Prized recruits to take part in 2011 trials
NRL Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:20:00
Dallas Johnson, Brett White, Aiden Tolman, Mark Riddell, Jeremy Smith, Trent Hodkinson, Beau Champion, Carl Webb, Shaun Berrigan and Neville Costigan will be among the prized recruits who will take to the field in their new colours for the first time in an action-packed pre-season that starts on February 5 and features matches across NSW, Queensland, Northern Territory and New Zealand.
While the second Harvey Norman All Stars clash on February 12 on the Gold Coast between the Indigenous All Stars and NRL All Stars on February 13 will mark the official launch of the 2011 Telstra Premiership season, an exciting pre-season featuring the Charity Shield, Foundation Cup, Mercury Challenge, Stockland Trophy, Battle of the West Cup and World Club Challenge Final will give members and fans plenty to cheer.
Coffs Harbour, Bega, Port Macquarie, Alice Springs, Tamworth, Cairns, Muswellbrook, Wollongong, Newcastle and Rotorua are among the centres that will host 27 pre-season matches ahead of the start of the Telstra Premiership on Friday, March 11.
?The countdown has certainly begun for the 2011 Telstra Premiership and the pre-season provides some great opportunities for members and fans to get out and see how their team is shaping up,? NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, said.
?As well as all the matches, the One Community Carnival next month will take hundreds of NRL stars to country and regional centres across Australia and New Zealand and encourage children to learn the importance of harmony, respect and to be part of the game?s ?Dream. Believe. Achieve!? program.?
The 2011 program of trial matches includes:
Saturday February 5
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Newtown Jets
Redfern Oval 6.00pm
Warriors v Newcastle Knights
Wingham Park, Greymouth 6.00pm
Sydney Roosters v Ipswich Jets
North Ipswich Reserve 7.30pm
Friday February 11
Melbourne Storm v Brisbane Easts/Ipswich
Langlands Park, Brisbane 7.00pm
Manly Sea Eagles v Cronulla Sharks
Brookvale Oval 7.00pm
North Qld Cowboys v Wests Tigers
Jack Manski Oval, Townsville 7.30pm
Saturday February 12
Warriors v Parramatta Eels
Rotorua International Stadium 5.00pm
Sydney Roosters v Canterbury Bulldogs
Henson Park, Sydney 5.00pm
Harvey Norman All Stars:
Indigenous All Stars v NRL All Stars
Skilled Park, Gold Coast 6.30pm
Brisbane Broncos v Gold Coast Titans
Kougari Oval, Wynnum 7.30pm
Sunday February 13
Newcastle Knights v Fiji Bati
EnergyAustralia Stadium 6.00pm
Charity Shield: Rabbitohs v Dragons
ANZ Stadium, Sydney 7.00pm
Friday February 18
Mercury Challenge: Dragons v Bulldogs
WIN Stadium, Wollongong 7.00pm
Saturday February 19
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Gold Coast Titans
BCU International Stadium 7.00pm
Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders
Bega Recreation Ground 7.00pm
Penrith Panthers v Newcastle Knights
Port Macquarie Stadium 7.30pm
Wests Tigers v Parramatta Eels
Campbelltown Stadium TBC
Warriors v Burleigh Bears
Toll Stadium,Whangarei 5.00pm
Brisbane Broncos v North Qld Cowboys
Traeger Park Oval, Alice Springs 7.30pm
Saturday February 26
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Canberra Raiders
Scully Park, Tamworth 7.30pm
Brisbane Broncos v Melbourne Storm
Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe 7.30pm
Newcastle Knights v Cronulla Sharks
Olympic Park, Muswellbrook 7.30pm
Warriors v Manly Sea Eagles
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland 6.00pm
Battle of the West Cup: Panthers v Eels
Penrith Stadium, Penrith 8.00pm
Stockland Trophy: Cowboys v Titans
Barlow Park, Cairns 7.00pm
Foundation Cup: Sydney Roosters v Wests Tigers
SFS 7.30pm
Sunday, February 27
World Club Challenge:
Wigan v St George Illawarra Dragons
DW Stadium, Wigan, England UK: 7:15pm, NSW: 6:15am (Mon)
(Please note, all times are LOCAL times. Times are subject to change and all fans should check their respective club websites closer to match day to confirm times).
Miners? Solidarity Day Charity Rugby League Challenge
New Zealand Warriors v Newcastle Knights:
Wingham Park, Greymouth (NZ)
New Zealand Warriors:
To be named
Newcastle Knights:
Shannon McDonnell, Peter Mata?utia, Keith Lulia, Siuatonga Likiliki, Kevin Naiqama, Ben Rogers, Tyrone Roberts, Evarn Tuimavave, Chris Adams, Joel Edwards, Kyle O?Donnell, Steve Southern, Marvin Karawana; Interchange: Chad Redman, Chris Houston, Josh Ailaomai, Zane Tetevano, Marvin Filipo, Ethan Cook, Ryan Stig, Simon Williams, Api Pewhairangi