NRL Las Vegas news: NRL combine trio train with Cronulla Sharks, Jack Cole on replacing Jarome Luai
The Sharks have invited three international representatives from USA and Canada to join their training, with one NRL hopeful revealing his deep connection to rugby league. All the NRL news from Las Vegas.
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From Canada to the NRL, that’s the dream of Marcus D’Acre who has received an invitation to help Cronulla cause a Las Vegas upset against the premiers.
The 20-year-old Canadian rugby union player joined two fellow NRL combine players, who have been asked to train with the Sharks ahead of their huge round one clash with Penrith at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.
A Canadian under-20s rugby union representative, D’Acre joined USA Tomahawks forward Sione Masoe and USA Rugby Sevens winger Adam Channel in the Sharks training squad on Wednesday.
The trio were headhunted by Sharks GM of football Darren Mooney, who scoured video of the trio before offering them to run as defensive opposition against the Sharks starting 13.
“I put my name forward in the combine and Darren Mooney reached out and asked if I wanted to come and join in,’’ D’Acre said.
“That was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
“This is my first time playing league and I’m learning from the top from the best of the best, there’s no better way to do it.
“I’m just going to be a sponge and just absorb everything and take everything in.
“I’m just happy to be here.’’
With an Australian father from Melbourne, D’Acre - who plays fullback, wing or centre - said he grew up watching Storm games on TV.
The NRL will hold their official combine on Saturday and Sunday with D’Acre confirming his ambition to play in the NRL.
“I want to play the highest level of rugby I can and obviously going to Australia and being an Australian citizen, the highest level is over in Australia,’’ D’Acre said.
“So I want to one day play in the Olympics too.
“I just want to put my best foot forward to impress.
“The experience alone has been awesome.’’
The NRL combine trio will also feature in the Sharks most important training session of their preparation on Thursday.
Cronulla hooker Blayke Brailey said that after arriving from a four-day camp in LA, the Sharks were focused on shielding the bright lights from their focus on taking down the Panthers.
“They’re obviously the best of the best for a reason, they have a great squad,’’ Brailey said.
“I’m sure they’ll be up the top again this year.
“There’s no easy games in the NRL and we play the hardest one in round one, but we’re looking forward to the challenge.’’
The Panthers are a new-look side in 2025 without the likes of Jarome Luai, James Fisher-Harris and Sunia Turuva.
In a surprise, coach Ivan Cleary has opted rookie half Jack Cole to start alongside Nathan Cleary at Allegiant Stadium over new recruit Blaize Talagi.
Brailey said Cronulla would be crazy to assume the Panthers were underdone.
“I feel like the squad is your strength and they’ve won four back-to-back premierships because of that.
“We also saw in the trial matches that whoever steps up they do a job.
“We’re going to treat them as the best of the best.’’
-David Riccio
‘I’VE EARNED’ LUAI’S JERSEY
Jack Cole has vowed to back his instincts and not be intimidated by his star-studded teammates as he fights to keep his grip on the Panthers No.6 jersey.
Cole, named to play in the halves alongside Nathan Cleary against Cronulla at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday (AEDT), wants to become a permanent fixture with the four-time premiers.
“I worked hard for it,” Cole said.
“I was in the same sense pretty grateful … but I’ve got this opportunity and I’m going to back myself the whole way.
“You have to back yourself the whole way otherwise you won’t get that position for long. So yeah, I’m looking to make the position mine and if anyone wants to come get it, I am happy to compete with him for that.”
Cole played nine games in first grade last season – most of them when star half Nathan Cleary was sidelined with a shoulder injury – but the departure of Jarome Luai in the off-season cleared a path to first grade.
The Panthers brought in Blaize Talagi to provide some competition but a shoulder injury stymied his pre-season and Cole swooped.
He steps into a Panthers side looking to make it five in a row. It has the potential to be an intimidating atmosphere but Cole says he won’t be overawed – he concedes he can’t afford to be if he wants to keep Talagi at bay.
