Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles will field a team full of experienced players and some exciting youngsters in their final trial in Gosford on Saturday night.
The Sea Eagles tackle the Wyong Roos at Central Coast Stadium in what will be their third pre-season Intrust Super Premiership trial game following two hit outs against Newtown Jets, resulting in a win and a draw.
Heading the list of players who have played NRL are Brad Parker, Jonathan Wright, Jackson Hastings, Joey Lussick, Lloyd Perrett, Toafofoa Sipley, and Lewis Brown. All played in Manly’s NRL trial match against the Cronulla Sharks last Saturday.
Parker had a solid game on the wing, scoring two tries, and gets his chance in this trial to impress in his preferred centre position, a position that is up for grabs in the NRL side with Dylan Walker missing for the first few weeks of the Telstra Premiership.
Hastings (pictured) returns to the half-back position after playing five-eighth in the trial loss to Cronulla. He too will be out to make his last claim for the NRL five-eighth position. Lachlan Croker get his first chance there in the NRL trial against the Sydney Roosters.
Perrett and Sipley will also be pressing their claims to try and grab a starting position or spot on the interchange bench in the NRL team following last week’s ankle injury to prop Darcy Lussick.
Brown will be another player out to make an impact after being a regular utility player in Trent Barrett’s NRL side over the past two years. He gets his chance against the Wyong Roos in the second-row.
For the talented Tom Wright, a star of the U20s last season, and the towering frame of forward Taniela Paseka, the trial is another chance for them to play against hardened men after stepping up from the Holden Cup.
Although named at five-eighth, Wright could also force his hand for a centre position as Barrett has stated his future could well line there.
Former Parramatta Eels player John Folau, the brother of Australian rugby player Israel Folau, has joined the Blacktown Workers in an attempt to build on his eight games in the NRL.
The Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles are again coached by Steven Hales, who did a fine job at the back end of the season after taking over midway through 2017.
Intrust Super Premiership trial
Central Coast Stadium. Kick-off 4.15pm
Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles team
1 Honeti Tuha, 2 Peter Schuster, 3 Brad Parker, 4 John Folau, 17 Jonathan Wright, 6 Tom Wright, 7 Jackson Hastings, 8 Lloyd Perrett, 9 Joey Lussick, 10 Toafofoa Sipley, 19 Cody Nelson, 12 Lewis Brown, 21 Taniela Paseka.
Interchange: Vai Toutai (jersey number not provided), 14 Tyler Cassel, 15 Fred Junior Mauala, 20 Jacob Loko, 22 Joey Tramontano, 24 Tekina Vailea
