The 2024 NRL regular season is still a few weeks away but there’s plenty for our Premium Members to discuss over a schooner between now and then. Instead of recycling the usual clichéd pre-season rhetoric, Oscar is picking out some genuine NRL talking points until Round 1 kicks off in Las Vegas.
Let’s dive into some 2024 NRL Pre-Season Pub Talk.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Melbourne Storm (Thursday)
The Drew Hutchison / Toby Sexton halfback battle is the obvious talking point for Canterbury here. I’m looking out for two things in particular; fifth tackle options and their combination with Matt Burton and Blake Taafe. The Bulldogs have genuine strike in the backline this year but they need a half who can pass them into the right areas on the field.
Canterbury’s middle forward rotation will be another good watch. We know they’re light on props and need someone to kick on again like Jacob Preston did in 2023. Can one of Poasa Faamausili or Sam Hughes be that guy?
From a Melbourne perspective, how Ryan Papenhuyzen and Reimis Smith return from injury disrupted seasons is key. Papenhuyzen’s resume speaks for itself while Smith is lowkey one of the better defensive centres in the game when fit. The Storm are uncharacteristically light on outside backs this year and need both on the field.
How Trent Loiero takes to the #13 jumper is also on my watchlist. Does he have the ballplaying to be that link man around the ruck?
Indigenous All Stars v Māori All Stars (Friday)
Jase has long flown the RLW flag for International Rugby League but this is my jam.
One of my favourite fixtures on the rugby league calender, the NRL All Stars concept has grown from strength to strength and is an unreal way to kickoff the year. It’s also our first look at a few key players heading into the 2024 NRL regular season.
A Braydon Trindall / Nicho Hynes Indigenous halves combination is top of my watch list. I’ve been a Trindall guy for a while now and I’m keen to see how he handles his first season as a first-choice half.
Trindall has all the attributes to complement the fast-tempo, attacking brand of footy Cronulla currently employ. His challenge will be in defence.
Jahrome Hughes and Briton Nikora will ask a few questions of Trindall in this one.
Nikora runs a killer line and Hughes comes off a confident World Cup Campaign as one of the form halfbacks in the NRL. A likely combination with Nikora on Friday could be a preview for the Hughes & Eli Katoa Show in Melbourne this season…
I’m keen to see how Leo Thompson kicks on from a career year in Newcastle. So too Matt Timoko in Canberra.
Other fringe names to keep an eye on; Raiders pair Hohepa Puru and Trey Mooney, Melbourne’s Jack Howarth and Canterbury’s Bailey Biondi-Odo.
Cronulla Sharks v Newcastle Knights (Saturday)
The Sharks are stacked with middle forwards and I’m keen to see how Tom Hazelton (25 years old) and Oregon Kaufusi (24) kick on this season. Cronulla used Hazelton in particular smartly at different stages last year, shifting to him in yardage or isolating him onto a smaller body in good-ball:
Both are still coming into their prime as front-rowers and can round out a frightening prop rotation at Cronulla this year.
For Newcastle, I’m watching Dylan Lucas and Jed Cartwright. Kalyn Ponga needs a backrower who can punch onto a short ball or lay a convincing lead decoy while he sweeps out the back – is that Lucas or Cartwright?
Sydney Roosters v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (Saturday)
Forget selection headaches – Trent Robinson will have migraines picking his first-choice squad this season.
Easts have named the strongest back five of any club across Week 1 of the NRL Pre-Season Challenge and that’s with Joseph Manu down in the reserves… I like Joseph Sua’ali’i on the wing in this backline but where does that leave a Daniel Tupou or Dominic Young?
I’ve got a similar question regarding Egan Butcher and where he fits in this Roosters pack.
Butcher’s mobility and ballplaying is a point of difference through the middle but in a squad stacked with bigger props and genuine ballplaying locks, Butcher has become a victim of his versitility.
On the Peninsula, Ben Trobjevic is offering some healthy competition for Josh Schuster in the backrow but I’m more interested in Manly’s starting props.
Taniela Paseka and Toafofoa Sipley are tracking steadily across six NRL seasons without either enjoying a true breakout year. Could that be the missing piece for the Sea Eagles in 2024?
Canberra Raiders v Parramatta Eels (Saturday)
I’ve already taken a good look at four key Raiders rookies heading into this season (Chevy Stewart, Xavier Savage, Kaeo Weekes & Ethan Strange) so I won’t repeat myself here.
