NRL week one trials analysis: Baby Broncos help club flex premiership muscles; holes in play-the-ball, offside crackdown

They may have been missing their stars but Brisbane’s first trial match showed fans why they are ready to return as a long-term premiership force. Here are our major takeaways from the first week of trials as round 1 looms closer.

Michael Maguire’s Brisbane Broncos showed why they are ready to return as a long-term premiership force while Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has some nice selection headaches after a bumper first week of trial matches.

Here are the key takeaways from week one as we gear to up for another round of trial action as teams look to fine tune ahead of next month’s season kick off.

Watch our expert video analysis from the three trial matches over the weekend.

BRONCOS READY TO GALLOP

Maguire would have been reminded of his premiership-winning season with South Sydney in 2014 after watching his young Broncos side turn in a rock solid display in a 22-0 win over Burleigh on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

That’s because Maguire not only believes hard-nosed football sides win premierships, but so do teams with young talent good enough to create genuine competition for NRL starting spots.

It’s a luxury Maguire had during the 2014 season while at the helm at the Rabbitohs, and one he believes was a key factor in South Sydney lifting the Provan-Summons Trophy for the first time in 43-years.

The coach would have been left feeling he has the same luxury after watching the next crop of Broncos impress in a 22-0 win over the Bears.

Latrell Siegwalt, a fullback understudy to Reece Walsh, dazzled with killer footwork and skill.

Boom back rower Jet Bryce put in a powerful performance and didn’t shirk his responsibility in defence, a trait which would have earned the rookie plenty of praise from Maguire’s books and prop Matt Koellner did the same.

The Broncos already have a glut of hookers in Blake Mozer, Billy Walters and Ben Hunt, who will move into the No.9 jumper once Ezra Mam serves his suspension to take his places in the halves.

But Cameron Bukowski has put his name in the mix after a strong stint at dummy-half while Ronald Philitoga was a menace all night long on the wing.

The Broncos already have a star-studded roster headlined by the likes of Walsh, Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan, Selwyn Cobbo and Kotoni Staggs but the performances by the youngsters would have put everyone on notice – which is exactly what Maguire wanted to see out the trial.

And Maguire isn’t afraid to make the hard selection call.

Brisbane’s young stars showed the club is in safe hands. Picture: Instagram Brisbane Broncos

In 2014, he dropped Nathan Merritt, who was then the club’s highest tryscorer, for a 19-year-old Alex Johnston on the wing.

Rest assured, Maguire would not hesitate to do the same at Red Hill.

While Maguire might not be about to wield the axe ahead of the season opener against the Sydney Roosters on March 6 but when the time comes the former NSW coach can at least be confident the next crop of Broncos will be ready for the call-up.

Maguire knew as much before taking the gig at Red Hill – that not only did the Broncos have a top roster but that the club’s calibre of rookies would set Brisbane up for long-term success.

He revealed as much last September in a podcast with Fox League host Matty Johns before taking over from Kevin Walters.

Michael Maguire has been encouraged by the competition for spots. Picture: Tara Croser.

“I’ve seen what it looks like when a club is up and running, I’ve also seen the other end. I’m well versed to look at a club now and go ‘I believe ‘that one’ is ready to go, ready to play’,” Maguire said.

“When I jump in again, mate, I’m going to believe that club can win.”

For now, Maguire is focused on Round 1 and a Broncos premiership as soon as 2025.

He’ll get a chance to see how well-placed the Broncos are to return to a premiership force in 2025 when a close to full-strength side takes on the Titans next Sunday in Toowoomba.

PLAY THE BALL PRACTICE

If the first week of trials are anything to go by, NRL coaches will need every bit of the next three weeks to get the play-the-ball in order before the season kicks off in Las Vegas on March 2.

But as it turns out, so do the referees.

The NRL pledged to crackdown on sloppy and incorrect play the balls in 2025 and a number of players like Canberra’s Albert Hopoate and Chevy Stewart and Warriors utility Dylan Walker need the extra practice.

But the NRL’s crackdown is also at risk from turning into a farce and cries of inconsistency if the referees aren’t on top of the rule tweak as well or if they are not on the same page of what a “genuine attempt” to play-the-ball actually looks like.

Albert Hopoate was one of the first victim of the NRL's crackdown on the play-the-ball.

Raiders rookie Chevy Stewart was also pinged for an incorrect play-the-ball.

At least two very questionable play-the-balls were missed on the weekend – one by Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and another by Will Kennedy.

Greater attention on the play-the-ball might have support from coaches and fans alike but unless the players are willing to get it right and referees are willing to blow the whistle, it will be nothing more than another crackdown that fails to deliver on its promise.

The tunnel-ball style came into fashion on the back of the obsession of coaches to speed up the ruck.

It all came to a head late last year when Penrith produced a litany of tunnel-ball attempts in their last-gasp 36-34 win against the Eels in Round 23.

Cracking down on it is all well and good, but if referees are going to blow a penalty for the indiscretion in March they should be willing to do the same in September.

Incorrect play the balls under the microscope.

GET THEM ON SIDE REF

The off-side rule was also in the spotlight over the weekend.

