2023 Pre-Season Challenge - Week 1

[League Unlimited News]

ALL MATCHES LIVE ON FOX LEAGUE / KAYO. ALL TIMES AEDT

Warriors v Wests Tigers
Thu February 9 2023, 6:00pm at Mt Smart Stadium, Penrose NZ / Aotearoa

Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Marcelo Montoya 3. Brayden Wiliame 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Edward Kosi 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Te Maire Martin 8. Bunty Afoa 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Tom Ale 11. Jackson Ford 12. Demitric Sifakula 13. Michael Sio 14. Maiu'u Zyon 15. Sanele Aukusitino 16. Ali Leiataua 17. Jacob Laban 18. Moala Graham-Taufa 20. Kalani Going 21. Eiden Ackland 22. Ben Farr 23. Isaiah Vagana 24. Solomon Vasuvulagi 25. Paul Roache

Wests Tigers: 1. Charlie Staines 2. Junior Tupou 3. Asu Kepaoa 4. Tommy Talau 5. Liam Scolari 6. Triston Reilly 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Aistasi James 11. Brandon Tumeth 12. Fonua Pole 13. Justin Matamua 14. Jahream Bula 15. Jordan Hill 16. Trey Peni 17. Josh Feledy 18. Christopher Faagutu 19. Sione Vaihu 20. Zane Camroux 21. Sione Fainu 22. Ruatapu Ngatikaura 23. Alex Seyfarth 24. Tanous Sukkar

Referee: Belinda Sharpe
Sideline Officials: Rochelle Tamarua, Paki Parkinson
Video Referee: Grant Atkins

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Newcastle Knights v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Fri February 10 2023, 5:55pm at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford / Darkinjung

Newcastle Knights: 1. Bailey Hodgson 2. Hymel Hunt 3. Krystian Mapapalangi 4. Dylan Lucas 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Jacob Saifiti 11. Brodie Jones 12. Jack Johns 13. Kurt Mann 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. John Toleafoa 16. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 17. David Hollis 18. Adam Clune 19. Ben Talty 20. Thomas Cant 21. David Armstrong 22. Toni Tupouniua 23. Riley Jones 24. Ryan Rivett 25. Chris Vea'ila 26. Luke Pietzner

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks: 1. Daniel Atkinson 2. Thomas Rodwell 3. Mawene Hiroti 4. Kayal Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet 6. Wade Graham 7. Niwhai Puru 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Jayden Berrell 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Teig Wilton 12. Jesse Colquhoun 13. Jack Williams 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Joshua Finau 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Max Bradbury 18. Lachlan Crouch 19. Henry O'Kane 20. Samuel Healey 21. Jacob Gagan 22. Blake Hosking 23. Max Riolo 24. Manaia Waitere

Referee: Kasey Badger
Sideline Officials: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, Clayton Wills
Video Referee: Ashley Klein

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South Sydney Rabbitohs v Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Fri February 10 2023, 8:00pm at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford / Darkinjung

South Sydney Rabbitohs: 1. Blake Taaffe 2. Richard Kennar 3. Josiah Karapani 4. Jacob Gagai 5. Leon Te Hau 6. Dion Teaupa 7. Jarrett Subloo 8. Hame Sele 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Davvy Moale 11. Michael Chee Kam 12. Jacob Host 13. Tallis Duncan 14. Terrell Kalo Kalo 15. Ethan O'neill 16. Ben Lovett 17. Louis Grossemy 18. Romano Cook 19. Jaxson Rahme 20. Thomas Carr 21. Shannon Gardiner 22. Leonard Skelton 23. Hugo Patterson 24. Brock Gray

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles: 1. Jake Toby 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Jackson Ferris 4. Fletcher Myers 5. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 6. Cooper Johns 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 10. Ben Condon 11. Ben Trbojevic 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Ethan Bullemor 14. Harradyn Wilson 15. Zac Fulton 16. Cameron Brown 17. Viliami Fifita 18. Jacob Sykes 19. Charlie Thompson 20. Joshua Stuckey 21. Dean Matterson 22. James Uesele 23. Joey Tramontana

Referee: Todd Smith
Sideline Officials: Chris Sutton, Damien Brady
Video Referee: Chris Butler

