NRL pre-season pictures: Eels unveil Josh Addo-Carr; Rabbitohs, Titans and Tigers return
Fit and firing, Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton were all smiles as they prepare for Wayne Bennett’s arrival, while Parramatta unveiled their latest big-name recruit. SEE THE PICTURES
Josh Addo-Carr had one message for long suffering Parramatta fans on Monday - let’s trot.
The former Canterbury flyer reported for his first day as an Eel after the club officially confirmed the 29-year old’s signature on a two-year deal from 2025.
Addo-Carr, in Eels colours for the first time, was quick to get in front of the camera to share the news of his signature on with Parramatta faithful.
“Hey Parra fans, it’s the Foxx here I’m excited to be a part of this awesome club,” Addo-Carr said in the video posted on social media.
“I can’t wait to get stuck into pre-season with the boys and represent this proud club.
“Let’s trot, let’s go.”
New coach Jason Ryles said Addo-Carr’s premiership winning experience would play a key role in Parramatta’s effort to turn around on-field fortunes after the Eels missed the finals for a second-year running in 2024.
It’s not the first time Addo-Carr and Ryles have combined, the pair worked together during their time at Melbourne Storm, where Addo-Carr won two premierships in 2017 and 2020.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Josh before, and I know first-hand just how much he brings to a team — his speed is electric, and his ability to break open games is second to none,” Ryles said.
“What’s even more important is his commitment. Josh is a player who has always been determined to improve and challenge himself, and I’m confident he will make the most of this opportunity with our club.
Addo-Carr’s immediate NRL career had been left in limbo after the former Origin winger was sacked at Canterbury after returning a positive road side drug test in September.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity Parramatta and Jason have given me to continue my footy career and I’m ready to repay the faith they’ve shown in me,” Addo-Carr said.
“Coming here is a chance for me to start a new chapter, prove myself and show what I can do for the club and the fans. I can’t wait to put on the blue and gold and become a part of this Club and the Eels community.”
Addo-Carr is expected to resume pre-season under Ryles in the coming weeks, joining the likes of Junior Paulo and Dylan Brown - who hit the training paddock last week for the first time.
Fellow newcomer Zac Lomax, alongside halfback Mitchell Moses, won’t report for training until late December after featuring for the Kangaroos in the Pacific Championships.
RABBITOHS: BIG GUNS RETURN
South Sydney’s big guns Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton were all smiles at Monday’s pre-season training session as players wait on the arrival of super coach Wayne Bennett.
Mitchell and Wighton were among 10 senior players who kicked off their first official day of pre-season at the Heffron Centre in Maroubra.
The superstar fullback cut a trim figure after spending the off-season getting into shape following Bennett’s warning to players about returning to training in top condition or face consequences.
Mitchell and Wighton have been on a self-imposed booze ban to ensure they hit the ground running over the summer.
Eager to set the right tone and lead a culture built on work ethic, the experienced duo reported to pre-season training almost two weeks ago, alongside star centre Campbell Graham and Lachlan Ilias.
Forward Jai Arrow, who missed the back end of last season due to a shoulder injury, also returned to training for the first time on Monday. Arrow went under the knife in July and is expected to be available for Round 1.
But one senior figure that will be missing over the summer is skipper Cameron Murray. Murray is recovering from a wrist injury that could see him sidelined for up to six months in a huge blow to Bennett’s attempts to turn around the Rabbitohs’ on-field fortunes.
While most of his charges are back at training, Bennett isn’t expected to kick-off his tenure until late November.
Former Manly playmaker Jamie Humphreys also started his journey as a Rabbitoh, as he looks to impress Bennett and push fellow rookie Peter Mamouzelos in the battle to replace Damien Cook at dummy-half.
Benji Marshall’s roster revolution is in full swing at Concord with the first of Wests Tigers’ 2025 recruits reporting to training.
Former St George Illawarra star Jack Bird and ex-Cronulla prop Royce Hunt joined skipper Api Koroisau, David Klemmer and Adam Doueihi for their first day of pre-season on Monday.
Bird and Hunt’s arrival comes as the club also secured the signing of prop Terrell May from the Roosters on a three-year deal on Monday.
Marshall has been laying down the law in a desperate bid to avoid a fourth wooden spoon in 2025, issuing five players with breach notices after failing to meet fitness standards.
Four-time premiership winner Jarome Luai isn’t expected back until December but has expressed a desire to waste no time in building a halves partnership with Lachlan Galvin.
Sunia Turuva and Jeral Skelton, alongside Englishman John Bateman, will be back next month.
On the Gold Coast, Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was at training after being on hand to offer some moral support to the club’s youngsters during a gruelling endurance test last week.
Fa’asuamaleaui is still on a modified training program as he completes the final stages of his recovery from an ACL injury, which included a two-week stint in America.
Coach Des Hasler is expecting to have Fa’asuamaleaui back into full contact training after Christmas.
Bennett spray revs up Rabbitohs; Cleary Vegas prediction
South Sydney forward Sean Keppie hasn’t let off-season shoulder surgery stop him hitting the gym in a bid to avoid new coach Wayne Bennett’s wrath on the first day of pre-season on Monday.
Keppie will be one of around 10 senior Rabbitohs players including Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton and Jai Arrow, who will report to Heffron for their first official day of pre-season training.
While Bennett isn’t due back until later this month, he has warned players to return to pre-season fit or suffer the consequences, as revealed by this masthead.
“I had a small repair on my shoulder to fix some cartilage damage. I’ll be sweet for round one though. I have been trying to stay fit doing cardio sessions and a bit of running on my own,” Keppie said.
