There are just three weeks remaining in season 2018 and the pressure has never been higher on clubs at the cusp of the top eight. Gareth Widdop headlines the changes this week and you can join The Roar for all the team news and analysis for Round 23 from 3:30pm (AEST).
Widdop injured his shoulder last weekend during the Dragons thumping upset loss to the Parramatta Eels.
Given the Red V have had few injuries all year, it’s unclear who the replacement will be, however, Jai Field and Kurt Mann loom as the options to partner the out of form Ben Hunt in the halves.
On the other side of Sydney, Kalyn Ponga is also likely to be out, with Nathan Brown set to rest his star recruit who is still battling an ankle injury.
In the middle of the two, Alex Johnston will be missing for the South Sydney Rabbitohs trip to Brisbane. With Greg Inglis still not back and Robert Jennings also likely to miss this weekend’s clash, the Bunnies are facing a backline crisis with Dane Gagai likely to play fullback.
It’s good news for their opponents though, with Tevita Pangai Junior, Corey Oates and Joe Ofahengaue all fit to return from injury.
Michael Gordon will miss the rest of the season at the Titans, while Ryan Hoffman will join him after a knee injury last week. He is likely to be replaced by a returning Sam Kasiano.
James Maloney is another set to be missing this week. He has suffered a Grade 2 medial ligament injury, with the half likely to be back for the finals.
The other big injury news surrounds Wade Graham, who will be in a race against the clock to be back for the finals after injuring himself again on the weekend.
Brisbane Broncos
1 Darius Boyd (c), 2 Corey Oates, 3 James Roberts, 4 Jordan Kahu, 5 Jamayne Isaako, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Kodi Nikorima, 8 Matthew Lodge, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Sam Thaiday, 11 Alex Glenn, 12 Tevita Pangai Junior, 13 Josh McGuire
Interchange: 14 Kontoni Staggs, 15 Joe Ofahengaue, 16 Korbin Sims, 17 David Fifita, 18 Patrick Mago, 19 Troy Dargan, 20 Gehamat Shibasaki, 21 Sam Tagatese
South Sydney Rabbitohs
1 Dane Gagai, 2 Hymel Hunt, 3 Braidon Burns, 4 Tyrell Fuimaono, 5 Richie Kennar, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Tom Burgess, 9 Damien Cook, 10 George Burgess, 11 John Sutton, 12 Angus Crichton, 13 Sam Burgess (c)
Interchange: 14 Mawene Hiroti, 15 Cameron Murray, 16 Jason Clark, 17 Tevita Tatola, 18 Matt McIlwrick, 19 Kyle Turner, 20 Dean Britt, 21 Connor Tracey
Manly Sea Eagles
1 Tom Trbojevic, 2 Jorge Taufua, 3 Moses Suli, 4 Brian Kelly, 5 Bradley Parker, 6 Dylan Walker, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Manase Fainu, 10 Martin Taupau, 11 Joel Thompson, 12 Shaun Lane, 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 14 Trent Hodkinson, 15 Kelepi Tanginoa, 16 Frank Winterstein, 17 Lloyd Perrett, 18 Matthew Wright, 19 Thomas Wright, 21 Toafofoa Sipley, 22 Taniela Paseka
Gold Coast Titans
1 AJ Brimson, 2 Anthony Don, 3 Konrad Hurrell, 4 Brenko Lee, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 Kane Elgey, 7 Ashley Taylor, 8 Jarrod Wallace, 9 Nathan Peats, 10 Ryan James, 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Keegan Hipgrave, 13 Jai Arrow
Interchange: 14 Mitch Rein, 15 Moeaki Fotuaika, 16 Jack Stockwell, 17 Will Matthews, 18. Brednan Elliot, 19 Jai Whitbread, 20 Leilani Latu, 21 Bryce Cartwright
Melbourne Storm
1 Billy Slater, 2 Suliasi Vunivalu, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Jahrome Hughes, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11 Felise Kaufusi, 12 Joe Stimson, 13 Dale Finucane
Interchange: 14 Cheyse Blair, 15 Tim Glasby, 16 Christian Welch, 17 Kenny Bromwich, 18 Tui Kamikamica, 19 Brandon Smith, 20 Albert Vete, 21 Brodie Croft
