2014 NRL trial game details

NRL.com
11:15am Mon 09th December, 2013

Details for each NRL club's pre-season trial games, as they are announced.

BRONCOS
Saturday, February 8: v Cowboys (Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe, Qld) – Tickets
Saturday, February 15: v Titans (Kougari Oval, Wynnum, Qld)
Sunday, February 23: v Warriors (Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, NZ) – Tickets

BULLDOGS
Sunday, February 9: v Rabbitohs (Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney, NSW) – Back to Belmore – Tickets
Sunday, February 23: v Storm (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Qld) – Charity Cup – Tickets

RAIDERS
Saturday, February 8: v Storm (AAMI Park, Melbourne VIC) – Tickets on sale late December
Saturday, February 22: v Knights (Scully Park, Tamworth, NSW)

COWBOYS
Saturday, February 8: v Broncos (Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe, Qld) – Tickets
Saturday, February 22: v Titans (Clive Berghofer Oval, Toowoomba, Qld) – Tickets

TITANS
Sunday, February 9: v Warriors (North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, NZ) – Tickets
Saturday, February 15: v Broncos (Kougari Oval, Wynnum, Qld)
Saturday, February 22: v Cowboys (Clive Berghofer Oval, Toowoomba, Qld) – Tickets

SEA EAGLES
Friday, February 7: v Sharks (Remondis Stadium, Woolooware, NSW)
Saturday, February 22: v Eels (Brookvale Oval, Brookvale, NSW)

STORM
Saturday, February 8: v Canberra Raiders (AAMI Park, Melbourne, VIC) – Tickets on sale late December
Saturday, February 22: v Easts Tigers (QRL) (Langlands Park, Coorparoo, Qld)
Sunday, February 23: v Bulldogs (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Qld) – Charity Cup – Tickets

KNIGHTS
Saturday, February 8: v First Nation Goannas (Hunter Stadium, Newcastle, NSW) – Tickets on sale mid-January
Saturday, February 22: v Raiders (Scully Park, Tamworth, NSW)

EELS
Saturday, February 8: v Wests Tigers (ANZAC Oval, Alice Springs, NT)
Saturday, February 22: v Sea Eagles (Brookvale Oval, Brookvale, NSW)

PANTHERS
TBC

SHARKS
Friday, February 7: v Sea Eagles (Remondis Stadium, Woolooware, NSW)

RABBITOHS
Sunday, February 9: v Bulldogs (Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney, NSW) – Back to Belmore – Tickets
TBC: v Dragons – Charity Shield

DRAGONS
TBC: v Rabbitohs – Charity Shield

ROOSTERS
Saturday, February 22: v Wigan Warriors (Allianz Stadium, Sydney, NSW) – World Club Challenge – Tickets

WARRIORS
Sunday, February 9: v Titans (North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, NZ) – Tickets
Sunday, February 23: v Broncos (Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, NZ) – Tickets

WESTS TIGERS
Saturday, February 8: v Eels (ANZAC Oval, Alice Springs, NT)

Warriors to play Wigan in Hamilton

The Warriors have squeezed a game against English club Wigan in Hamilton into their pre-season schedule.

The match, which could see new Warriors fullback recruit Sam Tomkins make his club debut against his old team-mates, will be played on Wednesday, February 12 at Waikato Stadium.

It comes three days after the NRL club's first pre-season fixture against the Gold Coast Titans in Auckland and three days before the inaugural Auckland Nines tournament.

Super League champions Wigan sought the match as a warm-up to their World Club Challenge (WCC) game against the NRL premiership-winning Sydney Roosters in Sydney on February 22.

The annual WCC has been played in England on all but two occasions - the original encounter between Eastern Suburbs and St Helens at Sydney in 1976 and Wigan's win over Brisbane in 1994.

Wigan Warriors chairman Ian Lenagan thanked the Warriors for fitting the match into their program, further strengthening the off-field ties forged between the clubs.

"Quite apart from the importance of the warm up game, being able to bring the two Warriors clubs together like this for the first time is great not just for us but for the fans and the game itself," Lenagan said.