“Wayne did tell us what he expected, but you never want to be going back to training unfit. Every story you hear about Wayne is around how big of an influence he has on his teams, it makes you want to work hard for him. I’ve been trying to work hard and I’m sure the others coming back have too.”
Keppie isn’t alone in heeding Bennett’s warning, star fullback Latrell Mitchell and centre Jack Wighton have put themselves on booze bans ahead of the Rabbitohs’ season opener against the Dolphins on Friday, March 7.
But Bennett’s pre-season preparations suffered a huge blow after the super coach told this masthead that skipper Cameron Murray could be facing six months on the sidelines.
Murray may not be seen in action until May after going under the knife to repair a wrist injury suffered in Kangaroos camp during the Pacific Championships. The hardworking forward will be in a cast until late December before facing a long road of recovery to get back onto the field. Tallis Duncan is the front runner to replace Murray in Round 1 but Bennett has other options in Jai Arrow and Keaon Koloamatangi.
“I’m ready, and all the other forwards are ready, to step-up,” Keppie said.
Star centre Campbell Graham, who missed all of season 2024 with a sternum injury, will be available to start 2025 after reporting to pre-season last week.
Keppie believes the Rabbitohs missed Graham’s presence as the side slumped to a 16th place finish after losing nine from 10 games to start the season, which led to the axing of Jason Demetriou, in a year which ended on a sour note of seven-straight losses.
“He’s (Graham) a game changer. I think he’s one of the most underrated players in the competition. He’s going to be a massive asset for us in 2025,” Keppie said.
Keppie is also confident that the arrival of Bennett, for his second stint at the club, will be key to a finals revival in 2025.
“It was obvious from that first meeting how much he still cares about the Rabbitohs, he could have gone anywhere but he chose to come back to Souths, that shows how much faith he has in us and what he thinks we can do next year,” Keppie said.
Keppie carved out some time from the last day of his off-season on Sunday for a cause close to his heart.
He joined over 200 people for an event with Whatability, a disability provider founded by former up and coming Parramatta rookie Steve Dresler, at North Sydney Oval.
“Whatability brings so much happiness and opens so many opportunities for the kids and other participants, it keeps them and me coming back. They get to experience activities like bush walks, camps, the beach. It’s really rewarding and important work,” Keppie said.
INJURED PANTHERS TO PURR IN VEGAS
Luke Garner is backing Penrith’s injured brigade to be fit and firing for the club’s season opener against Cronulla in Las Vegas in March.
Not only is Garner expecting to run out onto Allegiant Stadium alongside Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards, but when he does so the back rower will be channelling Pittsburgh NFL running back Najee Harris.
Garner, like many NRL stars, is an avid NFL fan and even spends hours studying the game for his fantasy team.
Harris produced one of his best rushing yards performances of the season at Allegiant Stadium against the Raiders last month and Garner is hoping to emulate the Steelers star when he gets his shot at the venue on March 1.
“The experience, to play in a different country, is exciting enough for me but I’m a massive NFL fan so to play at an NFL stadium is going to be surreal experience,” Garner said.
“Fantasy has taken over my life ever since I have started it. It takes up a bit of my time, I’m trying to get better at managing the time it takes. But if the NFL is on, I’ll happy sit and watch one or two games and watch the whole thing, learn the plays.
“I’m reckon I’ll channel someone like Najee Harris, he runs the ball a fair bit so if I can produce some of the runs he does, I’ll be pretty happy.
“Nathan (Cleary) might be Patrick Mahomes out there …”
But before Cleary can channel the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, who is a three-time Super Bowl winner, the superstar halfback must get the green light from Penrith medical staff to take the field in Las Vegas after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction earlier this month.
Fullback Edwards had the same Latarjet producer last week and like Cleary is facing up to a four-month recovery period, which means the duo won’t return to full contract training until February.
New recruit Blaize Talagi, who was set to replace Jarome Luai at five-eighth, is facing a similar race against the clock after the youngster underwent clean-out surgery for a shoulder injury suffered playing for Samoa against England.
It leaves coach Ivan Cleary with the possibility of a new-look halves combination in Round 1, likely to be Brad Schneider and Jack Cole.
Daine Laurie is an option in the halves but will also be considered as a replacement for Edwards alongside boom rookie Casey McLean.
“I think everyone’s bodies for the most part have held-up well even though it’s such a long season. There’s the guys who had surgery but hopefully they will be there for Las Vegas, they’ll do everything they can to be there,” Garner said.
The arrival of back rower Isaiah Papali’i from the Wests Tigers is also likely to trigger a reshuffle in Penrith’s pack.
There are some suggestions hardman Liam Martin will be used in the front to fill the void left by enforcer James Fisher-Harris. Garner believes Martin can handle the transition from the edge with ease.
“Lindsay Smith is obviously in the running, he would have learned a lot during his time with the Kangaroos,” Garner said.
“Marto is a big guy, he’s pretty thick and honestly he also has the shape of a front-rower already.
“I don’t know what the plan is just yet but if he’s putting his hand up, no doubt, he can fill those shoes.
“He might not be playing 80 minutes in the middle like he does on the edge but he’s a madman and I can definitely see him smashing a few blokes.”
Garner has won two titles since joining Penrith from the Tigers and believes Papali’i, who struggled to find his best form at Concord, will reap the rewards of joining the western Sydney powerhouse.
“If he works hard and trains hard, which I have heard that’s exactly what he does, the move will do him a world of good. He’ll reap the rewards for sure,” Garner said.
“It’ll be great for him. I thought he actually played well while at the Tigers.”
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