Tigers teen set for debut as Dolphins defeat sparks shake-up
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Rookie coach Benji Marshall is set to launch a new era at Wests Tigers after naming 18-year-old Lachlan Galvin to make his NRL debut at five-eighth alongside former Dragon Jayden Sullivan.
After drawing a bye in Round 1, anticipation had been building over how the new-look Tigers would line up against the Raiders and Marshall has made his first big call after naming Galvin at No.6 and veteran Aidan Sezer on the bench.
With Marshall reiterating throughout the pre-season that no position in the 17 was certain, Galvin staked his claims with an impressive showing off the bench in the Pre-season Challenge match against the Dragons.
Marshall has also handed Queensland Cup star Solomona Faataape his NRL debut in the centres while boom forward Samuela Fainu lines up on the bench for his first game as a Tiger having previously played five matches for Manly.
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In other news, Wayne Bennett has made several changes after his side's 43-18 hammering by the Cowboys on Sunday.
Young gun Isaiya Katoa has been handed the reins at halfback after leading the Norths Devils to victory in the Hostplus Cup with Sean O'Sullivan dropping down to the reserves.
Former Bulldog Jake Averillo has also been called up from QLD Cup to make his Dolphins debut, named alongside fellow recruit Herbie Farnworth in the centres, while Tesi Niu has shifted to the reserves.
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The Roosters, meanwhile, have been handed a huge boost for their clash against Manly with star recruit Dom Young named on the wing after injuring his neck in the Pre-Season Challenge and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves returning for his first game since Round 26 last year.
The veteran prop got some minutes into his legs in NSW Cup last week and will be champing at the bit after missing the Roosters' 2023 finals campaign and season-opener in Las Vegas while serving a seven-match suspension.
At the Bulldogs, new recruit Connor Tracey is set for a fiery first-up clash after being named to make his club debut on the wing against his former club.
Tracey has been handed replacement duties with star winger Josh Addo-Carr ruled out for the next few weeks with an AC injury he sustained in the Bulldogs' Round 1 loss to the Eels.
After helping the Storm get the job done over the Panthers in Round 1, young gun Jonah Pezet will have all week to prepare alongside halfback Jahrome Hughes after being named at five-eighth in the absence of Cameron Munster (groin).
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Carrying the injury since Melbourne's Pre-Season clash in Fiji, Munster had all week to prove his fitness ahead of the season opener but was ruled out 24 hours before kick-off and this week hasn’t been included in the 22-man squad.
"It's good one day and then not so good the next," coach Craig Bellamy said.
"We are not going to rush him back, we just need to make sure he is 100 percent when he comes back."
For 21-year-old Pezet, it's another golden opportunity to prove he's a five-eighth star of the future when the Storm host the Warriors at AAMI Park.