Warriors coach Matthew Elliott says he can't confirm whether England international Tomkins would play in the Wigan game as he needed to juggle players across various pre-season fixtures, including a final game against the Brisbane Broncos in Dunedin on February 23.

http://www.nrl.com

This weekend's trial teams

NRL.com

Teams for this weekend's pre-season fixtures involving NRL teams. All times are local kick-off times.

Friday, February 7

Dragons v Mudgee/Illawarra Cutters (WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah, 7pm)

Dragons: Leeson Ah Mau, Josh Ailaomai, Gerard Beale, Jack Bird, Mike Cooper, Jack de Belin, Josh Drinkwater, Josh Dugan, Dylan Farrell, Tyson Frizell, Craig Garvey, Kiti Glyman, Matt Groat, Nathan Green, Bronson Harrison, Willie Mataka, Peter Mata’utia, Will Matthews, Trent Merrin, Adam Quinlan, Mitch Rein, Charly Runciman, Kyle Stanley, Jack Stockwell, Joel Thompson, Gareth Widdop, Sam Williams.

Sharks v Sea Eagles (Remondis Stadium, Woolooware, 7.30pm)

Sharks: Nathan Stapleton, Sosaia Feki, Jonathan Wright, Blake Ayshford, Eric Grothe Jr, Todd Carney, Jeff Robson, Bryce Gibbs, Isaac De Gois, Tim Robinson, Wade Graham, Matt Prior, Sam Tagataese. Interchange: Daniel Holdsworth, Michael Lichaa, Tupou Sopoaga, Ricky Leutele, Siosaia Vave, Jacob Gagan, Junior Roqica, Sione Masima, Pat Politoni, Michael Morris, Scott Sorenson, Valentine Holmes, Fa'amanu Brown.
Sea Eagles: Brett Stewart, Peta Hiku, Jamie Lyon (c), Steve Matai, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Josh Starling, Matt Ballin, Brenton Lawrence, Anthony Watmough, Jamie Buhrer, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: James Hasson, Dunamis Lui, Tom Symonds, Jesse Sene-Lefao, Manaia Rudolph, Kayne Lawton, Clinton Gutherson, Cheyse Blair, Jake Trbojevic, Mitch Manson, Ligi Sao, Tony Satini, Tyson Andrews, Santana Palmer, Michael Chee Kam, Jack Littlejohn, Delroy Berryman, Mark O'Dare, Domenic Reardon, Matt Ikuvalu.

Saturday, February 8

Storm v Raiders (AAMI Park, Melbourne, 5.30pm)

Storm: Cameron Munster, Young Tonumaipea, Justin O’Neill, Mahe Fonua, Matt Duffie, Ben Hampton, Cody Walker, Jordan McLean, Joel Romelo, George Rose, Tohu Harris, Kevin Proctor, Mitch Garbutt. Interchange: Dayne Weston, Slade Griffin, Ben Roberts, Kurt Mann, Matt Lodge, Felise Kaufusi, Richie Kennar, Hymel Hunt, Christian Welch, Rhys Kennedy, Niua Finua Puaka, Tremaine Jensen.
Raiders: Jack Ahearn, Matt Allwood, Luke Bateman, Shannon Boyd, Mitch Cornish, Mitch Cronin, Joel Edwards, Jake Foster, Jeremy Hawkins, Andrew Heffernan, Jarrad Kennedy, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Brenko Lee, Jeff Lynch, Patrick Mago, Sam Mataora, Josh McCrone, Matt McIlwrick, Mark Nicholls, Mosese Pangai, Tevita Pangai Jr, Jordan Rapana, Reece Robinson, Sami Sauiluma, Lagi Setu, David Shillington, Dane Tilse, Bill Tupou, Jack Wighton.

