NRL Match Preview: Flanagan names strong squad for opening trial

NRL Match Preview: Pre-Season Challenge v Roosters

Author: Joel Beatton dragons.com.au
Timestamp: Fri 14 Feb 2025, 11:58 AM

Shane Flanagan's Dragons host the Roosters in their opening Pre-Season Challenge fixture of 2025 with a host of stars named in the run-on side.

Each coach approaches the trials differently, but Flanagan has opted to name all of his uninjured regulars for Sunday night's trial at Kogarah.

The Dragons will get a good look at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium less than three weeks out from their season opener against rivals Canterbury.

The squad will be in action in the second leg of a double-header with the Bulldogs and Wests Tigers doing battle at 5:30pm.

Round 2 - Sunday 16th February

Full Time

Dragons

Roosters

Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney

Latest Team Stats

KEY INFO

Buy Tickets
Date Sunday, February 16th
Venue Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
Watch Kayo & Foxtel
4:45PM Box Office Opens (Gate D)
5:15PM Gates Open
5:30PM Bulldogs v Wests Tigers
7:30PM Dragons v Roosters

NRL PRE-SEASON CHALLENGE EXPLAINED

The Witzer Pre-Season Challenge kicked off on February 7th and is set to feature 17 matches across three weeks with the winning team taking home $100,000.

A win nets a team 12 points with a draw resulting in six and a loss zero.

Teams can also earn the following bonus points:

1 point for scoring five or more tries
1 point for making five or more line breaks
1 point for throwing 10 or more offloads

As a result, teams can accrue a maximum of 15 points in a win, nine in a draw, or three in a loss.

Points differential will be used in a tiebreaker should multiple sides finish on the same points tally after two matches.

TEAM NEWS

DRAGONS

Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook will lead the side out for the first time in front of the Kogarah faithful.
Fellow recruit Valentine Holmes partners Moses Suli in the centres whilst Kyle Flanagan and Lachlan Ilias make up the halves.
Emre Guler – the club's most recent addition – has been named to start in the front row alongside Thirroul product Toby Couchman.
A host of rookies have been named on an extended bench including Top 30 standouts Dylan Egan, Loko Pasifiki Tonga, and Finau Latu.
Development players Jonah Glover, Lyhkan King-Togia, and Nathan Lawson will also have opportunities to showcase their talent alongside rising stars Ben Rumble and Hayden Buchanan.
Blake Lawrie (hand), Christian Tuipulotu (hamstring), Tyrell Sloan (foot), Corey Allan (knee), Viliami Fifita (foot) and Ben Murdoch-Masila (foot) will not be available but are working towards returns.

ROOSTERS

Roosters head coach Trent Robinson has opted to name several of his big names including Victor Radley, Spencer Leniu, Dominic Young and Nat Butcher.
Chad Townsend will wear Roosters colours for the first time with Sandon Smith his halves partner.
Former-Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase has been named to start in the centres alongside Robert Toia with Ethan King the fullback.
A multitude of rookies have been named on Robinson's 13-man interchange including Ben Johnson – who played 18 Knock-On Effect NSW Cup matches for the Red V over the past two seasons – and brothers Xavier and De La Salle Va’a.

Round 2 - Sunday 16th February

Full Time

Dragons

Roosters

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Dragons is number 1 Clinton Gutherson

Fullback for Roosters is number 1 Ethan King
Winger for Dragons is number 2 Sione Finau

Winger for Roosters is number 2 Dominic Young
Centre for Dragons is number 3 Moses Suli

Centre for Roosters is number 3 Mark Nawaqanitawase
Centre for Dragons is number 4 Valentine Holmes

Centre for Roosters is number 4 Robert Toia
Winger for Dragons is number 5 Mathew Feagai

Winger for Roosters is number 5 Fetalaiga Pauga
Five-Eighth for Dragons is number 6 Kyle Flanagan

Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Sandon Smith
Halfback for Dragons is number 7 Lachlan Ilias

Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Chad Townsend

Forwards

Prop for Dragons is number 8 Toby Couchman

Prop for Roosters is number 8 Naufahu Whyte
Hooker for Dragons is number 9 Damien Cook

Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Beniah Ioelu
Prop for Dragons is number 10 Emre Guler

Prop for Roosters is number 10 Spencer Leniu
2nd Row for Dragons is number 11 Luciano Leilua

2nd Row for Roosters is number 14 Salesi Foketi
2nd Row for Dragons is number 12 Jaydn Su'A

2nd Row for Roosters is number 17 De La Salle Va'a
Lock for Dragons is number 13 Jack De Belin

Lock for Roosters is number 13 Siua Wong

Interchange

Interchange for Dragons is number 14 Connor Muhleisen

Interchange for Roosters is number 11 Nat Butcher
Interchange for Dragons is number 15 Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Interchange for Roosters is number 12 Hayden Barton
Interchange for Dragons is number 16 Jacob Halangahu

Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Taylor Losalu
Interchange for Dragons is number 17 Hamish Stewart

Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Makahesi Makatoa

Reserves

Reserve for Dragons is number 18 Ryan Couchman

Reserve for Roosters is number 18 Max McCathie
Reserve for Dragons is number 19 Dylan Egan

Reserve for Roosters is number 19 Michael Coleman
Reserve for Dragons is number 20 Jonah Glover

Reserve for Roosters is number 20 Toby Rodwell
Reserve for Dragons is number 21 Kade Reed

Reserve for Roosters is number 21 Jake Elliott
Reserve for Dragons is number 22 Loko Pasifiki Tonga

Reserve for Roosters is number 22 Benjamin Johnson
Reserve for Dragons is number 23 Mikaele Ravalawa

Reserve for Roosters is number 23 Hugo Savala
Reserve for Dragons is number 24 Nathan Lawson

Reserve for Roosters is number 24 Reece Foley
Reserve for Dragons is number 25 Benjamin Rumble

Reserve for Roosters is number 25 Tyreece Tait
Reserve for Dragons is number 26 Hayden Buchanan

Reserve for Roosters is number 26 Tom Rodwell
Reserve for Dragons is number 27 Finau Latu

Reserve for Roosters is number 27 Kyron Fekitoa
Reserve for Dragons is number 28 Michael Molo

Reserve for Roosters is number 28 Aholoka Toia