Ryan Papenhuyzen to make return as RTS and Bronson Xerri named for NRL trial games

Ryan Papenhuyzen, Bronson Xerri and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck have all been named to make their NRL comebacks in this week's trial games. The Storm fullback, however, is anticipated to play just 40 minutes against Canterbury as they manage his workload on his return from a broken ankle.

The Melbourne star was in agony at the end of August in just his third game back from a shattered kneecap but has been relentless in his pursuit to return ahead of the new season. Both he and Xerri will be two feel-good comeback stories when they take the field on Thursday night, with Xerri named to start in the centres in Canterbury's pre-season trial against Melbourne.

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It will be the first time the 23-year-old has taken the field since 2019 after he was handed a four-year doping ban for taking banned substances. Xerri has impressed Canterbury officials in the off-season and is expected to be given as much game time as he wants as he tries to lock down a starting spot for round one.

Xerri and Papenhuyzen aren't the only players making a comeback to the sport this weekend, with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck named in the centres for the Warriors following a brief stint in rugby union. Chanel Harris-Tavita, who took a year-long sabbatical from the NRL, will also return for the New Zealand side in Sunday's trial against Wests Tigers in Christchurch.

NRL sides name strong teams for this week's trial games

The Wests Tigers have named a near full-strength side, barring John Bateman and new recruit Justin Olam, for their clash with the Warriors. Benji Marshall has picked Jayden Sullivan as Aiden Sezer's halves partner for the clash, giving the youngster the first chance to impress in a game scenario as he fights to make the No.6 jersey his own. Raiders young gun Chevy Stewart appears to have beaten out Xavier Savage to the fullback spot as he was named to start for Canberra in their match against a youthful Parramatta outfit on Saturday.

The Sydney Roosters have named a strong side for their clash against Manly in Gosford on Sunday with Joseph Suaalii selected in the centres, in what is his final season before making the switch to rugby union. While for the Dragons Zac Lomax has been named to start on the wing in the Charity Shield.

The Sea Eagles have benched Josh Schuster, as he returns from injury ahead of their Las Vegas season opener. The Dolphins have named both new recruits Herbie Farnworth and Tom Flegler for their Sunshine Coast meeting with Gold Coast. While the Broncos have named both Adam Reynolds and Patrick Carrigan to start in their clash with North Queensland in Mackay on Sunday, despite recent footage emerging of them brawling in the streets of Brisbane earlier this week.

Ryan Papenhuyzen believes he can be better than ever amid NRL return

Ahead of his NRL return Papenhuyzen says he is the happiest he's ever been as he prepares to take the field this weekend for the first time since breaking his ankle in week one of the finals. The match will be just the fourth he has played in 19 months after a knee injury sidelined him for the end of the 2022 season and the majority of 2023.

"I’m probably the happiest I’ve ever been. I feel fit and in a physically good condition as well," Papenhuyzen told the Fox League Podcast. "I think I knew (that there’s more to life than just footy) before but it sort of took me being out of the game for a while to go ‘OK you do need to focus on some other things’.

"But I think that love for the game because it’s been taken away from me, you sort of get a bit jealous of. I think all the mental stuff has put me in good stead, now it’s just the physical training — getting the reps in my legs and reps in with my teammates. I had a feeling today of ‘why can’t it be better than what it was?’ I think that’s exciting to feel like that."

with AAP

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