NRL trial teams, Pre-Season Challenge: Round 1 preview as coaches name stacked squads

Star five-eighth Kieran Foran has opted to sit out Gold Coast’s last NRL Pre-season Challenge clash — find out why and check out all the trials teams.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 15: Viliame Kikau of the Bulldogs looks on prior to the NRL Pre-season challenge match between Canterbury Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm at Belmore Sports Ground on February 15, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Titans five-eighth Kieran Foran has withdrawn from Sunday’s final trial match against Parramatta to ensure he is firing for the start of the NRL Premiership.

Foran is experiencing minor calf tightness and has opted to sit out Gold Coast’s last NRL Pre-season Challenge clash against the Eels at Ipswich.

Foran, 33, said he was extremely happy with his pre-season, but is staying on the conservative side to make sure he is ready to go when the Titans launch the Des Hasler era against the Dragons at Cbus Super Stadium on March 10.

“The pre-season has been really good,” Foran said.

Kieran Foran will miss Gold Coast’s final trial match. Picture: Getty Images

“I’ve felt as well as I ever have. I’ve got all the reps in and probably done more this pre-season than last.

“I feel strong but I’m not going to play this weekend.

“I trained last Sunday and my calf was a little tight after the session. It still feels a bit tight so I spoke with Des and we decided there’s no point risking it for 40 minutes.

“I’ll sit this one out and make sure I’m humming for round one.”

Foran will be replaced by young gun Tom Weaver, who’ll start alongside halfback Tanah Boyd.

BULLDOGS TO UNLEASH STAR RECRUIT

Brent Read and Michael Carayannis

The wait is finally over for Bulldogs supporters as star recruit Steve Crichton prepares to make his bow for the club — alongside fellow big gun and premiership winner Viliame Kikau - on Friday night against the Sharks.

Crichton sat out the club’s opening trial against Melbourne and is only expected to play limited minutes against the Sharks to ensure he is ready to go in round one.

However, the sight of seeing Crichton in a Bulldogs jersey - even if it is for only 20 minutes - should be enough to warm the hearts of embattled Canterbury fans.

Crichton will form a new-look centre pairing with comeback kid Bronson Xerri in a pointer towards the combination that will take the field in round one with Blake Taaffe at fullback and Drew Hutchison retaining the No.7 jersey.

stephen crichton x x x x

Xerri, who sat out four years due to a drug ban, was an outsider to start the regular season when preseason began but has forced his way into then conversation after impressing in their opening trial against Melbourne.

Kikau will also make his first appearance of the preseason against the Sharks while former Bulldog Raymond Faitala-Mariner will do likewise for St George Illawarra against the Wests Tigers in Mudgee on Saturday, pulling on the Red V for the first time since departing the ‘Dogs.

Fellow new recruit Hame Sele is expected to skip the game as he makes a recovery from a minor niggle. Sele is in no doubt for round one.

The Tigers, meanwhile, have given a major hint at their likely halves pairing for round one after naming Jayden Sullivan alongside Aidan Sezer for their final trial.

Ryan Papenhuyzen has been named to back up for Melbourne, after making a successful return against the Bulldogs in Week One of the pre-season challenge. Picture: Getty Images

In other team news:

* Former Test winger Nick Cotric has been overlooked for a starting spot for rookie Michael Asomua;

* Jackson Hastings will keep the No.7 jersey for the Knights despite calls for Jack Cogger to start in his place - Cogger will start off the bench and is likely to cover the dummy half spot in the absence of Jayden Brailey (hamstring);

* Ryan Papenhuyzen backs up at fullback for a Storm team missing Cameron Munster;

* Ex-Panther halfback Kurt Falls gets a crack at the Broncos;

* Dom Young’s brother Alex has been on the wing for a undermanned Sydney Roosters; and

* Ex-NSW player Ryan Matterson has been named in jersey 18 for the Eels.

Viliame Kikau will play in his first trial of the season on Friday. Picture: Getty Images

The Bulldogs had a strong opening to the preseason with a win over the Storm and the addition of Crichton and Kikau will only give their supporters more reason for hope.

