Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\nAll eyes on the Bulldogs: 2026 Preview | 05:09<\/p>\n
Despite key signing Leo Thompson being absent from the clash this Saturday, the opening trial match will provide a great opportunity to Alekolasimi Jones, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Fletcher Baker, Lipoi Hopoi and Samuel Hughes to make their case to attend Vegas.<\/p>\n
Hughes and Suluka-Fifita appeared multiple times for the Bulldogs throughout last year\u2019s campaign and will look to cement a spot on the interchange bench come Round 1, while Baker arrives from a Broncos stint that didn\u2019t work out and will be eager to make an immediate impact.<\/p>\n
Fresh off winning the QLD Cup premiership, Baker has registered 60 matches since his debut in 2021 and has signed a development contract which will make the towering 194cm forward available for selection from the opening match of the season.<\/p>\n
COWBOYS<\/p>\n
A big halves question… and what it could mean for the rest of the team<\/p>\n
The Cowboys were one of the biggest disappointments in 2025, and there\u2019s plenty of pressure on them to perform this season. Only the Titans conceded more points than them last year, but the focus will be on who plays in the halves.<\/p>\n
Representative star Tom Dearden has one starting spot locked up, with coach Todd Payten having to choose between Jake Clifford and Jaxon Purdue.<\/p>\n
Jaxon Purdue and Jake Clifford are the contenders to partner Tom Dearden in the halves. Picture: Evan MorganSource: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n
Purdue has been electric at left centre but struggled to make an impact at five-eighth, with the youngster a free agent who will attract plenty of interest from rivals. <\/p>\n
A local product who came through the ranks playing in the halves, Purdue possesses the ball skills to shine in the position and sees things on the field that other people can\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Clifford played 14 matches in the halves last season and rejected interest from the Super League to remain in Townsville to hopefully cement a spot alongside Dearden in the starting team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a feeling Tom Dearden will be somewhere there, but who partners him, I\u2019m not too sure,\u201d club legend Michael Morgan said last week.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously \u2018Cliffo\u2019 did a great job last year when he was in the side, and Jaxon Purdue has big raps on him, but he\u2019s also done a great job in the centres for the club.\u201d<\/p>\n
North Queensland Cowboys player Liam Sutton during pre-season training in Townsville. Picture: North Queensland Cowboys \/ Alix Sweeney.Source: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n
If Todd Payten decides to choose Clifford in the halves for Round 1, Purdue will find himself back in the centres creating a four-way battle between Liam Sutton, Tom Chester, Viliami Vailea and Zac Laybutt for the right centre spot. <\/p>\n
While Vailea has been rested for this week and Chester will be absent due to injury, Laybutt and Sutton will both take the field and will look to impress against the Bulldogs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been very impressed as have the players and the rest of the coaching staff. He\u2019s a big athletic half, good kicking game, strong running game and great catch-and-pass skill set,\u201d Payten said on Sutton.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll start in the centres then go in the halves towards the second half.\u201d<\/p>\n
DRAGONS<\/p>\n
The \u2018surprise packet\u2019 to watch in three-way backline shootout<\/p>\n
While the bulk of the focus has been on new recruit Daniel Atkinson adding an attacking spark, the Dragons could spring some shocks on the wings with emerging talents Setu Tu and David Fale in the mix to earn starting spots. <\/p>\n
Fale got a crack for Penrith last year when they rested most of their stars and has impressed coach Shane Flanagan in his first pre-season with the club. <\/p>\n
More experienced than Fale, Tu arrives after winning the State Championship and NSW Cup title with the Warriors and has spent time in various NRL systems including the New Zealand side where he was previously on a Top 30 contract and the Dolphins.<\/p>\n
It will be interesting to see who starts on Saturday against the Knights, with Flanagan telling his players that they\u2019ll get picked if they \u201ctrain well, trial well, play well\u201d.<\/p>\n
Are Flanagan & Atkinson the answer? | 06:28<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are 22 player seats on the plane, and everyone wants to be on that,\u201d Flanagan said during the club\u2019s mini camp on the Central Coast last week.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one wants to get injured in the trials because they want to go to Vegas, but we\u2019ve got to do the hard work, so it\u2019s tricky with the way that we approach it, and we\u2019ve got to keep our fingers crossed a little bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really excited about it. They\u2019ve trained really well up to date, and bar Jacob Liddle (hamstring) there aren\u2019t many boys in rehab which is a good sign.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dragons recruit David Fale from the Panthers. Credit: SuppliedSource: Supplied Source Known<\/p>\n
