NRL Team List
Is it fair to suggest that this trial carries the most expectation for the two fan-bases involved out of any this weekend? Wests Tigers fans and the handful of genuine Roosters stalwarts will be glued to their screens watching their retooled rosters take on the Cronulla Sharks and Manly Sea Eagles respectively this weekend. For the Tigers it is a matter of re-establishing pride and a sense of competitiveness while for the Roosters it is really business as usual. Elsewhere the Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys will lock horns in a preseason battle between two of the unquestioned premiership heavyweights but again this is more of the same.for anyone that has tuned into the NRL over the last five years.
So it is at Newcastle where we find the game that has the highest stakes of arguably all preseason trials this year. Have Brad Arthur’s Eels evolved enough from their Top 4 finish in 2017 to cause a real shift in the balance of power of everyone’s favourite NRL triumvirate of the Storm, Cowboys and Roosters?
Evolution is definitely the thematic core of this team this year after a breakthrough bittersweet campaign in 2017. With absolutely minimal roster turnover and the sole addition of Kane Evans to the forward pack, Arthur and his handpicked men are now a well established and tight-knit unit. Gone are the days of the universal underdog tag as 2017 put the Eels firmly on the map and with that taste of success comes the burden of expectation.
The question now is, have they sufficiently changed and improved themselves so as to take that next step and truly shake up the landscape of the NRL? Are both Mitchell Moses and Corey Norman ready to stamp themselves as genuine Origin-tier halves? Jarryd Hayne has always been the centre of attention in his tenure at the Eels, now that tag comes with a literal responsibility as he dons the #4 for Arthur. Across the entire roster the Eels have to improve – even incrementally – but recent history suggests that ‘BA’ will ensure they do just that.
Conversely, after two hard fought years for at the helm Nathan Brown has now brought the flames of revolution to Newcastle. If the Eels are the model of consistency in roster turnover for 2018, Newcastle lie at the other end of the spectrum with a staggering NINE new additions to their Top 17 (not including Kenny-Dowall mind you). There is no arguing that the Novacastrians have injected a ridiculous dose of talent into their roster. Rather than talent, the biggest challenge for Brown and his troupe of footballers is now building the connections and chemistry across the entire team. With the Storm and Eels as their preseason opponents they have deliberately scheduled a preseason that will rapidly reveal just where they stand in that regard!
As expected, Arthur has kept everything relatively vanilla in his named 22. Cameron King looks to have the inside running on Kaysa Pritchard while Josh Hoffman makes his return to the NRL as the Eels look to fill the void left by Semi Radradra. The Eels will ease Kane Evans back into the fray from the bench as he returns from a broken wrist but easily the biggest surprise is the selection of Brad Takairangi as the starting right edge backrower.
Whether this is all in order to give the centre-come-backrower more game time to facilitate his positional transition or a selection by ‘BA’ with greater permanence in mind will be possibly the most important story line of the preseason.
Everywhere else it really is business as usual. Preseason standouts Daniel Alvaro, Kenny Edwards and Will Smith should be followed closely by all fans (both in attendance on the live stream) but the primary goal of the night will be to work as much preseason rust out as possible without sustaining any injuries. With all that said and done, the hype well and truly begins this Saturday! Catch you all there.
Parramatta Eels v Newcastle Knights pre-season trial squad
1. Bevan French
2. Kirisome Auva’a
3. Michael Jennings
4. Jarryd Hayne
5. Josh Hoffman
6. Corey Norman
7. Mitch Moses
8. Daniel Alvaro
9. Cameron King
10. Tim Mannah
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Brad Takairangi
13. Nathan Brown
Interchange
14. Beau Scott
15. Kenny Edwards
16. Kane Evans
17. Suaia Matagi
18. Tepai Moeroa
19. Peni Terepo
20. Will Smith
21. Kaysa Pritchard
22. David Gower
Intrust Super Premiership Team List
Nathan Cayless has made a handful of changes to the team that played out a tense 12-all draw against the North Sydney Bears. Dylan Izzard slots into the halves at the expense of Zach Nicholls while the additions of Kaysa Pritchard and Andy Saunders boost the pack. Reed Mahoney is obviously dropped back to the bench for Pritchard but the fact that he is named there is of note itself. Although still eligible for Flegg, Mahoney was a standout in the NRL preseason and has clearly worked himself into this opportunity – especially after impressing against the Bears two weeks ago.
