World Cup stars set for debuts after signing for new clubs

Plenty of World Cup stars had uncertain futures culminating in links to Super League.

Two of those were Ireland and Canterbury Bulldogs’ Josh Cook a superb number nine and Italy and Melbourne Storm halfback Daniel Atkinson.

After signing for St George Illawarra Dragons and Cronulla Sharks respectively they are set to debut in trial matches this weekend with Cook taking on Super League Champions St Helens.

Meanwhile, another top World Cup star who had an uncertain future Brandon Wakeham will debut against New Zealand Warriors for Wests Tigers.

Here’s a round up of the team news from down under:

New Zealand Warriors vs Wests Tigers

Super League target over the winter and former Catalans Dragons centre Brayden Williame starts for the Warriors whilst another Super League target and former Canterbury Bulldohs halfback Brandon Wakeham starts for the Tigers after a top World Cup. John Bateman of course doesn’t feature as he remains in England.

Warriors team: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Marcelo Montoya 3. Brayden Wiliame 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Edward Kosi 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Te Maire Martin 8. Bunty Afoa 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Tom Ale 11. Jackson Ford 12. Demitric Sifakula 13. Michael Sio 14. Maiu’u Zyon 15. Sanele Aukusitino 16. Ali Leiataua 17. Jacob Laban 18. Moala Graham-Taufa 20. Kalani Going 21. Eiden Ackland 22. Ben Farr 23. Isaiah Vagana 24. Solomon Vasuvulagi 25. Paul Roache

Tigers team: 1. Charlie Staines 2. Junior Tupou 3. Asu Kepaoa 4. Tommy Talau 5. Liam Scolari 6. Triston Reilly 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Aistasi James 11. Brandon Tumeth 12. Fonua Pole 13. Justin Matamua 14. Jahream Bula 15. Jordan Hill 16. Trey Peni 17. Josh Feledy 18. Christopher Faagutu 19. Sione Vaihu 20. Zane Camroux 21. Sione Fainu 22. Rua Ngatikaura 23. Alex Seyfarth 24. Tanous Sukkar

Newcastle Knights vs Cronulla Sharks:

There is a huge opportunity for former Castleford Tigers youngster Bailey Hodgson who starts at fullback for Newcastle Knights. Jackson Hastings makes his debut as the former Wigan Warriors and Salford Red Devils man starts at seven there is no Dom Young.

Knights team: 1. Bailey Hodgson 2. Hymel Hunt 3. Krystian Mapapalangi 4. Dylan Lucas 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Jacob Saifiti 11. Brodie Jones 12. Jack Johns 13. Kurt Mann 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. John Toleafoa 16. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 17. David Hollis 18. Adam Clune 19. Ben Talty 20. Thomas Cant 21. David Armstrong 22. Toni Tupouniua 23. Riley Jones 24. Ryan Rivett 25. Chris Vea-ila 26. Luke Pietzner

Sharks team: 1. Daniel Atkinson 2. Thomas Rodwell 3. Mawene Hiroti 4. Kayal Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet 6. Wade Graham 7. Niwhai Puru 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Jayden Berrell 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Teig Wilton 12. Jesse Colquhoun 13. Jack Williams 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Joshua Finau 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Max Bradbury 18. Lachlan Crouch 19. Henry O’Kane 20. Samuel Healey 21. Jacob Gagan 22. Blake Hosking 23. Max Riolo 24. Manaia Waitere

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles

Potential Super League target Tom Burgess who has been tipped by Zero Tackle to join Leeds Rhinos is absent as he recovers from the World Cup.

Rabbitohs team: 1. Blake Taaffe 2. Richard Kennar 3. Josiah Karapani 4. Jacob Gagai 5. Leon Te Hau 6. Dion Teaupa 7. Jarrett Subloo 8. Hame Sele 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Davvy Moale 11. Michael Chee Kam 12. Jacob Host 13. Tallis Duncan 14. Terrell Kalo Kalo 15. Ethan O’Neill 16. Ben Lovett 17. Louis Grossemy 18. Romano Cook 19. Jaxson Rahme 20. Tom Carr 21. Shannon Gardiner 22. Leonard Skelton 23. Hugo Patterson 24. Brock Gray

Sea Eagles team: 1. Jake Toby 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Jackson Ferris 4. Fletcher Myers 5. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 6. Cooper Johns 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 10. Ben Condon 11. Ben Trbojevic 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Ethan Bullemor 14. Harradyn Wilson 15. Zac Fulton 16. Cameron Brown 17. Viliami Fifita 18. Jacob Sykes 19. Charlie Thompson 20. Joshua Stuckey 21. Dean Matterson 22. James Uesele 23. Joey Tramontana

Penrith Panthers vs Parramatta Eels

The Penrith Panthers give a debut to former Huddersfield Giants halfback Jack Cogger. They’re preparing for the World Club Challenge.

