2019 Trials

Discussion on anything to do with Melbourne Storm - games, players, rumours - anything!
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yourhero
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https://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news/ ... ors-trial/

Squad announced for Warriors trial
melbournestorm.com.au
Tue 19 Feb 2019

Melbourne Storm will play its first pre-season trial game under Friday night lights at Geelong's GMHBA Stadium, with seven players from last year's Grand Final side lining up for the clash against the Warriors.

Scott Drinkwater will pull on the number one jersey while Jahrome Hughes - who is also vying for the vacant starting fullback position - has been named on the interchange bench.

Both Hughes and Brandon Smith will be backing up after representing the New Zealand Maori team at last Friday's blockbuster All Stars match.

Sandor Earl will play his first trial for Storm after a number of injury setbacks.

Friday night’s 29-man squad includes five players from Storm’s Intrust Super Cup feeder clubs who will have the opportunity to play in Melbourne colours.

Nicho Hynes, Darryn Schonig and Daniel Dole play for the Sunshine Coast Falcons, while Curtis Dansey-Smaller and Tom Hughes are with Easts Tigers.

Two U20 Thunderbolts players will also enjoy a taste of the top grade, with Matt Stimson and Trent Toelau named on the extended bench.

All seven young players trained with the first-grade squad during the preseason.


Melbourne Storm v New Zealand Warriors

Friday, 22 February
GMHBA Stadium Geelong

1. Scott Drinkwater
2. Suliasi Vunivalu
3. Marion Seve
4. Curtis Scott
5. Sandor Earl
6. Billy Walters
7. Brodie Croft
8. Christian Welch
9. Brandon Smith
10. Tui Kamikamica
11. Joe Stimson
12. Tom Eisenhuth
13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

14. Jahrome Hughes
15. Ryan Papenhuyzen
16. Justin Olam
17. Cheyse Blair

18. Curtis Dansey-Smaller
19. Tom Hughes
20. Cooper Johns
21. Harry Grant
22. Nicho Hynes
23. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
24. Patrick Kaufusi
25. Kelma Tuilagi
27. Matt Stimson
28. Trent Toelau
29. Darryn Schonig
30. Daniel Dole
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yourhero
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https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2019/02/ ... orm-trial/

Experience and youth for Storm trial
Richard Becht & Photosport.nz
Tue 19 Feb 2019

Vodafone Warriors head coach Stephen Kearney has named 11 players with NRL experience in the 23-man squad for the club’s first 2019 trial against the Melbourne Storm at Kardinia Park in Geelong on Friday night.

Among them are experienced centre Blake Ayshford, new signing Lachlan Burr, 2018 Kiwi rookie Isaiah Papali’i, props Bunty Afoa, Sam Lisone, Ligi Sao and Chris Satae plus 2018 Dally M interchange player of the year Jazz Tevaga.

Named to make his comeback from a long injury lay-off is hooker Nate Roache, who missed the whole of the 2018 season after kaing 20 NRL appearances in 2016 and 2017.

Kearney confirmed today that the 22-year-old former Vodafone Warriors rookie of the year was set to be used for 20 minutes in the trial.

Others with NRL experience are hooker Sam Cook and standoff Api Pewhairangi, the former Ireland international who played for the Vodafone Warriors’ Intrust Super Premiership side in 2015. He switched to rugby union when he played for Irish club Connacht 2015-2016 before returning to league with the London Broncos in 2016-2018.

Also selected are new signing Adam Keighran along with Chanel Tavita-Harris and Hayze Perham who are all competing to join Blake Green in the NRL side’s halves.

The other nine players comprise players in the club’s ISP and Jersey Flegg squads as well as players who have been training with the Vodafone Warriors throughout the offseason and preseason on trial contracts. Among them is 2018 Junior Kiwis hooker Sean Mulaney, who has been signed from North Queensland.


VODAFONE WARRIORS

BUNTY AFOA
TOM ALE
BLAKE AYSHFORD
LACHLAN BURR
SAM COOK
NERIA FOMAI
PATRICK HERBERT
CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA
ADAM KEIGHRAN
SAM LISONE
SEAN MULANEY
ISAIAH PAPALI’I
HAYZE PERHAM
API PEWHAIRANGI
ADAM POMPEY
NATE ROACHE
CHRIS SATAE
BRODY TAMARUA
JAZZ TEVAGA
PAUL TURNER
LIGI SAO
LEWIS SOOSEMEA
COLE WAAKA
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yourhero
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Is there anything to read into the following;

- Drinkwater starting ahead of Hughes?
- Seve starting ahead of Blair and Olam?
- Earl starting ahead of Olam?

- Pat Kaufusi so far down the list?
- No Sam Kasiano at all?

The last two points in particular, does it add weight to rumours of the club looking to offload them?
Mattpoet
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I have no doubt we want to offload Kasiano. He's on big money and will struggle to play fg. Any club would be doing the same.
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yourhero
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Mattpoet wrote: Thu Feb 21, 2019 10:10 am I have no doubt we want to offload Kasiano. He's on big money and will struggle to play fg. Any club would be doing the same.
I would think that we would be footing a ~$400K sized hole in our salary cap for a couple of years if we even manage to offload him...
Scooter
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Christian Welch will be acting captain tomorrow night.
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yourhero
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The Storm website is live streaming the Warriors trial game.

7:50pm AEDT.
Mattpoet
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Can someone please post updates here? I won't be able to watch.
Itzbek the Purple
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6-0 Warriors at 39 mins
Itzbek the Purple
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pretty much the b team on the field
Itzbek the Purple
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Half time warriors 6 storm 0

Brandon at 9
blazza18
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Be nice if a few passes could stick. Every time we've looked dangerous we've dropped the pill. Drinkwater looks sharp as second receiver. Walters made a couple of linebreaks and should have a try assist. A few 1 on 1 misses in the middle of the park but I think we've looked solid defensively for the most part.

Storm have no front jersey sponsor. Which imo isn't a good look for the club.
Itzbek the Purple
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Billy Walters now at 9
Itzbek the Purple
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Earl playing well
Itzbek the Purple
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Cooper Johns now on
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