NRL pre-season challenge: Boot camp has Tesi Niu back in Wayne Bennett’s good books

Another Dolphin has beaten the battle of the bulge in the off-season, with Tesi Niu rocketing into round one selection contention following a brutal summer boot camp.

Herbie Farnworth will make his club debut. Picture: Dolphins Instagram

Wayne Bennett says Tesi Niu has rocketed into selection for the NRL premiership after the Dolphins flyer embarked on a booze ban and private boot camp in a bid to save his career.

This masthead can reveal Niu has become the second Dolphin after teammate Valynce Te Whare to be ordered for one-on-one training sessions in a bid to beat the battle of the bulge.

And Niu has responded superbly to the summer grilling, slashing 7kg from his frame in eight weeks, a conditioning overhaul that underpinned his sizzling three-try haul in last week’s trial defeat of the Central Queensland Capras.

Concerned about Niu’s weight at 103kg, Bennett ordered the Dolphins winger to train under one of Australia’s top personal trainers Mark ‘Chopper’ Burgess, who worked with Te Whare last December.

Dolphins centre Valynce Te Whare training hard with Mark 'Chopper' Burgess and Tesi Niu – Picture: Supplied

The former Broncos flyer is now looking sharp at 96kg and is primed to back-up his hat-trick heroics when he starts at centre on Sunday in a pre-season trial against the Titans at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Niu, who played 17 games last season, was in danger of being squeezed out following the off-season signing of Herbie Farnworth and Jake Averillo, but Bennett said the 22-year-old has turned up the heat in the battle for NRL berths.

“I’ve been really impressed with Tesi,” Bennett said.

“He’s been outstanding in pre-season. He has worked really hard and he’s given me a real headache with selections for our backline for round 1.

“We’ve got more depth in the backs this season but Tesi is giving himself every chance, I can’t be happier with how he has trained.”

A nuggety centre, winger or fullback, Niu has played 49 NRL games and hopes to chalk up his half century in the Dolphins’ premiership opener against the Cowboys on Sunday, March 10 at Suncorp Stadium.

A Test debutant for Tonga as a 17-year-old, there has never been a question about Niu’s natural talent, but Bennett was concerned his excess bulk could potentially derail a promising NRL career.

Tesi Niu is hoping to notch up his 50th NRL game this year. Picture: Getty Images

Enter ‘Chopper’ Burgess. The former three-time Australian heavyweight amateur boxing champion worked alongside Bennett at the Broncos two decades ago as a conditioner and relished whipping Niu into shape.

“Tesi’s dedication has been outstanding,” Burgess said.

“Tesi got sent to me by Wayne and Jeremy (Hickmans, Dolphins high-performance chief) because he was a bit heavy.

“He was around 102-103kg and they weren’t too happy with his output.

“Tesi has been a delight. He is happy, he turns up to see me always positive and he is on time every time.

“His strength is ridiculous. He pumped out 20 chin-ups yesterday like it was nothing.”

Burgess has worked wonders with Niu and Te Whare, who has lost 9kg, but the fitness guru insists there is no magic recipe to igniting the Dolphins duo.

“I have a simple message for these guys _ if you stop drinking piss, train hard, eat right and sleep right, your body gets right,” he said.

“It’s not a hard formula but it’s a disciplined one and credit to Tesi and Val for following it.

“Tesi is eating properly and he is off the grog. Tesi recognises this is his last chance _ it could be over for him at the end of the year if he doesn’t play well.

“After scoring three tries on the weekend, he said, ‘Chop, I feel great, I’m more agile and mobile.’

“I’m proud of the way Tesi and Val have flourished. Wayne is over the moon – they are giving themselves every chance of a good season.”

EVERY PRE-SEASON CHALLENGE, ALL STARS SQUAD NAMED

WALSH NAMED TO TACKLE COWBOYS

Reece Lightning is back in business.

The Broncos will unleash superstar fullback Reece Walsh for the first time this season in Brisbane’s first major pre-season hitout against the Cowboys in Mackay on Sunday.

After resting their big guns for last week’s trial win over Wynnum Manly, Brisbane’s galaxy of stars – headlined by Walsh – have been named for the beginning of the NRL’s pre-season challenge.

Walsh has been named in the No. 1 jumper, while Brisbane’s key off-season recruit Fletcher Baker will make his Broncos debut in his bid to fill the front-row void left by Dolphins defector Tom Flegler.