As I mentioned in my post-match musings from the aforementioned North Sydney trial, the strengths of this iteration of Wenty clearly lie in its backline and forward pack. George Jennings (conspicuously absent – presumably through injury), Nathan Davis and Dane Aukafolau give them three monstrous backs to blend speed and power out wide while the pack combines the wiles of David Gower with the raw aggression of Ray Stone and Marata Niukoure. On the other hand there are still plenty of question marks over the halves and this looms as the single most pressing issue for the Magpies.
It should be said that this lineup is far from optimised with a number of fringe first-graders that are desperately competing for a place on the NRL bench named exclusively for the NRL trial. Pending any injuries to come from this weekend, the forward pack for Wenty should be significantly stronger come Round 1!
Wentworthville Magpies v Newcastle Knights – ISP trial, kick off at 4:45pm
1. Anthony Layoun
2. Atini Gafa
3. Nathan Davis
4. Dane Aukafolau
5. Eddie Aiono
6. Dylan Izzard
7. Kauri Appouri
8. Andy Saunders
9. Kaysa Pritchard
10. Magnus Stromquist
11. David Gower
12. Marata Niukore
13. Ray Stone
Interchange
14. Reed Mahoney
15. Sam Gorman
16. Zach Nicholls
17. Haimona Hiroti
18. Matt Woods
19. Nathan Milone
20. Daniel Dole
21. Pio Sokobavalu
22. Nick Kassis
23. Josh Minhinnick
25. Jermain Mati-Lefi
26. Epa Navale Jnr
Jersey Flegg Team List
Much like their NRL cohorts, this is a slick looking team list. Sleek, even. To my eye there is one (presumably enforced) change to the team that easily accounted for the Bears a fortnight ago as Haze Dunster steps into the custodian role for John Fonua who I can only imagine has a niggle of some sort. Ethan ‘Big E’ Parry is back on the wing where he starred in the SG Ball last year while the depth runs deep into the bench where keen eyes will spot two current SG Ball players in JP Nohra and William Kei. Nohra could potentially receive significant game time on Saturday given that Dunster is a specialist winger by trade (and a dang good one at that) while the robust Ball fullback is already physically built enough to rough house it with the bigger bodies in Flegg but that is pure supposition.
With Reed Mahoney named to the ISP team the only real question mark over this stacked roster is that of the hooking role. Jaydn Field, Ayden Carling and Blaise Barnes are each fighting to make the role their own and that battle within the greater conflict of the game is where the Eels will potentially find their most important answer in this trial.
Parramatta Eels Jersey Flegg v Newcastle Knights – Jersey Flegg trial, kick off at 3pm
1. Haze Dunster
2. Taufu Afu
3. Tuimavave Afualo
4. Noel Aukafolau
5. Ethan Parry
6. Joey Taipari
7. Dylan Brown
8. Sean Keppie
9. Jaydn Field
10. Oregon Kaufusi
11. Salesi Faingaa
12. Dylan Clifford
13. Michael Tupou
Interchange
14. Jesse Cronin
15. Sam McGregor
16. Beni Valu
17. Austin Dias
18. Ayden Carling
19. Bruce Wakeling
20. Todd Sapienza
21. James Porter
22. Nick Oklandnikov
23. Jake Sleiman
24. PJ Vaigalu
25. Blaise Barnes
26. JP Nohra
27. William Kei
Its an interesting line up in each squad. The two wing spots in the main squad are curious. and perhaps for Auva;a its a reward of sorts for his play last year, while Hoffman gets a chance to show what he’s got in the top squad for what I believe to be the first time for the B&G.
