Every NRL club’s train and trial players heading in to the 2024 pre-season | Daily Telegraph
Former Origin players, sons of current NRL coaches, the game’s best young players, a young Englishman and veterans hoping for one final shot in first grade.
These are the players who will slog it out for $1200 per week chasing their NRL dream on train and trial deals as clubs look to unearth the next Jahream Bula who was in their shoes this time last year before going on to become one of the game’s brightest young stars.
Some will last just weeks, others the whole NRL season.
Nathan Brown played in a grand final in 2022 but now he joins Manly on a cut-price deal as he looks to keep his career going.
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur’s son Matt gets a taste of first grade. So too does Jed Stuart, the son of Ricky Stuart in Canberra.
Ethan Quai-Ward made a high profile mid-season switch to the Bulldogs and scored a try on debut. Just months later he is back at Brisbane on a training deal.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE EVERY CLUB’S FULL TRAIN AND TRIAL LIST
New signings Luke Brooks (c) and
Nathan Brown (3L) at Manly pre-season training. Picture: Jeremy Piper
Brown is the most experienced of the players as he fronted up with his new club on Friday after a short-stint with the Roosters. The former NSW Origin player is expected to be given a top 30 deal but the Sea Eagles need to create some space in their roster before they do so.
Manly coach Anthony Seibold said getting the 30-year-old into the club was an easy decision.
“I was really keen to give him an opportunity,” Seibold said.
Train and Trial: How it works
Train and trial players earn $1200 per week.
They will pocket $3000 per first grade game they play, however they’re ineligible to be picked until round 11 — unless they win NRL approval.
There is no cap on the amount of train and trial contracts clubs give. Some are just weeks long, others months and some a full season.
“He has played over 150 games, Origin and a grand final. He brings a lot of experience. What it does for us, is it provides more competition for spots and more depth in the middle forwards. We are looking as soon as we can to upgrade him from train and trial to a full-time contract. This is a good opportunity for him.”
Brown is not the only player with NRL experience looking to resurrect their career. Ex-Tiger Austin Dias gets another pre-season with Manly, Trai Fuller gets a crack at the Dolphins once again while Declan Casey, who played six games at the Bulldogs, has an opportunity at the Tigers.
English youngster Aiden Doolan trying to get a crack at South Sydney. Credit: Supplied
At South Sydney they have given Englishman Aiden Doolan a chance despite not playing Super League at Warrington. Doolan, a hooker, came to the club on the recommendation of former Super League veteran Tyrone McCarthy who now heads the club’s pathways. Doolan will play NSW Cup and potentially Jersey Flegg next year.
“He looks great,” said South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou. “He has been one of the fittest already. He has only been in the country for two weeks but has handled it really well. We want to get him into the system. We have Damien Cook and Peter Mamouzelos in our top 30 but we wanted to strengthen our depth in that position. He could potentially come into the top 30 next year. Brock Gray is another (train and trialist). He has come back in great shape and he was one of the form front-rowers in the NSW Cup. I’m looking forward to watching him development.”
Tom Rodwell playing for Sharks juniors. Credit: Facebook.
Other key contracts include:
– Tom Rodwell (son of former NSW centre Brett) and
Sam Healey (son of Cronulla legend Mitch) given a chance at the Sharks.
– The Eels‘ top 30 is set so they’re using it as an opportunity to blood youngsters including Arthur (hooker), Dan Keir (backrow), Api Twidle (outside back), Richard Penisini (centre), Josh Lynn (half) and Arthur Miller-Stephens (outside back). Miller-Stephens made his NRL debut on the wing in 2023 while Penisini’s brother Will is entrenched in the top grade.
– Jensen Taumoepeau played 14 NSW Cup games for Newtown before his Sharks contract expired. Now at the Cowboys on a train-and-trial deal.
– South Sydney’s relationship with the Townsville Blackhawks has four players taking part in pre-season.
– The Storm are already tapping into their relationship with North Sydney by giving Bears players Jake Toby, Jesse Marshke and Regan Hughes a crack. Ex-Dragon lower grader Treigh Stewart is also in Melbourne.
– The Roosters are awaiting NRL approval before handing veteran Michael Jennings a training deal.