I’ve got a few more notes on Parramatta, though.
On paper, squad depth looks an issue again in season 2024. Wiremu Greig played himself into some form last year before injuries struck and we haven’t seen the best of Ofahiki Ogden, Makahesi Makatoa or Ky Rodwell in the NRL, either. Can one of these kick on to complement a top-heavy forward pack?
Ryan Matterson playing 20+ games this year is also on my wish list.
His go-forward and offload ability is so important to how Parramatta work upfield and attack in the second-phase. On the edge, in the middle or off the pine; Matterson has to be in there somewhere.
South Sydney Rabbitohs v St-George Illawarra Dragons (Saturday)
The RLWriters curse struck again last week when Tyrone Munro and Izaac Thompson – two very relevant players who I wrote about in the wake of Campbell Graham’s extended layoff – were also ruled out with injury. With Cody Walker also missing, there’s only so much we can learn about the Bunnies attack in this one.
Tevita Tatola and Sean Keppie are worth a watch though. Souths were bashed through the middle last year – is this the pair to stop that gap?
There’s plenty more to discuss for Dragons fans.
In a squad packed with potential, I’m expecting improvement across the park this year under Shane Flanagan. I like Zac Lomax in a roaming wing/fullback role and am keen to see how Kyle Flanagan and Ben Hunt share playmaking duties in attack.
I’m tipping Jack De Belin to be an important cog in that playmaking combination, too.
Lachlan Lam had a breakout World Cup Campaign for the PNG Kumuls and it was De Belin who set him up for success. Expect the veteran lock to play a similar role for Hunt and Tyrell Sloan / Lomax at the Dragons this year.
New Zealand Warriors v Wests Tigers (Sunday)
Social media fell in love with the highlight reel that was Luke Metcalf in 2023 but I’m holding steady.
Admittedly I hadn’t creditted him with this level of ballplaying, but it’s these exact actions that have made me long-term fans of both Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita. I’ll have a breakdown of all three Warriors five-eighth candidates coming next week, so look out for that here.
For the Tigers, it’s all about Aiden Sezer.
In Jackson Hastings, Wests let go exactly what they needed to steer the ship from halfback and Sezer profiles similarly. Does he get on the ball at pivot either side of the ruck while Jahream Bula and Jayden Sullivan play the edges? Do he and Sullivan split the field? Does Alex Seyfarth offer an occasional pass option through the middle?
It’s an exciting and refreshing change for Benji Marshall who has genuine options to trial in this Tigers attack.
North Queensland Cowboys v Brisbane Broncos (Sunday)
I’ve already previewed the potential changes coming in North Queensland – namely the return of Jake Clifford – so check that out for a deeper dive.
I’ll add young Sam McIntyre – named to start at lock here – to that list. He’s a genuine ballplaying middle who can add a point of difference to a dynamic Cowboys pack.
There’s plenty of talking points in this Broncos side, too. No squad from the 2023 NRL Finals series has lost more quality than Brisbane, and we’ll learn quickly how they plan to respond.
Sunday is our first look at a brand new left edge featuring Selwyn Cobbo at centre and Brendan Piakura in the backrow. The attacking upside is there – Corey Oates could enjoy a career revival on the end of this backline – but we can expect some teething issues in defence.
Up front, will Fletcher Baker be the guy to replace Tom Flegler or do we see Ben Te Kura, Corey Jensen, Xavier Willison or Jaiyden Hunt play more NRL in season 2024?
The Dolphins v Gold Coast Titans (Sunday)
Where do I start with this Dolphins squad? A lack of depth hampered their maiden NRL campaign but Wayne Bennett has decked the halls for season 2024.
Jake Averillo and Herbie Farnworth form one of the best centre pairings in the NRL while Tesi Niu – who’s yardage game is a drawcard on the wing – is the potential competition. And speaking of potential; Valynce Te Whare.
Tom Gilbert won’t waste any time reminding us all of his quality, returning from injury to complete a stacked forward rotation speerheaded from dummy-half by Jeremy Marshall-King. The Dolphins need Marshall-King on the field this year if they’re to push for a finals berth.
There is less to look out for in a very raw Titans squad, but Tom Weaver is worth a watch. He’s next in line for the #7 jumper and did some nice things in the QRL Hostplus Cup last year.
The Hype Train left the station early for Weaver in 2023 but he can feature for the Titans in different moments this season.