3 minute read
The final round of NRL trials will confirm a number of positions before the season starts with Tom Opacic, Lachlan Lam and Scott Drinkwater all facing the test.
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN THE NRL TRIALS
*JOSEPH SUAALII
Plenty has been written about the 17-year-old since he signed with the Sydney Roosters but on Saturday he will play his first game for the club in the NSW Cup trial. Suaalii will line up at centre and should give fans an understanding of why the club fought so hard to poach the teen from rivals South Sydney.
*HARRY GRANT
In the post-Cameron Smith world, things are a little less certain in Melbourne with Grant and Brandon Smith at loggerheads for the job. Last season's rookie of the year has been given first shot in the No.9 against Newcastle on Saturday, but can he hold off the New Zealand hooker nipping at his heels?
*BRODIE CROFT
Anthony Milford is expected to slot into the halves once he returns from a hand injury early in the season, but Croft won't give up the spot next to Tom Dearden without a fight. The 23-year-old struggled in his first season at Brisbane but has a chance to impress new coach Kevin Walters against North Queensland on Saturday.
*LACHLAN LAM
Luke Keary has been ruled out for Saturday's trial against Canberra with a hamstring issue, which gives Lam a chance to take charge of the team as the new starting five-eighth. After Kyle Flanagan was brutally cut from the side at the end of last season, Lam has been given the nod after just 11-NRL games and all eyes will be on how he handles the high-pressure job.
*SCOTT DRINKWATER
New North Queensland coach Todd Payten has surprisingly named 23-year-old Drinkwater at fullback in place of superstar Valentine Holmes, who will line-up on the wing against Brisbane. It's a big call to turf the Queensland representative to the edge given Drinkwater played just three games at the back last season.
*MORGAN HARPER
Manly were dealt a cruel blow with Tom Trbojevic's latest hamstring injury, forcing coach Des Hasler to look for a new fullback to start the season. Morgan Harper will get first shot after being named in the No.1 jersey for Sunday's trial against Wests Tigers and a solid performance should land him the job for the opening month of the season.
*TOM OPACIC
A gaping hole exists in Parramatta's backline where Michael Jennings has been for the past five seasons, but Opacic has the perfect chance to slot into left centre. The 26-year-old has just a one-year deal with the Eels so it is vital he nails his first audition.
*DAVID FIFITA
There is a lot riding on marquee player Fifita's shoulders, already heralded as a potential saviour of the troubled Gold Coast club. If all goes to plan, the new era starts on Saturday when he makes his Titans debut alongside Queensland Origin teammate Tino Fa'asuamaleaui against the Warriors.