Former Hull KR hooker Josh Hodgson is ready to feature for his new club the Parramatta Eels after an injury hit 2022.

Panthers team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Jesse Mclean 3. Sunia Turuva 4. Thomas Jenkins 5. Daeon Amituanai 6. Kurt Falls 7. Jack Cogger 8. Lindsay Smith 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Liam Henry 11. Jaeman Salmon 12. Zac Hosking 13. Matt Eisenhuth 14. Connor Mason 15. Ativalu Lisati 16. Mavrik Geyer 17. Harrison Hassett 18. John Faiumu 19. Hanna El-Nachar 20. Sunita Lotoaniu 21. Liam Ison 22. Jake Tago 23. Logan Cohen 24. Ryley Smith 25. Trent Toelau 26. Cody Lawson 27. Luke Phillip 28. Atonio Pelesasa

Eels team: 1. Sean Russell 2. Matthew Komolafe 3. Samuel Loizou 4. Zac Cini 5. Isaac Lumelume 6. Jordan Rankin 7. Jakob Arthur 8. Ofahiki Ogden 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Ky Rodwell 11. Shaun Lane 12. Jirah Momoisea 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Matt Doorey 15. Mitch Rein 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Toni Mataele 19. Jayden Yates 20. Dan Keir 21. Luca Moretti 22. Tevita Taumoepenu 23. Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa 24. Daejarn Asi 25. Haze Dunster 26. Jack Murchie 27. Brendan Hands 28. Junior Paulo

St George Illawarra Dragons vs St Helens

St Helens have named their strongest possible squad for this game as they prepare for the World Club Challenge against Penrith.

After missing his own testimonial, Mark Percival will feature.

Dragons team: 1. Treigh Stewart 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Connor Muhleisen 7. Moses Mbye 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Ben Murdoch-Masila 12. Billy Burns 13. Jaiyden Hunt 14. Tautau Moga 15. Max Feagai 16. Michael Molo 17. Joshua Coric 18. Nick Lui-Toso 19. Dan Russell 20. Haele Finau 21. Sione Finau 22. Alexander Lobb 23. Savelio Tamale 24. Jackson Shereb 25. Joshua Cook 26. Toby Couchman 27. Zach Herring 28. Dylan Egan

St Helens team: 1. Jack Welsby 2. Tommy Makinson 3. Will Hopoate 4. Mark Percival 5. Jonathan Bennison 6. Jonny Lomax 7. Lewis Dodd 8. Alex Walmsley 9. James Roby 10. Matty Lees 11. Sione Mata’utia 12. Joe Batchelor 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Joey Lussick 15. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook 16. Curtis Sironen 17. Agnatius Paasi 18. Jake Wingfield 19. James Bell 20. Daniel Norman 21. Ben Davies 22. Sam Royle 23. Konrad Hurrell 24. Lewis Baxter 25. Theerapol Ritson 26. Daniel Hill

Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters

As Melbourne rest plenty of key men, Sydney are going all out and have new signing Brandon Smith at nine as well as their strongest halfback pairing including the son of former Leeds man Ben Walker, Sam Walker, at seven. England star Victor Radley starts at 13.

Storm team: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. Will Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Dean Ieremia 6. Tyran Wishart 7. Jonah Pezet 8. Aaron Pene 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Christian Welch 11. Joe Chan 12. Chris Lewis 13. Josh King 14. Ammaron Gudgeon 15. Young Tonumaipea 16. Jordan Grant 17. Eliesa Katoa 18. Jayden Nikorima 19. Keagan Russell-Smith 20. Cole Geyer 21. Grant Anderson 22. Angus Hinchey 23. Lazarus Vaalepu 24. Kane Bradley 25. Charlie Murray 26. Joshua Patston 27. Scott Galeano 28. Max Lehmann

Roosters team: 1. Ethan King 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph Suaali’i 4. Junior Pauga 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Egan Butcher 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Jake Turpin 17. Terrell May 18. Naufahu Whyte 19. Ben Thomas 20. William Fakatoumafi 21. Thomas Deakin 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha 23. Xavier Va’a 24. Tyler Moriarty 25. Vuate Karawalevu 26. Sandon Smith 27. Elie El-Zakhem 28. Tui Katoa

Canberra Raiders vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

There is a debut for former Huddersfield Giants hooker Danny Levi at nine for the Canberra Raiders. England international Elliot Whitehead doesn’t feature.

