NRL trials 2023: Manly win 30-28 over Rabbitohs, Leon Te Hau faces suspension, Sele injured
South Sydney won’t be too fussed about losing their trial to the Sea Eagles, but the real cost is yet to be felt with one Rabbitoh set to face the judiciary and another injured.
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Rookie Rabbitoh Leon Te Hau is at risk of being banned for three weeks after being charged for a dangerous tackle against Manly on Friday night.
Te Hau was lucky to avoid being sent from the field in the second half after up-ending Manly’s Fletcher Myers in the club’s pre-season trial on the Central Coast.
Te Hau was sin-binned for the lifting tackle and on Saturday morning was hit with a grade two dangerous tackle charge by the NRL match review committee.
He faces a three week ban if he fights the charge and loses at the judiciary or two weeks with an early guilty plea.
Meanwhile, hard running South Sydney forward Hame Sele is in doubt for round one after suffering a calf injury in the same trial match.
Sele was forced from the field with the injury and was booked for scans on Saturday afternoon to examine the severity of the issue.
MATCH REPORT: SEA EAGLES HOLD ON TO WIN
The Anthony Seibold era got off to a thrilling start in Gosford on Friday night as Manly held on for a two-point win over South Sydney in their opening trial.
Seibold, who had his coaching career revived when Des Hasler was sacked in the off-season, put a squad bereft of first graders on the park and watched as they came back from an early deficit to beat the Rabbitohs.
Winger Raymond Vaega finished with a brace while fullback Jake Toby, a star for Blacktown Workers in the NSW Cup last year, scored a double of his own.
Seibold would have been delighted given the talent sitting on the sidelines. Daly Cherry-Evans, Tom and Jake Trbojevic, and Josh Schuster were among those who sat out the game.
JOHNS TO FULTON
There are some rich bloodlines running through the Sea Eagles. Cooper Johns is the son of Newcastle legend Matthew Johns. Zac Fulton is the grandson of the late, great Bob Fulton.
Late in the first half with Manly trailing, the two famous names combined when Johns put through a sweet kick for Fulton to score.
Johns, playing five-eighth with Schuster watching on, showed he will be a handy pickup for the Sea Eagles this season.
As well as his try assist for Fulton, he added another with a cutout pass for Toby to score. He kicked three goals for good measure.
He shapes as an high-class insurance policy if the Schuster experiment doesn’t come up to scratch.
TALIS LOVE
Gorden Tallis was sitting on the sidelines in his commentary role with Fox League on Friday night and no doubt walked away impressed with what he saw from South Sydney youngster Tallis Duncan.
Duncan’s father was a huge fan of big Gordie. A big enough fan to name his son after the Brisbane and Queensland legend.
Duncan is more Roaming Bull than Raging Bull – if you want a comparison, think Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray.
He showed he had more than just a famous name as he worked the house down in Gosford, running for more than 120 metres.
Souths have plenty of depth in the forwards but Duncan is one to watch.
TAAFFE TIME
Blake Taaffe has played his fair share of first grade but he showed on Friday night that he is ready to play a lot more.
In a side lacking first grade experience, Taaffe played fullback and produced a staring performance, no moment better than when he sent kick skyward and then backed up to score after it was tapped back by Richie Kennar.
The Rabbitohs used Kodi Nikorima as a utility off the bench during the latter stages of last season but Nikorima is now gone and the role is Taaffe’s to lose.
He can’t do much more.
PRESEASON KING
Vaega scored a hattrick of tries against the Wests Tigers in the pre-season last year. He added two for good measure last night.
After his heroics in the pre-season last year, Vaega was forced to patiently for a chance in first grade.
HIs opportunity finally came in the final two games of last season and he has spent the pre-season pushing his cause for another chance.
He will need to be patient again. Vaega has power to burn – he dragged a handful of players over the tryline for one of his tries – but he also has some deficiencies in his game.
That was highlighted in the second half when Kennar flew above him and batted the ball back for Taaffe to score.
KNIGHTS RECRUIT IMPRESSES BUT SHARKS BACKUP STEALS THE SHOW
—Brent Read
Cronulla picked up where they left off last season in their opening trial at Gosford on Friday night. Sadly, so did Newcastle.
The Sharks, with only a handful of their regular first graders involved, were too slick and too classy for the Knights as they won 28-16 in Gosford.
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon led his side into the top four last year before they were quickly dismissed in the finals.
It was a step forward for the club regardless and if Friday night was any indication, they won’t be taking their foot off the gas after scoring four tries against a Knights side that failed to aim up.
PONGA PATIENCE
Kalyn Ponga was given a rest on Friday night but all the talk out of Newcastle is that the Knights superstar has looked brilliant throughout pre-season training.
Knights insiders insist he has struck up an instant rapport with halves partner Jackson Hastings. The pair would appear to polar opposites from a personality perspective but the sense is that they will complement each other.
Ponga is laid-back and gives the impression that he would be happy to spend his weekends doing anything other than watching rugby league.
Hastings is a footy-head who has a reputation for being intense when it comes to his craft. Their partnership will be crucial for the Knights and Newcastle fans may get the chance to see it in action in the final trial as Ponga prepares to dust off the boots.
God knows they need him.
BACK YOURSELF! What a brilliant try from Atkinson 🔥
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) February 10, 2023
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NO PROTESTS
Sanity prevailed on Friday afternoon. After all the threats of industrial action, the players opted not to disrupt the pre-season competition following positive talks with the NRL.
It was a smart move. The last thing rugby league needs right now is to have games disrupted and the fans disenfranchised.
