I have been to Fiji just once back in 2013. It was a beautiful place, full of contrasts. I hope everyone has fun there this week for the trial match.
Last week
If you tuned into last week’s trial match against Canterbury-Bankstown at the Belmore Sports Ground, then you might have been happy with at least a couple of moments from the Storm. It was nice to see the two 2023 rehab boys Dean Ieremia and Ryan Papenhuyzen get over the line for tries. Paps especially looked happy to be out there for the 40 minutes he played.
That Melbourne took a 12–10 half time lead was certainly a surprise, especially on the back of 40% possession and a 79% completion rate. The second half was a bit of a damp squib for the Storm though, held scoreless as the home team ran out 24–12 winners. Can’t say that there were many impressive performances from the players outside the top 30 squad, with the academy and development players definitely a few steps away from NRL level. Thankfully there were no injuries coming out of the game, with the only issue being one-match suspension for Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa.1
But let’s be real a trial match in February at a suburban ground on a Thursday night isn’t exactly something to pay close attention.2 Here’s the highlights though for posterity:3
Can’t say I paid attention to much of the other games played last weekend, including the NRL All Stars match in Townsville. I did see some comments that Jack Howarth should be featuring more in the Storm line-up in 2024, which is something that I can get around.
Instead I was more preoccupied with events at the MCG…
Juniors watch
The Storm U17s had the bye in round 3, meaning that they moved to 11th on the ladder because rugby league still inexplicably provides two points for a bye.
The U19s suffered their first defeat of the SG Ball season losing to the Illawarra Steelers in Wollongong. There was a short report on the club website, and I’m reliably informed that this Saturday afternoon’s match against the Balmain Tigers at the Lilyfield Rectangle will be streamed on NSWRLTV.
Trial Match 2 — Preview
Melbourne Storm vs Newcastle Knights
1:45pm Saturday 24 February 2024 @ Churchill Park
Off to Fiji then for a homecoming for Storm big man Tui Kamikamica. He’s one of a number of additions to the squad for this match, with the starting 13 as named on Tuesday looking very much like a Melbourne Storm 2024 team.
There are a few notable names missing from the 28-man squad this week, with Cameron Munster, Sua Fa’alogo, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Tepai Moeroa and Alec McDonald all not playing.4
Again though, the result of this game is mostly immaterial. Having lost last week, Melbourne are out of the running for the NRL’s pre-season challenge, so I suspect that the coaching staff will be looking again at combinations and just getting the cobwebs out in game conditions ahead of round 1. Having what looks like Melbourne’s optimal back five named to start is interesting, it will certainly provide a good look at what that combination could be for the season ahead.
On the forward front, the pack will need to impress in their battle for starting spots and in the bench rotation. With Josh King now formally part of the front row rotation, that opens up another potential spot for a mobile, ball-playing forward to roam through the middle of the park. Whether that means the much-maligned Trent Loiero, new signing Shawn Blore or one of a number of other options can make the starting side for round 1 will be intriguing. The changes to the NRL’s rules about how development and players outside the top 30 can be used gives the coaching staff plenty to think about.
Hopefully the players that do play this week come through unscathed, and that a solid training block holds the team in good stead ahead of the start of the season.
Looking briefly over at the opposition for this week, Newcastle seems to have named a lot of their 2024 projected starting squad for this match. I would expect that the first half of the game will be played at some intensity before trailing off in the second half.5
I assume he’ll miss a NSW Cup game for the Bears?
Best exemplified by the Getty Images photographer who published only 48 images, seven of which were of Bulldogs players who didn’t play.
Although listening to Michael Ennis, Cooper Cronk and Andrew Voss on commentary this early in the year should come with a health warning.
I’ve seen videos and pictures of everyone so far from Fiji, so I don’t think there’s any injury issues. Aaron Pene and Cole Geyer both played last week but are missing this week too.
So just like every other trial game…