Former NSW State of Origin halfback Trent Hodkinson will lead a strong Newcastle Knights side that will be sent to Murwillumbah for Saturday’s first pre-season trial of 2017 against Tweed Heads Seagulls.
Hodkinson has had a modified training schedule for the pre-season because of injury and was overlooked for the Auckland Nines, but this will be a bonanza for Tweed and northern NSW footy fans.
Alongside him will be experienced NRL and English Super League campaigner Micky Paea, 61-game NRL prop Sam Matroa and the brilliant young halves prospect set to fill the shoes of Jarrod Mullen, Jack Cogger.
Cogger, the 19-year-old son of former Western Suburbs NRL appearance record holder Trevor Cogger, debuted last season for the Knights, playing six NRL games. He was also the NSW under-20s halfback and is a former SG Ball competition player of the year.
Several NYC players have been sprinkled in with experienced campaigners and good young talent that was blooded by the Knights in the NRL last season like 21-year-old forward Josh King and 21-year-old fullback Dylan Phythian (2 NRL games in 2016) and one of the Mata’utia brothers, Chanel.
Chanel, a powerful centre or winger who made his NRL debut in 2014, began last season in the Knights’ top side but injured his ankle badly in round one and did not play again. He is the second oldest of the siblings that includes NRL performers Peter, Pat, Sione and Chanel.
The strong Seagulls side, that will be confirmed tomorrow after coach Aaron Zimmerle checks some minor injuries, will have a tough task especially with the crafty 28-year-old Hodkinson, who played all six Origin games for NSW in 2015-16, and Cogger calling the shots.
The match will kick-off at Stan Sercombe Oval at 5pm NSW time, entry is $10 for adults. A supporters bus is running from Seagulls leagues club at 3.30pm, which costs $15 including match entry. Call (07) 5587 9066.
The Knights squad is:
- Dylan Phythian
- Kainoa Gudgeon
- Heath Gibbs
- Tom Hughes
- Chanel Mata’utia
- Jack Cogger
- Trent Hodkinson (c)
- Sam Mataora
- Tom Starling
- Josh King
- Braden Robson
- Zac Hosking
- Faitatoa Faitatoa
- Will Pearsall
- Mickey Paea
- Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
- Tyrone Amey
- Jake Finn
- Henry Penn
- Dean Kouka-Smith
- Jake McNamara
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