2024 Pre-Season

GNR4LIFE said:
Remember this year it was the Dragons with the round 1 bye. NRL must have a thing about giving the spoon favourites 2 free points in round 1.
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That was my point. Could also be the least desirable team to watch gets an extra week of preparation to catch the field.
 
Needaname said:
Surely the Broncos start the season as premiership favourites?
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Not so sure that it would be deserved.
The GF would have really hurt them psychologically.
Those that played for Australia have been kicked in the nuts again.
They will need top shelf management over the next 5 months to get that confidence back…as it was their strike weapon in season 23.
 
Tucker said:
Not so sure that it would be deserved.
The GF would have really hurt them psychologically.
Those that played for Australia have been kicked in the nuts again.
They will need top shelf management over the next 5 months to get that confidence back…as it was their strike weapon in season 23.
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Add in the loss of Flegler and Farnworth.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
Remember this year it was the Dragons with the round 1 bye. NRL must have a thing about giving the spoon favourites 2 free points in round 1.
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Gets us off and running, didn’t help Saints but hope it helps us.
Probably got a home game in R2 so will come in undefeated !
Extra bums on seats !
 
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Tucker said:
Not so sure that it would be deserved.
The GF would have really hurt them psychologically.
Those that played for Australia have been kicked in the nuts again.
They will need top shelf management over the next 5 months to get that confidence back…as it was their strike weapon in season 23.
Click to expand...
The good players can do it. Nathan Cleary bounced back from a GF & SOO loss in 2020 to help both Penrith & NSW win in 2021.
 

Expected round one schedule​

  • Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles (March 2 in Las Vegas)
  • Broncos v Roosters (March 2 in Las Vegas)
  • Knights v Raiders (Thursday, March 7)
  • Warriors v Sharks (Friday, March 8)
  • Storm v Panthers (Friday, March 8)
  • Eels v Bulldogs (Saturday, March 9)
  • Titans v Dragons (Saturday, March 9)
  • Dolphins v Cowboys (Sunday, March 10)
  • Bye: Wests Tigers


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The four teams involved in Las Vegas will square off against each other over the opening three rounds of the season to provide consistency and balance to the draw.
The Rabbitohs will play against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium in round two before taking on arch rivals the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium in round three. The Sea Eagles will play the Roosters in round two and the Broncos in round three.
Penrith may skip the pre-season challenge in favour of facing Wigan in England.

Penrith may skip the pre-season challenge in favour of facing Wigan in England.CREDIT:GETTY
The Panthers, meanwhile, are open to missing the pre-season challenge – and forgoing a potential $100,000 in prizemoney – if it makes it easier to travel to England for the World Club Challenge.
The NRL is expected to announce their pre-season challenge draw as early as Friday, but Penrith officials confirmed they were unsure how their early season schedule would look.

Should they play against Wigan on February 24, they are happy to be excluded from the second edition of the pre-season tournament.
“If the World Club Challenge comes to fruition, we’re happy not to play a trial,” Panthers CEO Matt Cameron said.

Pre-season schedule​

  • February 11: Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles on Central Coast
  • February 16: Indigenous All Stars v Maori All Stars
Pre-season week one (February 15-18)
  • Dogs v Storm at Belmore
  • Sharks v Knights at Central Coast Stadium
  • Manly v Roosters at Central Coast Stadium
  • Warriors v Tigers at TBC
  • Broncos v Cowboys at Mackay
  • Dragons v Rabbitohs at Kogarah
  • Eels v Raiders at Kogarah
  • Dolphins v Titans at Sunshine Coast
Pre-season week two (February February 22-25)
  • Sharks v Bulldogs at Cronulla
  • Roosters v Rabbitohs at Cronulla
  • Dragons v Tigers in Mudgee
  • Manly v Broncos in Manly
  • Titans v Eels in Ipswich
  • Storm v Knights in Fiji
  • Raiders v Cowboys in Queanbeyan
“We’re working with Wigan, NRL and Super League are in dialogue at the moment about the game, and we’re working on the premise we’ll be heading there.
“Our players who do not travel over will need a gamer but whether that’s an actual trial I’m not sure.”

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Las Vegas-bound South Sydney and Manly will play a Sunday afternoon trial on February 11 on the Central Coast, six days before the Bunnies and St George Illawarra meet in the Charity Shield at Kogarah.
Parramatta and Canberra will play in the Charity Shield curtain-raiser. Canterbury host Melbourne on a Thursday night at Belmore in week one of the pre-season challenge. Clubs have been informed the Indigenous All Stars and Maori All Stars fixture will be held on February 16, a Friday night.
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Michael Chammas

Michael Chammas is a sports reporter with The Sydney Morning HeraldConnect via Twitter or email.
Christian Nicolussi

Christian Nicolussi covers rugby league for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via Twitter or email.
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Let the hard work begin​


Wests Tigers have returned for pre-season training this week under the watchful eye of new head coach Benji Marshall ahead of the 2024 NRL season.

