Rugby league is again.
Four NRL groups competed in three unofficial trial video games over the weekend, whetting the urge for food of footy-starved followers in readiness for the beginning of the brand new season in three weeks.
This previous weekend’s video games had been headlined by Manly’s 68-6 thrashing of South Sydney.
In different outcomes, the Brisbane Broncos defeated Queensland Cup feeder-club Wynnum Manly Seagulls whereas the Dolphins ran out 58-6 winners in opposition to the Central Queensland Capras – one other Queensland Cup group.
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Barring the Penrith Panthers, who’re heading to the UK to participate within the World Club Challenge, all groups will take the sphere subsequent week for the NRL’s second Pre-Season Challenge.
All 16 video games over the 2 weeks of the Pre-Season Challenge can be televised on Fox League, starting with the Bulldogs internet hosting the Storm at Belmore on Thursday, February 15.
Read on for the speaking factors and highlights of the three unofficial trials this previous weekend.
MANLY SEA EAGLES 68 – 6 SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Sea Eagles followers obtained their first style of latest recruit Luke Brooks in a Manly jersey, and the much-maligned playmaker delivered in spades, organising three tries within the first half earlier than being subbed off.
“Brooksy was good,” coach Anthony Seibold mentioned.
“We just wanted him to put a Manly jersey on. He’s had a good pre-season and we feel like the No.6 jersey for him will take some pressure off him with having Chez (Daly Cherry-Evans) and Tom (Trbojevic) in key positions around him.”
While a jarring scoreboard, Souths followers shouldn’t be too dismayed, with their aspect predominantly made up of reserve graders.
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OH BROTHER
Josh Schuster was meant to be the person to play outdoors Brooks on the left edge, however Ben Trbojevic’s efficiency on Sunday will make Seibold assume twice when he names his squad for Las Vegas.
It’s been a irritating few weeks for Schuster who has battled chickenpox, a damaged finger and a calf damage, and he now faces stiff competitors from the person who simply inked a brand new deal to stick with his brothers.
Trbojevic has lengthy been overshadowed by rep stars Tom and Jake, however he has had an enormous pre-season and it’s paid off with the back-rower crossing 3 times within the first half.
The lanky teenager has already struck up a very good mixture with Brooks and is one good trial away from successful a beginning spot, whereas Jamie Humphreys has put his hand up for the bench utility spot after he scored twice within the second half.
ON THE RAY-DAR
While new recruits Jaxson Paulo and Tommy Talau have been the speak of the city within the low season, powerhouse winger Ray Vaega reminded them he’s Manly’s incumbent winger for a motive with a robust show in Gosford.
He might not be the tallest man on the planet, however Vaega – who performed the ultimate 5 video games of the 2023 season – scored two tries on Sunday and broke the road quite a few instances.
Vaega additionally put in a beautiful kick for Jake Arthur to attain within the second half which will need to have drawn a smile from Brad Arthur who was certainly one of a number of high-profile faces within the crowd.
Given winger Jason Saab is within the group for his velocity and peak, and never his yardage, Vaega looms as a real probability to begin the brand new season as a result of he’s the man who can get them on the entrance foot when popping out of bother.
“I thought he was really good today,” Seibold mentioned.
“It’s one spot where there’s a really strong competition for spots…that jersey is up for grabs with that left edge back row spot.”
– Martin Gabor (NCA Newswire)
BRISBANE BRONCOS 26 – 16 WYNNUM MANLY
A few Broncos younger weapons, led by proficient outdoors again Tristan Sailor, starred within the group’s hard-fought win over their QLD Cup feeder membership.
Played over three 25-minute durations, the Seagulls raced out to a 10-0 early on earlier than the Broncos’ class shined by and so they ran excessive of their less-fancied rivals.
SAILOR SHINES
Sailor was closely concerned on Saturday afternoon, organising three tries and scoring one other in a man-of-the-match efficiency.
Brisbane’s first attempt of the sport got here after a relieving penalty noticed the Broncos march up the sphere, with a ravishing cut-out go from Sailor seeing Bailey Trew rating within the nook.
Sailor was concerned in Brisbane’s second attempt too as he soared into the air to bat Black’s bomb backwards, with outdoors again Josiah Karapani pouncing to attain in the appropriate nook.