Knights v First Nation Goannas (Hunter Stadium, Newcastle, 7pm)

Knights: Sione Mata’utia, Jake Mamo, Dane Gagai, Chanel Mata’utia, Josh Mantellato, Michael Dobson, Tyrone Roberts (c), Zane Tetevano, Travis Waddell, Korbin Sims, Alex McKinnon, Joseph Tapine, Clint Newton. Interchange: Chad Redman, Tyler Randell, Toka Likiliki, Paterika Vaivai, Pat Mata’utia, Brenton Horwood, Matt Minto.
Goannas: Javarn White (Southern Dingoes), Kieran Vale (Dunghutti), Rickki Sutherland (Walgett Aboriginal Connection), Joshua Benjamin (Ngalpun Warriors), Malcolm Congoo (Argun Warriors), Kareel Phillips (Redfern All Blacks), Adrian Davis (Newcastle Yowies), Reggie Saunders (Southern Dingoes), Roy Smith (Redfern All Blacks), Matthew Pittman (Narwan Old Boys), Noel Underwood (Yarrabah Seahawks), Davin Crampton (Mindaribba Warriors), Phil Dennis (Southern Dingoes). Interchange: David Peachey (Dubbo Pacemakers), Nathan Blacklock, James Livock (Ngalpun Warriors), Rod Jensen (Walgett Aboriginal Connection), Bobby Nona (Newcastle Yowies), Rex Johnson (Southern Dingoes), Dennis Moran (Narwan Old Boys).

Broncos v Cowboys (Dolphin Oval, Redcliffe, 7.15pm)

Broncos: Jordan Kahu, Lachlan Maranta, Dale Copley, Jharal Yow Yeh, Stewart Mills, Zach Strasser, Kodi Nikorima, Martin Kennedy, Jake Granville, Jon Green, Joe Ofahehgaue, David Stagg, Todd Lowrie. Interchange: Cameron Cullen, Marmin Barba, Daniel Vidot, Jordan Drew, David Hala, Jarrod Wallace, Frank Molo, Sebastian Martins.
Cowboys: Lachlan Coote, Kyle Feldt, Javid Bowen, Kane Linnett, Curtis Rona, Doug Hewitt, Robert Lui, Scott Bolton, Anthony Mitchell, Ashton Sims, Jason Taumalolo, Tariq Sims, John Asiata. Interchange: Zac Santo, Rory Kostjasyn, Ricky Thorby, Glenn Hall, Sam Hoare, Cameron King, Ethan Lowe, Matthew Wright, Patrick Kaufusi.

Panthers v Wests Tigers (Kirkham Oval, Camden, 7.30pm)

Panthers: Matt Moylan, Kevin Naiqama, Wes Naiqama, Will Smith, Etonia Nabuli, Daniel Foster, Isaac John, Sam McKendry, James Segeyaro, Tim Grant, Matt Robinson, Tyrone Peachey, Ryan Simpkins. Interchange: Shaun Spence, Jeremy Latimore, Sam Anderson, Josh Mansour, Vaipuna Tia Kilifi.
Tigers: Braith Anasta, Blake Austin, Adam Blair, Robbie Farah, Asipeli Fine, James Gavet, Dene Halatau, Marika Koroibete, Chris Lawrence, Keith Lulia, Mitchell Moses, David Nofoaluma, Cory Paterson, Pat Richards, Kurtis Rowe, Curtis Sironen, Martin Taupau, James Tedesco, Bodene Thompson, Aaron Woods.

Eels v Wests Tigers (ANZAC Oval, Alice Springs, 7.40pm)

Eels: Daniel Alvaro, Mitch Allgood, Zach Dockar-Clay, Kenny Edwards, Toby Evans, Liam Foran, John Folau, David Gower, Ben Jones, Luke Kelly, Taniela Lasalo, Lorenzo Ma’afu, Manu Ma’u, Tim Mannah, Fuifui Moimoi, Ryan Morgan, Pauli Pauli, Semi Radradra, Chris Sandow, Brenden Santi, Ken Sio, Ben Smith, Peni Terepo, Vai Toutai.
Tigers: Sitaleki Akauola, Sonny Bristow, Corey Brown, Jack Buchanan, Michael Bullock, Jarred Farlow, Andy Fiagatusa, Jy Hitchcox, Sam Hollis, Inno Innosesio, Joel Luani, Allan McGrath, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Ava Seumanu***ai, Setefano Taukafa, Nathan Waters, Luke Williams.

