Development players are available for selection from round 1 but they can only play a handful of NRL games a year. So that pretty much makes them ineligible for the early rounds unless there is an injury crisis. If Waqa isn't fit, might need to consider something else for Nicholls.
No they can play as much as the coach desires they just get 3k per game on top of the development deal.
Donoghue played 9 games last year on a development deal.
Kurtis Morrin at the Bulldogs played 20 last year.
The train & trial players are effectively limited to 3 games once they get to 3 games they get their trial deal upgraded to development deal and it goes onto the cap. Dolphins used two train & trial players last year Fuller played 10-11 games and Hubner played 4.
There's a real quirk with the QRL that has screwed Dolphins considering promoting Josh Allen to the squad probably the standout prop in the Cowboys trial and most mature ready of the backups age wise. He's out for 2 games due to suspension. Round 1 was postponed, he's out of Redcliffe's round 2-3 games because of suspension, round 4 they have a bye and he's available from round 5.
Josh - you do seem reasonable sort of person. Have you finally picked up that Nicholls is so ineffective except when on the try-line?