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Trial a chance to gauge our depth: Furner
NRL trial: Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks at Seiffert Oval, 6pm; Harold Matthews trial: Raiders v Sharks at 2pm; SG Ball trial: Raiders v Sharks at 4pm. ...
Source: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/trial-a-chance-to-gauge-our-depth-furner/1412226.aspx
Trial a chance to gauge our depth: Furner
BY DAVID JEAN
21/01/2009 1:00:00 AM
New Canberra Raiders coach David Furner will use his first game in charge of the club to test the depth of his playing ranks.
Furner named an inexperienced line-up yesterday to take on Cronulla in a trial game at Seiffert Oval on Saturday.
Only seven players in the 24-man squad have NRL experience, while seven players will travel from the Raiders' Queensland Cup side Souths Logan on Friday to participate in the unofficial trial, which will be held over three 25-minute periods.
Raiders recruits Stuart Flanagan and Sam Huihaha will feature in the game, alongside experienced prop Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and promising NRL-capped youngsters Justin Carney and Joel Thompson.
Fringe outside backs Brett Kelly and Brad Cross will also get an opportunity to impress Furner in the first serious hit-out of the season.
Furner has also named 14 players who participated in the Raiders' Toyota Cup premiership last year.
He said he was looking forward to seeing how last year's under-20s crop handled the physical pressure of playing against the Sharks.
''It's obviously against a more physical opposition than the national under-20s,'' Furner said.
''It gives us an idea whether or not they can handle that physicality against a little bit tougher opposition.
''This trial will be used to have a look at some of the emerging players that haven't yet played first grade, as well as some guys that need a bit of time on the field.''
Former Wests Tigers hooker Flanagan will use the game to get some extra miles in his legs after missing the end of last season through injury.
The 22-year-old is hoping to secure the Raiders' No9 jersey this season after spending the past three years as Tigers star Robbie Farah's understudy.
''It's my first game with pretty much any of these boys so it will be good to get out there and see what the young fellas have got,'' Flanagan said.
''I didn't play towards the end of last year so coming up to this weekend I'm looking forward to it and it should be a bit of match fitness for me.
''[Tom Learoyd-Lahrs] is playing this weekend as well so it will be good to learn his style of playing a bit and get to know him a bit better around the park.''
Two NRL referees will control the game, giving Furner another opportunity to see how the new system works following last week's opposed session.
''Last week it was interesting to see that the two referees didn't seem to be a big factor,'' he said.
''They didn't get in the way. We had some good feedback [from the players] after the opposed session and the two referees gave us some good feedback.''
SATURDAY
NRL trial: Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks at Seiffert Oval, 6pm; Harold Matthews trial: Raiders v Sharks at 2pm; SG Ball trial: Raiders v Sharks at 4pm. Gates open at 1.30pm.
Raiders NRL squad to play Sharks: Lewis Balcombe, Matt Britt, Michael Brophy, Justin Carney, Brad Cross, Josh Dugan, Andrew Edwards, Stuart Flanagan, Sam Huihaha, Daniel Joyce, Brett Kelly, Jarrad Kennedy, Cy Lasscock, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Drury Low, Josh McCrone, Michael Picker, Zac Russ, Nick Skinner, Matt Smith, James Stuart, Joel Thompson, Daniel Vidot, Travis Waddell.
NRL trial: Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks at Seiffert Oval, 6pm; Harold Matthews trial: Raiders v Sharks at 2pm; SG Ball trial: Raiders v Sharks at 4pm. ...
Source: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/trial-a-chance-to-gauge-our-depth-furner/1412226.aspx
Trial a chance to gauge our depth: Furner
BY DAVID JEAN
21/01/2009 1:00:00 AM
New Canberra Raiders coach David Furner will use his first game in charge of the club to test the depth of his playing ranks.
Furner named an inexperienced line-up yesterday to take on Cronulla in a trial game at Seiffert Oval on Saturday.
Only seven players in the 24-man squad have NRL experience, while seven players will travel from the Raiders' Queensland Cup side Souths Logan on Friday to participate in the unofficial trial, which will be held over three 25-minute periods.
Raiders recruits Stuart Flanagan and Sam Huihaha will feature in the game, alongside experienced prop Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and promising NRL-capped youngsters Justin Carney and Joel Thompson.
Fringe outside backs Brett Kelly and Brad Cross will also get an opportunity to impress Furner in the first serious hit-out of the season.
Furner has also named 14 players who participated in the Raiders' Toyota Cup premiership last year.
He said he was looking forward to seeing how last year's under-20s crop handled the physical pressure of playing against the Sharks.
''It's obviously against a more physical opposition than the national under-20s,'' Furner said.
''It gives us an idea whether or not they can handle that physicality against a little bit tougher opposition.
''This trial will be used to have a look at some of the emerging players that haven't yet played first grade, as well as some guys that need a bit of time on the field.''
Former Wests Tigers hooker Flanagan will use the game to get some extra miles in his legs after missing the end of last season through injury.
The 22-year-old is hoping to secure the Raiders' No9 jersey this season after spending the past three years as Tigers star Robbie Farah's understudy.
''It's my first game with pretty much any of these boys so it will be good to get out there and see what the young fellas have got,'' Flanagan said.
''I didn't play towards the end of last year so coming up to this weekend I'm looking forward to it and it should be a bit of match fitness for me.
''[Tom Learoyd-Lahrs] is playing this weekend as well so it will be good to learn his style of playing a bit and get to know him a bit better around the park.''
Two NRL referees will control the game, giving Furner another opportunity to see how the new system works following last week's opposed session.
''Last week it was interesting to see that the two referees didn't seem to be a big factor,'' he said.
''They didn't get in the way. We had some good feedback [from the players] after the opposed session and the two referees gave us some good feedback.''
SATURDAY
NRL trial: Canberra Raiders v Cronulla Sharks at Seiffert Oval, 6pm; Harold Matthews trial: Raiders v Sharks at 2pm; SG Ball trial: Raiders v Sharks at 4pm. Gates open at 1.30pm.
Raiders NRL squad to play Sharks: Lewis Balcombe, Matt Britt, Michael Brophy, Justin Carney, Brad Cross, Josh Dugan, Andrew Edwards, Stuart Flanagan, Sam Huihaha, Daniel Joyce, Brett Kelly, Jarrad Kennedy, Cy Lasscock, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Drury Low, Josh McCrone, Michael Picker, Zac Russ, Nick Skinner, Matt Smith, James Stuart, Joel Thompson, Daniel Vidot, Travis Waddell.
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