Official NRL squads from this weekend's pre-season trials.
Saturday March 2
Warriors v Wests Tigers
5.00pm (3pm AEDT) at Northland Events Centre, Whangarei
Warriors: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), 2. David Fusitu’a, 3. Peta Hiku, 4. Solomone Kata, 5. Ken Maumalo, 6. Adam Keighran, 7. Blake Green, 8. Agnatius Paasi, 9. Nathaniel Roache, 10. Leeson Ah Mau, 13. Isaiah Papali’I, 12. Tohu Harris, 21. Lachlan Burr. Interchange: 14. Jazz Tevaga, 15. Sam Lisone, 16. Bunty Afoa, 17. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 18. Gerard Beale, 20. Blake Ayshford, 22. Adam Pompey, 24. Hayze Perham, 11. Karl Lawton, 26. Ligi Sao, 23. Leivaha Pulu, 25. Patrick Herbert
Adam Blair is a late withdrawal as a precaution. The Warriors otherwise will feature all their big guns except Issac Luke, who is coming along well from a shoulder injury and is expected to be fit for round one. The squad for this Saturday includes five players who are yet to appear in a first-grade game – Chanel Harris-Tavita, Patrick Herbert, Adam Keighran, Hayze Perham and Adam Pompey.
Wests Tigers: 1. Moses Mbye (c), 2. Corey Thompson, 3. Robert Jennings, 4. Esan Marsters, 5. David Nofoaluma, 6. Benji Marshall, 7. Luke Brooks, 8. Russell Packer, 9. Robbie Farah, 10. Ben Matulino, 25. Luke Garner, 12. Ryan Matterson, 13. Matt Eisenhuth. Interchange: 15. Alex Twal, 16. Josh Reynolds, 17. Chris McQueen, 18. Michael Chee Kam, 19. Mahe Fonua, 20. Jacob Liddle, 21. Thomas Mikaele, 22. Josh Aloiai.
Elijah Taylor is a late out with a pectoral injury. Moses Mbye will lead a strong Wests Tigers squad across the Tasman with recruits Ryan Matterson and Robert Jennings having their first hit-outs in Tigers colours. The club's 2005 premiership heroes Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah get the nod at five-eighth and hooker respectively, with Josh Reynolds and Jacob Liddle on the bench.
Knights v Sharks
5.30pm at Maitland Sports Ground
Knights: 1. Connor Watson, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. Sione Mata’utia, 14. Kurt Mann, 6. Kalyn Ponga, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Danny Levi, 10. James Gavet, 12. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 13. Tim Glasby. Interchange: 15. Aidan Guerra, 16. Herman Ese'ese, 17. Daniel Saifiti, 18. Chris Randall 19. Brodie Jones, 20. Tex Hoy, 21. Jirah Momoisea, 26. Jamie Buhrer, 23. Starford Toa
Shaun Kenny-Dowall (ankle) and Hymel Hunt (hamstring) were late withdrawals with Kurt Mann to start on the wing. James Gavet, Danny Levi and Tim Glasby all appear to have won starting spots in the pack for the opening round.
Sharks: 1. Matt Moylan, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Josh Dugan, 4. Josh Morris, 5. Sosaia Feki, 6. Shaun Johnson, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Andrew Fifita, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Matt Prior, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Kurt Capewell, 13. Paul Gallen. Interchange: 14. Jayson Bukuya, 15. Jack Williams, 16. Aaron Woods, 17. Scott Sorensen, 18. Bronson Xerri, 19. Kyle Flanagan, 20. Billy Magoulias, 21. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 22. Will Kennedy.
Plenty of big names return with Matt Moylan, Josh Dugan, Shaun Johnson, Andrew Fifita, Jayden Brailey, Matt Prior and Paul Gallen among those getting their first run for the Sharks in 2019. Boom rookie Bronson Xerri is bumped to the interchange.