Sunday, February 9

Warriors v Titans (North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, 4pm)

Warriors: Jordan Baldwinson, Ray Faitala-Mariner, Glen Fisiiahi, David Fusitua, Charlie Gubb, Konrad Hurrell, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Solomone Kata, Ngani Laumape, Mason Lino, Metia Lisati, Sam Lisone, Tuimoala Lolohea, Sione Lousi, Suaia Matagi, Agnatius Paasi, Abraham Papalii, Nathaniel Peteru, Dominique Peyroux, Michael Sio, Carlos Tuimavave, Albert Vete.
Titans: Anthony Don, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Siuatonga Likiliki, Brad Tighe, Steve Michaels, Aidan Sezer, Albert Kelly, Ryan James, Paul Carter, Luke Douglas, Ben Ridge, Mark Minichiello, Tom Kingston. Interchange: Matt White, Caleb Binge, Mark Ioane, Christian Hazard, Jamal Fogarty, Cody Nelson, Maurice Blair, Jamie Dowling, Matt Beddow.

Bulldogs v Rabbitohs (Belmore Sports Ground, Bankstown, 5pm)

Bulldogs: Harlan Alaalatoa, Kayne Brennan, Mitch Brown, Tim Browne, Lachlan Burr, Brad Clarke, Damien Cook, Greg Eastwood, Michael Ennis, Dale Finucane, Jaline Graham, James Graham, Trent Hodkinson, Krisnan Inu, Josh Jackson, Sam Kasiano, Tim Lafai, Drury Low, Moses Mbye, Josh Morris, Ed Murphy, Tom Murphy, Pat O’Hanlon, Lloyd Perrett, Sam Perrett, Tyrone Phillips, Frank Pritchard, John Sila, Chase Stanley, Corey Thompson, Patrick Templeman, Aiden Tolman, Tony Williams.
Rabbitohs: Nathan Merritt, Joel Reddy, Beau Champion, Dylan Walker, Alex Johnston, Luke Keary, Adam Reynolds (c), Dave Tyrrell, Apisai Koroisau, Joe Picker, Chris McQueen, Ben Te’o, Ben Lowe. Interchange: Irae Simone, Kyle Turner, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Hyland, Nathaniel Neale, Tulsa Saumamao, Kirisome Auva’a, Cameron McInnes.

Wednesday, February 12

Warriors v Wigan (Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, 7.30pm)

Warriors: To be named
Wigan: To be named

Burning questions for the NRL trials

With the first round of trials to get underway this weekend, NRL.com takes a look at the burning question for each club's fans that will impact how their side lines up for Round 1.

Full squads for this weekend's trial matches

Brisbane

The departures of Peter Wallace (Penrith), Corey Norman (Parramatta) and Scott Prince (retired) have created a crisis in the playmaker ranks at Brisbane. Will Ben Hunt, as the incumbent, start at halfback? Will recruit Ben Barba find himself in the halves (with Josh Hoffman to retain the custodian role) or will he take the number 1 jersey? If so, will it be the likes of Ashley Taylor (who only turns 19 shortly after the season commences and may still be some way off an NRL debut) or utility Jordan Kahu who gets the five-eighth spot?

We get our first look when the Broncos take on the Cowboys at Dolphin Oval at Redcliffe at 7.15pm this Saturday.

Canberra

Despite the club being relatively quiet on the player market, the wealth of quality juniors flooding through ensures plenty of competition for spots. The most hotly contested is surely the number 7 – with utility playmaker Josh McCrone moving to hooker, will young gun Mitch Cornish get first crack to partner skipper and five-eighth Terry Campese in the halves? Could his fellow Junior Kangaroo Jack Ahearn or utility Jack Wighton force themselves into the mix?

How will coach Ricky Stuart elect to use 2013 breakout star Anthony Milford? He seems likely to take the number 1 jersey but could also find himself at 7 if Stuart elects to use Reece Robinson at fullback. The picture will get clearer when the Raiders meet the Storm at AAMI Park in Melbourne at 5.30pm on Saturday.

Canterbury-Bankstown

The departure of Ben Barba has cast a huge question over who will wear the blue and white number 1 jersey in 2014. Josh Morris is capable but is a huge asset – especially defensively – at centre. Will Hasler risk moving him and creating another gap to fill there?

