Flanno reveals a 'surprise packet' in Red V shootout; Broncos recruit to give Dogs a headache: Talking Pts
The Australian Open has concluded, and the English cricketers have bid farewell, leaving us just weeks away from the NRL season's commencement in Las Vegas on March 1 (AEDT).
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The kick-off times have been announced, but before the Dragons, Bulldogs, Cowboys, and Knights can commence their journey to Sin City, they must navigate the trials commencing on Saturday.
Round 1
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All four teams are grappling with pivotal questions as they step into 2026, with coaches poised to assess the efficacy of weeks of grueling training under the summer sun.
BULLDOGS
Former Broncos forward leads hopefuls vying for a bench spot
While mid-season recruit Lachlan Galvin garnered attention in 2025, he'll remain in the team hotel in Vegas due to his age, precluding him from experiencing the city's nightlife.
Coach Cameron Ciraldo faces a straightforward decision in the halves: who to select alongside Galvin?
Matt Burton gets the initial opportunity, but Mitchell Woods, a promising young talent, is poised to feature in the NRL side this season. Unfortunately, he'll have to wait at least a week to showcase his skills, as club boss Phil Gould revealed on X that he sustained a minor injury, causing a brief setback.
Joseph Teaupa and Alex Conti have been named in the halves to face the Cowboys, with the focus shifting to the forwards in the upcoming weeks.
Despite key signing Leo Thompson's absence from the clash this Saturday, the opening trial match offers a prime opportunity for Alekolasimi Jones, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Fletcher Baker, Lipoi Hopoi, and Samuel Hughes to make their case for a spot in Vegas.
Hughes and Suluka-Fifita, who appeared multiple times for the Bulldogs last year, aim to secure a spot on the interchange bench by Round 1, while Baker, fresh from winning the QLD Cup premiership, brings energy from the Broncos and is eager to make an immediate impact.
COWBOYS
A significant question in the halves... and its implications for the rest of the team
The Cowboys, one of the biggest disappointments of 2025, face intense pressure to perform this season. They conceded the most points last year, but the spotlight is on the halves.
Representative star Tom Dearden has a starting spot secured, leaving Coach Todd Payten to choose between Jake Clifford and Jaxon Purdue.
Purdue, electric at left centre but struggling at five-eighth, is a free agent attracting interest from rivals. Meanwhile, Clifford played 14 matches in the halves last season and chose to remain in Townsville, hoping to secure a spot alongside Dearden.
Club legend Michael Morgan expressed his thoughts last week, stating, 'I have a feeling Tom Dearden will be there, but who partners him, I’m not too sure.'
If Payten opts for Clifford in the halves for Round 1, Purdue will revert to the centres, sparking a four-way battle for the right centre spot between Liam Sutton, Tom Chester, Viliami Vailea, and Zac Laybutt.
VAILEA has been rested for this week, and CHESTER is injured, but LAYBUTT and SUTTON will both take the field, aiming to impress against the Bulldogs.
Payten praised SUTTON, stating, 'I’ve been very impressed as have the players and the rest of the coaching staff. He’s a big athletic half, good kicking game, strong running game, and great catch-and-pass skill set.'
DRAGONS
The 'surprise packet' to watch in a three-way backline shootout
While the focus has been on new recruit Daniel Atkinson's attacking prowess, the Dragons could surprise on the wings with emerging talents Setu Tu and David Fale vying for starting spots.
Fale got a chance with Penrith last year when they rested their stars and impressed Coach Shane Flanagan in his first pre-season with the club.
More experienced than Fale, Tu arrives after winning the State Championship and NSW Cup title with the Warriors and has spent time in various NRL systems, including the New Zealand side, where he was on a Top 30 contract and the Dolphins.
Flanagan told his players they'll get picked if they 'train well, trial well, play well'.
Flanagan & Atkinson: The Answer? | 06:28
'There are 22 player seats on the plane, and everyone wants to be on that,' Flanagan said during the club's mini-camp on the Central Coast last week. 'No one wants to get injured in the trials because they want to go to Vegas, but we’ve got to do the hard work, so it’s tricky with the way that we approach it, and we’ve got to keep our fingers crossed a little bit.'
Christian Tuipulotu is also in the mix to play on the wing for Round 1 and has been named to start for their first trial match against the Knights alongside Tu.
Fale has been shifted into the centres with Mathew Feagai, which could hint at Flanagan's strategy for their opening round clash against the Bulldogs in Vegas.
'David Fale... he’s a surprise packet for us. He’s had a really good off-season, put on a lot of muscle mass, and hasn’t missed a beat at training,' Flanagan said on SEN Radio.
'He’s trained every training session, so I’m so excited to see him play, and Setu Tu is the other young outside back. (He’s a) different type of player. If I was trying to categorise him, I’d put him in the Sione Katoa type of winger. (He) bounces around, really gives the side heaps of energy.'
KNIGHTS
The ultimate 'conundrum' on where 'electrifying' breakout talent fits
New coach Justin Holbrook expressed his eagerness to commence games, stating, 'I’m sick of looking at training vision.'
However, he'll be without his international stars and the injured brigade, led by Kalyn Ponga, this weekend.
Holbrook, well-suited to rectify the league's worst attack in 2025 due to his influence at the Roosters, faces a crucial decision in the halves that could determine the Knights' success this season.
Dylan Brown arrives with the richest deal in NRL history ($12m), but three-time premiership winner Luke Keary wants to see the Kiwi star play five-eighth, his preferred position.
Keary also advocates for Sandon Smith to control the team at halfback, with Fletcher Sharpe, the other contender for a halves spot, poised to start alongside Smith on Saturday night.
'It’s not so much a shootout between Sandon and Sharpy [Fletcher Sharpe] because they can play other positions,' Holbrook said on The Big Sports Breakfast. 'Sandon obviously prefers half but can play hooker, and Sharpy is electrifying no matter where he plays.'
'We’ve only had five weeks with them, so I have moved them around at training, and I will play Sharpy and Sandon there in the halves. One of them will partner him [Dylan Brown], and the other will find another position. I do need the next two trials to work that out.'
The Man Who MUST Partner $11m Dylan Brown | 06:12
Initially progressing through the club's ranks as a fullback, Sharpe transitioned into the halves last season and was initially earmarked to partner Brown before Sandon Smith's arrival from the Sydney Roosters.
While there was talk that Smith was signed to play dummy-half, he has made it clear that he wants to play in the No.7 jersey, a position he excelled in when given the chance, as evidenced by winning Player of the Match in last year's ANZAC Day clash against the Dragons.
'He’s the obvious choice. He deserves to get his shot starting at seven,' Smith's ex-teammate Chad Townsend said on SEN Radio. 'The conundrum is around where someone like Fletcher Sharpe plays. We know that Kalyn Ponga will start at fullback and then Dylan Brown will wear the six jersey.'
'It’s either Fletcher Sharper or Sandon Smith at seven, and do I think Sharpe is a seven? No, I don’t.'