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Penrith Panthers v Parramatta Eels
Sat February 11 2023, 6:00pm at BlueBet Stadium, Penrith / Dharug

Penrith Panthers: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Jesse Mclean 3. Sunia Turuva 4. Thomas Jenkins 5. Daeon Amituanai 6. Kurt Falls 7. Jack Cogger 8. Lindsay Smith 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Liam Henry 11. Jaeman Salmon 12. Zac Hosking 13. Matt Eisenhuth 14. Connor Mason 15. Ativalu Lisati 16. Mavrik Geyer 17. Harrison Hassett 18. John Faiumu 19. Hanna El-Nachar 20. Sunita Lotoaniu 21. Liam Ison 22. Jake Tago 23. Logan Cohen 24. Ryley Smith 25. Trent Toelau 26. Cody Lawson 27. Luke Philp 28. Atonio Pelesasa

Parramatta Eels: 1. Sean Russell 2. Matthew Komolafe 3. Samuel Loizou 4. Zac Cini 5. Isaac Lumelume 6. Jordan Rankin 7. Jakob Arthur 8. Ofahiki Ogden 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Ky Rodwell 11. Shaun Lane 12. Jirah Momoisea 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Matt Doorey 15. Mitch Rein 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Toni Mataele 19. Jayden Yates 20. Dan Keir 21. Luca Moretti 22. Tevita Taumoepenu 23. Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa 24. Daejarn Asi 25. Haze Dunster 26. Jack Murchie 27. Brendan Hands 28. Junior Paulo

Referee: Wyatt Raymond
Sideline Officials: Nick Beashel, Cameron Paddy
Video Referee: Kasey Badger

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St George Illawarra Dragons v St Helens
Sat February 11 2023, 8:05pm at WIN Stadium, Wollongong / Dharawal

St George Illawarra Dragons: 1. Treigh Stewart 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Connor Muhleisen 7. Moses Mbye 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Ben Murdoch-Masila 12. Billy Burns 13. Jaiyden Hunt 14. Tautau Moga 15. Max Feagai 16. Michael Molo 17. Joshua Coric 18. Nick Lui-Toso 19. Dan Russell 20. Haele Finau 21. Sione Finau 22. Alexander Lobb 23. Savelio Tamale 24. Jackson Shereb 25. Josh Cook 26. Toby Couchman 27. Zach Herring 28. Dylan Egan

St Helens: 1. Jack Welsby 2. Tommy Makinson 3. Will Hopoate 4. Mark Percival 5. Jonathan Bennison 6. Jonny Lomax 7. Lewis Dodd 8. Alex Walmsley 9. James Roby 10. Matty Lees 11. Sione Mata'utia 12. Joe Batchelor 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Joey Lussick 15. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook 16. Curtis Sironen 17. Agnatius Paasi 18. Jake Wingfield 19. James Bell 20. Daniel Norman 21. Ben Davies 22. Sam Royle 23. Konrad Hurrell 24. Lewis Baxter 25. Tee Ritson 26. Daniel Hill

Referee: Liam Kennedy
Sideline Officials: Dave Munro, Kieren Irons
Video Referee: Ashley Klein

 

[League Unlimited News]

Melbourne Storm v Sydney Roosters
Sun February 12 2023, 1:50pm at GMHBA Stadium, Geelong / Wadawarrung

Melbourne Storm: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Dean Ieremia 6. Tyran Wishart 7. Jonah Pezet 8. Aaron Pene 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Christian Welch 11. Joe Chan 12. Chris Lewis 13. Josh King 14. Ammaron Gudgeon 15. Young Tonumaipea 16. Jordan Grant 17. Eliesa Katoa 18. Jayden Nikorima 19. Keagan Russell-Smith 20. Cole Geyer 21. Grant Anderson 22. Angus Hinchey 23. Lazarus Vaalepu 24. Kane Bradley 26. Joshua Patston 27. Scott Galeano 28. Max Lehmann

Sydney Roosters: 1. Ethan King 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph Suaalii 4. Junior Pauga 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Egan Butcher 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Jake Turpin 17. Terrell May 18. Naufahu Whyte 19. Ben Thomas 20. William Fakatoumafi 21. Thomas Deakin 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha 23. Xavier Va'a 24. Tyler Moriarty 25. Vuate Karawalevu 26. Sandon Smith 27. Elie El-Zakhem 28. Tuipulotu Katoa

