The NRL’s pre-season challenge kicks off in three days. Between the big off-season transfers and the Dolphins joining the competition there’s so much to look forward to.
All eyes will be on the likes of Api Koroisau, Isaiah Papali’i, Reed Mahoney and Viliame Kikau as they get their first official game in their new colours.
We’ll get an insight into how the Storm plan to fill the spots left by the Bromwich brothers and Felise Kaufusi, while the Tigers will unveil their overhauled game plan.
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But beyond the big talking points, fans will also get a sneak peak at the next generation of talent.
A mixture of teenage prospects and journeymen will get a chance to play alongside — and against — some of the biggest names in the game in the two-week tournament that will be shown on Fox League.
One of those players is the Dolphins’ secret weapon Valynce Te Whare, who has been tipped by his teammates to have a rapid rise this season.
Te Whare’s story is remarkable. The 22-year-old centre had never played rugby league until he signed with the Dolphins in December, 2021. Instead he was playing rugby union for King Country in New Zealand.
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He spent last season learning the game while playing for the Dolphins in Queensland Cup. It turned out Te Whare was a complete natural and on debut he scored a double, set up another try, got three linebreaks, 14 tackle busts and 168 running metres.
Te Whare continued that form throughout the season to not only help the Dolphins reach the grand final but also land a spot in Queensland Cup’s Team of the Year.
The 182cm, 108kg wrecking ball has left a big impression on both his NRL teammates and coach Wayne Bennett with his speed, strength and Brandon Smith-like “character.”
When asked by foxsports.com.au for a player that’s impressed over pre-season, Kodi Nikorima was quick to say Te Whare’s name.
“I don’t know how heavy he is but he’s a big boy and he can move too — he’s fast,” he said.
“I’m excited to see him hopefully get a debut this year. He’s only played a handful of rugby league games so he’d be one to watch out for this year.”
Kenny Bromwich also nominated Te Whare, telling foxsports.com.au that “he can move that fella — he’s quick too,” while Jarrod Wallace expects him to become a Dolphins “cult hero.”
“There’s a young guy Val… I reckon he’s going to be a Redcliffe cult hero,” Wallace said.
“I think he’s definitely going to get an opportunity, he’s training well, he’s big, fast and explosive. I definitely think he’s a chance of getting an opportunity.”
It seems Te Whare has a bit of cheek about him too which has won over Bennett.
“He’s got a personality on him so Wayne sort of loves him,” Nikorima said.
“Val doesn’t take a step back, he’s a bit of a character. He reminds me a little bit of Brandon Smith.”
Te Whare is just one of many emerging talents to keep an eye out for during the trial games. Read on to find out who your team’s players to watch are.
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BRONCOS
Tristan Sailor and Shalom O’Ofou
Both players joined the Broncos for pre-season on train-and-trial deals and have made the most of their opportunities. Skipper Adam Reynolds said last week that Sailor “has been pretty impressive” at fullback and there’s also been whispers around that the 24-year-old is a good chance of filling the final Top 30 spot. Meanwhile, Reynolds also had plenty of praise for O’Ofou, declaring: “He’s done a terrific job.” The 23-year-old second-rower was on a development deal with the Dragons last season but struggled to nail down a regular spot in their NSW Cup side.
RAIDERS
Ata Mariota and Hohepa Puru
Mariota got a taste of NRL last season when an injury and a failed HIA opened the door for his debut in Round 21. First grade was always on the cards though for the towering prop, who impressed in NSW Cup last season — that’s why the Raiders locked Mariota in on a two-year Top 30 deal last July. The 21-year-old looks up to Josh Papalii and Joseph Tapine, so full pre-season under his belt with those two will do him wonders. Puru joined the Raiders for an opportunity after captaining the Panthers Jersey Flegg side — and getting man of the match in the grand final. The promising lock has impressed Corey Harawira-Naera, who said he’s one of the players that are “putting their hands up” at training.
BULLDOGS
Khaled Rajab and Karl Oloapu
You’d have to be living under a rock to not have heard of Oloapu and the reported $500,000 transfer fee the Bulldogs paid the Broncos to secure him. The 18-year-old Australian Schoolboys sensation had been in Brisbane’s academy since he was 13-years old but a contract dispute allowed the Bulldogs to swoop in and sign him on a three-year Top 30 deal just over two weeks ago. Oloapu — a half that can also play lock — is one of the brightest young rugby league talents in the country. 20-year-old Rajab will be full of confidence after a breakout year which included a NSW Cup debut and standout performances for Lebanon in the World Cup. The Dogs’ football boss Phil Gould already has him earmarked for an NRL debut at some point this season.
