Former Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors forward Matty Nicholson is in line to make his NRL debut this weekend. Canberra Raiders take on Brisbane Broncos in their first home game of the season on Saturday and Nicolson features on Ricky Stuart’s team list.
The back-rower has been named on the bench for the Raiders and he’ll be keen to make an impact for the club in what will be his first competitive appearance Down Under. Morgan Smithies features in the starting line-up as expected as he begins his second season in Australia, while Wakefield Trinity’s 2026 recruit Tyson Smoothy is included as one of the Broncos’ reserves.
Nicholson made the move to the Raiders at the end of the 2024 Super League season after making his name with Warrington Wolves and catching the eye in primrose and blue. He made 50 appearances for the Wolves in his three seasons at the Halliwell Jones Stadium with 17 tries coming along the way.
He touched down for 10 of those last season, with the second-rower underlining himself as one of the best young back-rowers the game in the Northern Hemisphere had to offer. His switch to Canberra was announced in July, with Nicholson penning a three-year deal with the club, starting in the off-season.
“It’s been really good – it’s been a nice, easy transition to be fair,” Nicholson said in December in his first interview down under.
“It seems a really nice place to live – nice and quiet – and I’m really enjoying it so far.
“I just want to take it day-by-day. I’ve only been here three days but I want to keep working on my game every day and hopefully come Round One, I’ve got a chance of getting in that starting 17.
“When I was negotiating, they knew Elliott (Whitehead) was going so there’s an opportunity there for me and it’s one I’ve got to take.”
Canberra thumped New Zealand Warriors in their opening game of the NRL season in Las Vegas and they’ll be looking to build on that as they look to better last season’s finish of ninth. They’ll have their work cut out this week, though, with the Broncos coming into the contest on the back of a 50-14 win over Sydney Roosters.
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