Sport

Dogs ready to unleash

First trial game played in PNG

LACHLAN Lewis and Jack Cogger (pictured) will pull on the halves jerseys when the Bulldogs take on the Cronulla Sharks in a trial in Papua New Guinea this Saturday, February 22.
The Port Moresby clash kicks off at 6.30pm and will be the first time two NRL clubs have played a trial in PNG.
Coach Dean Pay has named a strong 23-man squad including new recruits Joe Stimson and Dean Britt to start in the back row, while Tongan International Sione Katoa, having arrived at the club from the Penrith Panthers over the summer, will wear the number nine jersey.
While Lewis and Cogger will start in the six and seven jerseys, fellow halves Brandon Wakeham and Bailey Biondi-Odo have also been included in Pay’s team.
The squad features 12 players backing up from last weekend’s NRL Nines tournament, as well as three of the club’s development players – Tui Katoa, James Roumanos and Matt Doorey.
Will Hopoate has been named at fullback with Dallin Watene-Zeleznaik in camp with the Maori All Stars, while rookies Jake Averillo and Morgan Harper will join Reimis Smith and Jayden Okunbor as the starting wing and centre pairings.
Experienced forwards Aiden Tolman and Dylan Napa will also take to the field, as well as talented backrower Jackson Topine who led the NSW under 18s and Australian Schoolboy teams last season.