NRL Rd 1 team news: Tolu Koula unlikely, Cleary, Tedesco and Murray set to play
Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans poured cold water on the hopes of a popular KFC SuperCoach cheapie, but there’s better news for three of the game’s biggest stars.
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Severe flooding might have forced the NRL to cancel its public season launch but the game will receive a shot in the arm for round one with injury clouds to lift for three of the game’s biggest stars.
Penrith’s Nathan Cleary has ‘checked all boxes’ in his return from off-season shoulder surgery and looks set to take on Manly in a blockbuster season opener on Thursday night.
Roosters skipper James Tedesco and South Sydney captain Cameron Murray are also preparing to line-up in round one.
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The halfback duel between Cleary and Daly Cherry-Evans will be the first hit out between the pair in the race for the Australian No.7 jumper.
“He’s been in full training … he’s a box-ticker and is working hard behind the scenes,” Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo said of Cleary. “He has given himself every chance.
“The goal was always for the start of the season and there hasn’t been any setbacks so he’d be pretty close I reckon.”
Manly’s Dylan Walker is racing the clock after the utility suffered an ankle injury in last Friday’s trial match against Canberra. Cherry-Evans has rated Martin Taupau [back] a better chance of taking the field than Walker.
“Marty’s back was pretty sore,” Cherry-Evans said. “Dylan is in a brace so he is obviously pretty sore and was on light duties this week. I dare say Marty is going to be fine but Dylan still has to get a fair bit of training [before he plays].”
While boom back Tolu Koula emerged as a potential bolter for round one, Cherry-Evans was quick to pour cold water on talk the teenager would oust any of coach Des Hasler’s incumbent outside backs.
“A lot would have to go wrong for Tolu to jump over the likes of Harps [Morgan Harper], Reuben Garrick or Saaby [Saab],” he said. “These guys have earned their spot.
“He will play first grade this year eventually, he has a lot of ability.”
At Redfern, Murray had the same shoulder surgery as Cleary over the summer and the durable forward said he is a “good chance” of taking on the Broncos.
“It was a four to six month recovery so I think round one is maybe five months, one week. I’m racing the clock a bit but I am feeling really good,” Murray said.
Asked if he would put money on his chances of playing in round one, he said: “Yeah.”
Superstar Roosters fullback Tedesco is a certain starter against Newcastle after undergoing stem cell surgery on his left knee in the off-season.
Tedesco, who carried the injury in the back end of the season, started running again in January and could have played in last weekend’s trial against the Wests Tigers.
“It was pretty sore towards the end of the season, it was a slow start to the pre-season but the last month I’ve been back into full training,” Tedesco said.
“I could have played in the trial but Robbo said to give me another week of rest. But it feels really strong and better than what it did last year.”
In the shire, Wade Graham’s untimely ankle injury, which will sideline the veteran forward for around six weeks, has opened the door for Siosifa Talakai to claim the starting left edge spot.
“There are a lot of good backrowers at the club. Brit Nikora was good in the all stars and then against the Dogs so that right side is his … then there is Teig Wilton and Siosifa Talakai. Both are capable of doing the job,” Cronulla’s Cameron McInnes said.
At St George Illawarra, forward Tariq Sims has aggravated a calf injury and is in doubt for round one against the Warriors.
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Luke Keary has declared boom teenager Sam Walker as “the most naturally gifted half I have come across.”
And Keary is set to play his first game alongside Walker next week after declaring himself a certain starter for the season opener.
Keary is on the comeback from a knee reconstruction which sidelined him for a large chunk of last season. He had a setback when he needed three weeks away from field in January but said he was in no doubt to take on the Knights to start the season.
“I could’ve played last week but a few of us were on the edge so we just trained together instead of playing,” Keary said. “I feel good - I’ve had a good last month. I did the full block before Christmas then I had three weeks off at the start of January.
“(It was) an ankle from 2019 that I hurt. I had it cleaned out halfway through the ACL (recovery). I’ve been training in full for two weeks.”
Keary watched from afar last year as Walker announced himself as one of the games brightest young prospects. A housebound Keary could only offer support via the phone as Walker and the rest of the side were in Queensland.
Keary said there was a noticeable difference in the way Walker’s game developed when they reunited in the pre-season.
