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Gagai, Brown get unlikely shots at history in Vegas
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Gagai, Brown get unlikely shots at history in Vegas

Author
Brad Walter NRL Senior Reporter
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Brad Walter

Jacob Gagai will make his NRL debut at the age of 28 after being called into the Souths team for the historic season opener at Allegiant Stadium, while Nathan Brown has gone from a train-and-trial contract to a place on the Manly interchange.

Gagai, the brother of Newcastle star Dane Gagai, played three seasons at the Knights before joining the Rabbitohs in 2021 and will make his NRL debut on the wing after injuries to Campbell Graham and Tyrone Munro and the suspension of Jack Wighton.

He joined Souths team-mates in San Diego after playing fullback in the Charity Shield on February 17 following a decision by NRL judiciary chair Geoff Bellew, SC, to allow him to serve a one-match ban in the All Stars clash.

Star five-eighth Cody Walker has overcome a calf injury, which ruled him out of the Indigenous All Stars team, while prop off-season recruit Sean Keppie will make his club debut against his former Sea Eagles team-mates.

Former Wests Tigers playmaker Luke Brooks will make his first appearance in a Manly jersey at five-eighth, along with Brown, who joined the Sea Eagles on a train-and-trial contract after a brief stint with the Roosters.

Nathan Brown has forced his way into the Sea Eagles squad for Round 1 in Las Vegas
Nathan Brown has forced his way into the Sea Eagles squad for Round 1 in Las Vegas ©Gregg Porteous/NRL Photos

The ex-Eels forward was selected on the bench, along with fellow recruit Corey Waddell, Karl Lawton and Ethan Bullemor. 

Manly coach Anthony Seibold has chosen all three Trbojevic brothers, Tom, Jake and Ben, in his starting line-up.

Samoa prop Spencer Leniu will make his club debut for Sydney Roosters but fellow recruit, Dom Young, has been ruled out after the England winger suffering a neck injury in the opening round of the Pre-season Challenge.

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Roosters coach Trent Robinson has named a strong team to play the Broncos in the second match of the double-header, with Lindsay Collins partnering Leniu in the front-row, while Siua Wong, Victor Radley and Sitili Tupouniua make up the back row.

In the absence of Young, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii shifts to the wing and Billy Smith starts at centre.

Connor Watson and Angus Crichton have been listed among the reserves.

There was no place in the Brisbane side for veteran winger Corey Oates, with Jesse Arthurs and Dene Mariner winning the nod of coach Kevin Walters for the clash with the Roosters.

 
 
 
 
 
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Queensland Origin winger Selwyn Cobbo will start in the centres, while new recruit Fletcher Baker has been named on the bench for his Broncos debut against his former club.

 

 

 

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