Sam Perrett has reportedly been training at fullback and had a huge game there against the Eels last year when Barba was injured early – will he get first crack as the "safe" option? Or will highly rated youngster Pat Templeman jump to the front of the queue? Krisnan Inu has also spent plenty of time at the back while Drury Low and Mitch Brown are outsiders but not out of the equation – will they be considered options? Hasler's plans will begin to reveal themselves when the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs return to Belmore on Sunday at 5pm.

Cronulla Sutherland

Have the Sharks done enough to cover for the departures of impact forwards Ben Ross, Jayson Bukuya, Tyrone Peachey, Jon Green and Mark Taufua? Do they have the depth coming through to fill the void? Can Michael Lichaa live up to the huge raps he earned in the Under-20s and put pressure on the hooker rotation of Isaac De Gois and veteran John Morris? How will Eric Grothe Jr shape up in his first game since 2010? And can ex-Tiger Blake Ayshford impress in his first outing in the black, white and blue?

We get our first look at the Sharks when they contest their first 'Battle of the Beaches' for 2014 up against the Sea Eagles at Remondis Stadium on Friday night.

Gold Coast

The departure of larger-than-life personality Jamal Idris has left coach John Cartwright with a sizeable hole to fill at right centre and having recruited another left centre in Brad Tighe it might take some juggling before he find the right combination. Tighe and Siuatonga Likiliki have been named in the centres for Sunday's trial against the Warriors in Auckland with Maurice Blair – another predominantly left centre – to also get plenty of game-time from the bench.

Brad Takairangi played 18 games at left centre last year and Cowboys recruit Kalifa Faifai Loa has been touted as an option so Cartwright's greatest challenge over the next three weeks will be determining who is his best option on the right.

Manly

With most of their grand final squad intact Manly will look very familiar across the park, but a stack of departures in the front row have thrown up some questions. Will Jason King – who played just four games in 2013, underwent a shoulder reconstruction in the off-season and turns 33 in March – return to his best to lead an inexperienced pack?

Will 19-year-old Jake Trbojevic force his way into the top squad? Who from Rabbitohs recruit Josh Starling, Broncos recruit Dunamis Lui and Irish World Cup player James Hasson impress coach Geoff Toovey enough to make the Round 1 bench? The young props get their first chance to strut their stuff in a match situation when the Sea Eagles visit the Sharks home ground Remondis Stadium on Friday night at 7.30pm.

Melbourne

England Test player Gareth Widdop will be tough to replace, and his 2013 backup Brett Finch has retired. Coach Craig Bellamy needs to trim down a number of options to find a partner for Cooper Cronk in the halves. Will 2013 debutant Ben Hampton retain his billing as front-runner for the role? Will Queensland Cup star Cody Walker's trip down to Victoria be in vain or will he earn a taste of NRL footy? Will eleventh-hour recruits Joel Romelo and Ben Roberts throw a spanner in the mix or are they purely on board as rep-season coverage for the Storm's Origin stars?

With Cronk out injured until at least Round 1 the auditions start against the Raiders at AAMI Park in Melbourne at 5.30pm on Saturday.

Newcastle

With Kurt Gidley earmarked for the No.9 jersey in 2014 the biggest question lies with who will don the halfback jersey; will it be incumbent Tyrone Roberts, or can new signing Michael Dobson do enough to register on coach Wayne Bennett's radar?

Can Korbin Sims show he has matured enough to stake his claim for a regular spot in the 17, week in, week out? And will former city favourite Clint Newton emerge as a long-term proposition or merely stop-gap value? Both Dobson and Roberts will get to showcase their wares when the Knights take on the First Nation Goannas at Hunter Stadium on Saturday night.

North Queensland

Rookie coach Paul Green has said that he has got a "fair idea" of who will be in his starting team for Round 1 against the Raiders but getting the rotation right for the hooking position will be determined during the trials. Anthony Mitchell has been named to start in the No.9 on Saturday night against the Broncos with interchange players Cameron King and Rory Kostjasyn both expected to spend time at dummy-half in the first hit-out of the year.

Which leaves Ray Thompson. He helped to spark the Cowboys' six-game winning streak heading into the finals, had his jaw broken in Round 24 and made it back in time to represent Papua New Guinea at the World Cup. Thompson is without question the front-runner at this stage but the balance of his bench will be one of Green's primary concerns.

