William Zillman will make a welcomed return to the Aquis Titans side to take on South Sydney in the full-scale pre-season trial at Pizzey Park on Saturday (5pm) his first appearance since round 10 last season.
Zillman missed the Auckland Nines and trial against the Eels in Alice Springs because of a calf injury but is fully fit and raring to go against the Rabbitohs on home soil.
“It will be good to get out there and have a good hit before round one after a long pre-season,” Zillman said.
“I’m running more freely than I have for a long while after having surgery on a disc in my back in August. It was a bit frustrating missing the Nines and the first trial because of the calf injury, but I’m raring to go now."
“It’s going to be a good tough trial to prepare us for the clash with the Knights in round one, with both of us fielding strong sides and hopefully we get a good crowd at Pizzey Park to create a good atmosphere.”
World All Stars centre Nene Macdonald will miss the game after hurting his knee in Saturday’s clash at Suncorp Stadium yesterday but is hopeful of being fit for the NRL season opener.
Josh Hoffman will also miss the match but looks fine to start the season while Greg Bird has been rested after copping a knock to his face in the All Stars clash, but he too will be fit to take on the Knights.
That means the Aquis Titans will field two young centres in 19-year-old Brian Kelly and 20-year-old Nathan Davis who have applied themselves well in the Nines and against the Eels.
The team is:
William Zillman
David Mead
Nathan Davis
Brian Kelly
Anthony Don
Tyrone Roberts
Ash Taylor
Ryan James
Nathan Friend
David Shillington
Zeb Taia
Chris McQueen
Agnatius Paasi
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Daniel Mortimer
Lachlan Burr
Luke Douglas
Eddy Pettybourne
Leivaha Pulu
Leva Li
Shannon Walker
Matt Srama
Cameron Cullen
