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 | Leichhard Oval, Sydney | 5.00pm |
Harvey Norman All Stars: | Skilled Park, Gold Coast | 6.30pm |
| Newcastle Knights v Fiji Bati | EnergyAustralia Stadium | 6.00pm |
| Brisbane Broncos v Gold Coast Titans | Kougari Oval, Wynnum | 7.30pm |
Sunday February 13 | ||
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: | 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).
