Team lists: Sea Eagles name Luke Brooks for opening trial game against South Sydney, big guns rested with an eye on Las Vegas

Sea Eagles fans will get their first proper look at new recruit Luke Brooks when the playmaker lines up for Manly in Sunday’s trial game against South Sydney.

Brooks has impressed throughout the pre-season – including during last Friday’s scrimmage against the Dragons – but this will be his first proper hit out at his new club since he left the Wests Tigers.

Superstars Daly Cherry-Evans, Tom Trbojevic and Jake Trbojevic haven’t been named for the trip north, while injured back-rower Josh Schuster is expected to return for next week’s trial against the Roosters.

The game is a good chance for Brooks to find his feet in what will likely be a short stint on the field before he gets to experience the real thing against the Rabbitohs in round one in Las Vegas.

The 29-year-old is one of several high-profile players named in a strong squad to face the Rabbitohs in Gosford in a game that won’t count towards the pre-season challenge but will give both sides a chance to strut their stuff given they’ll be in Las Vegas for the second week of the main trials.

Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold has named Josh Aloiai as skipper for Sunday’s match, with veterans Nathan Brown, Aaron Woods and towering prop Taniela Paseka also set to get some minutes.

The trial will be a great opportunity for outside backs Jaxson Paulo and Tommy Talau to impress Seibold after they joined Manly in the off-season, while cult hero Gordon Chan Kum Tong will look to build on his strong start to the NRL last year.

The Sea Eagles named their squad in alphabetical order so it’s unclear where some of the players will line up, with Jake Arthur likely to start in the halves alongside Brooks.

While the Sea Eagles are carrying plenty of NRL talent, it’s a different story for the Bunnies who are set to unleash generation next this weekend, with more established names set to face the Dragons in their first proper trial.

Veteran Braidon Burns will captain the team, with Taane Milne the only squad member in the mix to get regular minutes in the NRL this season.