The NRL season launched over the weekend with its double header in Las Vegas but games back in Australia begin tomorrow morning and former Wigan Warriors star Morgan Smithies looks set to feature.
Smithies made the bold decision to move from Wigan Warriors to Canberra Raiders ahead of the 2024 season, becoming the latest in a number of Englishman to don the green of Canberra.
Others include current Canberra captain Elliot Whitehead who recently retired from international duty with the veteran set to miss tomorrow’s season opener against Newcastle Knights.
England captain George Williams was another who has represented Canberra as well as former England hooker Josh Hodgson and current Wigan Warriors man Ryan Hampshire.
It made sense in a way that Smithie’s destination was Canberra and the loose forward has now been named in the starting squad by Ricky Stuart to kick off the Raiders’ NRL season.
Morgan Smithies could well be benefiting from the three to four-week injury that Whitehead has suffered with the ex-Wigan man named at loose forward where the skipper would normally play.
It also should be noted that Smithies may well have beaten the veteran out regardless with reports down under suggesting that Smithies has fit in while, whilst one of his teammates said the same to The Canberra Times.
Prop Joseph Tapine told The Canberra Times: “I like what I’ve seen with him (Morgan Smithies) too.
“He’s just one of those workhorses that does all the gritty work that probably the the fans might not notice that we do.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what he does.”
Wigan Warriors teammates face off for NRL opener
When he debuts in the early hours of tomorrow morning, Smithies won’t be the only former Wigan Warriors man starring.
Newcastle Knights will be led in the halves by former Man of Steel winner Jackson Hastings with the half-back returning from injury to play.
The Knights had an impressive end to the season in 2023 but Hastings was unavailable for much of it through injury but he returns now to partner Tyson Gamble.
He’s beaten out former Huddersfield Giants man and last year’s Grand Final-winning half-back Jack Cogger who only makes the bench.
Kai Pearce-Paul also is another former Wigan man to make the bench for the Knights with the second-rowers recovering from injury during the pre-season.
Will Pryce doesn’t make the squad though despite flashes in the trial games.
The game is available to watch on Sky Sports Main Event and Arena and kicks off at 9:00am.
Newcastle Knights 17-Man Squad
1 Kalyn Ponga
2 Enari Tuala
3 Dane Gagai
4 Bradman Best
5 Greg Marzhew
6 Tyson Gamble
7 Jackson Hastings
8 Jacob Saifiti
9 Phoenix Crossland
10 Leo Thompson
11 Tyson Frizell
12 Dylan Lucas
13 Adam Elliott
14 Jack Cogger
15 Daniel Saifiti
16 Jack Hetherington
17 Kai Pearce-Paul
Canberra Raiders 17-Man Squad
1 Jordan Rapana
2 Nick Cotric
3 Matthew Timoko
4 Albert Hopoate
5 Xavier Savage
6 Ethan Strange
7 Jamal Fogarty
8 Josh Papalii
9Danny Levi
10 Joseph Tapine
11 Hudson Young
12 Zac Hosking
13 Morgan Smithies
14 Tom Starling
15 Emre Guler
16 Ata Mariota
17 Pasami Saulo
