Whilst all eyes might just be on the halves pairing of new recruit Kris Keating and Ben Roberts for the Bulldogs first trial match, it is another recruit, who only played 8 games last season, that will be looking to impress Bulldogs coach, Kevin Moore.
After arriving at the Bulldogs from the Tigers with such big expectations, he only managed to play 8 games in 2010, after he suffered a season-ending injury.
But after a successful knee surgery since then and committed training, Halutau is keen to once again re-capture the form he was in for both the Wests Tigers and New Zealand.
“Last year was disappointing because I came across from the Tigers wanting to play my best footy,” Halatau said.
“I had an arthroscope on my ankle two weeks before the season. I broke some spurs off my ankle during the Dragons trial and needed those taken out.
“Then my first game back I did my medial [ligament] and kept doing it during the course of the year.
“I had surgery on my knee in September, have been running since November and running at 100 per cent since December.
“The goal is to get back into the main squad, get some games under the belt and try to impress in the trials. There’s plenty of competition for spots so there will be no walk-up starts.”
Halutau also believes that the Dogs have recruited well for 2011, and says that there has been a running battle at training between Keating and Roberts to see who gets the five-eighth spot come Rd 1.
“Kris Keating is champing at the bit to get into the main squad, and he and Benny Roberts have been competing hard for the No. 6 jersey,” Halatau said.