NRL trials 2022: Mark Geyer’s son Mavrik stars as Panthers hammer Sharks
His wrecking-ball father Mark Geyer is a true Panthers legend and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Full wrap of weekend trials.
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He’s no maverick – this kid is a serious footy player.
Promising Panthers forward Mavrik Geyer announced himself as a future star with a barnstorming performance in his side’s 34-6 trial match over Cronulla on Sunday.
Geyer, 21, scored a surging solo try which instantly revived memories of his famous, wrecking-ball father, Mark, a true Panthers legend.
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Geyer wasn’t finished though, cutting a hole in Cronulla’s defence before throwing the final pass for a second-half try to Niwhai Puru.
Barrel-chested Mavrik created havoc playing second-rower on Penrith’s left edge. Socks down, he looked fit and focused during his 50-minute stint.
“I’m proud to be a Geyer. If he’s my dad, that’s sweet. I will be his son, no-matter-what. I just see him as my dad. He’s a big goof. I’m my own person,” Geyer said. “Dad has done it all, I can learn from him.”
Geyer wasn’t the only blast from the past playing at Parramatta on Sunday. Kade Dykes, the son of former Cronulla champion Adam, played fullback for the Sharks while Zac Woolford, the son of ex-Raiders skipper Simon, also had some game time for Cronulla.
And Kayal Iro, who played centre for Cronulla, is the son of former Kiwi international and Manly star Kevin.
Panthers players rushed to congratulate Mavrik, who crossed for his try five minutes before halftime. He only entered the game six minutes earlier having started in jumper number 14 off the bench. He played a key role off the ball in another of his team’s tries.
Mavrik was that excited he dropped the F-bomb on Fox Sports when interviewed at fulltime.
“I was pretty nervous before the game,” Mavrik said. “I’d love to debut (in the NRL) but I will stick to whatever Ivan (Cleary, coach) wants me to do.
“Coming off the bench, I just tried to have a bit of impact. I was put away for a nice try and that got me into the game, a good start.”
Cleary added: “He (Mavrik) has great bloodlines and is very talented. Very raw, he just loves playing and training. He plays like he trains. He’s a great kid. They (the Geyer family) have done a great job raising him. There is a big opportunity for him at our club. He is such a good learner.”
Mavrik’s uncle, Greg Alexander, much like Mark, must also have watched on proudly.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy had displayed considerable interest before young Geyer remained true to his grass roots.
“It was very tough (rejecting Bellamy),” Mavrik said. “It was a hard decision but I’m glad I stayed at Penrith.”
Young Dykes started at fullback for the Sharks. A local junior from Caringbah, Dykes has been transitioned to fullback after playing much of his junior footy in the halves.
He was busy from the back, barking instructions. He too looks like a smart prospect.
And Woolford, 25, entered the game during the second half and involved himself nicely. Zac has previously played with Canterbury and Newcastle having been a junior at Canberra.
FIRST-UP FITZY
Cronulla lost their first hit-out under new coach Craig Fitzgibbon but the game was without nearly all its star power.
The Sharks fielded an inexperienced side which struggled at times in the western-Sydney heat. Cronulla five-eighth Braydon Trindall was sin-binned in the first half for a high shot. Teammate Franklin Pele was also binned late in the match.
PANTHERS PREVAIL
Penrith didn’t field one player from last year’s grand final. The Panthers did name some well-known players including Charlie Staines, Robert Jennings, Mitch Kenny and Matt Eisenhuth.
It took only 80 minutes of a trial match to once again showcase the brilliant young crop of players coming through the Penrith system.
“The effort was really good in difficult conditions. I’m very happy,” Cleary said.
Turbo’s back - and better than ever
By Matthew McInerney
Daejarn Asi has given Cowboys coach Todd Payten plenty to think about after a leading performance as North Queensland crushed South Sydney’s happy homecoming.
More than 7000 people packed the stand — and hill — at Barlow Park in Cairns as new Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou returned to the site of his success earlier in his coaching career at the Northern Pride, but the Cowboys defended their turf, running out 24-12 winners.
Both teams rested their stars, with both running only a handful of potential Round 1 starters.
Before kickoff, Payten said he still had some decisions to make for Round 1, and Asi might have played his way into the frame.
His bombs caused plenty of issues for Souths fullback Jacob Gagai, a late replacement for Blake Taaffe, and he threw some sensational balls, including the match-sealing cutout which led to Zac Laybutt’s try in the 63rd minute.
“He had some quality moments,” Payten said.
“He was our captain, which is probably not a natural role for him given his development and where he’s come from. He’s a quiet kid by nature. At different points in the game, I could see him really dominant with his talk so I was pleased with that.
“If you look at our first grade halves who will play next week, he’s the next cab off the rank. He’s had some first grade experience and done himself no harm tonight.”
