The first round of the Pre-season Challenge was action-packed but it wasn’t without drama and several stars now under a serious injury cloud for Round 1.
The Wests Tigers era under Benji Marshall started with a victory, while the Broncos look to have filled for the void of their departed grand final stars.
Read on for all the biggest talking points out of the first week of the trials.
Pryce makes epic start to NRL career | 00:43
SEZER’S DEBUT A SUCCESS
There were major concerns for the Tigers when Luke Brooks was allowed to walk alongside Brandon Wakeham after a disastrous 2023 season.
The only remaining playmaker on their books was Adam Doueihi who is sidelined due to an ACL injury, meaning Benji Marshall’s men didn’t have a fit half.
However, that situation changed quickly when the merger club recruited three players and also unearthed a rising star in Lachlan Galvin.
Marshall signed Aidan Sezer, Jayden Sullivan and Latu Fainu all completed their first pre-season at the Tigers ahead of their 2024 campaign and Marshall’s first game as coach was a big success.
Marshall was criticised for the Sezer signing but he and Sullivan, the expected halves pairing, were wheeled out against the Warriors and both men immediately put doubts to bed regarding their ability to lead a team.
The Tigers beat out a Warriors side, albeit without several big-name stars, but looked solid in defence and equally dangerous in attack.
After a four-year stint in the Super League, many pundits questioned whether Sezer is the man to lead the current wooden spooners.
But after scoring a try and steering the ship in impressive fashion, Marshall’s decision to recruit the 32-year-old could prove to be a masterstroke.
The former Raiders and Titans star’s organising play allowed Sullivan to run the ball, enhancing the best part of his game.
“He’s had full control of everything the Tigers have been doing, allowed Jayden Sullivan to play his natural running game,” Corey Parker said.
It’s still early days and the Tigers are yet to come up against a full-strength team, but the Benji era has begun in Leichhardt and Sezer could be the experienced figure needed to lift them off the bottom of the ladder.
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Sea Eagles flex with STUNNING team try | 00:47
BRONCOS FILL GRAND FINAL VOIDS
The Broncos may have lost four of their grand final players to rival clubs this summer, but the club looks set for another big year after several of those voids were filled on Sunday.
Selwyn Cobbo has been handed Herbie Farnworth No. 4 jersey and the silky smooth outside back showed he’s going to shine in his new position.
Cobbo was the club’s leading tryscorer last season playing on the wing but he looked right at home in the centres against the Cowboys.
The 21-year-old scored a sensational try when he rose above the pack to haul in a bomb before two minutes later setting up another one for Reece Walsh.
Cobbo finished with 108 metres from 12 carries that produced three tackle busts and a linebreak in the trial.
“He’s got that ability to make things look easy, Selwyn Cobbo,” Greg Alexander said on Fox League.
“But word is he’s never trained harder, his mindset is absolutely razor sharp and that can only be a good thing because this man has all the talent in the world and if he’s running hot in the centres for the Broncos, look out opposition.”
Cobbo’s biggest challenge this season will be defensively and against the Cowboys he missed two of his eight tackles.
“It’s good, I trained all pre-season in the centres and I played 80 minutes today and it felt good,” Cobbo said.
“It’s just working more with your half and getting up more (in defence), it’s good. I’m pretty gassed but I’ll get used to it.”
Cobbo compared to all-time centres | 02:33
Meanwhile, backrower Brendan Piakura proved he’s more than ready to fill Kurt Capewell’s boots with a starring performance on Sunday.
Piakura got through a mountain of work against the Cowboys and scored two tries, the second of which was a barnstorming run from 30 metres out.
The 21-year-old only played the first half before succumbing to a knee niggle but he still finished with two linebreaks and three tackle busts from his eight runs which produced 84 metres.
Piakura was seen in a knee brace at full-time and is reportedly in doubt for Round 1 pending the result of scans on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Corey Jensen was giving first crack at replacing Tom Flegler in the front-row and he finished with an impressive 117 metres from 13 carries while also making 14 tackles.