Parramatta

The new-look squad contains plenty of subplots but as usual it's the somewhat cursed blue and gold number 7 jersey causing all the headaches. Will big-money flop Chris Sandow cast off his off-field dramas to return to the form that led to his high-profile recruitment and lead the Eels back into finals contention? Will Luke Kelly build on his 2013 performances and keep Sandow running around for Wentworthville? Will an in-form Jarryd Hayne at 1, Corey Norman at 6 and Nathan Peats at 9 turn any candidate into a matchwinner?

The three-quarter line has its own set of challenges with eight first graders in genuine competition for four spots. How will coach Brad Arthur fit eight into four? We get our first glimpse when the Eels take on Wests Tigers at ANZAC Oval in Alice Springs at 7.40pm on Saturday.

Penrith

The big questions here are fullback, wing and hooker. Courtesy of one of their biggest recruitment drives in years, the Panthers have put together one of their deepest squads in recent memory. Coach Ivan Cleary will have a particularly difficult time choosing between the playmaking skills of Matt Moylan and the raw power of Kevin Naiqama at fullback.

One solution would be putting Naiqama on the wing, but that leaves him with one spot for last year's equal top try-scorer David Simmons, metre-eater Josh Mansour, injured speed demon James Roberts and NSW Cup top try-scorer Eto Nabuli. Lastly, will hooker James Segeyaro's obvious talent relegate incumbent captain Kevin Kingston to the bench for good?

South Sydney

The side has seen a mini-exodus from its three-quarter line but the big question is: how is coach Michael Maguire going to use former NYC sensation Luke Keary? Will he move incumbent five-eighth John Sutton into the back row, where his size and offloading ability could make him just as effective as he was at pivot in 2013? If so will Keary get a start in the number 6? Or will club junior Dylan Walker, who has spent time in the halves over the off season, force himself into contention? And will the recruitments of Lote Tuqiri and Joel Reddy help offset the loss of the experienced Matt King, as well as Andrew Everingham and Dylan Farrell?

Sneak a look at the Reynolds/Keary halves combo at Belmore this Sunday at 5pm when the Rabbitohs meet the Bulldogs.

St George Illawarra

It's a time of rejuvenation at the Dragons, with player movement and retirements drastically reducing the average age of their squad members. The biggest uncertainty hovers over their halves and centres. How will new buys Sam Williams and Gareth Widdop gel around the scrum base? With Matt Cooper and Chase Stanley gone, who will form their centres combination? How will Gerard Beale – bought from Brisbane at the end of 2012 – handle having to audition for a centres spot?

Elsewhere, who will put up their hand to play a lead role on the Dragons' prop rotation? Will highly touted but injury-prone ex-Tiger Matt Groat stamp his class early on? The first pieces of the puzzle will be revealed when they take on the combined Mudgee/Illawarra Cutters combination at Win Jubilee Oval on Friday night.

Sydney Roosters

It's been a long time since any club won back-to-back competitions in rugby league – will the Roosters be able to get themselves up for the challenge? They won't have too many steep personnel dilemmas to confront with much of their premiership squad intact but the questions lie in the front row.

How will they handle the losses of Marty Kennedy and Luke O'Donnell? Is the promising Sam Moa ready to become one of the top two props at the club alongside Jared Waerea-Hargreaves? Will the damaging Dylan Napa reach his potential in 2014? Will Fijian World Cup prop Kane Evans leapfrog a few players to entrench himself in the top 17? We'll have to wait until the club's February 22 World Club Challenge match against Wigan to get a better idea.

Warriors

How do you fit two incumbent Test fullbacks into the one club side? That seems to be the biggest dilemma facing Warriors coach Matt Elliott. Will Sam Tomkins oust Kevin Locke at the back? If so does Locke move to the wing, and will he be happy with what he will no doubt view as a demotion? Or could Tomkins partner Shaun Johnson in the halves? If so what does that mean for the NRL career of Thomas Leuluai?

And wherever he plays, will the English Test custodian be able to help one of the NRL's most enigmatic sides find consistency? The experimenting begins, minus Tomkins, against the Titans at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland on Sunday at 4pm.

