NRL 2024: When every team, players return for pre-season training
Grand finalists Penrith and Brisbane will return to pre-season training before a fellow top eight side. Every club’s pre-season return date revealed.
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Maligned Manly star Josh Schuster will go from the bright lights of Las Vegas to becoming among the first players to return to pre-season training in what shapes as career-defining period.
Schuster has enjoyed his off-season travelling to the US with Manly teammate Jason Saab. He reportedly trained during his time overseas and the proof will show up when he hits the paddock. Schuster’s Sea Eagles will be among the first teams to return to pre-season training. Players who did not make the top eight will slowly return to training within the next fortnight. Schuster and high profile signing Luke Brooks will report for training on November 9.
Schuster will need to strip some weight as he transitions permanently into the back-row.
New coaches Des Hasler (Titans) and Shane Flanagan (Dragons) won’t have to wait too before they get their hands on their players. The Titans, and the Dragons will be the first teams back on Monday, November 6. The Dragons will be without the injured Tyrell Sloan plus some representative players including Ben Hunt, Mikaele Ravalawa and Jack de Belin.
While the Bulldogs kickstart their 2024 campaign on Friday, November 10 with the likes of Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau, Reed Mahoney and Bronson Xerri, their new recruits will trickle into action.
That means Blake Taaffe, Drew Hutchison and Kurt Mann are due back midway through November and star signing Stephen Crichton not until December, Under the NRL’s new rules, players are giving up to nine weeks off.
Penrith will not get a look at all their players until the new year with representative commitments to a host of stars delaying their return. New recruits Paul Alamoti and Daine Laurie will report for pre-season on November 22. Fellow grand finalists Brisbane will also start their premiership quest later than they have been used to in recent years.
The Broncos’ younger players will be back on deck on November 23.
COWBOYS
Wednesday November 1
Who’s back? Jeremiah Nanai, Jamal Shibasaki, Viliami Vailea, Tom Chester, Tom Duffy, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Jodeci Baker-Tiraha, Jai Hansen.
Nanai will headline a host of North Queensland’s younger generation that returns first for what will be a long and arduous pre-season following a disappointing 2023 campaign. The Cowboys’ Test contingent won’t be back on deck until December.
RAIDERS
Wednesday, November 1
One of the first club‘s back to pre-season training, the Raiders will have a staggered return of their playing group. The first wave will include many of the young stars that are tipped to emerge as NRL starters in 2024, including Ethan Strange, Chevy Stewart and Jack Clydesdale. The entire squad will be back by November 20.
EELS
Monday, November 6
Who’s back? Clint Gutherson, Mitchell Moses, Bryce Cartwright, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Shane Lane, Ryan Matterson.
Junior Paulo won’t be back until just before Christmas. First club back after having a last round bye last season.
DRAGONS
Monday, November 6
Rookies Connor Muhleisen, Ryan Couchman, Toby Couchman and Viliami Fifita will be the first batch of players to meet new coach Shane Flanagan on day one.
The likes of Jacob Liddle, Blake Lawrie, Zac Lomax, Jack Bird, Moses Suli and new recruit Kyle Flanagan aren‘t due back until November 13.
DOLPHINS
Monday November 6
Who’s back? Jake Averillo, Jack Bostock, Mason Teague, Oryn Keeley, Tom Gilbert, Sean O’Sullivan, Harrison Graham, Michael Waqa.
Wayne Bennett will have his young Dolphins back on deck early in November to begin the club’s second NRL campaign. The Dolphins have a number of Test representatives who won’t be back until around Christmas, including Broncos recruits Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth.
TITANS
Monday November 6
Who’s back? David Fifita, AJ Brimson, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Jayden Campbell, Tom Weaver, Tanah Boyd, Beau Fermor, Sam Verrills.