Parramatta Eels
1 Corey Norman, 2 Jarryd Hayne, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Clint Gutherson (c), 5 George Jennings, 6 Jaeman Salmon, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Siosaia Vave, 9 Reed Mahoney, 10 Tim Mannah (c), 11 Marata Niukore, 12 Tepai Moeroa, 13 Nathan Brown
Interchange: 14 Oregon Kaufusi, 15 Peni Terepo, 16 David Gower, 17 Brad Takairangi, 18 Josh Hoffman, 19 Bevan French, 20 Raymond Stone, 21 Cameron King
Penrith Panthers
1 Tyrone Peachey, 2 Josh Mansour, 3 Waqa Blake, 4 Dean Whare, 5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 6 Tyrone May, 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 James Tamou, 9 Sione Katoa, 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 11 Villame Kikau, 12 Isaah Yeo, 13 James Fisher-Harris
Interchange: 14 Wayde Egan, 15 Trent Merrin, 16 Corey Harawira-Naera, 17 Moses Leota, 18 Kaide Ellis, 19 Christian Crichton, 20 Adam Keighran, 21 Liam Martin
Newcastle Knights
1 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Ken Sio, 3 Sione Mata’utia, 4 Cory Denniss, 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6 Jack Cogger, 7 Mitchell Pearce (c), 8 Herman Ese’ese, 9 Danny Levi, 10 Daniel Saifiti, 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12 Mitch Barnett, 13 Aidan Guerra
Interchange: 14 Jamie Buhrer (c), 15 Chris Heighington, 16 Pasami Saulo, 17 JJ Felise, 18 Nick Meaney, 19 Josh King, 20 Brodie Jones, 21 Luke Yates
Wests Tigers
1 Moses Mbye, 2 David Nofoaluma, 3 Esan Marsters, 4 Mahe Fonua, 5 Kevin Naiqama, 6 Benji Marshall, 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Russell Packer, 9 Robbie Farah, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Chris Lawrence, 12 Michael Chee-Kam 13 Elijah Taylor (c)
Interchange: 14 Alex Twal, 15 Suaso Sue, 16 Luke Garner, 17 Matt Eisenhuth, 18 Jacob Liddle, 19 Robbie Rochow, 20 Tyson Gamble, 21 Malakai Watene-Zelezniak
St George Illawarra Dragons
1 Matt Dufty, 2 Nene Macdonald, 3 Euan Aitken, 4 Tim Lafai, 5 Jordan Pereira, 6 Kurt Mann (c), 7 Ben Hunt, 8 James Graham, 9 Cameron McInnes, 10 Leeson Ah Mau, 11 Tyson Frizell, 12 Tariq Sims, 13 Jack de Belin
Interchange: 14 Jeremy Latimore, 15 Jacob Host, 16 Blake Lawrie, 17 Luciano Leilua, 18 Zac Lomax, 19. Jai Field, 20. Hame Sele, 21. Darren Nicholls
Cronulla Sharks
1 Valentine Holmes, 2 Sosaia Feki, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Josh Dugan, 6 Matt Moylan, 7 Chad Townsend, 8 Andrew Fifita, 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Matt Prior, 11 Luke Lewis, 12 Scott Sorensen (c), 13 Paul Gallen (c)
Interchange: 14 Kurt Capewell, 15 James Segeyaro, 16 Aaron Woods, 17 Jayson Bukuya, 18 Joseph Paulo, 19 Ava Seumanufagai, 20 Wade Graham, 21 Sione Katoa
North Queensland Cowboys
1 Te Maire Martin, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Justin O’Neill, 4 Kane Linnett, 5 Gideon Gela-Mosby, 6 Jake Clifford, 7 Johnathan Thurston (c), 8 Matt Scott (c), 9 Jake Granville, 10 Jordan McLean, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Coen Hess, 13 John Asiata
Interchange: 14 Ben Hampton, 15 Francis Molo, 16 Corey Jensen, 17 Scott Bolton, 18 Ethan Lowe, 19 Kyle Laybutt, 20 Shaun Fensom, 21 Enari Tuala
Canterbury Bulldogs
1 Will Hopoate, 2 Brett Morris, 3 Josh Morris, 4 Kerrod Holland, 5 Reimis Smith, 6 Lachlan Lewis, 7 Jeremy Marshall-King, 8 Aiden Tolman, 9 Michael Lichaa, 10 David Klemmer, 11 Josh Jackson (c), 12 Rhyse Martin, 13 Adam Elliott
Interchange: 14 Fa’amanu Brown, 15 Danny Fualalo, 16 Ofahiki Ogden, 17 Greg Eastwood, 19 Francis Tualau 20 Matthew Frawley, 21 Renouf Toomaga, 23 John Olive
New Zealand Warriors