Roosters v Sea Eagles
7.00pm at Central Coast Stadium
Roosters: 1. Kieran Moss, 2. Matt Ikuvalu, 3. Christian Tuipulotu, 4. Ed Murphy, 5. Asu Kepaoa, 6. Lachlan Lam, 7. Brock Lamb, 8. Lindsay Collins, 9. Craig Garvey, 10. Poasa Faamausili, 11. Sitili Tupouniua, 12. Angus Crichton (c), 13. Nat Butcher. Interchange: 14. Josh Curran, 15. Fletcher Baker, 16. Sam Verrills, 17. Setefano Hala, 18. Drew Hutchison.
Having already won the World Club Challenge this year the Roosters are resting almost all their stars from this week's trial, with Angus Crichton to captain the side.
Sea Eagles: 1. Brendan Elliot, 2. Jorge Taufua, 3. Moses Suli, 4. Brad Parker, 5. Reuben Garrick, 6. Trent Hodkinson, 7. Kane Elgey, 8. Toafofoa Sipley, 9. Manase Fainu, 10. Kurt Deluis, 11. Jack Gosiewski, 12. Curtis Sironen, 13. Corey Waddell. Interchange: 14. Zac Dockar Clay, 15. Cade Cust, 16. Frank Winterstein, 17. Lloyd Perrett, 18. Abbas Miski, 19. Jade Anderson, 20. Tevita Funa, 21. Sean Keppie, 22. Andy Saunders.
Panthers v Eels
7.00pm at Panthers Stadium
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards, 22. Tyrone Phillips, 3. Waqa Blake, 4. Dean Whare, 5. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, 6. James Maloney, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. James Tamou, 9. Sione Katoa, 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 11. Jack Hetherington, 12. Isaah Yeo, 13. James Fisher-Harris. Interchange: 2. Caleb Aekins, 14. Wayde Egan, 15. Tim Grant, 16. Kaide Ellis, 17. Hame Sele, 19. Liam Martin, 20. Jarome Luai, 21. Tyrell Fuimaono
Josh Mansour was a late withdrawal after cutting his leg at training, while Tyrone May also drops out of the side. Big names Dean Whare, Nathan Cleary, James Tamou, Isaah Yeo and James Fisher-Harris return with Viliame Kikau (knee) sidelined for six weeks. Sione Katoa appears to have won the starting hooker spot ahead of Wayde Egan in a strong-looking Penrith line-up.
Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson, 2. George Jennings, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Brad Takairangi, 5. Blake Ferguson, 6. Dylan Brown, 7. Mitch Moses, 8. Daniel Alvaro, 9. Reed Mahoney, 13. Tepai Moeroa, 11. Shaun Lane, 12. Marata Niukore, 17. Nathan Brown. Interchange: 14. Tim Mannah, 15. Peni Terepo, 16. Manu Ma'u, 18. Will Smith.
Junior Paulo has been ruled out of the clash with a hamstring strain. Parramatta are otherwise close to full strength, with Manu Ma'u and Nathan Brown to make their first appearances of 2019.
Titans v Broncos
6.30pm (7.30pm AEDT) at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: 1. Michael Gordon, 2. Brenko Lee, 3. Tyrone Peachey, 4. Brian Kelly, 5. Phillip Sami, 6. Tyrone Roberts, 7. Ash Taylor, 8. Jarrod Wallace, 9. Nathan Peats, 10. Shannon Boyd, 11. Kevin Proctor, 12. Bryce Cartwright, 13. Jai Arrow. Interchange: 14. Mitch Rein, 15. Moeaki Fotuaika, 16. Max King, 17. Will Matthews, 18. Jack Stockwell, 19. Alexander Brimson, 20. Anthony Don, 21. Dale Copley, 22. Treymain Spry, 23. Ryley Jacks, 24. Jesse Arthars.
Michael Gordon beats AJ Brimson to the fullback role, with Brenko Lee pipping Anthony Don to a starting spot on the wing and Tyrone Roberts joining Ash Taylor in the halves. Star recruits Tyrone Peachey and Shannon Boyd start at centre and prop respectively while Bryce Cartwright holds a spot in the second row with Ryan James (knee) and Keegan Hipgrave (hamstring) in the casualty ward.