Wests Tigers

For a side that struggled mightily last season, Mick Potter's only real dilemmas fall on the wing and in the poor fella wearing Benji Marshall's famed 6 jumper. 2005 premiership hero Pat Richards returns, but with incumbents David Nofoaluma and Marika Koroibete entrenched, three (four, if you include man mountain Taqele Naiyaravoro) into two doesn't go.

Then there's the issue of who will partner rookie sensation Luke Brooks in the halves, with Braith Anasta and impressive summer trainer Blake Austin both getting their shot this weekend with Brooks out injured. Astute signings in Dene Halatau, Martin Taupau and Cory Paterson means only quality – not depth – will be problematic in his forward pack.

http://www.nrl.com/

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so Cartwright's greatest challenge over the next three weeks will be determining who is his best option on the right.

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Wrong, his greatest challenge is how to secure his job.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Titanic

Wrong, his greatest challenge is how to secure his job.

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I thought that trump card was secured with the hiring of Henry? When it all goes south on Carty again, they'll just swing the finger over to Neil Henry's direction.

If anyone is interested Melbourne are live streaming their game against raiders here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HUWCLtDAG4
Currently 4-4

Well done Storm!! This is fantastic.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...74461012_n.jpg

Dogs grind out NRL trial win over Storm

The Bulldogs finished their NRL pre-season with a grinding 20-10 victory over Melbourne Storm which has left centre Krisnan Inu nursing a jaw injury.

Despite being their own worst enemy with some poor handling, Canterbury scored four tries to two in front of 10,083 Brisbane fans at Suncorp Stadium.

Rubbing salt into the Storm's wounds, halfback Ben Roberts was placed on report for a dangerous lifting tackle on Sam Perrett and may be in doubt for their round one clash with Manly at Brookvale Oval on Saturday week.

Adding injury to insult for the Storm, lock Ryan Hinchcliffe limped off with a left leg problem in the second half after falling awkwardly in a James Graham tackle.

There were concerns Bulldogs winger Inu broke his jaw in a head clash with Hymel Hunt but he returned to the sidelines just before full-time to suggest he may be available for their season-opener against Brisbane.

Inu had been a contender to play fullback but Sam Perrett started there in a sign he has won the hotly-contested battle to wear the Bulldogs No.1 jersey.

Last night the Warriors crushed the Brisbane Broncos 48-4 in their final pre-season match in Dunedin.

Radio New Zealand

Weekend trial games wrap

Your one-stop shop for all the match reports from the weekend's NRL trial matches.

All 16 NRL clubs are another step closer to settling on their Round 1 line-ups after a full weekend of trial matches, including the World Club Challenge.

Josh Dugan suffered a knee injury as the Dragons lost the Charity Shield 38-20 to a South Sydney side missing first-choice halves Adam Reynolds and Luke Keary.

The Wests Tigers defeated an under-strength Cronulla 28-22 despite an impressive display from Kangaroos prop Andrew Fifita.

Michael Morgan was given first shot at the vacant North Queensland fullback position following Lachlan Coote's ACL injury, and he made the most of it with a starring role in the Cowboys' 28-12 win over the Titans.

A Will Hopoate-inspired Parramatta led 20-4 at half-time against 2013 grand finalists Manly before being beaten 28-24, with the Sea Eagles losing Jorge Taufua to a shoulder injury. Chris Sandow also appears to have lost the race to the Eels' halfback spot.

Darius Boyd was tried at five-eighth for the Knights in place of the injured Jarrod Mullen as Newcastle overran the Raiders 34-10 in Tamworth.

Jake Friend took Man of the Match honours and Michael Jennings scored a hat-trick in the Sydney Roosters' 36-14 World Club Challenge win over Wigan.

Shaun Johnson and Sam Tomkins showed their brilliant combination in the Auckland Nines was no one-off by guiding the Warriors to a 48-4 routing of the Brisbane Broncos.

The Panthers lost Jamal Idris to a torn hamstring but Josh Mansour scored four tries in the club's 52-4 thrashing of NSW Cup side Newtown.

And Bulldogs under-20s star Moses Mbye is pushing for a first-grade spot after starring in Canterbury's 20-10 win over the Melbourne Storm.

Source: http://www.nrl.com