North Queensland have unveiled Jason Taumalolo as skipper for this week’s NRL Nines in Perth, but have resisted the temptation to unleash prized recruit Valentine Holmes.
Star back-rower Taumalolo will lead a squad that will feature five players making their debut for the NRL club – Kiwi international Esan Marsters, Connelly Lemuelu, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Michael Bell and Reece Robson.
But fans will have to wait to see Holmes in Cowboys colours for the first time after the former Cronulla flyer’s name was missing from their Nines list.
North Queensland will still have plenty of firepower with Marsters, Kyle Feldt, Josh McGuire, Coen Hess, Jake Clifford, Jake Granville and Scott Drinkwater included in a strong squad.
Meanwhile, Gold Coast have confirmed their Nines squad, including Jai Arrow, Ash Taylor, AJ Brimson, Tyrone Peachey, Bryce Cartwright and Anthony Don.
Young gun Tanah Boyd got the nod over playmaker Tyrone Roberts, who is nursing an achilles complaint.
Off-season recruits Jonus Pearson, Jaimin Joliffe, Greg Leleisiuao and Erin Clark will make their Titans debuts.
New Titans coach Justin Holbrook said the Nines was a chance for players to push for selection for next month’s NRL season opener.
“There’s always an element of interest in the Nines. Who(ever) does well definitely stakes a good claim for round one,” he said.
“They’ll always be young players at every club that really stand out, make the coaches go ‘well jeez he’s really in contention’.
“If he was already in contention he could force his way into the side.”
At New Zealand, 21-year-old prop Isaiah Papali’i has created history by becoming the Warriors’ youngest skipper.
Papali’i – who has played just 48 NRL games – has been handed the reins of a young Warriors outfit after Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was overlooked along with a string of stars.
However, the Warriors outfit does include NRL regulars Blake Green, Ken Maumalo, Leeson Ah Mau and Agnatius Paasi.
The previous youngest Warriors captain was club great Simon Mannering, who was 23 when he earned the role in 2010.
And at Melbourne, Sandor Earl and Tui Kamikamica have been named Storm co-captains for the Nines, with the remainder of the squad expected to be confirmed on Tuesday.