Just like the ball-the-play, the NRL wants to place greater scrutiny on the 10-metre rule in 2025.

An explosion in set restarts for a player being either inside the 10-metres or being offside on their own tryline has forced the NRL to take a harder approach on offending players with a penalty.

It’s another area of the game players are yet to get right ahead of the season opener in Las Vegas.

Seven penalties from the two NRL Pre-Season Challenge games – Sharks v Warriors and Raiders v Penrith – were blown just for players being offside.

Referees also policed the ruck with vigour, blowing penalties for slowing tactics like grappling and crowding in the ruck.

Like with the play-the-ball, fans have long had gripes with policing the 10-metre rule and the ruck. The increased attention in 2025 will appease fans but only for as long as the referees maintain consistency in applying the rule.

How long will any of the crackdowns last? Only time will tell.

STUARTS SELECTION HEADACHES

Look away Parramatta fans, Ethan Sanders looks the goods as a genuine NRL halfback.

There were questions over his development at the Eels but under Raiders coach Stuart, a premiership-winning No.7, Sanders is showing the signs he can be Canberra’s long-term general.

“There’s a few things (Stuart) has been challenging me on and I’ve been working really hard on it,” Sanders said after the game.

“Having a coach like Ricky, obviously his experience playing halfback, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

His arrival could not have come at a better time with veteran halfback Jamal Fogarty’s future at the club uncertain beyond this season. The Raiders have until Round 6 to activate a clause to keep him in Canberra until the end of 2026.

But as he showed against Penrith, Sanders has all the tools, easing any anxiety over losing Fogarty.

Barnstorming rookie Savelio Tamale, by all accounts, has a Round 1 spot on the wing wrapped up but Stuart could not be blamed for having second thoughts after Saturday night’s win over Penrith.

Both Michael Asomua and son Jed Stuart put their hands up for selection with strong performances littered with strong ball carries that tested the Panthers’ defence.

Wiley hooker Owen Pattie emerged as a dark horse for selection with a brilliant two-try showing, putting the heat on Tom Starling and Danny Levi, who is unsigned beyond 2025.

Ethan Sanders has a bright future ahead of him. Picture: NRL PHOTOS

Young lock Myles Martin showed plenty of promise and could easily usurp Englishman Morgan Smithies if he can’t take his game to the next level in 2025.

Mullet-sporting forward Noah Martin also showed plenty of skill to regather a tricky pass and put on the afterburners for a try. He has given Stuart plenty to think about, alongside English recruit Matty Nicholson, who had his first hit out in Raiders colours as he presses for a bench spot.

Stuart will field a near full-strength team in Thursday night’s trial against Cronulla in Canberra, which will give a clearer indication of what his Round 1 side will look like before jetting off to Las Vegas on February 20.

TRIALS CASUALTY

Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak remains in doubt for Round 1 in Las Vegas with medical staff unlikely to have a prognosis on his wrist injury until Tuesday.

But coach Andrew Webster has a ready-made replacement in Taine Tuaupiki.

Tuaupiki came on for Watene-Zelezniak after 10 minutes and again showed why Webster needs to find a place for the livewire back in his best 17.

The 25-year-old was close to best on ground, finishing with 140 run metres – only bettered by Edward Kosi – five tackle busts, a linebreak and a try.

There are calls to inject Tuaupiki at fullback ahead of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

While Webster is sticking with Nicoll-Klokstad for now, Tuaupiki’s skill, speed and footwork is getting too hard to ignore.

DOLPHINS DECISIONS

Dolphins recruits centre Max Feagai and winger Junior Tupou will get their first run for the Redcliffe club against the Cowboys at Barlow Park in Cairns on Friday night.

There was talk Tupou could start Round 1 against South Sydney on the wing for Jack Bostock, who was poised to shift into the centres. That positional switch is looking less likely, leaving Tupou behind Bostock and Jamayne Isaako in the wing pecking order.

A number of Dolphins youngsters from Saturday’s trial match against the Central Queensland Capras impressed coach Kristian Woolf and are in line to get another start for the Cowboys game, including prop Josh Allen and development players hooker John Fineanganofo and prop Elijah Rasmussen.

Woolf is likely to keep the bulk of his NRL side on ice until the final trial against the Titans on February 22, including Tom Gilbert, but Sean O’Sullivan is also set to be named for the Cowboys clash.

Big name forward recruits Daniel Saifiti and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki won’t get their first run for the Dolphins until week three of the trials.

The Dolphins' Junior Tupou. Picture: NRL

BIG RECRUIT MUTED

Isaiah Papali’i got a 50-minute stint into his legs in what some eagle-eyed Panthers have labelled an underwhelming club debut.

But it’s too soon to push the panic button just yet.

Saturday’s trial against the Raiders was a chance for Papali’i to blow out the cobwebs given the former Wests Tigers forward had a much longer pre-season than most of his Panthers teammates.

Papali’i struggled to find his best during his time at Concord but has no option but to deliver at the foot of the mountains, especially if he is to start in the back row in Round 1 with Scott Sorensen ready to swoop in and take over in the starting side.

Originally published as NRL week one trials analysis: Baby Broncos help club flex premiership muscles; holes in play-the-ball, offside crackdown