Souths have avoided an early injury scare after hooker Peter Mamouzelos and forward Shaq Mitchell failed to finish the game.
Demetriou said Mamouzelos could have returned after a head knock but the club chose not to risk him, while Mitchell copped a cork in his back.
The coach said Hame Sele was outstanding, while Jaxson Paulo got plenty of minutes to impress, but was disappointed in the way the players caused problems for themselves.
“We were guilty of not controlling the footy, our discipline inside the other end was pretty ordinary as well, it made it hard,” Demetriou said.
Jack Campagnolo, Souths’ Tully-born five-eighth, scored a memorable second half try in his return to Barlow Park, where he came through the grades at the Pride, but it couldn’t stop the Cowboys from riding out winners.
REMEMBER THE NEAME
Griffin Neame pulled off some big hits as he sought to prove to Payten why he should be in his side to face the Bulldogs in Round 1.
Neame made his NRL debut at the back end of 2021, and was among the most impressive performers when playing for the Blackhawks in the Queensland Cup.
He is one of the Cowboys’ tough young forwards fighting for a spot in Payten’s first-choice 17, and he did his chances no harm in his strong outing.
“I thought Griff was head and shoulders above all of our forwards,” Payten said. “I challenged him before the game. I was only going to give him a 30-minute stint.
“I wanted him to be aggressive ... I wanted him to play fast. I’m really pleased for him, he’ll come into our squad next week for the trial against the Broncos.”
NO SOLUTION AT CENTRE
If this was a genuine shootout between Jaxson Paulo and Josiah Karapani for the vacant starting centre spot, Demetriou is surely no closer to a solution.
Paulo, the 2021 grand final winger, was solid in his extra minutes, while Karapani showed glimpses of why he’s so highly rated.
Compared to a young Michael Jennings, Karapani showcased his strength and footwork, but his lack of experience may count against him — at least, for Round 1. But Demetriou confirmed he will give the youngster another crack when Souths face the Dragons in the Charity Shield.
“I thought he was very good, and he has been all preseason, he’s been outstanding,” Demetriou said. “To get him out there with some of the top players next weekend will be pretty good.”
THESE KIDS GO ALL RIGHT
It’s been clear for months that both sides would showcase their fringe first-graders or best developmental talents.
After 80 minutes in Cairns, they have proved there’s plenty of depth and talent at both clubs.
For Souths, Dean Hawkins showcased his outstanding kicking game as he fought to bring the Rabbitohs back into the contest, while young flyer Josiah Karapani didn’t do much wrong as he threw his name into the mix for an NRL debut later this year.
For the Cowboys, halves Asi and Jack Bourke had some great moments, while the hookers — Townsville’s Josh Chudleigh and Northern Pride’s Jayden Hodges — showed why they are genuine options should injuries and Covid force Payten to look outside his top 30 later this season.
FAIR TURNOUT
Cairns was the only regional centre to miss out on NRL action when the competition moved to regional Queensland last year, but 7128 fans came out in their first taste of top flight rugby league since 2020.
They say you can judge the size of the Barlow Park crowd by the hill on the far side, and by kickoff in the main game there wasn’t much room left to move.
Could Munster switch be on the cards?
WARRIORS 30 def STORM 18
By Nick Smart
Cameron Munster is back.
After a so-so 2021 on the field and then a tumultuous off-season followed by a stint in rehab, the Melbourne Storm superstar appears well on the way to getting back to his deadly best this year.
In Storm’s first trial game of the year, in which the more experienced New Zealand Warriors scored a 30-18 win at a packed-out Casey Fields, Munster started in the halves after Cooper Johns was a late scratching with a sore calf.
Fellow Storm star Brandon Smith, who also had an eventful off-season, was another who displayed good signs in his first appearance of the year.
In a trademark move, Smith used his power and strength to burrow his way over the try line during the first half.
He did the same in the second half but that time was unable to ground the ball.
The Kiwi international spent the match at lock forward.
Could we see him take the departed Dale Finucane’s No.13 jersey this season with Harry Grant at hooker?
Victorian product Dean Ieremia also wowed his hometown with an impressive try in the corner in the second half.
MOVING MAGNETS
Storm coach Craig Bellamy must be having nightmares about his round 1 team.
Well, perhaps not nightmares but certainly headaches given the long list of stars that won’t be available in the club’s season opener.
Grant, Chris Lewis, Smith and Munster will all be suspended, while gun fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen is now in doubt with an ankle injury.
“He’s not training with the group at the moment and he hasn’t been for a few weeks, so we’re not quite sure where he’ll be,” Bellamy said of Papenhuyzen.
Jayden Nikorima is now odds-on favourite to partner Jahrome Hughes in the halves after impressing against the Warriors on Saturday.
Interestingly, Munster spent some time playing at fullback on Saturday. He hasn’t played at the back since the 2016 season when he played in the No.1 jersey all year in the absence of an injured Billy Slater.