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 David Fusitu’a, 3 Gerard Beale, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Ken Maumalo, 6 Blake Green, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 James Gavet, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Agnatius Paasi, 11 Isaiah Papali’i, 12 Adam Blair, 13 Simon Mannering
Interchange: 14 Jazz Tevaga, 15 Leivaha Pulu, 16 Bunty Afoa, 17 Peta Hiku, 18 Joseph Vuna, 20 Anthony Gelling, 21 Chris Satae, 22 Karl Lawton
Canberra Raiders
1 Brad Abbey, 2 Nick Cotric, 3 Elliott Whitehead, 4 Joseph Leilua, 5 Jordan Rapana, 6 Blake Austin, 7 Sam Williams, 8 Dunamis Lui, 9 Josh Hodgson (c), 10 Shannon Boyd, 11 Joseph Tapine, 12 Iosia Soliola, 13 Josh Papalii
Interchange: 14 Emre Guler, 15 Luke Bateman, 16 Siliva Havili, 17 Junior Paulo, 18 Liam Knight, 19 Jack Murchie, 20 Makahesi Makatoa, 21 Michael Oldfield
Sydney Roosters
1 James Tedesco, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 4 Joseph Manu, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Ryan Matterson, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Dylan Napa, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11 Boyd Cordner, 12 Isaac Liu, 13 Victor Radley
Interchange: 14 Nat Butcher, 15 Zane Tetevano, 16 Mitchell Aubusson, 17 Sean O’Sullivan, 18 Sitili Tupouniua, 19 Kurt Baptiste, 20 Paul Momirovski, 21 Lindsay Collins
All times AEST.
Join The Roar for all the team list news and analysis from 3:30pm (AEST) ahead of Round 23 and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Wish they'd put Albert Vete or Tui Kamikamica on the bench. They need metre eaters on the bench. I'd go Vete as he was good the one game he played against the Dragons. Charges hard, makes tackles and got an offload as well.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
As a fellow Souths supporter, I would say to drop the pathetic conspiracy theories.
JD St George
Roar Pro
And it was an injury forced change too
Wayne Turner
Guest
Spot on. Mann hasn't had a good game since he was at the Storm. What do any of these Dragons player have to do to be dropped egs: Lafai,Aitken,Graham,Mann,and Dufty - All been terrible for 2 months.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Look for Ricky McFarlane on the line at the 'lower profile' Warriors game this week,keeping his head (among other things ) down seeking redemption..
Lefty
Guest
As a Souths supporter I would say to put your money nay house on the Broncos. They have so very surprisingly got their "favourite" referee/s AGAIN. Isn't it uncanny? More proof that the NRL will do anything to get Brisbane and Melbourne into the final.
Scott Pryde
Expert
That'll do it for today. Again, apologies about the slight delay in getting the teams out to you. I'll be back here on The Roar on Thursday night to kick-off the weekend with live coverage of the clash between the Broncos and Rabbitohs. Until then!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Dylan Napa is back at prop for Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Nat Butcher is the included man on the bench.
Scott Pryde
Expert
SYDNEY ROOSTERS 1 James Tedesco, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 4 Joseph Manu, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Ryan Matterson, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Dylan Napa, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11 Boyd Cordner, 12 Isaac Liu, 13 Victor Radley Interchange: 14 Nat Butcher, 15 Zane Tetevano, 16 Mitchell Aubusson, 17 Sean O’Sullivan, 18 Sitili Tupouniua, 19 Kurt Baptiste, 20 Paul Momirovski, 21 Lindsay Collins
Scott Pryde
Expert
A positional swap for the Raiders. Brad Abbey will have another shot at fullback with Nick Cotric back onto the wing, while Emre Guler earns a shot in first grade over Jack Murchie on the bench.
