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Those four clubs are Las Vegas-bound for the season opener on March 1, but of the 104 players listed for the trial matches, 46 have never spent a minute in first grade.
Eighteen players in the Dogs’ 26-man squad have never played in the NRL, while a further two have played just one game.
The clubs have made clear their focus is on winning the NRL premiership in October – not a two-week pre-season tournament in summer that appeases broadcaster Fox Sports and carries a $100,000 purse for the winner.
Well-placed sources with knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed the February calendar would be on the agenda when it came time to negotiate the next broadcast deal, which will come into effect for the start of the 2028 season.
The same sources confirmed there had already been a conversation about putting up a “significant reward” for the winner of a revamped pre-season competition.
Several club officials suggested training had increased to such an intense level in recent years that there was no longer a need for two trial matches. Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has previously maintained trials are not needed at all.
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The fixtures over the next two weekends, which will double as the first official hit-out for the rest of the NRL competition, will mainly involve fringe players and those pushing to win contracts.
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, however, was happy to play two games, pointing out that the first tune-up doubled as a reward for some of the younger players who had trained all summer with the first-grade squad.
“You have a squad of 36 players now,” Flanagan said. “If you only have one trial, a lot of those boys won’t get an opportunity.
“For a lot of our boys who will play on Saturday, they can’t wait. It’s a first-grade trial in their eyes, and they get to play against some good players with Newcastle, including Tyson Frizell. It gives others an opportunity.”
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