Two-time Challenge Cup winning winger at the famous Wembley Stadium, Fetuli Talanoa, will head the list of eight new faces in the Ben Campbell Building Group Seagulls side in the first of two full-scale pre-season trial matches leading into this year’s Intrust Super Cup competition.
The 32-year-old former Hull FC and South Sydney flyer, who twice won the prestigious British silverware in 2016 and ’17, will take his place at the end of the backline in Ben Woolf’s blend of old and new that takes on Souths Logan Magpies at Tugun Seahawks’ Boyd St Reserve this Saturday (kick-off 3.30pm).
The clash will be preceded by the Auswide Mal Meninga Cup (under-18s) clash at 12.30pm and Hastings Deering Colts (under-20s) at 2pm.
Prop John Palavi will again lead a strong line-up that includes members of last year’s semi-finalists Lindon McGrady, Rowland Jacobs, Luke Jurd, Lee Turner, Kody Parsons, Lamar Liolevave, Brent Woolf and Rory Lillis. However, there is a component of new blood too.
Blake Goodman, a former a CQ Capras halfback who played for Norths Sydney last year in NSW’s Canterbury Cup, will partner Jurd in the halves. Coming off the bench will be middle forwards Jesse Cronin, who played under-20s with Parramatta last year, and Jamie Hill, a middle forward from the Capras who (with Goodman) has been a consistent Intrust Super Cup performer for the past two seasons.
Other newcomers in Saturday’s line-up are Jack Glossop, a former North Queensland Cowboys under-20s captain who played prop for the Blackhawks last season, Fabien Puletua Kiri (Redcliffe Dolphins) and Will Brimson, the 24-year-old older brother of Gold Coast Titans sensation AJ Brimson. Will played in the NYC competition for the Broncos and ISC for Wynnum Manly before spending the two years taking a break from the game.
Jaylon to’o (Colts) and Caleb Hodges (under-18s) are developing young players who performed well in under-age teams last year and have been stepped up to ISC after impressing in the pre-season.
The ISC squad for Saturday’s trial is: Lindon McGrady, Rowland Jacobs, Lee Turner, Kody Parsons, Fetuli Talanoa, Blake Goodman, Luke Jurd, John Palavi (capt), Brent Woolf, Bayley Faull, Lamar Liolevave, Jamie Hill, Liam Hampson. Interchange: Stuart Mason, Jesse Cronin, Jack Glossop, Fabien Puletua Kiri, Will Brimson, Caleb Hodges and Jaylon to’o.
Related Posts