Crichton’s return will likely mean that Xerri switches to left centre alongside, placing him outside Kikau and Matt Burton, and inside Josh Addo-Carr.

Tigers fans are also approaching the season with rising optimism after the club opened their trial campaign with a win over the Warriors in New Zealand.

Sullivan impressed in that game and has been given first chance to lock down the No.6 jersey as he partners Sezer against the Dragons.

PRE-SEASON CHALLENGE WEEK TWO TEAMS

RABBITOHS V ROOSTERS

Friday 23 Feb, Belmore Sports Ground, 6:00pm

Rabbitohs: 1. Braidon Burns 2. Leon Te Hau 3. Adam Christensen 4. Leonard Skelton 5. Jude Saldanha 6. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 7. Jarrett Subloo 8. Brock Gray 9. Ryan Gray 10. Yileen Gordon 11. Maila Aluni-Chanfoon 12. Nicholas Halalilo 13. Matthew French 14. CJ Mundine 15. Cade Maloney 16. Chase Chapman 17. Tyson Hodge 18. Kaylen Miller 19. Noah Reed 20. Louis Grossemy 21. Aiden Doolan

Roosters: 1. Callum Gromek 2. Alexander Young 3. Kyron Fekitoa 4. Ethan Clark-Wood 5. Turoa Williams 6. Coby Thomas 7. Joseph Whitikama Temara Taipari 8. Xavier Va’a 9. Tyler Moriarty 10. Dylan Napa 11. Corey Ross 12. Meli Nasau 13. Salesi Foketi 14. Benaiah Ioelu 15. Tayson Fakaosi 16. Zac Saddler 17. Taylor Losalu 18. Harrison McKeon 19. Sione Vaenuku 20. Alan Holten 21. Emery Jolliffe 22. Michael Coleman

SHARKS V BULLDOGS

Friday 23 Feb, Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney, 8:00pm

Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Kayal Iro 21. Billy Burns 22. Daniel Atkinson 23. Jayden Berrell 24. Niwhai Puru 25. Kade Dykes 26. Chris Vea’ila

Bulldogs: 1. Blake Taaffe 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Poasa Faamausili 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Samuel Hughes 16. Josh Curran 17. Kurtis Morrin 19. Kitione Kautoga 20. Eli Clark 21. Toby Sexton 22. Jeral Skelton 23. Joash Papali’i 24. Bailey Hayward 25. Bailey Biondi-Odo

STORM V KNIGHTS

Saturday 24 Feb, Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji, 1:45pm

Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Kane Bradley 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Christian Welch 15. Joe Chan 16. Tristan Powell 17. Tyran Wishart 18. Keagan Russell-Smith 19. Dean Ieremia 20. Shawn Blore 21. Bronson Garlick 22. Young Tonumaipea 23. Lazarus Vaalepu 24. Jack Howarth

Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jack Cogger 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Kai Pearce-Paul 18. Thomas Cant 19. Riley Jones 20. David Armstrong 21. Will Pryce 22. Jed Cartwright 23. Brodie Jones 24. Thomas Jenkins 25. Fletcher Sharpe 26. Laitia Moceidreke 27. Fletcher Myers

WARRIORS V DOLPHINS

Saturday 24 Feb, Go Media Stadium, Auckland, 3:45pm

Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Tohu Harris 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Marata Niukore 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Bunty Afoa 18. Dylan Walker 20. Tom Ale 21. Ali Leiataua 22. Adam Pompey 23. Te Maire Martin 24. Chanel Harris-Tavita 25. Jacob Laban

Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Tesi Niu 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Isaiya Katoa 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Euan Aitken 13. Tom Gilbert 14. Mark Nicholls 15. Valynce Te Whare 16. Jake Averillo 17. Kurt Donoghoe 18. Josh Kerr 19. Ray Stone 20. Kenny Bromwich 21. Connelly Lemuelu 22. Kodi Nikorima 23. Oryn Keeley 24. Jarrod Wallace

