nib Newcastle Knights coach Nathan Brown has announced a 26-man squad for Wednesday's closed trial match against the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park.



New recruits Aidan Guerra, Chris Heighington, Connor Watson, Herman Ese’ese, Jacob Lillyman, Kalyn Ponga, Slade Griffin and Mitchell Pearce have all been included in the extended squad.



The trial will be a stepping stone for talented youngsters Brodie Jones, Nick Meaney and Tom Hughes who are yet to make their NRL debuts, while ISP winger Thomas Cronan has been rewarded for a stellar 2017 season with a place in the squad.



The Knights trial squad will travel to Melbourne on Tuesday, to play the Storm on Wednesday afternoon.



SQUAD:



Aidan Guerra

Brock Lamb

Brodie Jones

Chris Heighington

Connor Watson

Cory Denniss

Danny Levi

Herman Ese’ese

Jack Cogger

Jacob Lillyman

Jacob Saifiti

Jamie Buhrer

Josh King

Kalyn Ponga

Ken Sio

Lachlan Fitzgibbon

Luke Yates

Mitchell Pearce

Nathan Ross

Nick Meaney

Sam Stone

Shaun Kenny-Dowall

Sione Mata’utia

Slade Griffin

Thomas Cronan

Tom Hughes