NRL trials week two: Squad lists and talking points

Thirteen NRL clubs will hit the field this weekend as the trial action heats up.

And there are a number of compelling storylines with the season just four weeks away.

Among them – de Belin ruled out of Dragons clash amid controversy, Napa to make 'Dogs debut, Bird to return after 287 days, Souths give clue to who will replace injured Inglis, and more.

Scroll down to view the team lists and points of interest for each match.

MELBOURNE STORM V NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS

 Friday, February 22, 7:50pm AEDT at Kardinia Park, Geelong

POINTS OF INTEREST

Storm: Seven Melbourne players from the 2018 grand final will take on the Warriors.

Scott Drinkwater has the initial opportunity to push his case to succeed Billy Slater as the Storm's fullback.

Jahrome Hughes, who is backing up from the All Stars game, will come off the interchange and is the other man in the frame for the No.1 jersey.

Captain Cameron Smith, star pivot Cameron Munster, winger Josh Addo-Carr and prop Jesse Bromwich won't play.

Brandon Smith has been named at hooker in the older Smith's absence.

Former Raiders winger Sandor Earl will finally play for the Storm after an ACL injury wiped out his maiden season at the club last year.

Warriors: Adam Keighran, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Hayze Perham are all named as they battle to partner Blake Green in the halves come round one.

Green himself will miss this game with a hamstring issue, though, giving the trio extended time on the park to impress coach Stephen Kearney.

The Warriors' squad is somewhat light on NRL experience overall.

Centre Blake Ayshford, forwards Bunty Afoa, Sam Lisone, Ligi Sao and Chris Satae and bench gun Jazz Tevaga are the biggest names.

Nate Roache, who won the New Zealand club's Rookie of the Year Award in 2016, returns after injury prevented him from making a single NRL appearance last season.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS V NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Saturday, February 23,4pm AEDT at WIN Stadium

POINTS OF INTEREST

Dragons: As controversy rages about whether he should be allowed to play this season because of the rape allegations levelled against him, Jack de Belin has been ruled out of this weekend's trial with an upper respiratory tract infection.

Corey Norman will don the Red V for the first time and is expected to play in the halves alongside Ben Hunt and also spend some time at fullback.

Gareth Widdop makes his return from shoulder surgery and, like Norman, is tipped to alternate between five-eighth and fullback.

Tyson Frizell, James Graham (workload management) and Jonus Pearson (personal reasons) won't feature in the clash.

While Korbin Sims is suspended until round three of this season, the NRL has cleared him to run out with his new teammates versus the Knights.

Prop Paul Vaughan and centre Euan Aitken are back on deck after injuries forced them to miss the Dragons' finals campaign last year.

"2019 is the beginning of something better for the Dragons, and we are approaching the coming season in good shape," said St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor.

"We have a squad of 28 for Saturday, all of whom will get an opportunity to play."

Knights: Newcastle coach Nathan Brown has laid all his cards on the table and picked his strongest side possible.

Kalyn Ponga and Mitchell Pearce will kick off their tenure as a halves alliance against the Dragons.

David Klemmer, Jesse Ramien, Edrick Lee, Kurt Mann, Mason Lino and James Gavet will all make their Knights debuts.

Danny Levi is expected to start at hooker, with Mann to come off the bench.

Connor Watson will receive his first chance to impress at fullback.

Ex-Rabbitohs back Hymel Hunt was not available for selection due to a hamstring injury.

CANBERRA RAIDERS V CANTERBURY BULLDOGS

Saturday, February 23, 5pm AEDT at Bega Recreation Ground

POINTS OF INTEREST

Raiders: After pipping the Parramatta Eels with a second-string outfit last Friday, Canberra have named their best available side to face the Bulldogs in Bega.

Co-captain Jarrod Croker returns from the serious knee injury that curtailed his 2018.

Josh Hodgson, Aidan Sezer, Nick Cotric, Elliott Whitehead, Joe Tapine and Josh Papalii will also have their first competitive hit-outs of the year.

Jordan Rapana, Joey Leilua and Luke Bateman are the only top graders that won't take part due to injury.

The focus will be on the comeback of Jack Wighton, who was suspended for the final 10 matches of last season after pleading guilty to assault.

Wighton has been Canberra's regular fullback in recent seasons but will begin his transition into a five-eighth.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad seems to be the frontrunner to fill the vacancy at fullback, with incumbent custodian Brad Abbey left out of the squad.

"We will be looking to give our main squad around 60 minutes and we will be looking to field our strongest team while we’re down there," said Raiders coach Ricky Stuart.

Bulldogs: It's been an incredibly difficult off-season for Dylan Napa with his sex tapes scandal, but the prop finally gets the chance to play some footy.

Canterbury's star recruit will join Nick Meaney, Jesse Sue, Corey Harawira-Naera and Christian Crichton in making his club debut.

Five-eighth Kieran Foran has overcome a slight hamstring strain and will take his place for the Bulldogs.

Second-rowers Adam Elliott and Chris Smith will back up from the All Stars match last weekend.

