The first ‘Team List Tuesday’ of 2024 is officially here with clubs unleashing new recruits and naming some of their biggest stars for week one of the Pre-season Challenge.
Returning Warriors star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been named in the centres, while Chanel Harris-Tavita will play his first game after a one-year hiatus.
Blake Taaffe will get first shot at the Bulldogs’ No.1 jersey and new recruit Drew Hutchison has beat Toby Sexton to
Elsewhere, Knights coach Adam O’Brien has stuck with last season’s halves pairing, meaning Jack Cogger will start on the bench and Sharks young gun Kade Dykes is back on deck after an ACL injury wiped him out of last season.
The Roosters are wheeling out their big guns with James Tedesco and Luke Keary named to start, while Dom Young will play his first game for the club.
Tyrell Sloan has gotten the nod at fullback for Dragons and Josh Schuster has been named on the bench as he fights to prove his fitness ahead of Round 1.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs Melbourne Storm, 7pm AEDT at Belmore Sports Ground
Bulldogs team: 1. Blake Taaffe 2. Blake Wilson 3. Eli Clark 4. Bronson Xerri 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Matt Burton 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Kitione Kautoga 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Toby Sexton 15. Poasa Faamausili 16. Liam Knight 17. Jordan Samrani 19. Harry Hayes 20. Bailey Hayward 21. Joash Papali’i 22. Reece Hoffman 23. Jack Todd 24. Joseph O’Neill 25. Luke Smith 26. Lipoi Hopoi 27. Kurtis Morrin 28. William Afualo 29. Khaled Rajab
Analysis: Cameron Ciraldo has handed Drew Hutchison first crack at the No.7 jersey, with Toby Sexton named on the bench and Matt Burton at five-eighth. Bronson Xerri is also set to make his first appearance for his new club after serving his four-year suspension. Kitione Kautoga has been named in the backrow after a solid Pacific Champs campaign for Fiji while Blake Taaffe has been named at fullback. Marquee recruit Stephen Crichton hasn’t been named.
Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Dean Ieremia 3. Reimis Smith 4. Marion Seve 5. Tuipulotu Katoa 6. Keagan Russell-Smith 7. Jonah Pezet 8. Tristan Powell 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Aaron Pene 11. Kane Bradley 12. Chris Lewis 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Caius Faatili 16. Lazarus Vaalepu 17. Coby Williamson 18. Treigh Stewart 19. Cole Geyer 20. Sheldon Diaz 21. Thomas Rafter 22. Karauria Stokes-Mahara 23. Stanley Huen 24. Mitchell Jennings 25. Angus Hinchey 26. Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa 27. Regan Hughes 28. Jake Toby
Analysis: He’s back. Ryan Papenhuyzen has been named at fullback for the Storm’s first trial of the season. After suffering a horror ankle injury that ended his 2023 campaign, the speedster has been able to recover in the off-season and is set to be unleashed against the Bulldogs. Keagan Russell-Smith, a former Penrith junior who impressed in his first season in Melbourne in 2023, has been named at five-eighth alongside promising talent Jonah Pezet. Sualauvi Fa’alogo hasn’t been named, while former Dragons fullback Treigh Stewart is on the extended bench.
SATURDAY
Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks, 1.45pm AEDT at Industree Group Stadium
Knights team: 1. Fletcher Sharpe 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Enari Tuala 4. Krystian Mapapalangi 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Jacob Saifiti 11. Jed Cartwright 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Mathew Croker 14. Jack Cogger 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Brodie Jones 17. Thomas Cant 18. David Armstrong 19. Fletcher Myers 20. Kyle McCarthy 21. Will Pryce 22. Laitia Moceidreke 23. Riley Jones 24. Paul Bryan 25. Zach Herring 26. Clay Webb 27. Ryan Rivett 28. Sebastian Su’a
Analysis: Adam O’Brien has set up a halves shootout against the Sharks. New recruit Jack Cogger has been named on the bench, with Jackson Hastings and Tyson Gamble starting. Krystian Mapapalangi has been named in the centres after battling shoulder injuries in 2023, while rising fullback David Armstrong has been named on the extended bench. English signing Will Pryce has been named in the No.21 while former Rabbitohs forward Jed Cartwright gets first crack at Lachlan Fitzgibbon’s vacant backrow spot.