Broncos: 1. Darius Boyd (c), 2, Corey Oates, 3. James Roberts, 4. Jack Bird, 5. Jamayne Isaako, 6. Sean O’Sullivan, 7. Kodi Nikorima, 8. Matt Lodge, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Joe Ofahengaue, 11. Alex Glenn, 12. David Fifita, 13. Matt Gillett. Interchange: 14. Kotoni Staggs, 15, Jaydn Su’A, 16. Thomas Flegler, 17. Shaun Fensom, 18. Patrick Carrigan, 19. Jake Turpin, 20. Richie Kennar, 21. Gehamat Shibasaki, 22. Tom Dearden.
Matt Gillett will make his long-awaited return from a fractured neck at lock, with Alex Glenn and David Fifita joining him in the back row. Brisbane have named a strong team with Anthony Milford and the injured Tevita Pangai jnr the noticeable absences from the starting side. Tom Flegler appears to be the front-runner to replace Payne Haas on the bench in the opening month of the season.
Rabbitohs v Dragons – Charity Shield
7.30pm at Glen Willow Stadium
Rabbitohs: 1. Alex Johnston, 2. Campbell Graham, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Braidon Burns, 5. Corey Allan, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Connor Tracey, 8. Junior Tatola, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Thomas Burgess, 11. John Sutton, 12. Sam Burgess (c), 13. Cameron Murray. Interchange: 14. Ethan Lowe, 15. Matt McIlwrick, 16. Tom Amone, 17. Rhys Kennedy, 18. Bayley Sironen, 19. Cory Denniss, 20. Kyle Turner, 21. Liam Knight, 22. Mawene Hiroti
Ethan Lowe will line up for his new club on the bench with the starting side unchanged from last week's John Sutton Testimonial against Penrith. Greg Inglis, Adam Reynolds and George Burgess are still to return to action.
Dragons: 1. Gareth Widdop (c), 2. Jordan Pereira, 3. Euan Aitken, 4. Tim Lafai, 5. Zac Lomax, 6. Corey Norman, 7. Ben Hunt, 8. James Graham, 9. Cameron McInnes, 10. Paul Vaughan, 11. Jacob Host, 12. Tariq Sims, 13. Tyson Frizell. Interchange: 14. Jeremy Latimore, 15. Matt Dufty, 16. Blake Lawrie, 17. Luciano Leilua, 18. Mikaele Ravalawa, 19. Reece Robson, 20. Lachlan Timm, 21. Josh Kerr, 22. Jai Field, 23. Korbin Sims
Jack de Belin has again been left out while Tyson Frizell and James Graham will make their first appearances of the season.
Cowboys v Storm
7.00pm (8pm AEDT) at BB Print Stadium, Mackay
Cowboys: 1. Jordan Kahu, 2. Kyle Feldt, 3. Justin O'Neill, 4. Ben Hampton, 5. Javid Bowen, 6. Te Maire Martin, 7. Michael Morgan, 8. Matt Scott, 9. Jake Granville, 10. Jordan McLean, 11. Jason Taumalolo, 12. Coen Hess, 13. Josh McGuire. Interchange: 14. John Asiata, 15. Gavin Cooper, 16. Mitch Dunn, 17. Francis Molo, 18. Tom Opacic, 19. Jake Clifford
Francis Molo comes into the side for Scott Bolton, while Javid Bowen starts on the wing in place of Nene Macdonald. New signing Jordan Kahu appears seat to wear the No.1 with alternative option Ben Hampton starting at centre. Jason Taumalolo has been switched from lock to an edge forward to make way for recruit Josh McGuire, with Gavin Cooper bumped to the bench. Te Maire Martin remains ahead of Jake Clifford in the race for the five-eighth role.
Storm: 1. Scott Drinkwater, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Marion Seve, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Brodie Croft, 8. Christian Welch, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenny Bromwich, 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 14. Brandon Smith, 15. Tom Eisenhuth, 16. Tui Kamikamica, 17. Jesse Bromwich, 18. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, 19. Joe Stimson, 20. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 21. Sandor Earl, 22. Billy Walters, 23. Justin Olam, 24. Cheyse Blair, 25. Patrick Kaufusi
Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster, Cameron Smith, Felise Kaufusi, Kenny Bromwich and Dale Finucane are among the big names lining up for the Storm for the first time this pre-season, with Jesse Bromwich and Joe Stimson both named among the interchange.
