Lack of big names short-changes fans

THE media release accompanying the naming of Parramatta's team for Saturday night's trial in Parkes said it all.

A lone paragraph telling us hooker Mark Riddell would be captain.

There wasn't much else you could say about the 22-man squad. Only the staunchest Parramatta supporter would know most of the players.

Riddell, props Josh Cordoba and Justin Tsoulos, second rower Richard Fa'aoso and bench player Aaron Cannings are the only players likely to figure in coach Michael Hagan's first grade plans once the season unfolds.

People planning on attending the game in Parkes could easily feel short-changed. Maybe the timing of the trial is the problem. The Eels play a second trial against the Roosters at Gosford in March and more of their stars are likely to be involved there given it's the last trial game before the NRL season gets under way.

Sure, trials are designed for coaches to run their eye over fringe first graders and promising juniors. But coaches can do that at home. When teams come to country towns like Parkes the fans want to, and deserve to, see the big names.

As much as a trial, the game is also a promotion. I don't expect the clubs to send full strength squads.

It's unrealistic to ask someone like Parramatta second rower Nathan Hindmarsh to play in Parkes given his taxing season last year, but surely some of the other 'name' players could have been involved.

Maybe the Eels have a good excuse for not using more of their stars. Maybe some are injured. But there's certainly a long list of regular first graders who aren't playing in Parkes, namely Nathan and Ian Hindmarsh, Nathan Cayless, Brett Finch, Eric Grothe, Jarryd Hayne, PJ Marsh, Tim Smith, Ben Smith, Daniel Wagon, Chad Robinson and Timana Tahu.

The Sharks are only marginally better. There's no Brett Kimmorley but at least new signings Brett Seymour and Josh Hannay and prop Ben Ross will play.

Coaches have every right to feel nervous about using key players in trials for fear of injury.

It's just disappointing a lot of the big names aren't going to feature in Parkes.