Given the Titans missed the finals, new coach Des Hasler will be able to get his team into pre-season training nice and early. David Fifita had a minor knee operation and was ruled out of Test contention, but is expected to be firing for the start of pre-season. The Titans’ internationals, like Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Moeaki Fotuaika, will return in December.
WESTS TIGERS
Monday November 6
Who’s back?
Most of the squad including David Klemmer, Jayden Sullivan, David Nofoaluma will start. Despite finishing last, representative duties to a host of players will delay their return.
SEA EAGLES
Thursday, November 9
Who’s back? Luke Brooks, Jason Saab, Josh Schuster, Reuben Garrick, Tom Trbojevic.
New recruit Jaxson Paulo is due back two weeks later after playing the Roosters in their semi-final loss.
BULLDOGS
Friday November 10
Who’s back? Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau, Reed Mahoney, Bronson Xerri, Toby Sexton, Jacob Preston, Liam Knight, Max King, Jacob Kiraz.
Due to their involvement in the finals, new recruits Blake Taaffe, Drew Hutchison, Kurt Mann, Jaeman Salmon and Jake Turpin are due to commence on November 17.
RABBITOHS
Monday November 13
Who’s back? Latrell Mitchell, Damien Cook, Cody Walker, Jack Wighton, Sean Keppie, Lachlan Ilias, Tom Burgess.
Due to their involvement in the Pacific Championships, representative players Cameron Murray and Keaon Koloamatangi aren‘t due back until late December.
WARRIORS
Wednesday, November 15
The most notable name back on the first day of training is Chanel Harris-Tavita, who returns to the club after two-years out of the game.
The main pack of NRL players return on November 29, including Marcelo Montoya, Bunty Afoa, Marata Niukore, Jackson Ford, Jazz Tevaga and Mitch Barnett.
Shaun Johnson and Tohu Harris aren‘t due back until December 1.
SHARKS
Friday November 17
Who’s back? Will Kennedy, Blayke Brailey, Jesse Ramien, Toby Rudolf, Braydon Trindall, Matt Moylan, Dale Finucane, Teig Wilton, Siosifa Talakai
Due to their involvement in the Pacific Championships, representative players Nicho Hynes, Ronaldo Mulitalo and Briton Nikora aren‘t due back until late December.
STORM
Monday November 20
Who’s back? Grant Anderson, Cole Geyer, Ammaron Gudgeon, Jack Howarth, Alec MacDonald, Jonah Pezet, Tristan Powell, Lazarus Vaalepu.
The Storm will welcome back some of their fringe players and train-and-trial prospects to kick off the pre-season before the big names return in the lead-up to Christmas.
PANTHERS
Wednesday, November 22
Who’s back?
New recruits Paul Alamoti, Daine Laurie and Riley Price will be among the first players back. The grand final stars who aren’t playing in rep football will come back just before Christmas while those who played internationals won’t be back until the new year.
ROOSTERS
Thursday November 23
Who’s back? Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary, Nat Butcher, Brandon Smith.
Rookie players start back on Thursday, November 9 before the main squad joins them a few weeks later. The Roosters will have to wait to get their hands on new recruit Dom Young until just before Christmas because of his England commitments.
BRONCOS
Thursday November 23
Who’s back? Reece Walsh, Deine Mariner, Ezra Mam, Blake Mozer, Ben Te Kura, Xavier Willison.
The Broncos’ younger players will be back on deck first as they begin their bounce back from this year’s devastating grand final loss. Captain Adam Reynolds will get a bit more time off and the Pacific Championships means the likes of Pat Carrigan, Kotoni Staggs, Payne Haas and Selwyn Cobbo may not be required to report for training until after Christmas.
KNIGHTS
Friday, November 24
Who’s back? Kalyn Ponga, Jayden Brailey, Jacob Saifiti, Daniel Saifiti, Bradman Best.
The rookies kickstart their campaign on November 2 before a smaller group is back on November 14. The baulk of the squad is back on November 24 while the likes of Tyson Frizell won’t be due back until just before Christmas.
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