Referee: Chris Sutton
Sideline Officials: Jon Stone, Nick Pelgrave
Video Referee: Grant Atkins

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Canberra Raiders v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Sun February 12 2023, 3:55pm at Ack Weyman Oval, Moruya / Yuin

Canberra Raiders: 1. Xavier Savage 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Brad Morkos 5. Elijah Anderson 6. Matt Frawley 7. Brad Schneider 8. Ata Mariota 9. Danny Levi 10. Emre Guler 11. Clay Webb 12. Trey Mooney 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Zac Woolford 15. Pasami Saulo 16. Jordan Martin 17. James Schiller 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Jed Stuart 20. Joshua Allen 21. Michael Asomua 22. Peter Hola 23. Ethan Strange 24. Loghan Lewis 25. Mitchell Spencer 26. Josh James 27. Lachlan Lewis 28. Ray Burns

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: 1. Braidon Burns 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 21. Jayden Okunbor 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Luke Thompson 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Max King 11. Jacob Preston 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Ryan Sutton 14. Fa'amanu Brown 15. Chris Patolo 16. Andrew Davey 17. Corey Waddell 19. Jeral Skelton 20. Jackson Topine 22. Bailey Hayward 23. Harrison Edwards 24. Khaled Rajab 25. Jayden Tanner 26. Kurtis Morrin 27. Blake Wilson 28. Joash Papalii 29. Ryan Gray 30. Franklin Pele

Referee: Peter Gough
Sideline Officials: Phil Henderson, Todd Smith
Video Referee: Matt Noyen

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North Queensland Cowboys v Dolphins
Sun February 12 2023, 6:00pm at Barlow Park, Cairns / Yidiinji

North Queensland Cowboys: 1. Tomas Chester 2. Laitia Moceidreke 3. Gehamat Shibasaki 4. Brendan Elliot 5. Robert Derby 6. Ben Hampton 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Taniela Sadrugu 9. Kyle Schneider 10. James Tamou 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Riley Price 14. D'jazirhae Pua'avase 15. Sylvester Namo 16. Emarly Bitugane 17. Julian Christian 18. Jordan Lipp 19. Zac Laybutt 20. Adam Cook 21. Jake Bourke

Dolphins: 1. Jamayne Isaako 2. Jack Bostock 3. Tesi Niu 4. Euan Aitken 5. Oliver Gildart 6. Anthony Milford 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Harrison Graham 10. Herman Ese'ese 11. Jeremiah Simbiken 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Ray Stone 14. Brayden McGrady 15. Valynce Te Whare 16. Tyler Szepanowski 17. Lachlan Hubner 18. Judah Rimbu 19. Rodrick Tai 20. Sherwin Tanabi 21. Kurt Donoghoe 22. Brenton Baira 23. Mason Teague 24. Poasa Faamausili

Referee: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Sideline Officials: Nick Morel, Michael Wise
Video Referee: Ben Cummins

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Brisbane Broncos v Gold Coast Titans
Sun February 12 2023, 8:05pm at Sunshine Coast Stadium, Bokarina / Kabi Kabi

Brisbane Broncos:
1. Reece Walsh 2. Jordan Pereira 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Jack Ahearn 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Shalom O’Ofou 12. Brendan Frei 13. Corey Jensen 14. Billy Walters 15. Logan Bayliss-Brow 16. Martin Taupau 17. Benjamin Te Kura 18. Ethan Quai-Ward 19. Tyson Smoothy 20. Tristan Sailor 21. Joshua Rogers 22. Jamen Johnson

Gold Coast Titans: 1. Jayden Campbell 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Phillip Sami 5. Sosefo Fifita 6. Toby Sexton 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Jaimin Jolliffe 9. Chris Randall 10. Joe Stimson 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Erin Clark 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Iszac Fa'asumaleaui 16. Jo Vuna 17. Treymain Spry 18. Thomas Weaver 19. Keano Kini 20. Jaylan De Groot 21. Tony Francis 22. Josiah Pahulu 23. Vaka Sikahele 24. Jacob Alick 25. Ryan Foran 26. Jaron Purcell

