Sx key notes from the final round of NRL trials.
While most of the game’s elite made their first pre-season appearance over the weekend, Sydney Roosters stars Mitchell Pearce and Boyd Cordner, as well as Canberra duo Joey Leilua and Jordan Rapana, will enter the new season without a minute of game-time under their belt, after all four were rested on the weekend.
Penrith copped the worst injury, with Sam McKendry feared to have re-torn his ACL in his first game back from a knee reconstruction. Wests Tigers pair Luke Brooks (hamstring) and Matt Ballin (knee) are racing the clock for round one, as is North Queensland’s Antonio Winterstein (ankle), Melbourne’s Billy Slater (shoulder), and Cronulla’s Valentine Holmes (hamstring).
Brisbane may not be an automatic top-four inclusion after they were shocked by Warrington in the World Club Series, giving up three tries inside the opening 20 minutes. The same could be said of Canberra, who could have a hard fortnight ahead of them after they were spanked 44-0 by 2016 wooden-spooners Newcastle.
Manly could be the surprise packets of 2017 after joining Penrith and North Queensland in claiming a perfect two wins from two trials. New recruit Blake Green has looked in good touch in victories over South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters. Newcastle also impressed, scoring 44 points for the first time in over three years.
Parramatta and the Wests Tigers had strong showings in their trials but still went without a win in their two matches, although neither team played their starting halfbacks over the weekend. Jamal Idris survived a 60-minute stint at centre but will be asked to do more come round one.
An under-reported aspect over the two weekends of trials was the surprise use of the sin-bin by the game’s officials. Four players were dismissed in this year’s warm-up games, perhaps indicating that referees won’t be as tolerant early in the season.
NSWelshman
Guest
Ummmmm Manly had only 6 of their regular 1st grade squad playing against Souths, who had almost the same, so you're statement is incorrect. Secondly they played an almost full strength Roosters who everyone is tipping for a top 4 position. I agree that trials are not exactly an indicator to the premiership, however a few of the teams showed they will be more than just chicken feed come the start of the premiership.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Is that you Snoz ? You should've learned your lesson about picking teams before the season has even started. Where's Mitchell and Robbie ?
Don't want to talk about the Dragons
Guest
Can't fault your changes. Someone who deserves to be there won't be. At least the blues have some depth. Now as for the Dragons...................... :-(
The Barry
Roar Guru
Haha...I like the name and the side. This is very close to my Blues side. I'd have Hayne in the centres for Croker and Ferguson on the wing. I think the selectors need to make a decision on the second rowers. Cordner, Jackson and Frizell can fill in at lock if required but are all better on an edge and not as effective in the middle third. I'd go Jackson and Cordner with Frizell on the bench for 'impact' and Merrin at lock. I'd have Fifita starting. Best prop in the game. My bench Boyd, Klemmer, Frizell and either Cartwright or Bird
Don't want to talk about the Dragons
Guest
NSW side 1. Tedesco 2. Trbojevic 3. Croker 4. Leliua 5. Hayne 6. Moylan 7. Maloney 8. Woods 9. Peats 10. Boyd 11. Frizell 12. Cordner 13. Jackson 14. Merrin 15. Fafita (if behaved) 16. Cartwright 17. J Bird 18. J Trbojevic 19. Wighton
steve
Guest
No, I doubt they were a lock for top 4. Just don't see it in this squad. I'm a Broncos supporter by the way. I'm think at this point the Broncos will be the number 3 QLD team this year. I think Wayne Bennett has lost his aura and the sooner he departs the better for the Broncos. I don't like what is being mentioned as our best 17. Its very similar to last years best 17 and that wasn't good enough. You can almost be assured that there will be another James Roberts off field incident before the season is done.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Yeah - good luck to the Knights. They certainly won't lose this season due to lack of desire and motivation. They gave the Raiders a couple of scares last year with a draw and a narrow loss plus the thrashing in the trial on the weekend. I don't think they'll be coming bottom this year.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
...even so, 44 to zip. That's got to bode well for the Knights. I've been saying for a while now, those lads will be a much better side this year for the shellacking they copped in 16 . They're not going to win the comp, but they're not going to bathing in shame either.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
"Canberra ... could have a hard fortnight ahead of them after they were spanked 44-0 by 2016 wooden-spooners Newcastle" No one likes to lose 44-0 - particularly at the spiritual home of Seiffert Oval - and credit should be given to the way the the Knights piled on the points but I'm not sure how much you can read into the result. It's not as though Ricky Stuart was taking the game seriously - no Wighton, Rapana, Croker (injured), Leilua, Eddie Lee, Tapine, Priest, Dave Taylor or Soliola. And by all accounts Austin, Sezer, Hodgson, Papa, and Boyd only played for the first 15 or 20 minutes. What it did show was there could be a lack of depth at the club outside the first 17 as many of the back up or fringe players in the squad were found wanting against the Knights. One of the few positives - apart from no major injuries - was the performance of young Cotric in the centres. Big and strong for his age with a good step, can break through tackles and has a good offload. Looks like a promising replacement for Croker until he returns.
billyg
Roar Rookie
not sure you can take too much our of the trial results - for instance Manly - played a 2nd/3rd string rabbits side in 1st trial while playing a fair number of first choice players then had a win over the 15th placed team from 2016. Knights - 44-0 over Raiders....is that going to make them top 4? Nah. Eels - a smattering of first choice/bench players from the Titans against an Eels team which was essentially the ISP Wenty Team then lost 18-6 to Panthers, at 60 min mark it was 6-6 then Wenty came on and panthers scored a couple. WCC games are tricky to view - the SL teams seemed to be up for the challenge this year and are a number of games into their season but NRL teams combinations were a bit off. Its always good for confidence if a team wins everything in trials, but you can never read too much into it come round 1.
Oingo Boingo
Guest
Yep , place your bets for the premiership winner on the back of these trials . I was expecting more from the Knights last year , but Browny had a lot of work to do there , this year they may surprise a few ,unlike the Dragons,who's only unanswered question is ,when will Mary get the chop. Bring on the comp.
boonboon
Roar Pro
Tigers were very impressive against a full strength cowboys when they had no Moses, Brooks or Ballin. They were up 16-12 at 60 minutes when both sides but especially the Tigers took off all their big names and swapped them with NSW cup and U20s players. In the 1st 60 the Tigers forwards dominated the NQC who might struggle with an ageing Scott and no Tamou or Hannant. Idris and the young bloke Suli outside him could be this years Bj and Rapana.
Walter Penninger
Guest
Dragons coach McGregor is taking a lead from Bennett and hiding his head in the sand. Dragons displayed appalling defence, non-existent attack, with dropped ball and penalties being given away. Reminded me so much of last year.
Chook
Guest
What a load of crap. I mean Brisbane were spanked against Souths in Round 1 2015 and look where they finished the season. Point is they may not do well this season and they may win the comp...I don't know and neither do you but to assume that the result of one trial match will dictate how they go this season is just nonsense
The Barry
Roar Guru
Were Brisbane ever automatic selections for the top 4? They were 5th last year and have a weakened squad. I take all trial results with a grain of salt though...