Christian Tuipulotu is also in the mix to play on the wing for Round 1 and has been named to start for their first trial match against the Knights alongside Tu.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Fale has been shifted into the centres with Mathew Feagai, in what could be hint to what Flanagan is planning for their opening round clash against the Bulldogs in Vegas.<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid Fale… he\u2019s a surprise packet for us. He\u2019s had a really good off-season, put on a lot of muscle mass and hasn\u2019t missed a beat at training,\u201d Flanagan said on SEN Radio.<\/p>\n
\u201c(He\u2019s) trained every training session so I\u2019m so excited to see him play and Setu Tu is the other young outside back. (He\u2019s a) different type of player.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I was trying to categorise him, I\u2019d put him in the Sione Katoa type of winger. (He) bounces around, really gives the side heaps of energy.\u201d<\/p>\n
KNIGHTS<\/p>\n
Ultimate \u2018conundrum\u2019 on where \u2018electrifying\u2019 breakout talent fits<\/p>\n
New coach Justin Holbrook said last week that he was \u201csick of looking at training vision\u201d and he just wanted the games to start.<\/p>\n
He\u2019ll get his wish this weekend but will be without his international stars as well as the injured brigade headlined by Kalyn Ponga. <\/p>\n
Holbrook is the perfect man to fix the league\u2019s worst attack in 2025 given his influence at the Roosters, and he has a massive decision to make in the halves that could determine the Knights\u2019 success this season.<\/p>\n
Dylan Brown arrives on the richest deal in NRL history ($12m), but three-time premiership winner Luke Keary said last week that he wanted to see the Kiwis star play five-eighth where he does his best work.<\/p>\n
Dylan Brown won\u2019t play in Newcastle\u2019s first trial. Picture: InstagramSource: Instagram<\/p>\n
Keary also wants Sandon Smith to control the team at halfback, with speedster Fletcher Sharpe \u2013 the other man vying for a halves spot \u2013 set to start alongside Smith on Saturday night. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not so much a shootout between Sandon and Sharpy [Fletcher Sharpe] because they can play other positions,\u201d Holbrook said on The Big Sports Breakfast.<\/p>\n
\u201cSandon obviously prefers half but can play hooker and Sharpy is just electrifying no matter where he is playing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve only had five weeks with them so I have moved them around at training and I will play Sharpy and Sandon there in the halves. One of them will partner him [Dylan Brown] and the other will find another position. I do need the next two trials to work that out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m okay with it because they\u2019re both great players and they\u2019re going to be there somewhere. It will work itself out, our best combinations will come out over the next couple of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Man who MUST partner $11m Dylan Brown | 06:12<\/p>\n
Originally progressing through the club\u2019s ranks as a fullback, Sharpe found himself making the transition into the halves last season \ufeffand was earmarked to partner Brown before the arrival of Sandon Smith from the Sydney Roosters.<\/p>\n
While there was talk that Smith was signed to play dummy-half, he has made it clear that he wants to play in the No.7 jersey, a position he excelled in when given the chance. This was evident by winning Player of the Match in last year\u2019s ANZAC Day clash against the Dragons.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the obvious choice. He deserves to get his shot starting at seven,\u201d Smith\u2019s ex-teammate Chad Townsend said on SEN Radio.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe conundrum is around where someone like Fletcher Sharpe plays. We know that Kalyn Ponga will start at fullback and then Dylan Brown will wear the six jersey. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s either Fletcher Sharpe or Sandon Smith at seven and do I think Sharpe is a seven? No I don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
HOW TO WATCH THE PRE-SEASON CHALLENGE<\/p>\n
With so many positional battles to look forward to ahead of Round 1, the pre-season challenge will be a big chance for your club\u2019s emerging stars to put on a show.<\/p>\n
You can watch all the 2026 pre-season challenge matches live and ad-break free during play on Kayo Sports and Fox League<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Australian Open has finished and the English cricketers are long gone, which means we\u2019re just weeks away…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":462660,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[43,44,85,41,39,42,40],"class_list":{"0":"post-462659","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-headlines","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-sports","11":"tag-top-news","12":"tag-top-stories","13":"tag-topnews","14":"tag-topstories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/462659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=462659"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/462659\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/462660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=462659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=462659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=462659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n