Road to round 1: The big selection calls to be made in NRL trials
Round 1 of the NRL kicks off in the bright lights of Las Vegas in three weeks, but there are plenty of team selections to be made before then. PAMELA WHALEY runs the rule over every club.
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Here’s a look at the latest news from each club as we edge closer to the NRL trials and season kick off.
Everything you need to know, from fresh faces to selection headaches, it’s all systems go as we sweat it out on the road to round 1.
BRONCOS
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Sunday, February 18 v Cowboys at BB Print Stadium, Mackay
Rd 2: Saturday, February 24 v Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Round 1: Sunday, March 3 v Roosters, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
With Kurt Capewell and Herbie Farnworth gone, the Broncos are looking for a new left edge partnership that can take them one better in 2024. Brendan Piakura, 21, is most likely to nail down that second row spot while Deine Mariner will push over the trials to be named in the centres come round one.
Meanwhile, the Broncos will play an unofficial pre-season trial against Wynnum on Saturday with the club’s up and coming players to get a hit out. Mariner will be given his first chance to impress, as well as ex-Panthers half Kurt Falls and prop Xavier Willison.
RAIDERS
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Saturday, February 17 v Eels at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Rd 2: Sunday, February 25 v Cowboys at Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan
Round 1: Thursday, March 7 v Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
It’s a battle between Ethan Strange and Kaeo Weekes to decide who partners Jamal Fogarty in the halves, and the first trial against the Eels will help coach Ricky Stuart split the pair. There’s a spot in the centres left vacant by Jarrod Croker too, and Strange is just as likely to slot in there.
Croker was recently announced as part of the Raiders coaching staff as an outside backs and goal kicking coach.
BULLDOGS
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Thursday, February 15 v Storm at Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
Rd 2: Friday, February 23 v Sharks at Belmore Oval, Sydney
Round 1: Saturday, March 9 v Eels at Commbank Stadium, Sydney
The Bulldogs are yet to finalise their backline but there’s a stack of utilities in the squad that can make up any number of combinations. They include Stephen Crichton, who is best at centre but has played fullback for the Panthers, as well as Drew Hutchison, Kurt Mann, Connor Tracey and Blake Taaffe. Nailing one solid combination down over two trials will be high priority for coach Cameron Ciraldo – the Bulldogs desperately need stability.
SHARKS
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Saturday, February 17 v Knights at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Rd 2: Friday, February 23 v Bulldogs at Belmore Oval, Sydney
Round 1: Friday, March 8 v Warriors, at Go Media Stadium, Auckland
The Sharks have signed no new big names for 2024, but the one person they’ve added to the roster is 18-year-old centre Michael Gabrael as a replacement for Connor Tracey. The highly-rated teenager will get a chance in the trials to show he’s ready to step up into first grade at some point – he’s next in line for a spot in the backline.
For the rest of the squad, the lack of recruitment ramps up the pressure to perform after a disappointing season last year.
DOLPHINS
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Sunday, February 18 v Titans at Sunshine Coast Stadium
Rd 2: Saturday, February 24 v Warriors at Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Round 1: Sunday, March 10 v Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The Dolphins will hold an unofficial trial against CQ Capras on Saturday with Valynce Te Whare and Tesi Niu named in the centres. The two are battling to make the round 1 side, with ex-Broncos star Herbie Farnworth to take up one edge and either Euan Aiken or Jake Averillo favourites to take up the other.
Ex-Knights forward Oryn Keeley will play his first game in Dolphins colours against the Capras too. The former under-19s NSW captain has played two NRL games to date but is a chance at a breakthrough season in 2024.
TITANS
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Sunday, February 18 v Dolphins at Sunshine Coast Stadium
Rd 2: Sunday, February 25 v Eels at North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich
Round 1: Saturday, March 9 v Dragons at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Star second-rower David Fifita and fullback Jayden Campbell are racing the clock to play round one, and are long odds to play a trial this pre-season. Neither Fifita (pec) nor Campbell (knee) have participated in full contact training. Their potential replacements for round one will be determined in the trials as Des Hasler gets a first look at his new side.
The ex-Manly and Bulldogs coach makes a habit of totally overhauling teams and the Titans will be no different. After years of poor results there are big changes to be made at the club for 2024 if anything is going to change.
SEA EAGLES
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Saturday, February 17 v Roosters at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Rd 2: Saturday, February 24 v Broncos at 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Round 1: Sunday, March 3 v Rabbitohs at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Manly’s superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic stunned even opposition coach Shane Flanagan in a scrimmage against St George Illawarra last Friday, who declared the Sea Eagles can win the comp if he stays fit. It was the first unofficial hit out for both clubs, but with the Sea Eagles to jump on a flight to Vegas in two weeks, it was crucial to match fitness.
Trbojevic’s health is paramount to Manly’s success and by all accounts he’s as strong as ever and ready to play round 1.
STORM
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Thursday, February 15 v Bulldogs at Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
Rd 2: Saturday, February 24 v Knights at TBA
Round 1: Friday, March 8 v Panthers at AAMI Park, Melbourne
Ryan Papenhuyzen’s return to the field at fullback is all anyone wants to see across the trials. They’ll be crucial game fitness for the unlucky young star who has spent most of the last few years sidelined with injury. Melbourne head of football Frank Ponissi has confirmed Papenhuyzen will play the club’s first trial against the Bulldogs next week.
Meanwhile, Harry Grant has been named the club’s NRL captain, replacing Christian Welch for 2024. Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster will be co-captains, with Ryan Papenhuyzen, Tui Kamikamica and Josh King as part of the six-man leadership group.