The match will be a good one as NCLE has recruited well and wont be a push over, not sure though that the selected 1-17 will be the same for round 1 though.
Not being disrespectful col by why is the selection of our 2 best wingers curious ???
The reason is more the selection of Hoffman, I believed that Auva’a would have been picked owing to his time on the right wing last season.
Hoffman, I think is more a trial or test for him, and I think he was out for a long time last year, sure he is more a left side player from his days North of the border, but given some raps that have been put on Smith, I was thinking that he actually deserves a spot in the side, the left wing would have been ideal, and lets face it he did himself no harm in the way he took on the utility role last year.
If he is in the team, he gives value to more than one spot if required.
Col, Hoff was our right winger until injury last year. I also believe that he was one of our most consistent players. Although Smith can cover wing, I don’t see him as a winger. He’s the ideal 14 for mine.
Thanks for the update, just couldn’t remember he played in the NRL team. With that I remove what I have said with Smith.
Look forward to the streaming of the game. For those going to it, the temperature is going to be in the mid 30’s. As we are only around 5k’s from the ground and how the heat has been up here the past few weeks, be wary of what you wear, the temp drops a fair bit after twilight and if there’s a breeze blowing you will likely need a top and long pants on.
Like it 40, like it a lot. A superb read, and for me the inclusion of Taka in the 13 is interesting; and maybe its about the balance of the team? Is this is a sample of the round one match? I was thinking Tep / Scott would start. Anyway for those who will watch via streaming time will tell. The Knights will have a few things to prove.
I’m still thinking that Tep will be a starter this year. He’s been in rehab lately so possibly underdone.
Thanks Forty,
What can you tell us about the Wenty #7?
I have a big wrap on Ese’ese. Wish we had him. A must for everyone’s super coach team
A little tweaking but no revolution. In fairness to Taka he has a chance to trial his wares orherwise nrl side is as expected with moeroa and smith maybe to come onto the bench.
Very very interesting to see Tepai in the 18 Jersey and not starting in the 17 that’s very surprising! I thought he would of got a starting spot for sure!
Good balanced squad, what numbers they have on their back from 1 through to 22 is irrelevant. Teamwork, cohesion, match fitness and some tough “D” is what trials are all about. The final scoreline would mean more to Newcastle & it’s fans than what it does to BA & the coaching staff and what they are looking to get out of this trial with the squad selected !!
40/20 intrust cup player #26 is his uncle a former parra winger … If so I’m happy.
Oh good write up.
Looking forward to the start of the year. But I’m not going to look to much into trial form.
To me it’s only to gel new players n getting match fitness up. Correct me if I’m wrong.
#Eels4life#
Where is Greg L this week?
Interesting with selections at Hooker.
What’s your thoughts why Schneider isn’t playing Jersey Flegg trial.
I think we all thought with Mahoney in Nsw cup the natural progression for selection would be the young rake.
Its a key position and my thoughts are the players named to play there are not up to it.
Cronin named as 14 utility and filling in at hooker is a huge step for an ex middle player, Front rower/Lock
Time will tell
I would say it has something to do with the sg ball comp mate. Cant see them wearing one side for strengthening another only for a trail.
Fair enough Thank you
There is a saying. If your good enough your old enough
Schneider is playing SG Ball.
Well, a much rewarded wait from us TCT tragics to finally get a dose of your comprehensive Team Selection appraisals Forty! Thank you.
The conjecture about who is on the bench and who is not may well be irrelevant as I believe that 20 of the 22 named will play in the first grade trial and not just because two of them have also been named in the Wenty side. It will also depend on what transpires between now and Saturday with rehab and training.
Personally, I’m very happy to see Hoffman back on the wing in first grade. I agree with Sixties. he was one of our best and most consistent performers before he got injured last season and is a real footballer who has great experience and can cover most backline positions.
No sign of Vave !
He is in the rehab group.
I hope this trial team won’t be the one selected for the first match, that front row will scare not one of the other 15 teams.
They don’t need to scare them, they just need to beat them.