Twenty-six players were made to work hard on day one of the club’s pre-Christmas block of training at the Zurich Centre of Excellence, Concord.

The group comprised a mixture of top-30, development and train and trial players, many of whom have been junior representative teammates.

Two thirds of the players at Monday’s first session were local juniors, a reflection of the club’s strategic focus on pathways and development.

While this is a long-term process, and one which requires significant investment, there are plenty of positive signs to suggest that the system is working.

Seven players from the Western Suburbs team which claimed the club’s first ever Harold Matthews Cup title just 18 months ago, are now training with the first-grade squad. All seven are now on top-30 or development contracts or will be in the next couple of years.

Captain of the premiership-winning Magpies team was Kit Laulilii who, like teammate Tallyn Da Silva, made his NRL debut last season.

Laulilii moves onto a development contract in 2024 while Da Silva is one of three players from the 2022 Harold Matthews team who has graduated to a top-30 contract.

He’s joined by young prop Jordan Miller and 2023 Australian Schoolboys representative Lachlan Galvin.

Luke Laulilii, younger brother of Kit, and fellow speedster Heath Mason have also come out of that Wests Harold Matthews team.

Like Galvin, they too were selected for the Australian Schoolboys this year and will move on to top-30 and development contacts respectively in 2025.

Edge forward Brandon Webster-Mansfield, who is another from Campbelltown, steps up to the top-30 after being on a development contract in 2023.

Others on development contracts in 2024 are Solomone Saukuru (outside back), Chris Faagutu (forward), Alexander Lobb (winger), and Tony Sukkar (forward).

Sukkar was one of five Balmain juniors reporting for duty on day one, alongside the likes of Brandon Tumeth who made his NRL debut last season. Former Manly forward Samuela Fainu had his first session at his new club, joined by older brother Sione, who is preparing for his third season at Wests Tigers.

The youngest of the three Fainu brothers now at the club is Latu, who has been on representative duty with Tonga.

The ten Wests Tigers players who have been involved in internationals are due at training later this month, some in early December.

Another recruit at Monday’s session was Jayden Sullivan. The former Dragons half was originally scheduled to start training with the second wave of players on November 20, but reported for duty a couple of weeks early.

www.weststigers.com.au

Let the hard work begin

Wests Tigers have returned for pre-season training under the watchful eye of new head coach Benji Marshall ahead of the 2024 NRL season.
www.weststigers.com.au www.weststigers.com.au
 
AmericanHistoryX said:
So much for the Bulldogs spirit. STAY AWAY

www.foxsports.com.au

Canterbury Bulldogs club captain told to stay away from pre-season training

Bulldogs club captain ‘told to stay away’ as 800k split nears
www.foxsports.com.au www.foxsports.com.au
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If the Tigers did this to their captain, it would be all over the news, NRL360, Buzz, Chammas and Baldy Hooper would be calling for an inquest, royal commission and they’d label the Tigers management and CEO incompetent….but..given its Gus…it’s crickets..surely the RLPA would be making noise…this guy has 2 years to go on his contract
 
Tiger_Yoshi said:
If the Tigers did this to their captain, it would be all over the news, NRL360, Buzz, Chammas and Baldy Hooper would be calling for an inquest, royal commission and they’d label the Tigers management and CEO incompetent….but..given its Gus…it’s crickets..surely the RLPA would be making noise…this guy has 2 years to go on his contract
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Agree...
I find it very funny that the Dogs have been saying for a few years now that they are all about having internal players and developing them yet have the highest external players then any club.

They are worse off than us by a mile.
 
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Rusty said:
img_2783.jpg
Navren WillettName: Navren Willett
Position: Centre, Fullback, Five-eighth
Age: 18 this year
Junior team/s: Taree Panthers, Taree City Bulls, Newcastle Knights Harold Matthews
2023 Age group: Balmain SG Ball (Willett will complete preseason then return home to continue playing for Taree in 2023 while he completes his schooling)

Willett, who already stands at 6’6 (not a typo), has signed a four year deal with Wests Tigers through until the end of 2026.

The first year of Willett’s deal will see him complete preseason with Balmain SG Ball before returning home to complete his schooling, where he’ll continue playing for Taree City.

As you would expect, Navren is a threat in the air and stands well above players his age, while also being a superb athlete.

Willett spent time in the Knights junior rep system where he impressed before returning home. Wests Tigers saw off interest from other NRL clubs and the Sydney Swans to secure Willett’s signature.

Like Jordan Miller, Navren possesses a unique frame and one that can become a real threat through the grades if developed properly.

At this stage, one to keep an eye on for 2024 more than 2023.
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There have been a few short clips of him on the local TV footy reviews scoring tries for Taree, and he looks pretty darn quick and elusive.
I'm looking forward to seeing him play because I reckon he's gunna be a star in a couple of years [I hope 🤔].
 
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