GOLD COAST TITANS V NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS

Saturday, February 23, 6pm AEDT at Sunshine Coast Stadium

POINTS OF INTEREST

Titans: Reportedly fitter than ever and in a good headspace, Bryce Cartwright will start in the second-row as he begins his path to redemption following a horror 2018 season.

Cartwright was used at lock, five-eighth and as a bench utility last year but is expected to be used on the edge going forward.

Star recruit Tyrone Peachey won't play following the All Stars game last Saturday.

After a season away from the club, halfback Tyrone Roberts – who was man of the match in the Indigenous All Stars' win – has been anointed captain of a mostly inexperienced trial squad.

Former Manly back Brian Kelly will line up in the centres.

First grade wing pairing Anthony Don and Phillip Sami take their regular places on the flanks.

Watch out for Jesse Arthars at fullback – the speedy ex-South Sydney youngster can sniff out a try and is on the cusp of an NRL debut.

Cowboys: Recent recruit Jordan Kahu won't be thrust into the action for North Queensland on Saturday.

Halfback Michael Morgan has not been included, leaving Te Maire Martin to combine with youngster Jake Clifford in the halves.

Martin is predicted to get the nod for round one.

Although off-season addition Josh McGuire isn't playing, the Cowboys' forward pack for this match is still damaging.

Big men Jason Taumalolo, Matt Scott and Ethan Lowe will feature for North Queensland, while hooker Jake Granville will also blow out the cobwebs.

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SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS V PENRITH PANTHERS

Saturday, 23 February, 6pm AEDT at Redfern Oval

John Sutton testimonial match

Rabbitohs: John Sutton will captain South Sydney in the testimonial match in his honour.

The Rabbitohs will bring out the big guns for the special occasion, with Cody Walker, Damien Cook, Sam Burgess, Thomas Burgess, Cameron Murray and Dane Gagai to lace the boots.

Alex Johnston has been picked at fullback, a strong sign that coach Wayne Bennett is leaning towards choosing the flyer to keep the No.1 jumper warm for the injured Greg Inglis in the early rounds of the season.

Sam Burgess shifts from the middle into the second-row, allowing Murray to hammer down the lock position. It is expected this will be a permanent move.

After making his club debut in Souths' 52-10 victory against the Riverina All Stars last weekend, hyped rookie Corey Allan will line up on the wing.

Panthers: James Maloney has been named to start in his first real test since off-season neck surgery.

Maloney will defend on the right-hand edge, a change from last year designed to strengthen the Panthers' wall.

He is partnered in the halves by exciting youngster Jarome Luai.

NSW playmaker Nathan Cleary is still recovering from an ankle operation but will push for selection in Penrith's final trial next weekend against Parramatta.

Dylan Edwards appears certain to begin the season at fullback, named in the No.1 jersey to take on Souths in his return from a shoulder problem that prematurely ended his 2018 campaign.

His main competitor for the role, New Zealand captain Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, remains on the sidelines recovering from a knee issue.

Key prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard is fit and raring to go following the broken jaw he suffered prior to Christmas.

Former Dragons forward Hame Sele makes his Panthers club debut at lock.

Liam Coleman is included on Penrith's bench despite the fact he is fighting sexual assault charges.

CRONULLA SHARKS V MANLY SEA EAGLES

Saturday, February 23, 7:30pm AEDT at Shark Park

POINTS OF INTEREST

Sharks: Most of Cronulla's top-line weaponry is being rested but a number of youngsters have golden opportunities to make a case for NRL berths.

Twenty-year-old Kyle Flanagan is named as Chad Townsend's halves partner, while Blayke Brailey – the brother of Jayden – will wear the No.9 and likely play long minutes given no other specialist hooker is in the squad.

Boom teenager Bronson Xerri has been chosen at centre, and an impressive showing could force coach John Morris to find room for the highly-rated Aquinas Colts junior in his round one team.

Fans have to wait at least another week to see Shaun Johnson in the black, white and blue jumper, but fellow recruit Josh Morris will be on display against Manly.

Premiership-winning winger Sosaia Feki is included in the run-on team. Scott Sorensen has a shot to show why he should replace the retired Luke Lewis in the second-row.

Sea Eagles: Squad not yet named

BRISBANE BRONCOS V WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS

Saturday, February 23, 8pm AEDT at Kougari Oval, Wynnum

POINTS OF INTEREST

Broncos: Jack Bird will end a 287-day playing exile when he runs out for Brisbane against Queensland Cup team Wynnum Manly. 

Bird's maiden season for the Broncos last year was marred by a sternum injury, restricting him to just eight lacklustre games.

The former Shark is set to permanently play left centre this season and will line up there on Saturday.

Ex-Cowboys forward Shaun Fensom will make his club debut for Brisbane in the front-row.

Wrecking ball Tevita Pangai Junior has been selected at lock, confirming new coach Anthony Seibold plans to use him in the middle rather than on an edge.

David Fifita will start in the back-row, fresh off his impressive performance for the Indigenous All Stars.

Prop Payne Haas was culled from the side after being stood down by the Broncos for failing to comply with an NRL integrity unit investigation.