FITTER, FASTER BUNNIES
It must have been a brutal off-season for Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou as he stewed on how his side inexplicably missed finals last year.
But Demetriou was all smiles on Saturday night as his men returned to winning ways with a comfortable 28-6 victory over the Dragons in the Charity Shield.
Souths were without starters Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Damien Cook, Campbell Graham, Dane Gagai and Jack Wighton, but they still easily got the job done.
Demetriou revealed at full-time he believes he’s fixed one of the areas his men were lacking at the back end of 2023.
“We’re feeling fit this year and that’s probably something we lacked last year, just keeping them on the field and getting them fit,” Demetriou told Fox League.
“Obviously the World Cup had an impact on that (last year) but they’ve had a great pre-season and they’re fit and hungry.”
Demetriou was particularly impressed with his forwards and the performance of Sea Eagles recruit Sean Keppie.
“He was a player I was really keen to get to the club and fortunately for us it worked out, he’s 25 and has his best footy ahead of him, I don’t think he’s anywhere near the ceiling in terms of his potential,” Demetriou said.
“But we saw tonight he’s going to be a player for us, the rotation with him and Junior Tatola up front I thought was excellent.”
Mitchell has a mortgage on the Rabbitohs No. 1 jersey but with Blake Taaffee leaving for the Bulldogs, a strong back-up option emerged on Saturday night in young gun Jye Gray.
“Jye has been with us for a few years, he struggled with a few injuries in pre-season last year but he’s had a great pre-season this year,” Demetriou said.
“I love what he brings, he’s a little man and I was fortunate to play with a little man over in England, Rob Burrow, and he was one of the best competitors I ever played with and Jai really reminds me of him.
“He’s fast and hard to handle but he’s aggressive and tough as well. I’m looking forward to how he grows over the next 12 months.”
Demetriou: Souths excited for Vegas! | 02:55
XERRI RIPE
Bronson Xerri has been out for so long that the Canterbury recruit is still learning some of the NRL’s new rules, but he showed you can teach a new Bulldog new tricks with a strong showing in their 24-12 win over the Storm.
It was his first competitive game since the then-teenager tested positive to a banned substance in November of 2019 and was banned for four years.
But Xerri’s been given a second chance and he certainly made the most of his first chance in Canterbury colours, scoring a try and setting one up against Melbourne.
“He’s just got so much natural talent, Bronson,” Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo told Fox League.
“I’ve got to say when we signed him I thought it wouldn’t be until mid-year when he’d start to make his way into the team. But after six or seven weeks (of pre-season) he was picking so much stuff up and it got to a point where I couldn’t think of a reason not to put him in the team.”
Xerri, 23, is locked in a battle for a starting spot in Round 1 with Jacob Kiraz and Blake Wilson and has so far done his chances no harm.
“I did the hard yards in those four years so it was good to run out and get amongst it. I enjoyed it,” he said.
“The hardest part was getting the rust out. I definitely felt a bit rusty, but I just wanted to get through the game and get some time under my belt. I think the team played well so it’s only up from here.
“I think all the dark times in those four years came back to me (when I scored). It was unreal. he said.
“There were a lot of nerves and I was very emotional running out there and seeing my family… that was the most nervous I’ve ever been.
“I’m proud of myself for getting through tonight. I knew it was going to be hard, but I’m proud of myself.”
His next assignment is a showdown with the Sharks next Friday, but he isn’t worried about running into his former teammates with Xerri more concerned with familiarising himself with new rules like the six again interpretation which wasn’t around the last time he was in the NRL.
Mahoney encouraged by opening hit-out | 02:16
KNIGHTS HALVES HEADACHE DEEPENS
Knights coach Adam O’Brien said before Saturday’s game against the Sharks that a bit of “healthy” competition in the halves was always a good headache to have.
If that is the case, fortunately for O’Brien that headache isn’t going away anytime soon based on the performance of his playmakers in Newcastle’s 44-18 win over Cronulla.