Scott Pryde
Expert
CANBERRA RAIDERS 1 Brad Abbey, 2 Nick Cotric, 3 Elliott Whitehead, 4 Joseph Leilua, 5 Jordan Rapana, 6 Blake Austin, 7 Sam Williams, 8 Dunamis Lui, 9 Josh Hodgson (c), 10 Shannon Boyd, 11 Joseph Tapine, 12 Iosia Soliola, 13 Josh Papalii Interchange: 14 Emre Guler, 15 Luke Bateman, 16 Siliva Havili, 17 Junior Paulo, 18 Liam Knight, 19 Jack Murchie, 20 Makahesi Makatoa, 21 Michael Oldfield
Scott Pryde
Expert
No changes for the Warriors.
Scott Pryde
Expert
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 David Fusitu’a, 3 Gerard Beale, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Ken Maumalo, 6 Blake Green, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 James Gavet, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Agnatius Paasi, 11 Isaiah Papali’i, 12 Adam Blair, 13 Simon Mannering Interchange: 14 Jazz Tevaga, 15 Leivaha Pulu, 16 Bunty Afoa, 17 Peta Hiku, 18 Joseph Vuna, 20 Anthony Gelling, 21 Chris Satae, 22 Karl Lawton
Scott Pryde
Expert
Lachlan Lewis is straight back into the side for the Bulldogs, replacing Matt Frawley.
Scott Pryde
Expert
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS 1 Will Hopoate, 2 Brett Morris, 3 Josh Morris, 4 Kerrod Holland, 5 Reimis Smith, 6 Lachlan Lewis, 7 Jeremy Marshall-King, 8 Aiden Tolman, 9 Michael Lichaa, 10 David Klemmer, 11 Josh Jackson (c), 12 Rhyse Martin, 13 Adam Elliott Interchange: 14 Fa’amanu Brown, 15 Danny Fualalo, 16 Ofahiki Ogden, 17 Greg Eastwood, 19 Francis Tualau 20 Matthew Frawley, 21 Renouf Toomaga, 23 John Olive
Scott Pryde
Expert
Jason Taumalolo is out with suspension for the Cowboys. Francis Molo joins the bench and John Asiata is promoted to lock.
Scott Pryde
Expert
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 1 Te Maire Martin, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Justin O’Neill, 4 Kane Linnett, 5 Gideon Gela-Mosby, 6 Jake Clifford, 7 Johnathan Thurston (c), 8 Matt Scott (c), 9 Jake Granville, 10 Jordan McLean, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Coen Hess, 13 John Asiata Interchange: 14 Ben Hampton, 15 Francis Molo, 16 Corey Jensen, 17 Scott Bolton, 18 Ethan Lowe, 19 Kyle Laybutt, 20 Shaun Fensom, 21 Enari Tuala
Scott Pryde
Expert
The Sharks are without veteran Wade Graham, with Scott Sorensen the man to take his second row spot. Kurt Capewell is added to the bench.
Scott Pryde
Expert
CRONULLA SHARKS 1 Valentine Holmes, 2 Sosaia Feki, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Josh Dugan, 6 Matt Moylan, 7 Chad Townsend, 8 Andrew Fifita, 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Matt Prior, 11 Luke Lewis, 12 Scott Sorensen (c), 13 Paul Gallen (c) Interchange: 14 Kurt Capewell, 15 James Segeyaro, 16 Aaron Woods, 17 Jayson Bukuya, 18 Joseph Paulo, 19 Ava Seumanufagai, 20 Wade Graham, 21 Sione Katoa
Scott Pryde
Expert
As we all know by now, there is no Gareth Widdop for the Dragons. In his absence, Kurt Mann is starting in the halves, however, both Darren Nicholls and Jai Field have been named amongst the reserves. Leeson Ah Mau will start, with Luciano Leilua onto the bench and Jacob Host back from a shoulder injury on the bench.