Rugby League Coaching Manuals

The Bears look strong as always with plenty of top flight talent lacing up the boots for the North Sydney outfit, including Papua New Guinean International, James Nightingale and fellow new recruit Eddie Paea.

The Magpies will also have plenty of talent on show with the likes of Geoff Daniela out wide and Toyota Cup sensation, Andrew Fifita up front. Both sides have shown some reasonable form in the trials and this match should prove to be a fitting way to usher in the 2010 season.

Newtown Jets Vs Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers
Henson Park, Saturday, March 13
Kick-off: 5.00pm

The second match of our big Saturday double-header will see the home town Jets taking on last season's runners up, the Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers. The Jets form in the trials has been outstanding for the most part and the Tigers would have their sights set on a return to ANZ Stadium in October already.

The Jets will be without key recruit Russell Aitken for this opening round encounter but should still have more than enough class on show with the likes of Keith Peters and Ryan Verlinden donning the blue and white.

The Tigers leading try scorer from last season, Sean Meaney will be one to watch once again this year while Alan Schirnack and David Gower promise to be one of the best front row combinations in the competition. The Tigers will be without the services of new recruit Ben MacDougall who is still recovering from an injury sustained in preseason training.

Auckland Vulcans Vs Cronulla Sharks
Windsor Sports Complex, Sunday March 14
Kick-off: 12 noon
Two more double-headers to complete round one proceedings, with the first taking place at the Windsor Sports Complex. Kicking things off will be the Vulcans and the Sharks.

The Vulcans are always a bit of an unknown quantity at this time of the year and only time will tell how competitive they will be in 2010. With that said any side that fields players like Sione Tongia, Patrick Ah Van and Ukuma Ta'ai must warrant respect and no doubt that will be the case here.

The Sharks have had to recruit heavily in the off season and will field plenty of top flight talent such as Josh Lewis, Taulima Tautai, Stuart Flanagan and Reece Williams. Like most sides, injuries will probably test the depth of this Cronulla outfit at some point, but if they can keep the nucleus of their team on the park most weeks, exciting things will be expected of the boys from the Shire.

Windsor Wolves Vs Shellharbour Dragons
Windsor Sports Complex, Sunday March 14
Kick-off: 2.00pm
Blockbuster here with the visiting Dragons travelling out west to take on the Windsor Wolves. The Dragons will arrive with the promise of tries and plenty of them. The centre pairing of Michael Lett and Nick Emmett certainly know there way over the try line and with the likes of Junior Paulo, Ricky Thorby and Michael Greenfield carting them up the park, they should have plenty of field position to do so.

The Wolves have been strong throughout the trials and look as if they may be ready to hit the ground running in 2010. The ever reliable Craig Trindall will steer this group around the park and he will be looking for new recruit Sandor Earl to provide plenty of spark out wide. This game promises to be one of the best of the round and given the conditions suit, some really entertaining rugby league should be the order of the afternoon.

Melbourne Storm Vs Wentworthville Magpies
Crest Stadium, Sunday, March 14
Kick-off: 3.00pm
Our third and final double-header for round one sees action move to The Crest, and kicking things off will be new boys, the Melbourne Storm, taking on the Wentworthville Magpies.

Despite the Storm fielding teams in the NSW Cup in the past, 2010 signifies the first year they will do so as a standalone entity. This team will now be based, train and play out of Melbourne, and provide more opportunity for local Victorian players to break into top flight rugby league. Despite a sprinkling of NRL talent in the team, the Storm is largely made up of young talent and it will be interesting to monitor their progression throughout 2010.

The Magpies begin their quest for the premiership under the newly appointed Brett Kenny who will be seeking instant results with his squad. An exciting backline is well complemented by a determined forward pack and big things will be expected of this group.

Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Vs Central Coast Centurions
Crest Stadium, Sunday, March 14
Kick-off: 5.00pm
Last year's premiers (Bankstown City Bulls) have adopted their traditional name and playing strip this season in a decision that is sure to please many a traditionalist. And whilst they may not carry their traditional name, the 2010 season welcomes the Newcastle Knight affiliated Central Coast Centurions.

In the past the Knights have used several Newcastle Rugby League teams as feeder clubs for their players but in a move that once again reaffirms the position of the NSW Cup as the strongest competition outside of the NRL, they have re-entered the NSW Cup.

The Dogs will already be eyeing off a return trip to ANZ in October with the likes of Trent Cutler, Heka Nanai, Tim Winitana and Junior Tia-Kilifi in the backline and supported by Danny Williams and Brad Morrin upfront. The Centurions will also field plenty of class players with versatile playmaker Ben Rogers leading them around the park, ably supported by the likes of Keith Lulia, Con Mika and Cameron Ciraldo.

Their coach, Rip Taylor is highly credentialed and he would not have signed on if he thought they were in the competition just to make up the numbers.