Former Patrician Brothers Blacktown player Matt Arthur has a train and trial deal at the same club his father coaches. Picture: Jonathan Ng
The players do not need to go too far to look for inspiration. Bula was on the same contract as them last season before going on to ink a multimillion-dollar contract extension on his way to claiming the Tigers player of the year award.
Bula was not alone. The likes of Luke Somerton, Dean Matterson, Junior Pauga, Josh Reynolds, Khaled Rajab, Ryan and Toby Couchman, Tristan Sailor and
Ali Leiataua all played NRL after having training contracts.
New Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall said played down any talk of second-year syndrome for Bula.
“I think it is a myth,” Marshall said. “If you are good enough you get through it and play. I think what happens sometimes is kids feel the pressure of the second year to be as good as they were last year or better.
“That is my job – to take that pressure away and make them feel like they were better.”
NRL 2024 TRAIN AND TRIAL LIST
SHARKS
Jack Gibbons (backrower), Tom Rodwell (outside back), Jordan Swann (centre/backrower), Riley Pollard (halfback),
Sam Healey (hooker)
COWBOYS
Hiale Roycroft (prop), Josh Smith (centre), Sean Mullany (hooker), Rayden Burns (fullback), Rashaun Denny (centre), Ewan Moore (second row), Kyle Schneider (hooker), Jensen Taumoepeau (centre), John Radel (prop).
DRAGONS
Hayden Buchanan (centre/backrow), Loko Pasifiki Tonga (prop) ,Lyhkan King-Togia (half), Jett Liu (prop), Kade Reed (halfback), Finau Latu (backrow) Nick Tsougranis (backrow), Jacob
Webster (prop)
MANLY
Zane Dunford (prop), Austin Dias (prop), Jacob Sykes (prop), Cameron Brown (outside back), Clayton Faulalo (outside back),
Nathan Brown (prop)
EELS
Dan Keir (backrow), Api Twidle (outside back), Matt Arthur (hooker), Richard Penisini (centre), Josh Lynn (half), Arthur Miller-Stephens (outside back)
PANTHERS
Daeon Amituanai (winger), Trent Toelau (half), Billy Scott (hooker)
WARRIORS
Sio Kali (outside back),
Setu Tu (outside back)
ROOSTERS
Ethan King (outside back), Corey Ross (backrow), Salesi Foketi (backrow), Tayson Fakaosi (prop), Phoenix Steinwede (backrow), Alan Holten (hooker), Hugo Savala (half), Michael Jennings (centre) TBC
KNIGHTS
Jaxon Rahme (backrow), Malachi Smith (hooker), Jayden Harris (outside back), Liam Sutton (half), Jye Linnane (half), Elijah Salesa Leaumoana (backrow), Jermaine McEwen (backrow), Jeremy Trappett (outside back), Laitia Moceidreke (outside back), Clay Webb (backrow), Kyle
McCarthy (outside back)
RABBITOHS
Terell Kalo Kalo (fullback), Brock Gray (backrow), Adam Christensen (backrow), Emmanuel DiBartolo (half), Nazareth Taua (prop), Aiden Doolan (hooker). Townsville Blackhawks affiliate: Richard Holani (prop), Cade Maloney (backrow), Harry Quinlan (outside back), Nichoals Halailo (backrow)
BRONCOS
Ethan Quai-Ward (centre), Matt Milson (fullback)
RAIDERS
Jed Stuart (second row) ,Prinston Esera (outside back), Mitchell Spencer (five-eighth), Shaun Packer (hooker)
DOLPHINS
Trai Fuller (fullback), Brenton Baira (fullback), Lewis Symonds (second row), Tevita Naufahu (utility back), Elija Rasmussen (prop), Jordan Lipp (centre), Jerome Burns (five-eighth)
TIGERS
Declan Casey, (second row) Luke Laulilii (back), Navren Willett (centre), Cayne Nicholas (hooker).
TITANS
Vaka Sikahele (hooker) Kaleb Ngamanu (outside back) Joseph Shannon (forward) Sam Stephenson (outside back)
STORM
Jake Toby (fullback), Jesse Marshke (halfback), Regan Hughes (lock) ,Tom Rafter (second row) ,Tristan Hope (hooker), Treigh Stewart (fullback), Caius Faatili (prop)
BULLDOGS
Harry Hayes (centre), Eli Clarke (centre), Jack Todd (prop), Lipoi Hopoi (backrow)
