NRL 2025 trials week one: Warriors unleash star recruit James Fisher-Harris on Cronulla Sharks

The Penrith Panthers are set to keep their biggest stars on ice for the pre-season challenge, but their absence will see some rising rookies given an opportunity. See who’s in and who’s out.

Ivan Cleary will keep his big guns underwrap ahead of the season opener in Las Vegas with the Panthers coach to turn to Penrith’s production line in the pre-season challenge.

Rising winger Nick Murphy, who has impressed coaching staff during the pre-season, will be named to take on Canberra on February 8 in Penrith’s first trial match.

While boom rookie Casey McLean is the favourite to race to a starting spot in round one, Murphy will be given every chance to press his claims for selection.

Panthers rookie Nick Murphy is set to start on the wing during for the Panthers first trial match. Picture: NRL Imagery

Young playmaker Zack Lamont, who trained with the NRL side over the summer, will get a run in the halves with star halfback Nathan Cleary to be kept in cotton wool as he edges closer to a round 1 return from a serious shoulder injury.

But Cleary will get a chance to test his shoulder in a planned scrimmage against North Sydney Bears before the Panthers NRL side jets off to Las Vegas on February 20.

New recruits Blaize Talagi and Isaiah Papali’i will also take part in the scrimmage but won’t be seen in Panthers colours for the first time until round 1.

While rookie halfback Zack Lamont will start the year in the halves. Picture: NRL Imagery

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart is also taking a similar approach in the first week of the pre-season challenge.

Stuart will unleash former Parramatta junior Ethan Sanders at halfback, while Chevy Stewart will be named at fullback, where Kaeo Weekes is the favourite for round 1.

Powerful centre Savelio Tamale is also likely to be named. Stuart is yet to decide who will replace Albert Hopoate in Las Vegas after the youngster ruled himself out, opting to stay in Australia for the birth of his first child.

The pre-season challenge will double as an audition for Tamale, Jed Stewart and Michael Asomua in the race to replace Hopoate in Las Vegas.

New recruit and Englishman Matty Nicholson, who is gunning for a bench spot, is also likely to get some game time against the Panthers.

Workhorse forward Zac Hosking is tracking well from a calf injury and should be available for the second week of the trials against Cronulla on February 13.

WARRIORS UNLEASH JFH ON STARLESS SHARKS

—David Riccio

Rugby League will return with the largest possible bang with the world’s greatest prop in the eyes of many set to play his first game for the Warriors on Friday night.

James Fisher-Harris, the four-time premiership-winner with Penrith and 2023 Golden Boot winner, will join an almost full-strength Warriors line-up in the opening pre-season trial match of the year against Cronulla at Sharks Stadium.

Fisher-Harris dropped a bombshell last April when orchestrating a behind-the-scenes exit from Penrith, the club he joined as a teenager, to sign a four-year deal with the Warriors.

Fisher-Harris’ last NRL appearance was in the 2024 grand final for Penrith against the Storm in front of more than 80,000 fans.

In stark contrast, the powerful prop will commence his career as a Warrior in front of a few thousand footy-starved supporters at Sharks Stadium.

James Fisher-Harris is ready to let rip in the NRL Pre-Season Challenge. Pic: Warriors Instagram

Joining Fisher-Harris in the Warriors trial match line-up are big guns Charnze Nicol-Klokstad, Wayde Egan, Mitchell Barnett, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Marata Niukore, Luke Metcalf and Te Mare Martin.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Chanel Harris-Tavita may be held back from the opening trial.

The reason why the Warriors will field so many heavyweights is due to the upcoming All Stars fixture, which the Warriors will be major contributors and therefore be unavailable for the club’s second trial against the Storm.

Warriors coach Andrew Webster can ill-afford to waste time forming key combinations prior to flying to Las Vegas to tackle the Raiders.

Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon will resist playing his biggest names including Nicho Hynes, Addin Fonua-Blake, Blayke Brailey, Jesse Ramien and Ronaldo Mulitalo.

However, the likes of Sifa Talakai, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Sione Katoa, Sam Stonestreet, Will Kennedy, Billy Burns and Jayden Berrell will all feature. Kick-off is at 7.30pm.

Originally published as NRL 2025 trials week one: Warriors unleash star recruit James Fisher-Harris on Cronulla Sharks