Jackson Hastings and Jack Cogger in particular impressed and while Tyson Gamble was relatively quiet in comparison, the general consensus heading into Saturday seemed to be that he was the leading option at five-eighth.
That still may remain the case but both Hastings and Cogger made a case for a starting gig in the blowout win.
In the case of Hastings, he was pinpoint with his fifth-tackle options as he set up three tries off the boot.
Cogger, meanwhile, was quick to put his stamp on the game with an early 40?20 and in general helped straighten up the attack.
Premiership-winning halfback Cooper Cronk said pre-game that he would have given Cogger the nod if he was O’Brien but was full of praise for both playmakers at halftime on Saturday.
“He came on and had an immediate impact… but Jackson Hastings also had a very good first half,” Cronk said.
“There’s no doubt that is the difference between these two teams. The best players in the key positions for Newcastle are hitting the scoreboard with a couple of big plays.”
Speaking to reporters after Saturday’s win, O’Brien said he would “use all the time” he needs to settle on his first-choices halves partnership.
“Cogs is a really steady head. He knows to kick you to good field position, hence the 40/20, he knows where to land the ball and set up our defence,” O’Brien said.
“Jackson has some in-the-moment stuff, some short-game moments, Jack is more of a long-game player.”
Knights smash Sharks in Gosford | 00:50
ROOSTERS BACKLINE HEADACHE CLEARS… FOR NOW
Trent Robinson’s backline headache has gone away but his decision is set to only be prolonged.
The Roosters have five quality outside backs who would start in majority of NRL sides, but only four can take the field come Round 1.
Off-season recruit Dom Young was taken to hospital after an ugly crusher tackle in his side’s trial against the Sea Eagles and it has since emerged he could be sidelined for Round 1.
The Daily Telegraph is reporting he has suffered ligament damage to his neck which could require surgery, ruling him out for the opening rounds of the season.
When fit he is an almost certainty to be named on one wing, with Joey Manu also a lock in the Tricolours’ backline.
That leaves two spots for Billy Smith, Joseph Suaalii and Daniel Tupou to fight for once Young returns and Saturday’s trial hurt one man’s chances.
Veteran winger Tupou was immense against Manly, running for 137 metres and scoring two tries to go with four tackle breaks.
The 32-year-old has been one of Robinson’s most loyal servants and is a club legend, so leaving him out would be a huge call.
Meanwhile, Joseph Suaalii is one of the NRL’s best young talents but will be playing his final year of rugby league before making a switch to the 15-man code.
The remaining man, Billy Smith, also had a strong back-end to his 2023 campaign and was arguably one of the Roosters’ best in their charge to the finals.
It’s a good headache to have, but ultimately Robinson will need to make a brutal decision when Young returns to the field of play.
Dom Young goes down | 00:35
COTRIC NO CERTAINTY
Raiders outside back Nick Cotric will struggle to force his way into Ricky Stuart’s Round 1 side after a lacklustre performance in his side’s thumping 38-16 g win over the Eels.
Cotric played for New South Wales and Australia and is still only 25, but his future in the NRL as a regular starter is becoming less and less certain.
Stuart rested a host of stars against the Eels but started Cotric and the winger endured a forgettable performance playing alongside Canberra’s rising stars.
Cotric bombed a certain try in the second half and finished with just 71 metres from eight carries and an error, but did have a try assist to his name.
He’ll need a big performance against the Cowboys this week to cement his spot because there’s plenty of talent around him.
Cotric is competing against Mat Timoko, Jordan Rapana, Albert Hopoate, James Schiller and Xavier Savage for a spot in the centres or on the wing.
And that’s assuming Seb Kris returns at fullback instead of young gun Chevy Stewart being handed the No. 1 jersey.
So that’s at least six players for just four positions and it could easily be Cotric’s name on the chopping block for the season opener.
Raiders outplay a luckless Eels | 00:46
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