Round one of NRL season 2016 will feature up to 20 debutants

THE NRL is set for a rookie explosion this weekend with 20 debutants in line to make their debuts in the opening round of the season.

Christian Nicolussi

2 min read

March 2, 2016 - 1:19PM

NRL

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THE NRL is set for a rookie explosion this weekend with 20 debutants in line to make their debuts in the opening round of the season.

The wait for the new footy season is just one sleep away, and fans will welcome the sight of the new kids on the rugby league block.

The Newcastle Knights and Sydney Roosters have both named five debutants, with the Bondi club handing 18-year-old Latrell Mitchell a wing spot and teenage playmaker Jayden Nikorima in Mitchell Pearce’s No. 7 jumper for Sunday’s bitter grudge match with South Sydney.

Latrell Mitchell is set to make his debut for the Roosters. Picture Gregg Porteous

The Bunnies will unveil two new faces in mature-aged rookie Cody Walker, who slots into five-eighth, and Zane Musgrove.

Penrith, one of six clubs without a debutant, went with Will Smith at fullback in place of the injured Matt Moylan, with Peter Wallace the stand-in skipper.

It was a wonderful reward for 25-year-old Smith, who was told at the end of last season by former coach Ivan Cleary to start thinking seriously about succeeding Moylan at fullback.

New coach Anthony Griffin gave Smith the nod ahead of genuine fullback options Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Peta Hiku for the trip to Canberra.

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Smith, who has 17 NRL games to his name, said he had set out from day one of pre-season training to make the position his own after a post-season conversation with Cleary.

When Griffin took over as coach, Smith’s ambitions didn’t change.

Rabbitoh Cody Walker will play at five-eighth in Luke Keary’s absence. Picture: Adam Taylor

“Ivan said he was going to experiment with ‘Moyser’ in the halves, and it was out of me and Dallin to train hard and see who can get (the No. 1 jumper),’’ Smith told The Daily Telegraph.

“That was something I was going for.

“When (Griffin) started, he didn’t know what position I would play, but said he liked the way I played, and that I had to train hard.

“With Moyser training at fullback and spending time in the halves, we didn’t know what was going to happen and if he’d move into the halves or not.

“I’m looking forward to playing fullback this weekend and doing my job for the team. I liked fullback last year, and I definitely wanted to make it my own if ‘Moyser’ was going into the halves.

“I just have to have a good game this weekend, kill it while I can in the No. 1 jersey, and we’ll see what happens.’’

Knights co-captain Tariq Sims gives Jaelen Feeney a rough up at training. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Once Moylan suffered a season-ending ankle injury last season, Watene-Zelezniak was promoted to fullback, only for him to have his own season cut short by a lung scare, which paved the way for Smith.

Smith, a Newcastle junior, played in the Panthers’ two finals’ matches at the end of 2014, so won’t be overawed by the opening-round clash in the nation’s capital.

He dropped the ball and kicked out on the full during the final trial against the Eels, but had already done enough to impress Griffin.

Griffin named international recruit Trent Merrin at lock, Peter Wallace as stand-in captain for Moylan, while he showed faith in Reagan Campbell-Gillard to start in the front row without a trial game under his belt.