Excess baggage: Why the Bulldogs will pay for two extra players to travel to Vegas

Canterbury will pay about $15,000 to fly two extra players to Las Vegas for the NRL season opener next month and to help with their opposed sessions in light of the changes to the interchange rule.

The NRL confirmed during the week teams could name six players on the bench, but still only choose the four during any game.

The Bulldogs immediately reacted by agreeing to fund two extra players, which will take their US squad size from 22 to 24.

Under the Vegas agreement, including this year’s four participating clubs – the Dogs, St George Illawarra, Newcastle and North Queensland – the NRL pays for flights and accommodation for 22 players. It is on the clubs to pay for any extra squad members.

Bulldogs Coach Cameron Ciraldo confirmed on Saturday there were enough reasons to justify the club spending extra cash.

“We’ll take 24, mainly to help with our training, and it will allow us to get as close to 13-on-13 while we’re over there,” he said.

“With the new interchange rule, and having to carry two extra players on the bench, we wanted also to take a couple of extras, just in case.”

The Dogs kept the bulk of their NRL squad on the sidelines for Saturday’s opening trial against North Queensland on a warm evening at Kogarah. They trailed 28-0, roared back to 28-24, before losing 34-30.

They were paid an impromptu visit in the sheds after the game by NSW Premier Chris Minns, who has been a lifelong Dogs fans.

Ciraldo said most of his stars would take part in next weekend’s trial against Newcastle, except recruit Leo Thompson who will represent the Maori All Stars.

There has been a lot of interest in teenage halfback Mitch Woods and if he will be fit for the US when the Dogs fly out on Thursday week.

“I’m not sure, he had a hamstring strain, which isn’t bad, but given his history and being a kid, we’re being conservative with it,” Ciraldo said.

“We still have two weeks before Vegas. He’ll be given every chance, but I’m not sure.”

The general consensus when it comes to the make-up of the six-man bench is three forwards, a utility, a specialist outside back and playmaker.

For the Dogs, they have Sean O’Sullivan on call if they need that extra bench spot, especially if Woods is not fit.

The best news for the Cowboys was the sight of backrower Heilum Luki playing his first game in 505 days after rupturing his ACL.

With regular backrower Jeremiah Nanai struggling with a shoulder injury, there is a spot up for grabs, and Luki is eager to return.

“On the way here I was really nervous; hopefully I can string some games together and make that 17,” said Luki, who scored the opening try after three minutes.

Soni Luke, who was in the Penrith system before being signed late by the Cowboys, could force his way on to the plane because of the increased size of the bench and his ability to cover dummy-half. The only reason he did not feature in the trial against the Dogs was because of a head knock he received at training last week.

Dragons halfback a keeper

Daniel Atkinson is the star recruit at the Dragons who will be given first shot in the halves with Kyle Flanagan, but local junior Kade Reed will be one to watch in future years – who knows, possibly later this year – especially if he can add some size.

Reed, 19, more than held his own as the Dragons saluted 28-18 in the later trial against Newcastle.

Atkinson, Flanagan and back-up playmaker Lyhkan King-Togia will be coach Shane Flanagan’s halves options, but Reed showed plenty of fight and hunger against the Knights. His effort to run down Sandon Smith before half-time was inspirational, as was his refusal to take a backward step when Smith jumped to his feet and let his frustrations boil over.

And it was his final ball for Tyrell Sloan that sealed the pre-season win. Flanagan let everyone inside the ground know his opinion of Reed when he injected him back into the game when the home side took the lead with just under ten minutes remaining.

The Dragons also have a couple of nice wing options, with summer arrivals David Fale and Setu Tu making a strong case to start on the respective right and left wings.

For the Knights, questions will remain about where Fletcher Sharpe starts come round one in Vegas. He started in the halves with Smith, and started the second half at fullback.

Sharpe was playing his first game since he suffered a lacerated kidney and ruptured spleen against the Dolphins in Perth. He remained in a Perth hospital for a week before being cleared to fly home.

Like the other Vegas-bound clubs, Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook will take the wraps off his main stars next Saturday at home to the Dogs.