NRL trials week one: Squad lists and talking points

Troy Whittaker

NRL trials week one: Squad lists and talking points image

Rugby league is back, baby.

Aside from the NRL All-Stars match on Friday night and the World Club Challenge on Monday morning (Australian time), four NRL clubs have their first trials of 2019 in the coming days.

A clash between the Parramatta Eels and Canberra Raiders kicks off the action before the Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs take on lower grade sides.

MORE: The hidden pain behind Joel Thompson's NRL All Stars withdrawal

These games begin three weekends of hit-out fixtures prior to the season's official start on March 14.

Check out the full schedule of trials here.

 

PARRAMATTA EELS V CANBERRA RAIDERS

Friday February 15 at St Mary’s League Stadium, 7pm

SQUADS

EELS (alphabetical order)RAIDERS
Daniel Alvaro 1. Bailey Simonsson
Dylan Brown 2. Brad Abbey
Rhys Davies 3. Harley Smith-Shields
Haze Dunster4. Seb Kris
David Gower5. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Clint Gutherson6. Dean Matterson
Josh Hoffman7. Sam Williams
George Jennings8 Dunamis Lui
Michael Jennings9. Siliva Havili
Oregon Kaufusi10. Royce Hunt
Shaun Lane11. Hudson Young
Tim Mannah12. Jack Murchie
Tepai Moeroa13. Luke Bateman
Mitch Moses14. Tom Starling
Marata Niukore15. Corey Horsburgh
Ethan Parry16. Emre Guler
Junior Paulo17. Ryan Sutton
Jaeman Salmon18. Matthew Lyons
Peni Terepo19. JJ Collins
Stefano Utoikamanu20. Dan Keir*
20. Andre Niko*
21. Rueben Porter*
21. Tony Satini*
23. Matt Timoko

* Canberra's Andre Niko and Dan Keir will both wear No.20 on their back while Tony Satini and Matt Timoko will both wear No. 22.​

COACHES: Brad Arthur (Eels) and Ricky Stuart (Raiders)

Points of interest

The Eels have named a near-full strength squad, with NRL mainstays Mitch Moses, Clint Gutherson, Michael Jennings, Tim Mannah, Daniel Alvaro and Josh Hoffman to lace the boots.

Marquee recruits Shaun Lane and Junior Paulo will also feature for Parramatta.

Teenage sensation Dylan Brown is likey to partner Moses in the halves, and a strong performance could assure him of an NRL debut come round one.

Jaeman Salmon, who finished last season at five-eighth, is set to switch to the centres.

#Mitchell Moses

Canberra have named a side with a sprinkling of first grade experience but it's the rookies who are in the spotlight.

Former All Blacks rugby sevens player Bailey Simonsson will play fullback, with incumbent No.1 Brad Abbey shafted to the wing.

Ex-Warriors flyer Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad slots in on the other flank.

Veteran half Sam Williams needs to impress to have any shot of cracking the NRL starting team, with reports suggesting Jack Wighton and Aidan Sezer are in the box seat for the six and seven jerseys.

English forward Ryan Sutton will don the Raiders' strip for the first time.

sam williams

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS V RIVERINA ALL STARS

Saturday February 16 at Albury Sports Ground, 6pm

SQUADS

RABBITOHSRIVERINA ALL-STARS (alphabetical)
1. Corey AllanLuke Berkery
2. Mawene HirotiRobbie Byatt
3. Campbell GrahamSam Elwin
4. Jacob GaganDaniel Foley
5. Corey DennissNoa Fotu
6. Dean HawkinsJake Goodwin
7. Connor TraceyTyron Gorman
8. Junior TatolaBen Jeffery
9. Billy BrittainAndrew Lavaka
10. Kurt DillonKose Leilei
11. Jack JohnsJames Luff
12. Kyle TurnerJack Lyons
13. Lucky Ta'avaleChris Maher
14. Rhys KennedyKyle McCarthy
15. Bayley SironenMichael Mitchell 
16. Keaon KoloamatangiAdam Pearce
17. Tarquinn Alatipi-ButlerAdrian Purtell
18. Ky RodwellNathan Rose
Sterling Ross
Nick Skinner
James Smart
Eta Uaisele

COACHES: Wayne Bennett (Rabbitohs) and Josh Cale (Riverina)

Points of interest

The Rabbitohs' squad is made up mostly of reserve graders, though there is still plenty of talent on show.

Corey Allan, 20, is one of the most exciting prospects in the NRL and will line up at fullback for South Sydney.

Allan made history last year when he played for the Prime Minister's XIII team before making an NRL appearance.

Signed until 2021, he looks a certainty to succeed Greg Inglis in the cardinal and myrtle No.1 when the latter retires at the end of next year.

Elsewhere, regular Rabbitohs winger Campbell Graham has a chance to show his ability in the centres.

Jack Johns, the son of Newcastle great Matthew, will debut for Souths in the second-row.

Former NRL players Adrian Purtell and Nick Skinner will play for Riverina.

#Campbell Graham

BRISBANE BRONCOS V SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES

Saturday February 16, Father Ranger Oval, Warwick, 7pm AEDT

SQUADS

BRONCOSMAGPIES 
19. Tesi Niu1. Gerome Burns
2. Richard Kennar2. Linc Port
3. Gehamat Shibasaki3. Lenny Magey
4. Ed Burns4. Cam Booth
1. Herbie Farnworth5. Matt Soper Lawler
6. Troy Dargan6. Guy Hamilton
20. Tom Dearden7. Jack Joass
8. Payne Haas8. George Fai
9. Jake Turpin9. Manaia Cherrington
10. Thomas Flegler10. Harrison Muller
11. Andre Savelio11. Mitch Frei
12. Jamil Hopoate12. Dan Tamou
13. Patrick Carrigan13. Rory Ferguson
14. Kobe Hetherington14. Alex Bishop
15. Leenan Palasia15. Cody McIntosh
16. Jordan Grant16. AJ Tuimavave
17. Patrick Mago17. Phil Dennis
18. Ethan Bullemor18. Benaiah Bowe
7. Tanah Boyd19. Jacob Alick
21. Cory Paix20. Josh Bowen Bowyer
22. Xavier Coates21. Luke Burton
23. Ilikena Vudogo

COACHES: Anthony Seibold (Broncos) and Jon Buchanan (Magpies)

Points of interest

The youthful Broncos are up against Queensland Cup outfit Souths Logan.

Giant 19-year-old prop Payne Haas is returning for Brisbane after a lengthy lay-off due to shoulder surgery.

Haas, who turned heads in his three NRL games in 2018 before the injury, will lead the Broncos' pack against the Magpies.

Highly-rated forwards Patrick Carrigan and Thomas Flegler will also start.

Ex-South Sydney winger Richard Kennar gets a shot on Brisbane's flank as he chases an NRL contract.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old playmaker Tom Dearden will be given a small taste of the big time.

The halfback has drawn comparisons to North Queensland legend Johnathan Thurston.

Contracted Broncos NRL front-rower George Fai is playing for Souths Logan after being banished from Brisbane training due to poor fitness.

Fai reportedly has a two-month deadline to turn his physical condition around and save his first grade career at Red Hill.

What better way to make an immediate statement to new coach Anthony Seibold than with a barnstorming showing against the Broncos?

#payne haas

Troy Whittaker