SEA EAGLES V BRONCOS

Saturday 24 Feb, 4 Pines Park, Sydney, 5:55pm

Sea Eagles: 1. Bailey Hodgson 2. Max Lehmann 3. Cameron Brown 4. Clayton Faulalo 5. Watson Heleta 6. Jamie Humphreys 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 10. Aitasi James 11. Brad Parker 12. Ben Condon 13. Dean Matterson 14. Kobe Rugless 15. Austin Dias 16. Jacob Sykes 17. James Uesele 18. Caleb Navale 19. Tylor Bunting

Broncos: 1. Creedence Toia 2. Sione Hopoate 3. Delouise Hoeter 4. Ethan Quai-Ward 5. Jordan Pereira 6. Joshua Rogers 7. Kurt Falls 8. Bailey Butler 9. Blake Mozer 10. Benjamin Te Kura 11. Jaiyden Hunt 12. Ethan O’neill 13. Rory Ferguson 14. Joseph Tomane 15. Joshua Stuckey 16. Cooper Page-Wilson 17. Joshua Patston 18. Kalolo Saitaua 19. Cory Paix

DRAGONS V TIGERS

Saturday 24 Feb, Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee, 8:05pm

Dragons: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Jack Bird 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Tom Eisenhuth 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jesse Marschke 15. Viliami Fifita 16. Ben Murdoch-Masila 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 18. Michael Molo 19. Connor Muhleisen 20. Christian Tuipulotu 21. Mathew Feagai 22. Sione Finau 23. Max Feagai 24. Toby Couchman

Wests Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Charlie Staines 3. Justin Olam 4. Starford To’a 5. Junior Tupou 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Asu Kepaoa 13. Alex Seyfarth 14. Lachlan Galvin 15. Alex Twal 16. Fonua Pole 17. Samuela Fainu 18. Sione Fainu 19. Jake Simpkin 20. Heath Mason 21. Alexander Lobb 22. Navren Willett 23. Sione Latoa-vaihu 24. Solomon Alaimalo

WIGAN WARRIORS v PENRITH PANTHERS

Sunday 25 Feb, DW Stadium, Wigan, 7.00am

Wigan Warriors: TBC

Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Sunia Turuva, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Taylan May, 5. Brian To’o, 6. Jack Cole, 7. Nathan Cleary (c), 8. Moses Leota, 9. Mitch Kenny, 10. James Fisher-Harris, 11. Luke Garner, 12. Liam Martin, 13. Isaah Yeo (c). Interchange: 14. Tyrone Peachey, 15. Lindsay Smith, 16. Liam Henry, 17. Matt Eisenhuth. Reserves: 19. Brad Schneider, 20. Mavrik Geyer, 21. Daine Laurie, 23. Soni Luke.

RAIDERS V COWBOYS

Sunday 25 Feb, Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan, 3:00pm

Raiders: 1. Albert Hopoate 2. Utuloa Asouma 3. Matthew Timoko 4. James Schiller 5. Xavier Savage 6. Kaeo Weekes 7. Ethan Strange 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Danny Levi 10. Emre Guler 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Tom Starling 15. Nick Cotric 16. Trey Mooney 17. Jed Stuart 18. Chevy Stewart 19. Adam Cook 20. Peter Hola 21. Mitch Henderson 22. Zac Hosking 23. Simi Sasagi 24. Pasami Saulo

Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Coen Hess 17. Sam McIntyre 18. Thomas Mikaele 19. Tomas Chester 20. Semi Valemei 21. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 22. Jack Gosiewski 23. Jake Clifford

TITANS V EELS

Sunday 25 Feb, North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich, 5:00pm

Titans: 1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. AJ Brimson 5. Phillip Sami 21. Tom Weaver 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Keenan Palasia 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Chris Randall 15. Jaimin Jolliffe 16. Erin Clark 17. Jacob Alick 18. Joe Stimson 19. Harley Smith-Shields 20. Jojo Fifita 22. Jaylan De Groot 23. Josiah Pahulu

Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Brendan Hands 15. Wiremu Greig 16. Joe Ofahengaue 17. Kelma Tuilagi 18. Ryan Matterson 19. Morgan Harper 20. Haze Dunster 21. Daejarn Asi 22. Blaize Talagi