“That’s part of being in first grade – if you see something you have to do it otherwise, if you’re not taking the opportunities when they are there, that’s when you get found out a bit,” Cole said.
“That’s part of the culture too – everyone is comfortable in that sense. If there’s something on, you take it.
“Obviously, there’s a few of us that knew that spot was sort of going to be vacant and I worked pretty hard the off-season.
“I did a fair bit of training and what not and sort of worked on a few things I thought I needed to get better at.
“I thought I’d come into pre-season with a pretty good mindset and worked really hard. I got pretty close to all the boys for that spot.
“It’s been good competing against each other and it’s all healthy, which is good.”
Cole played his junior footy in Orange and hard work is in his DNA – his mother worked in a doctor’s surgery and his father in the transport industry.
Before becoming a full-time player two years ago, he worked as a teacher’s aide at the Coreen School, which helps children with special needs.
“It wasn’t like a conventional school,” Cole said.
“We were just sort of just being role models. There was a big bunch of footy boys who helped with that. So it was just being good role models for the kids, sort of trying to teach them right from wrong and stuff like that.”
He doesn’t have to look far to find his own role models, at least where rugby league is concerned. Luai has gone but Cleary remains.
The pair are yet to start a premiership game together, although they were paired in the halves in the World Club Challenge last year.
“Him (Luai) and Nath have been big influences on me,” Cole said.
“That’s who I aspire to not really like to play, but sort of pick little bits of game out. Like I said earlier, I am not trying to be them – I want to be myself – but at the same time pick little bits of their game.
“They have won four comps. They are probably the best role models we have.”
-Brent Read
MAL’S BOLD WEEKES CALL
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has tipped Raiders flyer Kaeo Weekes to bolt into NSW Origin contention as the Canberra livewire prepares to set Las Vegas alight.
Weekes has secured Canberra’s No.1 jersey for Sunday’s (AEST) NRL season-opener against the Warriors at Allegiant Stadium.
Having floated around the park during a 30-game NRL career, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has planted Weekes at fullback during the pre-season.
And Meninga likes what he has seen after returning to Canberra in various roles.
The greatest coach in State of Origin history, having won nine of 10 series in charge of Queensland, believes Weekes is on track for the representative arena.
“I have been really impressed with Kaeo Weekes,” Meninga said.
“I don’t think he is too far away from rep footy.
“We had him in the Prime Minister’s game and he excelled. He came off the bench in the last 40 minutes and scored two tries.
“He is a talented individual.
“His best position at the moment is fullback for the Raiders but I think he will find his way into the rep scene as a utility.
“He can play six, seven, one or out wide. He has the ability to be flexible.”
Weekes, 23, played 17 games across fullback, halfback and five-eighth in his first season for Canberra last year after leaving Manly.
He has the attributes of an elite fullback and represented NSW at under-16 and under-18 Origin level.
Stuart is ready to give him an extended shot at the back and Canberra players like what they have seen from Weekes.
“He is looking exciting,” winger Xavier Savage said.
“I reckon he will have a cracker season this year.
“He had a good one last year but he is improving which is exciting. He is still young. I’m excited to see how he goes.
“He was only just starting to come out of his shell last year which is insane to think because he is already an electric player.
“He is only going to be maturing and learning every season.
“I’m glad he’s on my team.”
The Raiders held a high-intensity training session in Las Vegas on Tuesday (local time) as they prepare for a physical showdown with the Warriors.
Centre Sebastian Kris appeared to be nursing a tender ankle at one stage, but Stuart was confident he would be fit for game day.
The Raiders also trained in the gym at UFC headquarters before a scheduled day off on Wednesday.
-Travis Meyn
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Originally published as NRL Las Vegas news: NRL combine trio train with Cronulla Sharks, Jack Cole on replacing Jarome Luai