Wacko’s Whispers: Late mail and breaking news after final trials

The man with the best mail in the business, Wacko’s Whispers, brings you all the late mail ahead of the first Team List Tuesday of the season.

• Cheapie Bible: Bargains who will make or break your season

• NRL Physio: Casualty ward from final trials

• Predicted teams for round one

The man with the best mail in the business, Wacko’s Whispers, brings you all the late mail ahead of the first Team List Tuesday of the season.

Wacko's Whispers: The man with the best mail in the business.

SECOND YEAR FORWARD WATCH

* David Fifita — has massive raps on him, will he succeed or suffer second year syndrome?

* Emre Guler — young front rower who has come through Raiders Juniors system, performed strongly in NSW Cup and made his NRL debut in 2018, may not be in Raiders top 17 come round one but should see plenty of game time during the season due to being one of Raiders bigger bodied props.

Youngster Moeaki Fotuaika should get more minutes at the Titans in 2019. Picture: AAP Image/Brendan Esposito

* Moeaki Fotuaika — Ryan James moving to edge opens up more minutes in middle at the Titans, only averaged 32 mins in 2018, should see increase to 40-45 mins this season.

* Mitch Dunn — going off trial form looks to have won the bench utility spot for the Cowboys after coming on to play out of position at hooker in the trial against the Storm.

* Marata Niukore — looks set to start on the right edge for Eels next to Mitchell Moses, runs a good line and will hope to form successful partnership with Moses.

TRIAL WATCH

* Look for Josh Jackson to switch to left side 2RF this season as Dean Pay shores up his left side defence. The switch will help either Jack Cogger or Lachlan Lewis in defence with Kieran Foran partnering either Raymond Faitala-Mariner or Corey Harawira-Naera on the right.

* Going off of the Warriors trials vs Wests Tigers expect to Blake Green and Solomone Kata to move to the right side to partner Isaiah Papali’i with Adam Keighran or Chanel Harris-Tavita to partner Tohu Harris and Peta Hiku on left side of attack.

Isaiah Papali’i of the Warriors will start on the right edge. Picture: Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

* In the trial against the Storm on the weekend the Cowboys set up with Jason Taumalolo starting on right edge next to Te Maire Martin with Coen Hess moving to left edge to partner Michael Morgan, when Gavin Cooper came on he took up his normal position on left edge with Hess switching to right edge with Taumalolo moving into middle.

* When Brandon Smith came on in the trial Cameron Smith stayed on the field, Cameron Smith stayed at hooker while Brandon Smith took up a running middle role, only after Cameron Smith went off did Brandon Smith move to hooker.

POSITIONAL CHANGE

Warriors Blake Ayshford has spent the pre-season training as right edge 2RF as he looks to push for a first grade berth in 2019.

Anthony Milford should be good to go for round one despite not trialling. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

PLAYERS WHO ARE EXPECTED TO PLAY ROUND ONE WITHOUT PLAYING IN TRIALS

Anthony Milford — hamstring

John Bateman — side strain

Joseph Leilua — hamstring

Ryan James — knee

Api Koroisau — foot

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak — knee

Adam Reynolds — shoulder

2018 breakout performer Rhyse Martin looks to be on the outer at the Bulldogs. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

ROUND ONE POTENTIAL TEAM NEWS

Rhyse Martin set to start round one in reserve grade.

Ryan James is racing the clock to be fit for round one with a grade 2 MCL knee injury (same injury as Viliame Kikau).

It wouldn’t surprise to see AJ Brimson start the year in QCup to gain confidence after off season shoulder surgery, talk is he will be bench utility come round one but I doubt he would provide the same type of impact that Mitch Rein does when he comes on against tired defenders around ruck.

Suspended Eels player Jaemon Salmon is expected to return to first grade team in round two and will play right centre.

Issac Luke will be staying at the Warriors for 2019 season but will fail to be fit for round one.

Titans defence to be tested on both the left and right with what I see as defensive weakness on the right with Brenko Lee on the right wing next to Brian Kelly and on the left with Tyrone Roberts and Bryce Cartwright.

Both George Burgess and Korbin Sims will be suspended for the opening rounds for respective clubs.

TO HAAS OR NOT TO HAAS

Do we keep Payne Haas as a non-playing reserve and hope he comes straight back into the Broncos 17 in round five? Presently with the lack of cheapie FRF expected to play in round one I am keeping Haas but I do hope a cheapie FRF pops up come team list Tuesday for round one to allow me to get a few price increases before trading down to Hass before round seven.

BATEMAN WATCH

There are two Batemans at the Canberra Raiders this season, new recruit John Bateman and Luke Bateman, make sure if you have a ‘Bateman’ in your team you have the right one.

KEEP AN EYE ON

With all Top 30 Squads announced on March 1 (yet to be published) make sure you only select players listed in Top 30 Squad