Could it be a sign of things to come in 2022?
Lewis also spent some time in the centres after being switched from the front row.
RECRUITS WATCH
Xavier Coates, come on down.
All summer he’s been attracting rave reviews for his work on the track since joining Storm from the Brisbane Broncos. In his first game in a Storm jersey on Saturday, the explosive winger had a try in the first five minutes after crashing over in the corner.
Fellow recruits Josh King and Will Warbrick looked solid, while Nick Meaney took the goal-kicking duties.
“I thought we started both halves really well but we made a lot of errors in the back-end of both halves and we didn’t really defend,” Bellamy said.
“I thought Bronson Garlick and Josh King did a pretty good job.
“Starting the game, I thought the way Brandon (Smith), with the style he played, looked pretty good to me. I was really happy with how Xavier Coates played as well and Alec McDonald, who punched a few holes off the bench.”
WHO WAS MISSING?
A whole heap. Storm was made up of a sprinkling of stars mixed in with an inexperienced, young side. Bellamy wanted to give his younger and feeder club players an opportunity, which meant the likes of the Bromwich brothers, Christian Welch, Justin Olam, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Jahrome Hughes, Justin Olam, Reimis Smith and Felise Kaufusi all missed. Papenhuyzen (ankle) and Tom Eisenhuth (calf) were unavailable. Expect Storm to load up next Sunday for its final trial game before round 1 against Newcastle in Ballarat.
Turbo’s back - and better than ever
SEA EAGLES 28 def TIGERS 4
By Martin Garbor
Forget about Harry and the Corso. Don’t even mention slips in the shower. Turbo is back and the rest of the competition should be terrified.
The superstar fullback toyed with the Tigers defence on Friday like he was a heavyweight champ just waiting for the right moment to strike.
And the 28-4 scoreline reflected his impact on the Sea Eagles-Tigers contest.
Tom Trbojevic landed the first blow inside the opening three minutes, passing short to Brad Parker for the first try after a defender took the bait and rushed up to pressure a player who has more time than he needs.
He was at it again later in the half, offloading with ease as quick hands sent Reuben Garrick over in the corner.
New recruit Ethan Bullemor played a part in that try, and he looks to be a seamless fit on the left edge for the injured Josh Schuster.
But it was a moment of magic just before halftime that evoked memories of his statistically unrivalled 2021 when he stormed home to win the Dally M medal.
Trbojevic flew onto an inside pass to split the defence, burnt some Tigers on the outside and then linked up with younger brother Ben who found his winger for a silky smooth try.
Everything Turbo has touched over the past 10 months has turned to gold. You could fly him to Beijing and he’d probably win us a medal. Don’t be surprised to see another Dally M around his neck in September.
CHERRY ON TOP
It’s easy to forget this Manly team is more than just one man. That’s where the skipper comes in.
Daly Cherry-Evans was superb on Friday night, taking full advantage of a strong southerly to kick the Tigers to death.
He knows when to push the right buttons, and it was his 40/20 that led to their second try to break a 4-all deadlock. His combination with veteran Kieran Foran looked like the old days when they made a couple of grand finals. That’s ominous.
SPEED TO BURN
Phil Gould has said on more than one occasion that Josh Addo-Carr is the fastest man on the planet. Well Gus, the Foxx has competition.
Tolu Koula once ran the 100m in 10.58 seconds when he was at high school. Let that sink in. With Jason Saab in the garage, Manly let the youngster off the leash and he did not disappoint.
He threatened to get into the clear a couple of times and showed he can pass when he set up Ray Vaega for two of his three tries. Both should be on Des Hasler’s radar for a backline spot.
LUKEWARM START
The pressure on the Tigers is always scorching at this time of year, and no one feels the heat more than halfback Luke Brooks.
This is his tenth season and he’s yet to play finals footy. If a week is a long time in footy, then a decade feels like an eternity.
A lot of the talk has been on whether he stays at the Tigers or moves to another club like the Knights. Brooks has the chance to put those rumours to bed with some dominant performances, but we’ll need to see more than what he offered on Friday.
New arrival Tyrone Peachey gave him plenty of space whenever he moved to first receiver, but Brooks never took advantage.
He’s going to have to change that and run more if he’s going to win the Dally M like Benji Marshall boldly predicted.
CHEMISTRY LESSON
It was around this time a year ago that the Tigers faithful rose as one to give their players not one, but several standing ovations after they thrashed the Sea Eagles in a trial.
How times have changed. The middles that day were brutal, but we barely saw them on Friday.
Sure, this is just a trial and there are plenty of guys missing. James Roberts was a late scratching with an infection behind the knee, Adam Doueihi is still recovering from a serious knee injury and Daine Laurie was also out.
But this team played with the chemistry of a poorly-matched MAFS couple.
