BY DAN

The first team list of 2025 is as bulbous as you’d expect. That’s the nature of byes. It’s a lot of names and not much experience. Just an opportunity for the young guys to get a run in the park. The kids always need a run otherwise they never settle at night. It’s just good parenting.

But there’s still plenty for us to dig into. Let’s have a look at what we can learn from what Papa Stuart has offered up for Saturday’s game.

Missing in action

Of course Stick has left out the big names, who will mostly be held back for the second trial. Standard operating procedure. Nothing to see here. The only interesting thing is which of them will play the second trial next Thursday, and which will be involved in the NRL All-Stars game on the following Saturday night. You’d assume Joey Tapine’s culture-focus would lead towards him representing the Maori team. Matt Timoko might join him. Jamal Fogarty and Seb Kris are possibles for the Men’s Indigenous team.

But some people left out are of interest. Ethan Strange is nowhere to be seen, which, as we’ll cover below, suggests he’s sorted as five-eighth for round one. Similarly Kaeo Weekes will be watching, suggesting he’s also first choice fullback, for now at least. Chevy is playing instead. We’ve already covered that Savelio Tamale is leading the pack to partner Xavier Savage on the wing. There’s also no Danny Levi or Tom Starling. I think you can bank on both of those being in the team for Vegas.

On the more forward-looking front I was hoping for Vena Patuki-Case to get named for this game. We got a brief look at him this time last year before he spent much of the year recovering from injury. The club clearly has big hopes for him – they upgraded him into the top 30 and extended his time with the club while he was sitting on the injury list. He’s been named and we can’t wait to have a more thorough investigation of his playing style. There’s been no indication about his health from the club (at least publicly). We’ll keep an ear to the ground.

But enough with what’s missing. Let’s talk about what’s there.

Two strong halves

Ethan Sanders and Adam Cook have been named in the halves. Young and improving players, Cook currently sits on the precipice of the top 30, while Sanders is identified as the future of the club at seven. But that’s two very good footy players, and shows depth at the position Canberra haven’t had since….since…Campo was playing lock?

Naming Ethan 2.0 and not Original Spice Ethan suggests that the halves pairing for first grade is still Strange and Fogarty, at least for the early going. That’s not reflective of any problems with Sanders. By all reports he’s been excellent in the pre-season and will almost certain push for a first grade spot this year. But at least for now it’s business as usual for the Milk.

Partnering Sanders with Cook will be intriguing and perhaps an indicator of what we could expect from putting him alongside Fogarty during the season. Last year when Cook joined Jamal in first grade he took the reins far more than we expected. Fogarty has already remarked how willing Sanders is to have his voice heard. Will Cook take a backseat? Or will it be duelling banjos?

Emerging middles

The firm of Martin and Martin will be two of the Raiders three starting middles. It’s very exciting. I’ll be watching to see if Myles can inject a bit of creativity and width through the middle third, and whether he’s ready to take a big (defensive) load. Jordan scraped first grade last year and it will be great to see if he’s returned somehow more made of cement than before. Peter Taateo and Jake Clydesdale are also named on the bench.

More intriguing is that Pasami Saulo has been named to start, and Ata Mariota has been named at the end of an appropriately long bench. Saulo is recovering from a terrible back injury last season, so I can understand the club wanting to get as much juice into his legs as possible. But it’s less clear what Ata is doing there. He should be pushing for a first grade starting spot, not potentially running with the kids in the dead-zone of the first trial game.

Slow your roll?

Matty Nicholson, who we are very high on, is also named as a starting backrower. You might be worried that it means he’s not ready for the first week, round one. I don’t remember if John Bateman played trial matches, but Morgan Smithies wasn’t named for round one last year. While I hope it’s not representative of Nicholson’s readiness for first grade, if the club has decided he needs more time, then that’s a wise approach. No point burning him now. Just as likely is them wanting to get him enough footy to settle into the squad.

Noah Martin and Joe Roddy are also named on the bench, and last year’s project Simi Sasagi is starting alongisde Nicholson.

Manaia Mania

Manaia Waitere is starting in the centres, alongside Bert Hopoate. It’s a good sign of how the Milk expect their outside back depth to work. We’ve noted that Seb Kris’ hold on the left centre position isn’t strong. Savelio Tamale has been flagged to be in a battle to play starting winger. That’s good, but what happens if either Kris or (god forbid) Matt HIMoko go down with an injury. It seems from this that the answer might be Bert. It also might be Izaac Thompson, named on the bench. But Manaia is a talented footy player who could fill the position if he can get up to speed defensively. I’ll be keen to see how close he is.

Jed Stuart and Michael Asomua are starting on the wings. Reagan Carr is on the bench, keen to do his ‘surprisingly agile fridge’ impersonation whenever asked. Keahn Skipps was excellent in Flegg last year. He’s not ready for first grade, but would love for him to get a run in the second half. He’s a talent.

Young bucks

Owen Pattie is starting rake, and Shaun Packer is on the bench. The Raiders have identified both of these hookers as a key part of the future, perhaps sooner than we think. Naming Pattie in particular is an indication that there not expecting him to play from round one. But it’s also recognition that’s he’s not that far away. Packer should be playing Cup this year, pending some sort of disaster, but I’m keen to see him in amongst the big legs of first grade, if only for a second.

It’s exciting stuff and might mean everything. And nothing. We’ll find out Saturday!

Do me a favour and like the page on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, or share this on social media and I’ll tell you the story of truth, beauty, and a picture of you. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.