KNIGHTS
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Saturday, February 17 v Sharks at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Rd 2: Saturday, February 24 v Storm at TBA
Round 1: Thursday, March 7 v Raiders at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Coach Adam O’Brien is on the verge of signing a three-year extension after the club’s most successful season in a decade. It’s a brilliant note to end the pre-season on. Trials will finalise the team’s backline with recruits Jack Cogger, Will Pryce and Tom Jenkins all added to the side. Jenkins and Pryce in particular will be pushing for the vacant wing spot left by Dom Young, while Cogger is expected to slot into the halves alongside Jackson Hastings, but Tyson Gamble will put up a fight to maintain his spot.
COWBOYS
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Sunday, February 18 v Broncos at BB Print Stadium, Mackay
Rd 2: Sunday, February 25 v Raiders at Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan
Round 1: Sunday, March 10 v Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Second-rower Luciano Leilua is awaiting a potential sanction from the NRL after pleading guilty to a low-range drink driving charge in Townsville Magistrates Court. He was fined $300 and suspended from driving for one month, but the club and NRL Integrity Unit are yet to announced any further penalty.
It could put his round one spot at risk against the Dolphins, but with a roster stacked with backrowers it will be little worry for coach Todd Payten to replace him.
PANTHERS
World Club Challenge, February 24 (Sunday, February 25 at 7am AEDT) v Wigan at DW Stadium, Wigan
Round 1: Friday, March 8 v Storm at AAMI Park, Melbourne
The three-time champs have no trials, except the long-haul flight to the UK to face Wigan in the World Club Challenge. It could be the first look at a 2025 replacement for Jarome Luai, who is not expected to have recovered from shoulder surgery in time to play. Jack Cole, Brad Schneider or Daine Laurie are the leading contenders to run out with Nathan Cleary in the halves, while Taylan May is first choice to replace Stephen Crichton.
The exit of Crichton and bench forward Spencer Leniu could be huge changes for the club, but they’ve lost stars before and somehow keep finding a way to win it all.
EELS
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Saturday, February 17 v Raiders at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Rd 2: Sunday, February 25 v Titans at North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich
Round 1: Saturday, March 9 v Bulldogs, Commbank Stadium, Sydney
Parramatta are still looking for that x-factor they haven’t yet been able to recruit, but what they need most is more from their stars. Halfback Mitch Moses has been challenged by his own coach to up his leadership abilities and communication with teammates this year. He’s reluctant to talk about it himself, but if the NSW Origin half has developed as a leader as planned, he could help turn the fortunes for the Eels after a miserable season in 2023.
They severely struggled with service from dummy half last year, and either Brendan Hands or Joey Lussick will take on the job.
RABBITOHS
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Saturday, February 17 v Dragons at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Rd 2: Friday, February 23 v Roosters at Pointsbet Stadium, Sydney
Round 1: Sunday, March 3 v Sea Eagles at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
The biggest question mark over the Rabbitohs is how Jack Wighton will fit into the backline – not positionally, but how it will change the dynamic of the team. There were too many furrowed brows and hands on heads in 2023 and it didn’t look fun whatsoever. If it’s any indication so far, his connection with fullback Latrell Mitchell has them both joking around like school kids and genuinely enjoying training, which at the very least, is nice to see. At most, it’s a good sign for a big year ahead for the Bunnies.
ROOSTERS
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Saturday, February 17 v Sea Eagles at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Rd 2: Friday, February 23 v Rabbitohs at Pointsbet Stadium, Sydney
Round 1: Sunday, March 3 v Broncos, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
The Roosters got off to a slow start in 2023 and clawed it back to make finals … just. The addition of Dom Young to the side adds another strike weapon to an already stacked backline, and the competition for spots is hot. Young, the Knights’ highest tryscorer for last season, as well as Billy Smith, Daniel Tupou, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Joseph Manu are all competing for four spots with one to miss out.
DRAGONS
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Saturday, February 17 v Rabbitohs at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney
Rd 2: Saturday, February 24 v Tigers at Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee
Round 1: Saturday, March 9 v Titans at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
former Manly winger Christian Tuipulotu has joined the club immediately after being granted a release from the final year of his contract. He’s the second smart recruitment call from the Dragons this pre-season after nabbing former Bulldogs captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has already laid down the expectations and set them low, saying the team is planning for 2025 now. It’s an honest admission given the club has chopped and changed coaches without any success over the past few years, leaving nothing but instability behind. It leaves a lot of question marks about the top 17 this season, including for Zac Lomax, one of the highest paid players at the Dragons, who is not yet settled in a position.
WARRIORS
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Sunday, February 18 v Tigers at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Rd 2: Saturday, February 24 v Dolphins at Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Round 1: Friday, March 8 v Sharks, at Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Fans are patiently waiting to see Roger Tuivasa-Sheck back on the field in Warriors colours two years after he left the sport for rugby union. His move into the centres requires learning a whole new game for the ex-fullback, who has packed on the muscle in his time in the 15-man code. Former Broncos forward Kurt Capewell adds experience on the edge.
TIGERS
Pre-season challenge
Rd 1: Sunday, 18th February v Warriors at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Rd 2: Saturday, February 24 v Dragons at Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee
Round 1: BYE
The Tigers have the bye in round 1, so their trials will be crucial to keeping up with the competition come their first game in round two. Totally new-look management and coaching staff has shaken up the Concord-based side. It’ll be the first season without Luke Brooks in a decade, with Jayden Sullivan and Latu Fainu battling it out to partner the more experienced Aidan Sezer in the halves. That’s likely to be a season-long battle with Jarome Luai on his way in 2025.
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