NRL’s established stars, new talent on show at Ballina
Established and emerging National Rugby League stars will be on show when the Melbourne Storm and the Parramatta Eels clash in a pre-season trial match at Kingsford Smith Park, Ballina, on February 11.
Both sides have announced their line-ups, with established stars such as Melbourne fullback Billy Slater, centre Matt King — a Kangaroo representative — five-eighth Matt Geyer and second-rower Michael Crocker in the Storm line-up.
For the Eels, five-eighth Daniel Wagon, utility Dean Widders and winger Luke Burt are well-known to NRL fans.
The emerging stars include Eels halback Tim Smith, the Storm’s centre Greg Inglis and utility player James Aubusson, a former Ballina junior.
Ian Donnelly, a prop for the Storm, and centre King also are former local players.
Matches start at 1pm with Group One Under-13s Possibles and Probables clashing, followed at 2.15 by Group Two premiers Macksville up against local 2005 premiers, Tweed Seagulls.
Brisbane Easts will play Tweed Seagulls’ Queensland Cup side at 3.30, with the main game kicking off at 5.45.
