Manly is set to unleash a kid who could be the NRL’s new fastest player.
Tolutau Koula has been elevated into the Sea Eagles’ senior squad this year, and fans will get a first look at him during Friday’s trial game against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt.
The 19-year-old is said to hold the GPS school record for the fastest 100-metre sprint. His blistering dash came two years ago at Sydney Olympic Park.
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“As I understand, he holds the sprint record, 10.58 seconds, that’s ridiculous as a 17-year-old,” rugby league caller Andrew Voss told SEN radio.
Voss had the story backed up by Roosters young gun Joseph Suaalii, who is close friends with Koula.
According to Suaalii, Koula will outsprint Manly’s current speed demon Jason Saab.
“(Suaalii) said, ‘he (Koula) is definitely the fastest, Saab may be quick, but Koula is the fastest’,” Voss said.
Meanwhile, a couple of big guns will be missing from Saturday’s southern Queensland showdown between the Broncos and Titans.
New Gold Coast captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is out due to an ongoing knee problem, while Brisbane is missing marquee man Adam Reynolds, who will steer the team from the halfback position this year.
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Broncos coach Kevin Walters insists Reynolds is not injured.
“He doesn’t need to play this weekend for us, we’ll save him up and hopefully get some footy into next weekend,” Walters said on Triple M.
“No injury concerns – it’s just a precautionary thing. Obviously it would be good if he plays next weekend.”
“But if not, he’s experienced enough to just to roll into round one. It’s just about finding the right management of him over the next couple of weeks.”
Here are the trial teams and squads named for this weekend.
Sydney Roosters vs Canberra Raiders at Leichhardt Oval, Friday 6pm
Roosters: TBC
Raiders: 1. Xavier Savage 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Semi Valemei 5. James Schiller 6. Brad Schneider 7. Sam Williams 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Matt Frawley 10. Emre Guler 11. Adam Elliott 12. Trey Mooney 13. Ryan Sutton 14. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 15. Sebastian Kris 16. Peter Hola 17. Corey Harawira-Naera 18. Brad Morkos 19. Ata Mariota 20. Harry Rushton 21. Clay Webb 22. Adrian Trevilyan
Wests Tigers vs Manly Sea Eagles at Leichhardt Oval, Friday 8pm
Tigers: TBC
Sea Eagles: TBC
Melbourne Storm vs Warriors at Casey Fields (Victoria), Saturday 4pm
Storm: Grant Anderson, Xavier Coates, Sua Fa’alogo, Darius Farmer, Bronson Garlick, Cole Geyer, Harry Grant, AJ Gudgeon, Jack Howarth, Dean Ieremia, George Jennings, Cooper Johns, Josh King, Chris Lewis, Trent Loiero, Wes Lolo, Alex MacDonald, Nick Meaney, Cameron Munster, Jayden Nikorima, Jonah Pezet, Will Samuel, Marion Seve, Patrice Siolo, Brandon Smith, Will Warbrick, Tyran Wishart
Warriors: Aaron Pene, Adam Cook, Adam Pompey, Addin Fonua-Blake, Ali Leiataua, Ash Taylor, Bayley Sironen, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Bunty Afoa, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Edward Kosi, Eliesa Katoa, Euan Aitken, Garrett Smith, Jayden Corrigan, Jazz Tevaga, Jesse Arthars, Junior Ratuva, Kodi Nikorima, Marcelo Montoya, Matthew Lodge, Otukinekina Kepu, Pride Peterson-Robati, Reece Walsh, Rocco Berry, Taniela Otukolo, Valingi Kepu, Viliami Vailea
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs North Queensland Cowboys at Barlow Park (Cairns), Saturday 6pm (AEDT)
Rabbitohs: 1. Blake Taaffe 2. Zane Bijorac 3. Jaxson Paulo 4. Josiah Karapani 5. Richard Kennar 6. Jack Campagnolo 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Hame Sele 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Davvy Moale 11. Ben Lovett 12. Jed Cartwright 13. Siliva Havili 14. Tallis Duncan 15. Tyson Hodge 16. Shaq Mitchell 17. Lachlan Gale 18. Izaac Thompson 19. Jacob Gagai 20. Isaiah Vailalo 21. Nick Mougios 22. Romano Cook 23. Shannon Gardiner 24. Trent Peoples
Cowboys: 1. Tomas Chester 2. Laitia Moceidreke 3. Jordan Lipp 4. Brendan Elliot 5. Iosefo Baleiwairiki 6. Jake Bourke 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Emry Pere 9. Josh Chudleigh 10. Griffin Neame 11. Ben Condon 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Riley Price 14. Patrick Kaufusi 15. Ross Bella 16. Bernard Lewis 17. Andre Niko 18. Nick Lui-Toso 19. Jayden Hodges 20. Kayleb Milne 21. Zac Laybutt 22. Kyle Laybutt
Gold Coast Titans vs Brisbane Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium, Saturday 8pm (AEDT)
Titans: TBC
Broncos: 1. David Mead 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Brenko Lee 5. Corey Oates 6. Billy Walters 7. Albert Kelly 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Jake Turpin 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. TC Robati 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Patrick Carrigan 15. Rhys Kennedy 16. Ryan James 17. Corey Jensen 18. Cory Paix 19. Jamayne Isaako 20. Zac Hosking 21. Tyson Gamble 22. Jordan Pereira 23. Deine Mariner 24. Ezra Mam 25. Ethan Quai-Ward
Cronulla Sharks vs Penrith Panthers at CommBank Stadium, Sunday 4pm
Sharks: TBC
Panthers: TBC
Parramatta Eels vs St George Illawarra Dragons at CommBank Stadium, Sunday 6pm
Eels: 1. Hayze Perham 2. Haze Dunster 3. Tom Opacic 4. Viliami Penisini 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Jordan Rankin 7. Jakob Arthur 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Makahesi Makatoa 11. Marata Niukore 12. Shaun Lane 13. Ray Stone 14. Mitch Rein 15. Bryce Cartwright 16. Sean Russell 17. Luca Moretti 18. Ky Rodwell 19. Ofahiki Ogden 20. Elie El Zakhem 21. Brendan Hands 22. Solomone Naiduki 23. Matt Komolafe 24. Josh Tuipulotu
Dragons: TBC
Newcastle Knights vs Canterbury Bulldogs at McDonald Jones Stadium, Monday 7pm
Knights: TBC
Bulldogs: Aaron Schoupp, Ava Seumanufagai, Bailey Biondi-Odo, Brandon Wakeham, Chris Patolo, Corey Waddell, Creedence Toia, Declan Casey, Eli Clarke, Jack Hetherington, Jackson Topine, Jacob Kiraz, Jake Averillo, Jayden Okunbor, Jeremy Marshall-King, Joe Stimson, Josh Cook, Josh Jackson, Kyle Flanagan, Larson Dale-Doyle, Luke Thompson, Matthew Dufty, Max King, Paul Alamoti, Paul Vaughan, Reece Hoffman, Tevita Pangai Junior
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