As the NRL’s pre-season problem edges nearer, each membership has holes they need to fill and complications that should be solved.
The Panthers have misplaced one of many competitors’s premier hookers and shall be hoping a powerful duo can fill the void.
Meanwhile, Anthony Seibold’s Sea Eagles have a new-look halves partnership wants a check run.
Here’s each membership’s huge subject that wants fixing heading into the pre-season problem.
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PANTHERS
Test their hooker partnership
Following the departure of Apisai Koroisau, a giant gap has been left in the midst of the park for the Panthers.
Koroisau was clearly one of many NRL’s premier hookers, and now Mitch Kenny and Soni Luke shall be left to fill the void.
Both will seemingly function in the course of the pre-season trials and Kenny, with 60 video games of NRL expertise, will put on the No.9 jersey come Round 1.
But what coach Ivan Cleary is but to work out is how he can utilise each gamers throughout 80 minutes.
Luke has a strong working recreation, whereas Kenny’s defence is clearly superior and his calm presence could possibly be essential for the reigning premiers this season.
SHARKS
Proving they’re contenders
The Sharks shocked the NRL world by ending second within the common season in Craig Fitzgibbon’s rookie season as a head coach.
While Cronulla had been bundled out of the finals in straight units, they now have a goal on their again as one of many competitors’s elite groups.
The high groups will seemingly deploy their fringe first graders who can shine in pre-season, highlighting a membership’s depth.
Now the Sharks have an opportunity to showcase their wealth of expertise and rising stars Kayal Iro shall be determined to show they will reduce it on the large stage.
COWBOYS
Fill holes within the ahead pack and utility spot
The Cowboys have misplaced a number of key figures of their beginning 17 for the 2023 season.
Tom Gilbert flew below the radar for Todd Payten’s aspect and was finally awarded with an Origin look in Game III.
The 22-year-old departed for the Dolphins within the low season, with Heilum Luki seemingly being the person to exchange him with sturdy pre-season performances.
Meanwhile, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow performed because the membership’s utility on the back-end of the 12 months and each Tom Chester and Jake Granville shall be determined to stamp their declare within the coming weeks to change into the No.14.
Luciano Leilua has additionally been stood down after being charged over alleged home violence offences.
EELS
Test their new-look pack
The Eels have misplaced 5 key members of their ahead pack this season, and Reed Mahoney, Ray Stone, Isaiah Papali’i, Marata Niukore and Oregon Kaufusi shall be sorely missed.
However, Parramatta have made quite a few savvy signings who’re making ready to fill the void.
Veteran Josh Hodgson takes over at hooker and shall be hoping to forge combos together with his new teammates.
Meanwhile, Jack Murchie, Jirah Momoisea and Matt Doorey will all be trying to stamp their declare for a spot in Brad Athur’s beginning 17.
The Eels additionally signed Penrith prodigy J’maine Hopgood, who might line-up at lock to start out the season with Ryan Matterson suspended and Nathan Brown free to barter with rivals.
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STORM
Fill the void left by mass departures
Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins), Brandon Smith (Roosters), Jesse Bromwich (Dolphins), Kenny Bromwich (Dolphins) and Cooper Johns (Sea Eagles) all left the Storm after the 2022 season.
Bellamy has now misplaced 4 common members of his beginning ahead pack and shall be looking for gamers to fill the void left by the skilled gamers.
Tariq Sims, Eliesa Katoa, Joe Chan and Aaron Pene all made the transfer to the Storm for the 2023 season.
Bellamy now shall be hoping to work out who takes the Bromwich brother’s beginning spots in each the entrance row and backrow.
Katoa and Sims would be the frontrunners for the sting whereas a number of gamers shall be vying to pack the scrum.
Look for Chan, Alec McDonald, Trent Loiero and Jordan Grant as potential bolters to start out for Bellamy within the trials.
ROOSTERS
Build combos of their backbone
Former Storm gun Brandon Smith joins the Roosters and makes up a powerful backbone together with James Tedesco, Sam Walker and Luke Keary.
On paper, that quartet seems to be to be one of the harmful within the competitors.
