NRL trials: Spots on line as competition heats up

Find out who starred and who struggled in the second round of NRL trials. Which players pushed their cases for an NRL berth?

• Rookie watch: Young guns to watch in NRL trials
• Who's in, out: All the teams for the NRL trial

After months of training, the first round of trials is the first chance for many players to blow out the cobwebs and get some miles in their legs before the season proper.

We had six games across the country today and here's the man from each club who put their hand up as one to watch in 2019.

Dragons 18 def Knights 10

David Klemmer is the big purchase for the Knights this season but James Gavet, who joined from the Warriors, was excellent when the starters were on the field.

The Samoan international carries the ball with vigour and eases pressure on Klemmer. 

Gavet has been an underrated contributor for the Warriors for several seasons and is a great get for the Knights. He'll round out their prop rotation nicely.

Raiders 28 def Bulldogs 22

Canberra have lost plenty of forward power in recent years with Junior Paulo and Shannon Boyd both leaving at the end of 2018, leaving the Green Machine on the lookout for new bookends.

In Queensland's Cory Horsburgh they have just what the doctor ordered. For the second week in a row Horsburgh was excellent off the bench, impressing with his mobility, aggression and workrate.

He might not make the team for Round 1 but it seems inevitable that Horsburgh will play first grade at some stage this year. 

Panthers 28 def Rabbitohs 8

With Nathan Cleary, James Maloney and Jarome Luai seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order Tyrone May is on the outside looking in at Penrith but he's got the ability to play NRL week in, week out.

May has impressed in his brief first grade appearances since debuting in 2017 and was strong again against Souths, leading Penrith around the park well once Maloney was given an early mark. 

Cowboys 22 def Titans 16

How long can Paul Green deny Jake Clifford?

The North Queensland coach said during the week that Te Maire Martin, not Clifford, would partner Michael Morgan in the halves for North Queensland's season opener against the Dragons but Clifford has given him food for thought after crossing for three tries against the Titans.

Clifford improved tremendously in the six first grade games he played last season and has all the skills one could want in a half.

He is ready for the big time and scored 18 of North Queensland's points - but, Green will think, Martin scored the other four. 

Sharks 28 def Manly 22 

Cronulla dominated the final Under 20s competition two years ago and while they didn't win the competition it was the culmination of several years of concerted junior development in the Shire.

Long one of the competition's oldest teams, the Sharks are now on the throes of a revolution. Kyle Flanagan, Billy Magoulis, William Kennedy and Bronson Xerri all impressed in this victory with Xerri scoring two scorching tries.

Some of the club's former young guns - think Valentine Holmes and Jack Bird - have skipped town. The Sharks can't let that same thing happen again.

Broncos 26 def Wynnum-Manly 12

Here's a name for the black book - Tom Dearden.

When Dearden is able to play NRL football the hype will be out of control. You won't have seen anything like it since Kalyn Ponga debut. Dearden is 17-years old and has been likened to great half you've ever heard of.

But he's got something. He didn't dominate this game but he was a boy playing against men and he didn't look out of place. That's a rare gift for someone his age, and given he's only going to get better it's worth remembering the first time you heard the name Tom Dearden.

Originally published as NRL trials: Spots on line as competition heats up

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