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Twenty-eight finalists have been selected from thousands of applicants around the world – in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the United Kingdom and United States. They will be pushed to the absolute limits of physical and psychological endurance, with searching assessments of their rugby league skills, in a quest to win the ultimate prize. The winner of The NRL Rookie will land the coveted prize of a contract with one of the 16 clubs in the National Rugby League.
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2016
Head Coach Brad Fittler cuts the NRL Rookie squad from 28 down to the Top 14
The NRL Rookies confront their worst fears before playing their first game together as a squad against a Ron Massey Representative Team
The NRL Rookies go on tour to Queensland where there are accusations of cheating in the Captains Challenge
As the NRL Rookies start to find their feet in the competition, this week's theme is centered around teamwork. Jordan celebrates his 21st birthday and the boys travel inland for a farm-inspired Captain's Challenge. From country to the city and the NRL Rookies are faced with their toughest opponents yet, when they take on the Melbourne Storm Holden Cup side at AAMI Park. An injury cloud looms over yet another player and the realisation of its severity results in tears, highlighting just how much this opportunity means to him. The stakes are high and the boys know that one slight slip-up can cost them everything they have been working for – An NRL contract and to be the inaugural winner of the NRL Rookie.
The NRL Rookie reaches its halfway point and now it is the time for each competitor to step their game up to the next level. This is clear when the boys jet-set over the Tasman to New Zealand, where they will play the Warriors Under 20s Academy team in a nine-a-side fixture - showcasing some brilliant attacking footy. The Captain's challenge proves to be the most difficult yet with only a handful of players crossing the finish line and the big question is whether Lou can make it four in a row? A controversial decision in The Cut has Freddy questioning some of the rookies' honesty and he throws a curveball of his own. At this stage of the competition the smallest flaws will be exposed and only the most consistent of the bunch will edge their way closer to the ultimate prize – to be a part of an NRL Team and claim the title of The NRL Rookie.
'Power and Pain' is the theme of the week and the boys will be put through a three-stage endurance battle at the Captain's Challenge. Matt Johnstone is especially keen to put his best foot forward after a swap by Elias last week saw him in the bottom three and only narrowly escaping the cut. The NRL Rookies welcome the return of fitness guru, Adam 'Mad Dog' MacDougall and a former Roosters legend talks about the importance of making sacrifices in order to treat injuries. The boys swap the ball for a whistle and meet NRL refereeing official Shayne Hayne, who puts them through vigorous tests to give them an insight into how the referees train, and the pressure rises for Jordan with his shoulder injury still proving to be a concern. Greasy conditions see a scrappy match between the NRL Rookies and Men of League – comprised of ex NRL stars such as Andrew Ryan and Mark O'Meley, while Freddy shows he has some more tricks up his sleeve. What other surprises does he have for the boys? Will only one make the lonely walk across Allianz Stadium with their dream in tatters? Or will there be two, or even three? Find out this Tuesday, on The NRL Rookie.