So thankfully we were treated to the footy on Friday night without delays. Without signs of solidarity. Without any distractions.
Word out of the talks on Friday night is that the parties were aligned on finances, benefits and policies for the women’s game.
Industrial action has been put on hold, although the players are on alert heading into Saturday’s trial games.
We’re not out of the woods yet.
KNIGHTS GOAL LINE D
Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien would have cringed as he watched Thomas Hazelton force his way over late in the first half.
It was marshmallow defence from the Knights on their own line. There was no desperation and no excuses.
Newcastle were awful defensively last season and while this was only a trial, O’Brien would have been disappointed with the lack of intensity as Hazelton strolled over.
The Knights didn’t help themselves with the ball either. They made nearly 20 errors in a sloppy performance.
O’Brien has plenty of work to do heading into round one.
PENRITH PRODUCE ANOTHER STAR
The Sharks may have unearthed another star in Niwhai Puru. The 20-year-old was signed from Penrith in the off-season, where he was stuck behind a Congo-line of classy playmakers at the foot of the mountain.
Penrith’s loss is Cronulla’s gain. In the first half, Puru showed genuine class as he shaped to kick and then threw a beautiful pass for Mawene Hiroti.
It was an eye-catching piece of skill and while the Sharks have the halves covered with Nicho Hynes and Matt Moylan, Fitzgibbon can take comfort knowing he has Puru in reserve.
HODGSON FLASHES
There wasn’t much to like about the Newcastle performance but if there was a sliver of light, it was the performance of fullback Bailey Hodgson.
Hodgson, the nephew of Parramatta hooker Josh Hodgson, has had to bide his time to wait for his chance. Injury has cruelled the Englishman on more than one occasion.
He finally got the chance to showcase his talent on Friday night and there were flashes of ability, most notably when he showed smart footwork and great hands to almost set up a try for centre Dylan Lucas – it was called back for an obstruction.
There were also a handful of mistakes, perhaps from Hodgson trying too hard. The Knights worked overtime to get Lachlan Miller to the club to play fullback. Hodgson gives them some depth.
TIGERS’ WORRYING START TO 2023, WARRIORS HALVES BATTLE HEATS UP
—Paul Crawley
Wests Tigers’ bold new era under the old guard of Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall has suffered a demoralising start, smashed 48-12 by a revitalised Warriors.
While the Tigers held back all their big name stars and biggest signings, it was still an extremely deflating first up performance at Mt Smart Stadium.
The Warriors were also short of their big guns but still looked transformed under new coach Andrew Webster.
All up, they raced up nine tries to two in a dominant display with new playmakers Te Maire Martin and former Shark Luke Metcalf starring. Marcelo Montoya also finished with a hat-trick.
LIKES
WARRIORS HALVES ALL CLASS
Martin’s comeback has been one of the game’s most inspirational stories of recent times.
And it certainly looks like the 27-year-old has headed across to New Zealand to make another statement.
With Shaun Johnson not playing, Martin seized control, with young Cronulla recruit Metcalf also showing some really promising signs.
Martin’s cool composure looks like it could be a huge asset for the Warriors this season, while Metcalf certainly put his best foot forward.
PAPENHUZEN FAST
You talk about blinding speed. This was Ryan Papenhuyzen quick.
Just wait until you see Metcalf’s opening try in his new colours.
The former Shark blasted through like a bullet from 40 metres out early in the second half with a brilliant solo try.
It was the sort of pace that makes everyone stand up and take notice.
Metcalf probably won’t get a go ahead of Johnson and Martin to start the season, but he’d be a handy back up and a real danger coming off the bench. Who knows where this season will take him.
"Blink and he's GONE"
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) February 9, 2023
What a try from Metcalf!
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DISLIKES
THANK GOD IT WAS A TRIAL
Let’s put this in context. Sheens held back the majority of his big names. No Api Koroisau, David Klemmer, Isaiah Papali’I or John Bateman who all join the club this year, and there was no Adam Doueihi or Luke Brooks and a stack more.
But still, after all the hype we’ve had since Sheens was appointed, you expected more from the young Tigers even if it was a trial.
But from the get go they just looked lacklustre and out of their depth and simply couldn’t keep pace with the rampaging Warriors who looked super sharp and more hungry.
STAINES HOT AND COLD
Former premiership winning Panther Charlie Staines’ hopes of beating Daine Laurie in the race for the Tigers’ No 1 jumper this year didn’t get off to a great start.
The flying fullback stopped a try early with a terrific try saving tackle on Michael Sio.
But Staines was absolutely steamrolled minutes later by a barnstorming Montoya, who finished with three tries and could have easily bagged four.
In fairness to Staines, you can’t accuse him of not putting his body on the line, it was just one of those cases of big man bulldozing a littler man.
Staines had some okay moments overall but he has a lot of work to do to bump Laurie out of the spot.
STEFANO SHOWS SOME GOOD SIGNS
Both teams had plenty of young forwards trying to show they have what it takes.
For the Warriors, there was a conga line of them.
Tom Ale, Zyon Maiu’u, Solomon Vasuvulagi and Ali Leiataua all looked very strong, while for the Tigers Stefano Utoikamanu was a standout and really made his second stint count.
The big man scored a barnstorming try from close to the line, and fished with 11 runs for 124m.
There was certainly a lot more punch to the start of the second half from the Tigers than the first and Stefano led the way.
For the Warriors Ale charged for 144m, the most of any player on the park.
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Originally published as NRL trials 2023: Manly win 30-28 over Rabbitohs, Leon Te Hau faces suspension, Sele injured
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