The Broncos went on to run in 18 unanswered factors from that stage to cost to victory, impressed by Sailor who got here up clutch once more with a perfectly-weighted banana kick for Ethan Quai-Ward to attain.
Sailor then iced the victory with a sensational particular person effort as he turned on the tempo to beat a number of defenders and rating.
Sailor stays a robust back-up if something occurs to Reece Walsh however as soon as once more proved on Saturday that he may effectively even be a dynamic choice off the bench if Brisbane can discover room for him.
Sailor impressed with each alternative he had final season, averaging 125 metres whereas recording six attempt assists, 5 linebreak assists and 13 sort out busts.
The 25-year-old signed a two-year extension with Brisbane that retains him at Red Hill till the tip of the 2025 season.
While Sailor was the standout for the Broncos there have been loads of different promising performances from Brisbane’s younger and rising expertise, with Xavier Willison (114kg) urgent his NRL claims by serving to lay the muse upfront.
Young hooker Blake Mozer didn’t have an excessive amount of room to shine however was usually crisp along with his service from dummy-half whereas Coby Black had good touches, significantly along with his final sort out choices to have a hand in a couple of tries.
Deine Mariner, who’s pushing for a spot in Brisbane’s NRL backline, flashed his velocity at varied factors within the recreation however had a second to neglect when he was bundled into contact within the twenty ninth minute for what ought to have been a attempt.
Sailor spoke to The Courier Mail’s Peter Badel after the sport, citing he’d “love” to be chosen within the Broncos’ 17 for his or her historic match in Las Vegas in opposition to the Roosters.
“I would definitely love to play that super-sub role,” Sailor mentioned.
“With the game being as fast as it is, the utility role is becoming pretty big. That’s why I am pushing myself to play a few positions, so I’m comfortable across them all.
“I want to solidify my defence in case I have to go into the middle.
“Being in the 17, no matter where it is, is my goal for sure.”
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DOLPHINS 58 – 6 CQ CAPRAS
Tesi Niu scored a primary half hat-trick because the Dolphins stormed to a 58-6 win over the Central Queensland Capras on Saturday.
Niu really may have had 4 tries within the first half having simply been held up over the road within the play earlier than the Dolphins opened the scoring, with Valynce Te Whare as a substitute nabbing the primary four-pointer of the sport.
It got here after a pinpoint Kurt Donoghoe kick was misjudged by Kurtis Farr, sitting up for Te Whare to scoop and rating.
Niu made no mistake a couple of minutes later although after Donoghoe formed to play it quick to Oryn Keeley, who ran the decoy and drew within the Capras defence, opening up house out large on the left edge.
Niu put winger Jack Bostock away and was backing up in assist to complete it off, seeing the Dolphins push forward 10-0 after seven minutes.
The two Dolphins halves later mixed for a highlight-reel attempt within the seventeenth minute as Lachlan Hubner ran the decoy in opposition to the angle, with Donoghoe as a substitute enjoying it out the again to halfback Gerome Burns who confirmed off his velocity to race away and rating.
The Capras finally hit again as Brandon Clarke formed to go from dummy-half and caught the Dolphins defence napping, going proper by to attain.
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It was the one spotlight of the half although as Niu scored his second, with robust decoy working from Keeley doing the trick once more because the Dolphins centre used his footwork near the road to beat the defence.
Niu capped off a stellar half as Burns went to the air, recovering effectively from a poor go and Bostock rose above to bat it to Brent Woolf, who discovered the 22-year-old for his third of the sport.
The Dolphins picked up the place they left off within the third quarter as they ran the ball on the final sort out, with Caleb Jackson straightening as much as rating and prolong the result in 34-6.
Soon after the Dolphins had been in once more, with a pointy Brent Woolf enjoying it quick from dummy-half to a charging Cooper Jenkins because the prop crashed over subsequent to the posts.
Woolf then scored certainly one of his personal as he strolled by a gaping gap near the road earlier than Manase Kaho spun over to convey up the half-century for the Dolphins quickly after.
The Dolphins had one closing attempt in them as Jenkins scored his second of the sport, this time on the again of a ravishing quick ball from Trey Brown after the hooker took it proper as much as the road.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