Referee: Darian Furner
Sideline Officials: Dan Schwass, Jordan Morel
Video Referee: Ashley Klein

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2023 Pre-Season Challenge: Everything you need to know​

2023 Pre-Season Challenge: Everything you need to know

Expansive game play with an emphasis on attacking football awaits when the inaugural NRL Pre-Season Challenge kicks off next month, with a $100,000 payday up for grabs for the winning club.

www.nrl.com

Expansive game play with an emphasis on attacking football awaits when the inaugural NRL Pre-Season Challenge kicks off next month, with a $100,000 payday up for grabs for the winning club.

Bonus points rewarding teams for scoring tries, making line breaks and offloading will add another dimension to the competition, which will be played over two rounds between February 9-19 and provide NRL fans with their first taste of club football for 2023.

In addition to being the first chance to see off-season recruits run out in their new colours, the Pre-Season Challenge will mark the competitive debut for the NRL's newest franchise the Dolphins.

Super League champions St Helens will also take part to make it an 18-team competition, with their second match against the reigning NRL premiers the Panthers doubling up as the World Club Challenge.

The rules
Games will be played over 80 minutes as normal, but with clubs able to field as many as 28 players in week-one matches and up to 26 in week-two matches, with unlimited interchanges at their disposal in both weeks.

The NRL Bunker will be in use in all matches, while games which are tied at the end of regular time will be declared a draw, with no golden point to be played.



The points
The addition of bonus points to go alongside points earned by winning or drawing a match will ensure teams have something to play for in every contest, no matter what's happening on the scoreboard.

Alongside points accumulated through results, the number of bonus points a team can snare each game could make all the difference on what is sure to be a congested ladder.

The club with the most points at the conclusion of the two rounds will be declared the winner of the Pre-Season Challenge and claim the $100,000 in prize money.



Tiebreaker process
Given the short duration of the Pre-Season Challenge, there is a good chance the winner will have to be decided via a count back, and the NRL has devised a system to find a winner should teams finish tied on points at the top of the ladder.

World Club Challenge
The World Club Challenge clash between the Panthers and St Helens on February 18 will be part of the Pre-Season Challenge for both sides, and they'll be able to earn both result points and bonus points in the encounter.

But it will be played under slightly different rules to the other 17 matches, with game-day squads capped at 17 players, with an 18th player to be activated if a team loses two or more players to a failed Head Injury Assessment.

Each side will have 10 interchanges each, and if scores are tied at the end of 80 minutes the game will go to golden point.

 

[mozza91]

Nice to see us following T20 cricket with a needlessly complicated points system.

 

[Wb1234]

I’m cheering for saints in the first round

 

[League Unlimited News]

Teamlists and officials confirmed:

TEAMS: NRL Pre-Season Challenge - 2023 Week 1 » League Unlimited

leagueunlimited.com

 

[Blues Riff]

That Penrith squad is almost unrecognizable from the GF side.
The Bulldogs really have been busy.

 

[yobbo84]

That Roosters side is a bit ridic for a first trial...

 

[Blues Riff]

That Roosters side is a bit ridic for a first trial...

Looks like they want to make a statement by winning the pre-season Challenge.

 

[This Year?]

Resting our best player for a game against a club of St Helen's prestige is a crime against rugby league.

 

[Victoire]

Going to be 30 degrees in the Gong on saturday. Hopefully the sea breeze kicks in big time by kickoff, but that's still a massive "challenge" ahead of the poms

 

[League Unlimited News]

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Finally, a footy fix!

 

[Lemon Squash]

Have either of these two teams trained over the off-season at all?

 

[Frailty]

Tigers goal line defence looking structurally good so far!

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

Why the hell do we need the bunker for trial games?

 

[mozza91]

There’s many plodding halves in the NRL at the moment but Brandon Wakeham is probably the worst.

 

[Lemon Squash]

Welcome to life at the Tigers Staines

 

[yobbo84]

Watching this and the cricket test in split screen and have to say the defence of the Aussie left handers and the Tigers is about the same

 

[Coastbloke]

Warriors clearly the front runners this year

 

[Wb1234]

Warriors look excellent

their shape looks great

tigers not so much