“The maturity and the understanding of the game,” Keary said. “He got a quick lesson in first grade in all different perspectives. The way he sees the game, his temperament and control. “It was good watching him do his thing last year. I’m super excited to watch him.
“He would be the most naturally gifted half I have come across. You want those players to keep that but you want them to build a foundation that will keep them in the game for 10-12 years.”
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Walker, who has added two kilograms to his slender frame, said his banged up body took “a few weeks” to recover after he dealt with a shoulder injury at the back end of last season. He managed 21 games and helped lead an injury ravaged Roosters side into the finals.
“Coming into the pre-season, having that season under my belt makes this year really clear,” Walker said. “I know what I need to do and the style of footy I need to play.
“Knowing I‘ve played NRL and I am able has made it clear for myself.”
One youngster who confirmed he will be missing from the start of the season is Joseph Suaalii.
The 18-year-old is recovering from a foot injury.
“I haven’t got a time frame yet but I know I’ll be back in the early rounds,” Suaalii said. “I’m running and full contract training but I’m taking my time to get my body right.”
DRAGONS POISED TO UNLEASH ‘WEAPON’ IN KEY ROLE
St George Illawarra skipper Ben Hunt has tipped Tyrell Sloan to win the battle for the Dragons No. 1 jersey, revealing the club’s ability to “weaponise” the teenager is a big part of his wanting to extend in Wollongong and win an NRL premiership.
Fresh off the club’s first Charity Shield win in 10 years, Hunt has backed 19-year-old Sloan to open the year at fullback when his Dragons face the Warriors at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
While the Indigenous All Stars has competed with Cody Ramsey all summer for the fullback spot — and even interchanged with him during the Charity Shield win over South Sydney — Hunt said it was the former who had “earned the right” to start.
“Sloany has played really well over the last two weeks (of trials),” Hunt said. “Obviously the decision is up to the coaches and I don’t know which way they are going to go.
“But I think he’s doing all the right things … he’s earned the right.”
Apart from having a key hand in two Dragons tries, Sloan also produced a stunning run upfield when shifted to the wing, with Hunt aiming an attacking cross kick for the teenager despite still being deep within his own half.
From there, the youngster chased, caught the ball, shot upfield, then kicked and regathered himself before the movement eventually broke down.
“Sloany is the type of guy who knows where the ball is going to bounce,” Hunt continued of the play. “And we can use him as a weapon like that.
“He’s a very classy individual.
“Obviously has all the silky skills.
“And you get a lot of confidence from guys who can do different plays and just have that knack of turning up in the right place.
“So he just needs to get a bit more footy knowledge about him. Learn some things.
“But he’s a great kid who works really hard every day. He is coming along nicely.”
While Hunt remains contracted with St George Illawarra until the end of 2023, there has already been talk of a potential move home to Queensland and the incoming Redcliffe franchise.
Tyrell Sloan can PLAY! 🥵 pic.twitter.com/WMrc2JFi53
— NRL (@NRL) February 20, 2022
After an outstanding performance in the Shield win over Souths, the halfback was told his efforts would almost certainly have draw interest from new Redcliffe coach Wayne Bennett.
“I haven’t heard from him yet,” the Dragons No. 7 laughed.
“But I’m really happy here at the Dragons.
“Like I’ve said for a long time now, I want to win a comp here and if I got offered an extension I’d be pretty happy with it.”
Despite his lofty premiership goals, and the side’s upset Charity Shield triumph, Hunt admitted he was aware of why his Dragons were ahead of only Wests Tigers in several markets for wooden spoon betting.
Asked if he understood being so unloved, the halfback replied: “Yes and no.
“In house, you think no.
“But then you look at where we finished up last year, things that have happened in the off season and you can understand why they have us there.
“And I guess it’s up to us to get out there and show them why they shouldn’t be.
“I know we definitely came here to win the Charity Shield.
“This is my fifth one and I hadn’t won. So I was desperate to get a win and I think we played like that.
“We defended really well.
“Scrambled hard for each other and showed some character.”
Asked if the betting odds meant Hunt would enter the 2022 season carrying a chip on his shoulder, he continued: “I do have bit of a chip on my shoulder but it’s not really because of people on the outside.
“It’s what we’ve done the last couple of years.
“It’s disappointing.
“That’s what burns and drives me to be better. Make this club better.
“That’s where the chip comes from.”
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