Every NRL club’s train and trial players heading in to the 2024 pre-season
A fringe Bronco made a high profile mid-season switch to the Bulldogs. Months later the centre is back at Red Hill. Every player on train and trial deals.
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Former Origin players, sons of current NRL coaches, the game’s best young players, a young Englishman and veterans hoping for one final shot in first grade.
These are the players who will slog it out for $1200 per week chasing their NRL dream on train-and-trial deals as clubs look to unearth the next Jahream Bula who was in their shoes this time last year before going on to become one of the game’s brightest young stars.
Some will last just weeks, others the whole NRL season.
Nathan Brown played in a grand final in 2022, but now he joins Manly on a cut-price deal as he looks to keep his career going.
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur’s son Matt gets a taste of first grade. So too does Jed Stuart, the son of Ricky Stuart in Canberra.
Ethan Quai-Ward made a high profile mid-season switch to the Bulldogs and scored a try on debut. Just months later he is back at Brisbane on a training deal.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE EVERY CLUB’S FULL TRAIN AND TRIAL LIST
Brown is the most experienced of the players as he fronted up with his new club on Friday after a short-stint with the Roosters. The former NSW Origin player is expected to be given a top 30 deal but the Sea Eagles need to create some space in their roster before they do so.
Manly coach Anthony Seibold said getting the 30-year-old was an easy decision.
“I was really keen to give him an opportunity,” Seibold said.
“He has played over 150 games, Origin and a grand final. He brings a lot of experience. What it does for us, is it provides more competition for spots and more depth in the middle forwards. We are looking as soon as we can to upgrade him from train and trial to a full-time contract. This is a good opportunity for him.”
Brown is not the only player with NRL experience looking to resurrect their career. Ex-Tiger Austin Dias gets another pre-season with Manly, Trai Fuller gets a crack at the Dolphins once again while Declan Casey, who played six games at the Bulldogs, has an opportunity at the Tigers.
South Sydney have given Englishman Aiden Doolan a chance despite not playing Super League at Warrington. Doolan, a hooker, came to the club on the recommendation of former Super League veteran Tyrone McCarthy who now heads the club’s pathways. Doolan will play NSW Cup and potentially Jersey Flegg next year.
“He looks great,” said South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou.
“He has been one of the fittest already. He has only been in the country for two weeks but has handled it really well. We want to get him into the system. We have Damien Cook and Peter Mamouzelos in our top 30 but we wanted to strengthen our depth in that position. He could potentially come into the top 30 next year.
“Brock Gray is another (train and trialist). He has come back in great shape and he was one of the form front-rowers in the NSW Cup. I’m looking forward to watching him development.”
Other key contracts include:
– Tom Rodwell (son of former NSW centre Brett) and Sam Healey (son of Cronulla legend Mitch) given a chance at the Sharks.
– The Eels‘ top 30 is set so they’re using it as an opportunity to blood youngsters including Arthur (hooker), Dan Keir (backrow), Api Twidle (outside back), Richard Penisini (centre), Josh Lynn (half) and Arthur Miller-Stephens (outside back). Miller-Stephens made his NRL debut on the wing in 2023 while Penisini’s brother Will is entrenched in the top grade.
– Jensen Taumoepeau played 14 NSW Cup games for Newtown before his Sharks contract expired. Now at the Cowboys on a train-and-trial deal.
– South Sydney’s relationship with the Townsville Blackhawks has four players taking part in pre-season.
– The Storm are already tapping into their relationship with North Sydney by giving Bears players Jake Toby, Jesse Marschke and Regan Hughes a crack. Ex-Dragon lower grader Treigh Stewart is also in Melbourne.
– The Roosters are awaiting NRL approval before handing veteran Michael Jennings a training deal.
The players do not need to go too far to look for inspiration. Bula was on the same contract as them last season before going on to ink a multi-million dollar contract extension on his way to claiming the Tigers player of the year award.
Bula was not alone. The likes of Luke Sommerton, Dean Matterson, Junior Pauga, Josh Reynolds, Khaled Rajab, Ryan and Toby Couchman, Tristan Sailor and Ali Leiataua all played NRL after having training contracts.
New Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall said played down any talk of second-year syndrome for Bula.
“It is a myth,” Marshall said. “If you are good enough you get through it and play. What happens sometimes is kids feel the pressure of the second year to be as good as they were last year or better.
“That is my job – to take that pressure away and make them feel like they were better.”
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