However, the Roosters have struggled for consistency and have been hit with an harm disaster over the past two seasons.
Master coach Trent Robinson will seemingly use his trial video games towards the Storm and Sea Eagles, hoping to forge the combos between his halves and new hooker.
Interestingly, Smith’s first begin for the Tricolours could possibly be towards his former membership when the Roosters face Melbourne in Geeling on February 12.
RABBITOHS
Make a name on their second winger
The Rabbitohs have one of the prolific tryscorers on one wing in Alex Johnston, however Jason Demetriou’s first alternative for the fitting flank continues to be unknown.
Izack Thompson, Richard Kennar, Jaxson Paulo and Taane Milne all featured on the wing and Paulo has since departed the membership for the Roosters, leaving the remaining trio to struggle for the spot.
Taane Milne was handed a six-game suspension within the Rabbitohs preliminary closing towards the Panthers, however is free to play after serving his ban on the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Thompson performed solely two video games, scoring two tries and Kennar additionally that includes twice, scoring 4 tries.
Each participant will seemingly get their probability to indicate their abilities exterior proper centre Campbell Graham as Demetriou makes the large name.
RAIDERS
Solve their hooker headache
Following the signing of former Bronco Danny Levi, Ricky Stuart has a giant determination to make relating to his hooker pairing.
Zac Woolford turned the Raiders beginning hooker in 2022, with Tom Starling coming off the bench.
Adam Elliott additionally featured at dummy-half in a handful of video games as Stuart regarded for his finest mixture off the again of a ruck.
Now the 56-year-old has a good larger determination to make with three out-and-out hookers in his squad.
Levi was spectacular for Samoa on the World Cup earlier than heading house because of private causes, whereas each Woolford and Starling have proven glimpses of promise of their brief first-grade careers.
Stuart will seemingly use the Raiders trials towards Bulldogs and Tigers to resolve the problem however already has stated that his new recruit might take the No.9 jersey come Round 1, in accordance with The Daily Telegraph.
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BRONCOS
Nail down their backbone
The Broncos most essential participant is undoubtedly Adam Reynolds — and to maximise his potential, his halves accomplice must be the right match.
Young gun Ezra Mam confirmed glimpses of his expertise alongside the previous Rabbitohs gun, however was axed by Walters for Tyson Gamble to shut out the 12 months.
Meanwhile, former Tiger Jock Madden shall be doing every part he can to stake a declare for the five-eighth spot.
Broncos coach Kevin Walters can have the tough activity of choosing his finest partnership, and in addition has a headache at hooker.
Billy Walters and Cory Paix look set to be the dummy-half pairing, however younger gun Blake Mozer is sizzling on their heels and with sturdy pre-season performances might put himself within the body for choice.
DRAGONS
Find the star to take the load off Hunt
When the Dragons performed properly final season, it nearly all the time got here off the again of a robust Ben Hunt efficiency.
After a tenth positioned end in 2022, it was clear the gun halfback can’t all the time shoulder the load if the Red V wish to play finals soccer.
Anthony Griffin will seemingly be utilizing his pre-season trials to seek out his aspect’s second attacking outlet.
Regular five-eighth Junior Amone has been stood down below the NRL’s No Fault Stand Down coverage, whereas fullback Cody Ramsey has been dominated out for the season because of sickness.
The Dragons shall be determined for Jayden Sullivan, Tyrell Sloan and the centre pairing of Zac Lomax and Moses Suli to face tall main into the season.
SEA EAGLES
Give DCE and Schuster time to mix
Following Kieran Foran’s departure, a brand new man has stepped into the five-eighth function at Brookvale — Josh Schuster.
The 21-year-old has been in search of a transfer into the halves and at last will get his probability after displaying his spectacular ball-handling abilities within the backrow.
Schuster has performed two video games within the halves in his 35 NRL appearances, and new coach Anthony Seibold shall be determined for his star halfback and younger gun to forge a robust partnership with Daly Cherry-Evans in pre-season.
The Samoan worldwide even gave up the possibility to function on the World Cup to ensure he’s match and firing for the 2023 NRL season.