They were smashed in the middle and lacked the enthusiasm of a team that has plenty to prove in 2022. That’s a concern for coach Michael Maguire.
LOOKING SHARPE
You know you’ve done a good job as a referee when you largely go unnoticed.
Belinda Sharpe’s elevation into top grade should be celebrated after a stellar start, and there’s no reason why she shouldn’t get a crack in the NRL at some stage this year.
But please, let’s not use the Bunker in the trials. Let the boys play.
Rookie adds intrigue to Raiders’ fullback puzzle
RAIDERS 32 def ROOSTERS 18
By Fatima Kdouh
Raiders rookie Xavier Savage starred in Canberra’s 32-18 win over the Sydney Roosters, putting teammate Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad on notice.
Leading into Friday night’s trial match, the talk had been that Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was planning to ease Savage into the fullback jumper during the season, with Nicoll-Klokstad to eventually shift out to the wing.
But the dynamic youngster showed almost instantly that he is ready to start at the back in round one.
Savage opened the scoring after sniffing out a small hole in the Roosters defence, kicking a grubber for himself, and finding the tryline after just four minutes.
His acceleration and ability to break through tackles caused the Roosters defence plenty of headaches.
Savage showed no ill-effects of the shoulder injury that prematurely ended his rookie season after three games last year.
“I’m going to cut this clip [of the game] and learn what I can do better … with Charnze, it’s big shoes to fill,” Savage said. “I’m not the biggest bloke out there but I’m not take the big hits out of yardage.”
But Nicoll-Klokstad did more than enough to keep his fullback spot, even playing out of position in the halves. Nicoll-Klokstad’s running troubled the Roosters.
The impressive individual performances from both players did little to solve Canberra’s fullback puzzle ahead of the season’s first team list Tuesday in a little over two weeks.
LATE CALL-UP
Savage wasn’t the only rookie to make an immediate impact.
Adrian Trevilyan, who was called in to start at hooker after Canberra’s Covid drama, burrowed his way through the Roosters’ line to extend Canberra’s lead in the first half.
The Schoolboy star from Townsville is viewed as the club’s long-term option at dummy-half with Josh Hodgson Parramatta bound in 2023.
But his night ended early after he was left dazed when David Suluka-Fifita ran him over while Trevilyan was trying to cut down the Roosters’ big man.
He combined well with Brad Schneider. Schneider stepped up to take control of the outfit in the absence of halfback Sam Williams and was impressive on both sides of the ball.
COVID DRAMA
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has been the loudest advocate to allow players outside a club’s top 30 rosters from a club’s lower grade to be selected to play from round one.
On Friday, he was vindicated after Sam Williams and Matt Frawley were ruled out of his starting side after Williams returned a positive RAT before the team boarded the bus to Leichhardt Oval.
Stuart believes access to a club’s entire playing ranks will ensure coaches can pick the best possible 17 players if they are impacted by positive Covid cases.
Williams was replaced by Nicoll-Klokstad at halfback and Trevilyan stepped up to start at hooker.
“We got a very quick lesson in [what it is like] to have a positive Covid test pre-game,” Stuart said. “We also had a number of head injuries during the game, which is not what you need.
“You just have to be flexible and get past the disruptions. The positive tonight for both teams was there was a huge amount of youth, and they will all be called upon this year.”
Stuart believes the NRL will take a commonsense approach in allowing players outside the official roster to take the field.
“Jarrod Croker played centre and then some five-eighth, Charnze played some time at No. 9, Adam played time at No. 9, wingers and fullbacks swapped around – it’s really important.
“It’s where Covid has taken the game,” Stuart said when asked about the importance of the utility factor the pandemic has introduced into the game.
BOOM FORWARDS
With round one spots up for grabs, the big men from both sides did enough to put pressure on the seasoned campaigners in their respective engine rooms.
Roosters’ Naufahu Whyte showed he packs more than just size and power as the teenager sidestepped his way past the Raiders defence to post first points for the Roosters.
Suluka-Fifita charged hard all match, churning out 144 metres.
Canberra’s Trey Mooney, who is one of the club’s brightest prospects, had some strong runs and was enthusiastic in defence. His night was soured after a head knock.
NAIQAMA NULLIFIED
After three seasons in the English Super League for St Helens, where he won three titles, Kevin Naiqama made an underwhelming return to the NRL.
The 33-year-old had limited opportunities on the right wing, making 13 metres from two runs in 37 minutes.
Fellow veteran outside back Jarrod Croker, 31, made a successful return from a knee injury that threatened to end his career sealing the win with a try. Croker said the hit-out was important for his confidence.
“It didn’t feel like much but it was good to be out there. It was a good start,” Croker said.
Originally published as NRL trials 2022: Mark Geyer’s son Mavrik stars as Panthers hammer Sharks
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