Sharks team: 1. Kade Dykes 2. Sione Katoa 3. Kayal Iro 4. Mawene Hiroti 5. Samuel Stonestreet 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Niwhai Puru 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Jayden Berrell 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Jesse Colquhoun 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Billy Burns 15. Jack Williams 16. Tuku Hau Tapuha 17. Lachlan Jake Crouch 18. Christopher Veaila 19. Samuel Healey 20 Salesi Ataata 21. Blake Hosking 22. Siosifa Talakai 23. Liam Ison 24. Max Bradbury 25. Tom Rodwell
Analysis: Kade Dykes returns after spending a full season sidelined due to an ACL rupture. He will wear the No.1, with Daniel Atkinson and Niwhai Puru named as the halves pairing. Craig Fitzgibbon has wheeled out a strong forward pack that includes Tom Hazelton and Cameron McInnes. Meanwhile, development player and former Panthers junior Liam Ison could get his first minutes in Sharks colours, while Siosifa Talakai has been named alongside him on the extended bench as well as former Knights middle Max Bradbury.
Sydney Roosters vs Manly Sea Eagles, 3.45pm AEDT at Industree Group Stadium
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Zach Dockar-Clay 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Sitili Tupouniua 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Sandon Smith 15. Terrell May 16. Egan Butcher 17. Angus Crichton 18. Joseph Manu 19. Siua Wong 20. Fetalaiga Pauga 21. Connor Watson
Analysis: Trent Robinson is clearly gearing up for Vegas and has named a strong backline. Dom Young earns a spot on the wing, but interestingly the odd man out this time is Joey Manu who has been named on the extended bench. Zach Dockar-Clay plays hooker in Brandon Smith’s All Stars absence, while recruit Spencer Leniu hasn’t been named to feature. Luke Keary and Sam Walker will partner in the halves.
Sea Eagles team: 1. Bailey Hodgson 2. Jaxson Paulo 3. Tommy Talau 4. Clayton Faulalo 5. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega 6. Jakob Arthur 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Karl Lawton 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Ben Trbojevic 12. Ben Condon 13. Nathan Brown 14. Jamie Humphreys 15. Joshua Schuster 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Aaron Woods 18. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 19. Brad Parker 20. Aitasi James 21. Dean Matterson 22. Max Lehmann 23. Lehi Hopoate 24. Cameron Brown 25. Jacob Sykes 26. Austin Dias
Analysis: As expected Trbojevic brothers Tom and Jake, as well as Daly Cherry-Evans, have been put on ice ahead of Round 1. Former Knight Bailey Hodgson is set to wear the No.1 jersey, with recruits Jaxson Paulo and Tommy Talau manning one outside edge. Jake Arthur and Brandon Wakeham, previously a Tigers halfback, will play in the halves under Anthony Seibold. Josh Schuster has also been named on the bench, with Jamie Humphreys getting the nod at No.14 over Gordon Cham Kum Tong.
Parramatta Eels vs Canberra Raiders, 5.55pm AEDT at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Eels team: 1. Blaize Talagi 2. Haze Dunster 3. Morgan Harper 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Ky Rodwell 9. Brendan Hands 10. Ofahiki Ogden 11. Shaun Lane 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Luca Moretti 15. Wiremu Greig 16. Matt Doorey 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Matthew Arthur 19. Toni Mataele 20. Joshua Lynn 21. Charlie Guymer 22. Dan Keir 23. Saxon Pryke 24. Zac Cini 25. Isaac Lumelume 26. Ethyn Martin
Analysis: Highly-touted youngster Blaize Talagi is set to be unleashed at fullback by Brad Arthur. The dangerous outside back is one of the club’s best juniors so make sure to watch out for his skills in pre-season. Fellow rising star Ethan Sanders is also playing at halfback, with recruits Morgan Harper and Kelma Tuilagi named to feature in the run on side. Another Arthur, Matt, could also wear the blue and gold with the Parramatta coach unleashing his second son in the No.18 jersey. A hooker by trade, Arthur has been earmarked as the club’s future No.9.
Raiders team: 1. Chevy Stewart 2. Nick Cotric 3. James Schiller 4. Albert Hopoate 5. Xavier Savage 6. Kaeo Weekes 7. Ethan Strange 8. Emre Guler 9. Zac Woolford 10. Pasami Saulo 11. Mitchell Spencer 12. Simi Sasagi 13. Ata Mariota 14. Tom Starling 15. Prinston Esera 16. Utuloa Asouma 17. Jed Stuart 18. Danny Levi 19. Adam Cook 20. Peter Hola 21. Mitch Henderson 22. Peter Taateo 23. Noah Martin 24. L
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