The hard-running Baker will come off the bench at Mackay’s BB Print Stadium as the ex-Roosters prop looks to clinch a place in Brisbane’s top 17 to face his former club in round 1 in Las Vegas.

Baker, Martin Taupau and Kobe Hetherington will be part of midfield rotation led by Payne Haas and Corey Jensen, who will start in Flegler’s No. 8 jumper and has a golden chance to stay there for the premiership.

But all eyes will be on one of the NRL’s hottest prospects in Walsh, Brisbane’s fullback Ferrari who will be rolled out for the first time since the Broncos’ crushing grand-final loss last season.

Skipper Adam Reynolds will also make his first appearance for the 2024 season, just days after being embroiled in his drunken spat with Pat Carrigan that has triggered an NRL integrity-unit investigation.

Reynolds and Walsh will spearhead an exciting backline also containing Selwyn Cobbo, who will make his debut at centre after his pre-season move from the wing to replace Herbie Farnworth.

Reynolds’ off-field sparring partner, Carrigan, has also been named in the starting side by coach Kevin Walters as the Queensland Origin lock looks to put his alcohol-fuelled incident behind him.

With Reynolds and Carrigan facing fines from the NRL, the Broncos No. 13 vowed to repay Brisbane fans with on-field performance – starting against the Cowboys in Mackay.

“Kevvie is a big reason why I enjoy my football here and we don’t like letting him down,” Carrigan said.

“I want to repay the fans and on Sunday show why I love being at this club.”

In total, the Broncos will parade nine players from the side which lost last year’s NRL grand final to Penrith, including hooker Billy Walters and young gun Brendan Piakura, who will start in the back row alongside Dragons import Jaiyden Hunt.

Grand-final utility Tyson Smoothy gets his chance to impress in the No. 14 jumper, with last week’s man-of-the-match Tristan Sailor named in the No. 21 jumper.

DOLPHINS UNLEASH STARS RECRUITS

Former Broncos Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler will be unveiled in Dolphins colours when Wayne Bennett unleashes a near full strength team against the Titans.

Farnworth and Flegler will headline a stacked Dolphins team in Sunday night’s NRL Pre-season Challenge match on the Sunshine Coast.

While new Gold Coast coach Des Hasler will rest most of his big guns from the opening trial, Bennett is going all out in his bid to take the Dolphins to the finals for the first time in his last season in charge.

Bennett is planning to field essentially two teams across the 80 minutes as he weighs up his best 17 to start the NRL season, with only the Dolphins’ injured players and All Stars representatives unavailable.

Among the starters will be Test duo Farnworth and Flegler – two of the highest-profile transfers of the NRL off-season – who joined Brisbane’s cross-town rivals on bumper contracts.

Along with Canterbury recruit Jake Averillo, they have bolstered a solid Dolphins squad that has trained hard over the summer following an encouraging first season in the NRL.

Tom Flegler. Picture: Dolphins

Herbie Farnworth. Picture: Dolphins Instagram

“It’s gone up two-fold,” utility Euan Aitken said of the Dolphins’ training.

“The training’s definitely harder than last year and we’ll be fitter than last year.

“There’s a better squad than last year. That’s only going to make us go better and hopefully have a great season.

“We’re looking to play everyone that’s available (against the Titans).

“We’ll get another match under our belt and hopefully that goes into the Warriors trial and we’ll be better in round one.”

Bennett will use the trial to cast his eye over the Dolphins’ most likely halves pairing.

Sean O’Sullivan and Isaiya Katoa will get first crack as starting playmakers with Kodi Nikorima on Maori All Stars duties and Anthony Milford injured.

The four-way halves battle has been hot all summer, but two favourites have emerged unless Nikorima can force his way into the starting team.

“I have no clue, that’s one for the coaches,” Aitken said of the halves battle.

“I know every half in the team’s been in the starting side during the pre-season.

“He (Bennett) is definitely giving everyone an opportunity to put their best game forward this weekend. There’ll probably be a reduction in the numbers against the Warriors.

“It’ll be up to the trials to see who’s picked for round one.”

Hasler will keep his top team on ice until the Titans face the Eels in Ipswich on Sunday week in the final trial.

Instead, Gold Coast’s train-and-trialists will be given a crack against a strong Dolphins team along with fringe players like Aaron Schoupp, Klese Haas, Tom Weaver and Harley Smith-Shields.

Originally published as NRL pre-season challenge: Boot camp has Tesi Niu back in Wayne Bennett’s good books