SHARKS
Kayal Iro and Thomas Hazelton
Between an NRL debut and being crowned NSW Cup Player of the Year, Iro had plenty to celebrate last season. He was promoted to the Top 30 mid-season and signed a new deal that keeps him at the club until the end of 2024. The 22-year-old centre busted tackles and notched up running metres for fun while starring for Newtown last year and is pushing for more NRL time. Just like Iro, Thomas Hazelton is coming off a stellar season in reserve grade. The 198cm, 113kg prop, who was recruited to the Sharks by club legend Gavin Millar, was on a train-and-trial deal last season before inking a two-year NRL contract.
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DOLPHINS
Isaiya Katoa and Valynce Te Whare
There were plenty of headlines about Katoa when he turned down a contract extension with the Panthers to sign with the Dolphins. The 18-year-old starred for Penrith in SG Ball last season but was dumped by the club after news of his Dolphins deal broke only to be recalled for the Jersey Flegg grand final — in which he kicked the matchwinning field goal. Katoa has seriously impressed his teammates over pre-season with Kodi Nikorima declaring he’s “got it,” while Jarrod Wallace called the half’s natural ability “outrageous.” As mentioned earlier, Te Whare has also left a lasting impression on the club and is one player every fan must keep an eye on over the trial period.
TITANS
Alof’iana Khan-Pereira and Ben Liyou
Speedy winger Khan-Pereira shone for Burleigh in Queensland Cup last season, scoring 25 tries in 19 games to earn a spot in the Team of the Year and has his eyes firmly on an NRL debut this year. With Brian Kelly (suspension) out for the first three rounds and Patrick Herbert recovering from an ACL injury, an opportunity in the backline could open up for Khan-Pereira should he impress during trials. 21-year-old Lyiou is only on a train-and-trial but is already locked in on a Top 30 deal for 2024. The hard-running prop got a taste of the big stage in a Titans trial game last year and should benefit off his third full-time pre-season.
SEA EAGLES
Nathaniel Roache and Samuela Fainu
In one of the feel-good stories over summer, Roache picked up a train-and-trial opportunity with Manly after an awful run with injuries. The 26-year-old hooker played 26 games over five seasons for the Warriors before joining the Eels in 2021 but a knee injury sidelined him for the entire 2022 season. Roache is expected to get time in the upcoming trials and provides coach Anthony Seibold with some capable back-up at dummy-half. Then there’s Fainu — the 193cm, 107kg prop that’s still eligible to play SG Ball. Fainu has impressed the coaching staff — and his teammates — in his first NRL pre-season since joining the Top 30 so much that Jason Saab believes the 19-year-old will get a debut this season. Coach Anthony Seibold has also teased a debut for Fainu, recently revealing he’s a fan of the young gun’s game sense and skill.
STORM
Jack Howarth and Joe Chan
Take one look at Howarth’s contract and you know the Storm have big plans for him. The 20-year-old, who is signed until the end of 2027, played Australian Schoolboys in 2019 and last season represented Queensland in the Under19s State of Origin. Howarth has been groomed as a centre but enjoyed a switch to the second row during last season with Queensland Cup feeder side, Sunshine Coast — and that’s where he may get his opportunity given the Storm have lost Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi. Chan is another promising youngster on the Storm’s books. The 20-year-old was plucked from French Super League club, Catalans and has 12 Super Rugby games under his belt too. He’s the son of former Storm player, Alex Chan, and is a versatile forward that’s sure to get some game time during the trials.
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KNIGHTS
Bailey Hodgson and Krystian Mapapalangi
Knights fans haven’t been able to see much of Hodgson since he joined the club in 2021. The 20-year-old cousin of veteran hooker Josh Hodgson, played reserve grade in his first season with the club but the competition was cancelled mid-year due to Covid. He then suffered back-to-back elbow injuries that sidelined him for all of 2022. Kalyn Ponga’s move to five-eighth has opened up the No.1 jersey and although the Knights have signed Lachlan Miller, Hodgson can put himself in the frame during the trials. Keep an eye out for Mapapalangi too, who got a taste of NRL last season. The 20-year-old, who can play five-eighth or centre, only played two first grade games last season but he showed plenty of promise — even setting up a try with his first touch in his debut game.
COWBOYS
Thomas Chester and Tom Duffy
Townsville product Chester joined the NRL squad on a train-and trial last season and impressed enough to earn a two-year Top 30 deal and an NRL debut off the bench in Round 18. Chester was developed in the halves but has made a successful transition to fullback — and is versatile enough to fill in at hooker and at a pinch, lock. He shone in a Cowboys trial game last year and will get another shot this year. Duffy is also a North Queensland boy and there were reports the Bulldogs made a play for the 19-year-old half. Duffy will have to bide his time while Chad Townsen and Tom Dearden are at the club but Cowboys fans will get a chance to see the former Australian Schoolboy and Queenslander Under 19s representative in action during the trials.
