on the park.
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