NRL trials 2020: New Zealand Warriors, Melbourne Storm, Palmerston North clash

Author: Troy Whittaker NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp: Sat 22 Feb 2020, 07:40 AM

Warriors recruit Wayde Egan will start at hooker while Ryley Jacks will play his first match for the Storm since 2018 in Saturday's trial in Palmerston North.

Former Panthers rake Egan is among 10 players with NRL experience chosen for the Warriors including David Fusitu'a, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Lachlan Burr.

Harris-Tavita will wear the No.6 and has the chance to prove why he should keep the jumper for round one, with the youngster and Kodi Nikorima jostling to partner Blake Green at the scumbase. Nikorima will represent the Maori All Stars on the same night.

Jacks, who spent last season at the Titans, has returned to his debut club with the goal of unseating Jahrome Hughes for the halfback role.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Saturday 22 Feb

Full Time

Warriors

Storm

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Rocco Berry

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nicholas Hynes
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Patrick Herbert

Winger for Storm is number 2 Brenko Lee
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Hayze Perham

Centre for Storm is number 3 Marion Seve
Centre for Warriors is number 4 David Fusitu'a

Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi

Winger for Storm is number 5 Sandor Earl
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Ryley Jacks
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Adam Keighran

Halfback for Storm is number 7 Cooper Johns

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Phillip Makatoa

Prop for Storm is number 8 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Sam Lisone

Prop for Storm is number 10 Albert Vete
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Taane Milne

2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Chris Lewis
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Eliesa Katoa

2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Tom Eisenhuth
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Lachlan Burr

Lock for Storm is number 13 Max King

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Temple Kalepo

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Darryn Schonig
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard

Interchange for Storm is number 15 Dean Ieremia
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Paul Turner

Interchange for Storm is number 16 Trent Loiero
Interchange for Warriors is number 29 Jackson Frei

Interchange for Storm is number 17 Judda Turahui

Reserves

Reserve for Warriors is number 18 Selestino Ravutaumada

Reserve for Storm is number 18 Aaron Booth
Reserve for Warriors is number 19 Israel Ogden

Reserve for Storm is number 19 James Atonio
Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Tom Ale

Reserve for Storm is number 20 Noah Natapu
Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Setu Tu

Reserve for Storm is number 21 Siti Moceidreke
Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Tyler Slade

Reserve for Storm is number 22 Jack Peoples
Reserve for Warriors is number 23 Karl Lawton

Reserve for Storm is number 23 Sam Bernstrom

Match Officials

Referee: Ben Cummins
Referee: Tim Roby

Last updated: 12/8/2022 3:40:31 AM

The Rundown

Squads

New Zealand Warriors: 1. Rocco Berry 2. Patrick Herbert
3. Hayze Perham 4. David Fusitu'a 5. Edward Kosi 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Adam Keighran 8. Phillip Makatoa 9. Wayde Egan 10. Sam Lisone 11. Taane Milne 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Lachlan Burr Interchange 14. Temple Kalepo 15. Jackson Frei 16. Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard 17. Paul Turner 18. Selestino Ravutaumada 20. Israel Ogden 21. Tom Ale 22. Setu Tu 24. Tyler Slade 25. Preston Riki 26. Isaiah Vagana 27. King Vuniyayawa 28. Leivaha Pulu

Melbourne Storm: 1. Nicho Hynes 2. Brenko Lee 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Sandor Earl 6. Ryley Jacks 7. Cooper Johns 8. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 9. Harry Grant 10. Albert Vete 11. Chris Lewis 12. Tom Eisenhuth 13. Max King 14. Darryn Schonig 15. Dean Ieremia 16. Trent Loiero 17. Judda Turahui 18. Aaron Booth 19. James Atonio 20. Jay Natapu 21. Siti Moceidreke 22. Jack Peoples 23. Sam Bernstrom 24. Dan Atkinson

Casualty ward

New Zealand Warriors: Bunty Afoa is out for the year with an ACL injury while Peta Hiku (shoulder), Gerard Beale (knee), Nathaniel Roache (knee), Karl Lawton (shoulder) and Jazz Tevaga (ankle) are also injured. Adam Blair, Kodi Nikorima and train-and-trialist Jamayne Taunoa-Brown are on All Stars duty.

Melbourne Storm: Representative prop Christian Welch is still working back from an ACL injury, while Jahrome Hughes and the Bromwich brothers are on All Stars duty.

Round 2 - Round 2 - Saturday 22 Feb

Full Time

Warriors

Storm

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Rocco Berry

Fullback for Storm is number 1 Nicholas Hynes
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Patrick Herbert

Winger for Storm is number 2 Brenko Lee
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Hayze Perham

Centre for Storm is number 3 Marion Seve
Centre for Warriors is number 4 David Fusitu'a

Centre for Storm is number 4 Justin Olam
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Edward Kosi

Winger for Storm is number 5 Sandor Earl
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Five-Eighth for Storm is number 6 Ryley Jacks
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Adam Keighran

Halfback for Storm is number 7 Cooper Johns

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Phillip Makatoa

Prop for Storm is number 8 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Storm is number 9 Harry Grant
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Sam Lisone

Prop for Storm is number 10 Albert Vete
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Taane Milne

2nd Row for Storm is number 11 Chris Lewis
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Eliesa Katoa

2nd Row for Storm is number 12 Tom Eisenhuth
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Lachlan Burr

Lock for Storm is number 13 Max King

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Temple Kalepo

Interchange for Storm is number 14 Darryn Schonig
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard

Interchange for Storm is number 15 Dean Ieremia
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Paul Turner

Interchange for Storm is number 16 Trent Loiero
Interchange for Warriors is number 29 Jackson Frei

Interchange for Storm is number 17 Judda Turahui

Reserves

Reserve for Warriors is number 18 Selestino Ravutaumada

Reserve for Storm is number 18 Aaron Booth
Reserve for Warriors is number 19 Israel Ogden

Reserve for Storm is number 19 James Atonio
Reserve for Warriors is number 20 Tom Ale

Reserve for Storm is number 20 Noah Natapu
Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Setu Tu

Reserve for Storm is number 21 Siti Moceidreke
Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Tyler Slade

Reserve for Storm is number 22 Jack Peoples
Reserve for Warriors is number 23 Karl Lawton

Reserve for Storm is number 23 Sam Bernstrom

Match Officials

Referee: Ben Cummins
Referee: Tim Roby

Last updated: 12/8/2022 3:40:31 AM

The big question

New Zealand Warriors: Who will win the hooking battle? Aside from the halves face-off featuring Harris-Tavita and Nikorima, the dummy-half duel between Egan and the promising Lawton is intriguing. Both men are coming off shoulder injuries. Having been passed fit to play, Egan has the first opportunity to impress.

Melbourne Storm: Who will fill the centre holes left by Curtis Scott and Will Chambers? With it looking increasingly likely that Melbourne won't get Wests Tigers outside back Paul Momirovski in a swap with Harry Grant, their backline stocks are somewhat thin. Justin Olam is the front-runner for the left centre role, with coach Craig Bellamy saying that Marion Seve, Brenko Lee and Tom Eisenhuth are contending for the other vacant jersey.