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EELS
J’maine Hopgood and Ky Rodwell
Club captain Clint Gutherson believes Hopgood is set for a “breakthrough season” after making the switch from Penrith, while Dylan Brown said the new recruit “has been massive” over pre-season. The 23-year-old was a standout in reserve grade last season, earning a spot in the competition’s Team of the Year and the Panthers’ NSW Cup Player of the Year honours. He was stuck behind arguably the best lock in the game in Isaah Yeo at Penrith but could start in the first three games of the season while Ryan Matterson is suspended. Rodwell has been in the Eels’ system for a few years after previously being discovered by the Rabbitohs at 15-years old while playing for the Bombala Blue Heelers. The 23-year-old prop is as tough as nails, as proven when he broke his hand on his first tackle on debut in 2021 — and then went on to play 52 minutes and make another 33 tackles. Rodwell played four NRL games last season and is moving closer and close to the 17.
PANTHERS
Thomas Jenkins and Jack Cole
Jenkins finished equal second in NSW Cup’s tryscoring tally and his form was rewarded with an NRL debut in Round 25. He wasn’t meant to join Penrith’s Top 30 until this season but he was fast-tracked and he was upgraded mid-last year. The club sees a bright future for the Young Cherrypickers junior — and that could be as Stephen Crichton’s replacement in 2024. The Panthers have got a Matt Burton 2.0 in 19-year-old Cole. Aside from the headgear, the Orange CYMS junior can play five-eighth and centre, has a strong kicking game and loves to run the ball. He represented NSW in the Under 19s Origin last year, was crowned Jersey Flegg Player of the Year and earned an NRL debut in Round 25.
RABBITOHS
Benjamin Lovett and Tallis Duncan
Lovett, a Parkes Spaceman junior, joined the Rabbitohs in 2019 and went onto win their Jersey Flegg Player of the Year award in 2021. He featured in one of Souths Sydney’s NRL trial games last year and will get another opportunity again after a solid season in NSW Cup which earned him a two-year Top 30 deal. Keep an eye out for Duncan too, who was the club’s SG Ball Player of the Year in 2021. The 20-year-old lock, who also featured in a trial last year, is signed until the end of 2025 and has impressed the club both on and off the field.
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DRAGONS
Connor Muhleisen and Treigh Stewart
Muhleisen is a graduate of the 2019 SG Ball premiership-winning Illawarra Steelers side that featured Tyrell Sloan, Talatau Amone and Jayden Sullivan. He was on a train-and-trial last season but was locked in on a development deal for 2023. The 21-year-old hooker, who is rock-solid in defence, played in last year’s Charity Shield and should getplenty of game time over the trial period. Like Muhleisen, Stewart was also part of that Steelers side — in fact he played at fullback in the grand final with Sloan on the wing. He had an outstanding 2022 season in NSW Cup to earn a train-and-trial opportunity.
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ROOSTERS
Siua Wong and Sandon Smith
Roosters fans would have kept a close eye on Wong in the Rugby League World Cup and they’ll get another look at him during the trials. The 19-year-old had a breakout season in 2022, captaining the Roosters’ SG Ball side to a grand final and cementing a starting spot in NSW Cup. Wong played every minute of Fiji’s World Cup campaign in the second row and has also been touted by league guru Phil Gould as the “next big thing.” Smith is a half with a big future in the NRL. The Central Coast product was one of the North Sydney Bears’ best players last season despite still being eligible for Jersey Flegg. His touch football background has given him a blistering running game, while he also has the skill and composure of a game-managing No.7.
WARRIORS
Luke Metcalf and Valingi Kepu
Warriors fans will finally get to see Metcalf in action after the club signed him in November, 2021. The 23-year-old has been biding his time at the Sharks for the last three seasons but has only gotten seven games — one of those last season. It was expected when Metcalf first signed that he would start in the halves but the Warriors have since recruited Te Maire Martin. The trials will be his opportunity to prove why he needs to be in the 17 come Round 1. Kepu is a little-known prop that has a bright future in the game. The 20-year-old, who weighs 110kg, signed an extension in 2021 along with his twin brother, Otukinekina, which springboarded them into the Top 30 this season. However, his brother was recently granted an early release.
WESTS TIGERS
Rua Ngatikaura and Jahream Bula
Ngatikaura is cut from a similar mould to star hooker Brandon Smith, which should excite Tigers fans. The 22-year-old, who can also play lock, is a tenacious defender and damaging ballrunner and was locked in by the club on a two-year Top 30 deal last April. His season took a turn though when he suffered a serious ankle injury. He did however recover in time for the World Cup and made his international debut for Cook Islands. Bula is on a train-and-trial deal at the moment but is doing all the right things at training. The Keebra Park product joined the Tigers last season and impressed at fullback in Jersey Flegg. Coach Tim Sheens told The Sydney Morning Herald that Bula is “the best trainer at the club” and will be a player that “comes out of no where.” The Tigers’ incumbent No.1, Daine Laurie has been impressed with his competition too, telling foxsports.com.au: “He’s been carving up.”
