It’s been a long few months for NRL fans but finally they’ll get to see the stars back in action this week.
Aside from the All Stars match on Friday, 16 of the 17 clubs – only barring reigning premiers Penrith – will begin official pre-season trials against one another.
Teams were released on Tuesday and, as always, there were plenty of intriguing selection issues raised.
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ROOSTERS HEADACHE LAID BARE
While the Chooks are losing a couple of superstars next year, it’s obvious they will have a stacked backline this season.
Trent Robinson has named a near-full strength side to take on Manly this week, with a couple of interesting omissions from the starting team.
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Joey Manu – arguably the best centre in the NRL – is in jumper No.18 a week after revealing he will leave the game to play rugby in Europe next year.
Billy Smith, the young talent who signed a three-year extension last week, will start in the three-quarter line alongside Joseph Suaalii.
Suaalii and Manu will both leave the club after the 2024 season but will earn about $1.55 million combined for playing this season, while Smith is on small dough in comparison.
It begs the question whether Robinson will look to the future and continue to select Smith in the team throughout the year, potentially at the expense of his high-paid stars.
With James Tedesco at fullback and Daniel Tupou and Dom Young on the wings this week, it could be the best backline in the competition – and that’s before adding Manu.
RECRUITS GET FIRST CRACK AT DOGS SPINE
Canterbury has pulled a couple of interesting selections for its first pre-season trial.
New recruits Blake Taaffe and Drew Hutchison have won spots in the spine, at fullback and halfback respectively to take on the Storm.
Taaffe – who came from South Sydney – will get first crack at the No.1 jumper despite Stephen Crichton also being in contention. Three-time premiership star Crichton is arguably the game’s premier centre, but is nowhere to be seen in this week’s team.
Hutchison is more of a utility back than a genuine No.7, but gets the nod over Toby Sexton and has the chance to pinch the jersey for round one.
In his 17 games for the Roosters last season Hutchison started four at halfback, and the others at centre or on the bench.
WILL NEW KNIGHT GET A LOOK-IN?
Newcastle recruit Jack Cogger will have to bide his time as he pushes the incumbent halves for a spot in the side.
Cogger played 13 games for Penrith last year, and impressed enough to earn a spot on the bench for the grand final.
Many experts are tipping Cogger to put heat on Tyson Gamble for a starting spot at the Knights, but he’s been relegated to the bench this week.
Gamble gets first crack at the starting position alongside Jackson Hastings.
WHERE DOES $800K STAR FIT?
Maligned Manly talent Josh Schuster is fighting for his spot in the Sea Eagles side and has been relegated to the bench this week, albeit that he has only just proven his fitness after a calf injury.
He’s up against Ben Trbojevic for the left edge position. Trbojevic starred in a trial last week and will wear the No.11 jumper again against the Roosters.
Schuster has also battled chicken pox during the off-season, while he spent last year in and out of the NRL team due to fitness issues.
The Sea Eagles desperately want him to succeed given the money and time they’ve spent on Schuster.
ODD MAN OUT AT DRAGONS
Zac Lomax is considered one of the most gifted young backline players in the NRL but he’s been named in a strange position for this week’s trial.
While Lomax is a centre who has desires to play fullback, new coach Shane Flanagan has stuck him on a wing against the Rabbitohs.
Tyrell Sloan gets first crack in the No.1 jumper while Lomax has been pushed out of the centres by Jack Bird, who won a premiership in that position under Flanagan at the Sharks in 2016.
Bird has mostly been a backrower since joining the Dragons, but this week’s team selection may be an insight into a looming Flanagan shake-up.
Christian Tuipulotu and the Feagai brothers are also backline specialists who have missed out on starting spots this week, highlighting the squad’s depth.
NEW CHALLENGE FOR RTS
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck burst into the NRL as a fleet-footed winger at the Roosters a decade ago.
He then jumped ship to the Warriors where he became one of the best fullbacks in the game, winning the 2018 Dally M Medal.
Now he’s being asked to master a third position, named at centre for his Warriors return this week.
It’s widely expected Tuivasa-Sheck will be a full-time centre following his sojourn in rugby.