2018

It was moved from March 12 to March 23 by the SPSA Committee.

SPSA Committee Chairman, Tania Mairi Mahuru, is happy with the nominations received so far from the various sporting codes.

“2017 was a great year for sports. A good number of codes won a number of their events including AFL, who won the International Aussie Rules Cup in Melbourne, defending their title for the second consecutive year; the SP PNG Hunters, winning their first Intrust Super Cup grand final and even in basketball and weightlifting.

The second weekend of trials will be held the following Saturday, March 24 followed by the POMNA Annual General Meeting on Sunday, March 25.

Saturday, April 4 will be the last weekend of trials.

President of the POMNA, Roy Mulina said the trials are for the senior divisions only.

“Junior divisions will commence when the proper season commences on Saturday, April 14.

“For the AGM, we would like to invite two representatives from each club to attend. The election of new office bearers will also be conducted at the AGM.

In light of the incessant roasting Wests Tigers fans gave former golden boy James Tedesco in the round one stoush with the Roosters, it'll be interesting to see how Dugan is received by Dragons followers in his first home game in a Sharks jersey.

The Dragons' display in their convincing win over Brisbane was one of the more impressive performances in the opening round, while the Sharks were first-up losers to the Cowboys but were in striking distance until the closing stages.

St George Illawarra Dragons prop James Graham claimed not to "understand the halfback position that well", but he summed up the reason NRL playmakers now command long-term contracts and big money as well as anyone during the opening weekend of the Telstra Premiership.

With record offseason movement of players and 14 of the 16 NRL teams fielding a different halves pairing than they did in last season's first round, the spotlight was always going to be on the performances of the playmakers – and most of them delivered in impressive style.

Brennan received a nightmare initiation, watching the Titans concede three tries inside the first 10 minutes.

But he left his first match glowing about the character of his players after they recovered to snatch victory with a Konrad Hurrell try from an Ash Taylor grubber with less than two minutes on the clock.

The rookie mentor wanted the youngest halves pairing in the Telstra Premiership to take control of their team and the end result was Taylor and his partner Kane Elgey creating all five Titans tries.

Hunt set up the opening try and scored a brilliant intercept in the 34-12 victory while Lodge – booed every time he touched the ball – produced a number of errors and penalties plus the pass that was intercepted for Hunt's 50-metre try.

He did produce some strong carries in his team-high 137 metres and should be better in the long run.

The Broncos completed at just 50% in the first half and their forwards comfortably lost the battle in the middle against the likes of James Graham, Paul Vaughan, Jack De Belin, Tyson Frizell and Tariq Sims.

With the trials done and dusted, the NRL coaches are working frantically to decide on their best 17 players to front up in round 1. 

It doesn't look like there will be many NRL debuts handed out for the opening weekend with Cronulla Sharks winger Sione Katoa the most likely uncapped player to get a start.

This was announced by coach Michael Marum this afternoon after training.

“At the moment, I feel really humbled to take the place of Ase Boas.

“I know it’s a really big shoe to fill.

“I’m going to do what I can do to lead the boys around the park.”

The classy fullback said preparations have gone well. 

"We’re just keeping the atmosphere in camp relaxed and composed.

“We’re all relaxed at the moment and concentrating on taking training one day at a time and know the game will take care of itself.”

The unprecedented number of transfers during the summer months, particularly among big-name playmakers, is why pre-season matches are more significant than previous years.

While only the World Club Challenge between Melbourne Storm and Leeds at AAMI Park and the international double-header at ANZ Stadium - featuring the St George Illawarra Dragons and South Sydney Rabbitohs - attracted NRL-sized crowds, the other six trials were still of value to the clubs.

Yesterday at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, Lae, FC Morobe scored in the 87th to pick up a 2-1 win over Besta PNG United FC.

In Port Moresby this afternoon, Madang and FC Momase drew in a vocal crowd to the Bisini Grounds to watch the two sides tussle it out. The match ended at 2-2.

The other round five fixture between Buang FC and Southern Strikers FC has been rescheduled and will be played at a later date.