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Trial game: Eels v Dragons Thurs 18/2/2021 ->@ 5:30pm<- AEST

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The squad for this trial will be extremely inexperienced. With Cartwright out by my count only Dunster, Stone, Smith, Opacic, Oldfield, Lussick, Hughes and Hollis will be available from the top 30. Very interested to see how much game time the dev squad players get especially Penisini and Arthur.
 
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Bryce Cartwright cops another setback while Brad Arthur’s son among exciting crop pushing to play in Parramatta’s trial
A bevy of the best young guns in rugby league will be given their chance to impress in this weekend’s NRL trials.

Paul Crawley
2 min read
February 14, 2021 - 8:20PM
The Daily Telegraph0 comments


DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU2:17
Rising stars at NRL clubs

Get a sneak peek of the next generation of rugby league stars, who will be bursting onto the NRL scene in the not-too-distant future.


Brad Arthur’s son Jake is among a crop of exciting young Parramatta rising stars pushing for a chance to impress in this Thursday’s trial match against St George Illawarra at Kogarah.

It comes after the Eels suffered a setback on Sunday with confirmation Bryce Cartwright has a broken jaw that is likely to sideline him for between four and six weeks.

The match against the Dragons was expected to be Cartwright’s first in his new colours following his shift from the Gold Coast.

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Cartwright suffered the injury during training last week.

While it is not likely to keep him out for an extended period it will probably end his hopes of pushing for selection in round one against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on March 12.

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Jake Arthur makes a break in the NRL Schoolboy Cup. Picture: Toby Zerna
Arthur is yet to name who will play in Thursday’s trial but the game is for those who played 12 NRL games or less last season.

That means some of the club’s young guns such as halfback Arthur, promising prop David Hollis, and outside backs Sean Russell and Haze Dunster should all be in the mix.

The Eels are also likely to apply to the NRL for some exemptions for players just over that limit, including Titans recruit Keegan Hipgrave.

Jordan Rankin, Nathaniel Roache, Isaiah Papali’i and Joey Lussick are also expected play in this game.

Jake Arthur is a talented young playmaker who was one of the stars in the Blacktown Patrician Brothers team that won the schoolboy competition last year.

Jake is considered a genuine NRL prospect in the making, although probably still a good 12 months away from legitimately pushing for NRL selection up against the likes of Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown.

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Parramatta Eels youngster David Hollis. NRLPhotos/Gregg Porteous
What he does have on his side right now is a terrific kicking game and game management beyond his years, while his running game is said to be improving all the time, as is his size.

There has been plenty of pressure on him coming through the grades at Parramatta just because of who he is, or more to the point, who his old man is.

But those who have watched his development say he has really earned his place just by the way he has continued to rise to every challenge with an outstanding attitude and dedication.

Thursday, February 18

- Eels v Dragons: 5.30pm (all times AEDT) at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium (players with 12 games from 2020 or less)

Saturday, February 20

- Wests Tigers v Roosters: 6.30pm at Kirkham Oval, Camden (players with 12 games from 2020 or less)

- NRL All Stars: Indigenous v Maori women’s game 5.40pm; Indigenous v Maori men’s game 8.10pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
 
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