TITANS
Nail down their backbone
The Titans have quite a few gamers vying for essential spots of their backbone — and Justin Holbrook has a plan.
According to the Gold Coast coach, gamers will battle for a spot of their two pre-season trials.
“All along, we haven’t decided on (our spine) yet,” Holbrook stated in a membership assertion.
Kieran Foran joined the Gold Coast membership forward of the 2023 season and can take one of many halves positions — with a number of gamers vying for the opposite spot.
AJ Brimson, Toby Sexton and Tanah Boyd will all be placing their finest foot ahead to start out for the Titans come Round 1.
Brimson may be the person to play fullback, shifting Jayden Campbell into the utility function.
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BULLDOGS
Unlock Kikau
The Bulldogs as soon as once more have quite a few new faces coming into their beginning aspect, and welcome Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney in 2023.
While Mahoney is ready to change into an integral member of Canterbury-Bankstown’s backbone below Ciraldo, unlocking an attacking weapon like Kikau might revitalise the Bulldogs.
The 27-year-old Fijian was one of many Panthers finest gamers throughout their back-to-back premierships and five-eighth Jarome Luai knew precisely how one can maximise his edge ahead’s harmful ball-running potential.
Matt Burton will now be tasked with forging a partnership with the hulking backrower — and the 2 might trigger harm in 2023.
KNIGHTS
Solve the fullback headache
With Kalyn Ponga set to make the swap into the halves, one huge query stays within the Hunter — will Lachie Miller succeed as a primary string fullback?
The former Shark signed with the Knights on Tuesday, and can start coaching together with his new aspect forward of the pre-season problem.
Unfortunately for Newcastle, Ponga is unlikely to function till Round 1 and Miller gained’t get to play alongside the membership’s marquee participant and forge combos.
Miller has performed solely seven NRL video games at fullback, on the wing and on the bench after that includes for the Australian Rugby Sevens workforce on the 2020 Olympics.
Now the 28-year-old will get an opportunity to be a daily first grade starter.
English import Bailey Hodgson, veteran Dane Gagai and younger gun Krystian Mapapalangi stay the membership’s back-up choices within the No.1.
WARRIORS
Who pairs Shaun Johnson?
The Warriors made a number of huge signings forward of the 2023 season, and incoming coach Andrew Webster has a giant determination to make relating to his halves.
Shaun Johnson will seemingly put on the No.7 jersey come the beginning of the season, however who will play five-eighth continues to be up within the air.
Recruits Te Maire Martin and Luke Metcalf will each be hoping to impress the membership’s new coach, whereas Ronald Volkman, who made a mid-season transfer from the Roosters in 2022, may even be within the combine.
Webster will seemingly use his trials to nail down his backbone within the refreshed Warriors workforce, and with out Reece Walsh, Martin and Metcalf might additionally each function on the again, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad additionally potential a fullback possibility.
TIGERS
Integrating the recruits
Tim Sheens, alongside assistants Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah, has launched quite a few new faces into the Tigers arrange.
The merger membership have struggled in seasons passed by, and Tigers followers shall be determined for these recruits to enhance their aspect.
However, it doesn’t all the time work that means.
While the standard of Apisai Koroisau, Isaiah Papali’i, David Klemmer and John Bateman can’t be understated — they nonetheless want time on the sphere as a gaggle to gel with their new teammates.
Especially Koroisau, who joins Adam Doueihi, Luke Brooks and sure Daine Laurie in a new-look backbone following Jackson Hastings departure.
DOLPHINS
Making a splash of their debut NRL appearances
Wayne Bennett launched the Broncos into the NSWRL in 1988 and can as soon as once more lead an growth workforce into the competitors in 2023.
The Dolphins recruitment has been closely criticised coming into their debut season — however the NRL’s latest franchise get an opportunity to silence the exterior noise in pre-season.
While different groups will be capable to blood rising stars and provides their bench rotations useful enjoying minutes, the Dolphins are a step behind.
Bennett will seemingly use the pre-season as an opportunity for his workforce to line-up collectively for the primary time, hoping to construct connections earlier than the common season kicks off on March 2.
Source: www.foxsports.com.au