BY DAN

This was meant to be the real deal.

The second trial, usually, is the one that matters, as much as any can matter to noted trial-sceptic Ricky Stuart. In the past this has often been the team that is closest to what Coach Stuart intends to take to round one. They’d play the first 25 minutes or so, and then a slow cycle of bench players, then fringe players, start moving through rotation. Eventually at some point just after half time it’d be effectively the Cup squad playing against another team’s Cup squad, and we could all take a breath.

Instead this team list has a host of stars and starters watching on (Young, Horse, Taps, Starling, Papa, Weekes, Strange, Sanders). It’s also got as many playing. It’s a bit of a halfway house between a normal “starters for 20 and then everyone else” and the first trial team. Not quite Cup, not quite a puppet, but man….

It’s ok. If Stick hates trials then I hate trials too. But that doesn’t make it a waste of time. It’s not etching it in concrete, but the team list this week holds a little more water when it comes to what is happening this year. At least more than last week. Players in the first 17 are playing for either position or time. Those on the bench are pushing for first grade minutes. There’s interesting bits everywhere.

Spineless

No Weekes, no Starling, but more interestingly no Sanders and Strange. Instead, Ethan Alaia and Jalen Afamasaga get another run. That’s fun! But given neither will probably play much first grade this year, isn’t exactly quenching our thirst for knowledge. Instead of learning about how they’ll fit together we’re wondering why we’re still apart.

This decision was not expected but is understandable. No point risking your starting halves when their backups are currently not playing or not halves (at least, to this point in their career). This is a little frustrating because it would have been nice to see how they fit together, We’ve had hints of what that would look like (such as the Roosters game last year), but we’ll have to wait a week before we see how Sanders directs the team around the park, and whether, in high leverage moments, he’s able to make the right decisions.

I also am sad I won’t get to see how he, Seb Kris and Hudson Young would react to what targeting from opposition attacks. There defensive capability is going to be a big contributor to their success this year

Hookers for all occasions

Jayden Brailey has been named at nine, and Owen Pattie on the bench. Pattie was excellent in the glorified Cup game last week, both in attack and defence. People say he’s doing too much – I say he’s too advanced for his Cup colleagues and people need to get up to speed.

If Brailey starting is an indication he’ll play ahead of Pattie in round one, it’s not definitive. But it does mean, as we foreshadowed in the off-season, that Stuart still seems to be leaning towards choosing certainty over upside, and while it’s not my preferred choice, it’s an understandable approach. With still developing players at every other place in the spine, and talent across the park, Stuart is just seeking a heady vet to support inexperienced players do their job.

For what it’s worth, I can’t imagine Pattie is far away from playing, and playing bigger minutes – more ‘when’ than ‘if’, if that makes sense. But for now Stick is choosing wisdom over vivacity. We’ll see how that plays out.

Tamale and the OBs

Speaking of wisdom and vivacity, Sav Tamale is back on the wing after last weekend’s foray into the centres. He’s a barnstorming runner, and needs his hands on the ball in positions outside of yardage work, so I can understand the interest in how he handles the position. But defensively it would take another step-up, and given the people that would be inside (and outside) him, that feels like an unnecessary risk at this stage. He’s already one of the best wingers in the competition. Let him be that. With Xavier Savage opposite, it’s a formidable pairing.

We are curious about the inclusion of Simi Sasagi at centre. He’s in Matt Timoko’s normal spot (at least in terms of the listing) with the nominal starter in a moon-boot last week, as noted by Jasper R. I’d not taken that as a serious matter, perhaps it is. Either way it seems Stick may be serious about Simi pushing for a centre spot. It may also just be wanting to get Simi some game time. Zac Hosking is starting at prop on a similar “it works for a trial” vibe.

We’ll be therefore keen to see who comes in as the replacement backs when the first string cycle out. Sione Finau played exclusively on the wing last week, so I think that might be his fortune for now. Jed Stuart is on the bench so will see game time. Mark Tualii looked strong at right centre, and had some skillful interjections into backline movements. Chev Stuart has said he’ll play anywhere, and that he’ll do anything to play first grade. Saxon Innes is on the very long bench. It’ll be interesting to see if that’s how they run out when they do.

Laurie plays fullback

Daine Laurie is listed at fullback, which really suggests that Stuart intends to use him as a jack-of-all trades, and that Chevy Stewart’s comments of being willing to play wherever may be driven by pragmatism and desperation rather than any actual preference. Laurie seems first in line when it comes playing fullback.

I’ve seen some suggestions online that Laurie is causing Stick a selection headache for the halfback position, but I would caution against taking too much from last week given the level of competition, and the very patchy nature of the game. With Stewart on the bench, Laurie may shift into the halves later in the game. Last week he did a good job in a dominant side. I’ll be curious if he can back it up as the competition gets harder.

Backrow battles

Matty Nicholson has been named alongside Noah Martin in the backrow. Simi Sasagi also figures to be part of this rotation, and Hosking would presumably be an option, but it starting in the middle. Is this indicative that Nicholson has slipped or proof that he’s preferred? I honestly don’t know. But because I want Hosking to play lock, and Nicholson to play on the edge, I’m choosing the latter. Good news everyone!

It seems like as many questions as answers in this team list. There’s still plenty we don’t know. But it’s a good mudmap for their plan to start 2026. Now it’s time to see if that plan survives contact with reality. It won’t be determined by this week, but this will be the first stone of evidence that we’ll have. Let’s hope it’s the start of a strong foundation.

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