Nor does Luke Thompson for the Bulldogs. Josh Reynolds does feature. The former Hull FC halfback was recently awarded a place in the Bulldogs’ top 30.

Raiders team: 1. Xavier Savage 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Brad Morkos 5. Elijah Anderson 6. Matt Frawley 7. Brad Schneider 8. Ata Mariota 9. Danny Levi 10. Emre Guler 11. Clay Webb 12. Trey Mooney 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Zac Woolford 15. Pasami Saulo 16. Jordan Martin 17. James Schiller 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Jed Stuart 20. Joshua Allen 21. Michael Asomua 22. Peter Hola 23. Ethan Strange 24. Loghan Lewis 25. Mitchell Spencer 26, Joshua James 27. Lachlan Lewis 28. Rayden Burns

Bulldogs team: 1. Braidon Burns 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 21. Jayden Okunbor 6. Josh Reynolds 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Luke Thompson 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Max King 11. Jacob Preston 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Ryan Sutton 14. Fa’amanu Brown 15. Chris Patolo 16. Andrew Davey 17. Corey Waddell 19. Jeral Skelton 20. Jackson Topine 22. Bailey Hayward 23. Harrison Edwards 24. Khaled Rajab 25. Jayden Tanner 26. Kurtis Morrin 27. Blake Wilson 28. Joash Papalii 29. Ryan Gray 30. Franklin Pele

North Queensland Cowboys vs Dolphins

In a bit of a surprise former Super League star Oliver Gildart has been named on the wing for new club The Dolphins as they take on the Cowboys.

Cowboys team: 1. Tomas Chester 2. Laitia Moceidreke 3. Gehamat Shibasaki 4. Brendan Elliot 5. Robert Derby 6. Ben Hampton 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Taniela Sadrugu 9. Kyle Schneider 10. James Tamou 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Riley Price 14. Mia Pua’avase 15. Sylvester Namo 16. Emarly Bitugane 17. Julian Christian 18. Jordan Lipp 19. Zac Laybutt 20. Adam Cook 21. Jake Bourke

Dolphins team: 1. Jamayne Isaako 2. Jack Bostock 3. Tesi Niu 4. Euan Aitken 5. Oliver Gildart 6. Anthony Milford 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Harrison Graham 10. Herman Ese’ese 11. Jeremiah Simbiken 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Ray Stone 14. Brayden McGrady 15. Valynce Te Whare 16. Tyler Szepanowski 17. Lachlan Hubner 18. Judah Rimbu 19. Rodrick Tai 20. Sherwin Tanabi 21. Kurt Donoghoe 22. Brenton Baira 23. Mason Teague 24. Poasa Faamausili

Brisbane Broncos vs Gold Coast Titans

There is no new position for want to be fullback Herbie Farnworth. The England star starts at centre with Reece Walsh at fullback for the Broncos.

Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jordan Pereira 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Jack Ahearn 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Shalom O’Ofou 12. Brendan Frei 13. Corey Jensen 14. Billy Walters 15. Logan Bayliss-Brow 16. Martin Taupau 17. Benjamin Te Kura 18. Ethan Quai-Ward 19. Tyson Smoothy 20. Tristan Sailor 21. Joshua Rogers 22. Jamen Johnson

Titans team: 1. Jayden Campbell 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Phillip Sami 5. Sosefo Fifita 6. Toby Sexton 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Jaimin Jolliffe 9. Chris Randall 10. Joe Stimson 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Erin Clark 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 16. Jo Vuna 17. Treymain Spry 18. Thomas Weaver 19. Keano Kini 20. Jaylan De Groot 21. Tony Francis 22. Josiah Pahulu 23. Vaka Sikahele 24. Jacob Alick 25. Ryan Foran 26. Jaron Purcell