NRL coaches across the country are banking on their Origin stars to full up fit and fresh from Wednesday’s series opener, with just about every player playing in tomorrow night’s blockbuster named to back up for their clubs on the weekend.
Wayne Bennett is banking on all four of his Origin representatives to get up just two nights later for South Sydney’s round-opener with Newcastle, bringing Damien Cook, Cody Walker, Dane Gagai and Cameron Murray back into the side. Nathan Brown, his opposing coach, is also backing Kalyn Ponga and David Klemmer to slot back in – although he loses starting hooker Danny Levi to an ankle injury.
Canberra are another injury-smashed side, but Ricky Stuart has named Jack Wighton, Nick Cotric, Josh Papalii in his lineup for Friday night’s clash with the Tigers, but the biggest surprise is arguably the return of Jordan Rapana from the knee injury he suffered in Magic Round.
Cronulla veteran Josh Morris is the only Origin starter confirmed to be rested for the weekend, although Manly have named both Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic on the bench for Saturday night – but will be buoyed massively by the return of Tom Trbojevic.
The Dragons have named Ben Hunt and Tyson Frizell as reserves, while the Panthers have also named Nathan Cleary as a reserve.
Elsewhere, Parramatta have stuck with the side that got them a win over Souths last week, leaving previously dropped trio Tim Mannah, George Jennings and Brad Takairangi out of the side. The Sharks could be set to welcome back Wade Graham and Shaun Johnson from long injury layoffs – naming both as reserves – while Brisbane welcome back Andrew McCullough from the knee injury he suffered at training.
CHECK OUT THE FULL TEAMS
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Newcastle Knights
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Friday, 6pm at ANZ Stadium
Rabbitohs
Number
Knights
Corey Allan
1
Kalyn Ponga
Mawene Hiroti
2
Edrick Lee
James Roberts
3
Hymel Hunt
Dane Gagai
4
Jesse Ramien
Campbell Graham
5
Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Cody Walker
6
Kurt Mann
Adam Reynolds
7
Mitchell Pearce (c)
George Burgess
8
David Klemmer
Damien Cook
9
Connor Watson
Tom Burgess
10
Daniel Saifiti
John Sutton
11
Lachlan Fitzgibbon
Sam Burgess (c)
12
Mitchell Barnett
Cameron Murray
13
Tim Glasby
Bench
Tevita Tatola
14
Jamie Buhrer
Ethan Lowe
15
Herman Ese’ese
Liam Knight
16
James Gavet
Mark Nicholls
17
Sione Mata’utia
Reserves
Bayley Sironen
18
Josh King
Connor Tracey
19
Pasami Saulo
Adam Doueihi
20
Tautau Moga
Dean Britt
21
Mason Lino
Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders
Friday, 7:55pm at Bankwest Stadium
Tigers
Number
Raiders
Moses Mbye (c)
1
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Robert Jennings
2
Bailey Simonsson
Paul Momirovski
3
Jarrod Croker (c)
Esan Marsters
4
Nick Cotric
Corey Thompson
5
Jordan Rapana
Benji Marshall
6
Jack Wighton
Luke Brooks
7
Sam Williams
Ben Matulino
8
Josh Papalii
Robbie Farah
9
Siliva Havili
Alex Twal
10
Dunamis Lui
Ryan Matterson
11
John Bateman
Chris McQueen
12
Elliott Whitehead
Matt Eisenhuth
13
Joseph Tapine
Bench
Jacob Liddle
14
Tom Starling
Thomas Mikaele
15
Emre Guler
Josh Aloiai
16
Iosia Soliola
Michael Chee-Kam
17
Ryan Sutton
Reserves
David Nofoaluma
18
Aidan Sezer
Elijah Taylor
19
Royce Hunt
Chris Lawrence
20
Michael Oldfield
Mahe Fonua
21
Sebastian Kris
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Warriors vs Melbourne Storm
Saturday, 3pm at Mt Smart Stadium
Warriors
Number
Storm
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c)
1
Jahrome Hughes
David Fusitu’a
2
Suliasi Vunivalu
Peta Hiku
3
Will Chambers
Patrick Herbert
4
Marion Seve
Ken Maumalo
5
Josh Addo-Carr
Kodi Nikorima
6
Cameron Munster
Blake Green
7
Brodie Croft
Agnastius Paasi
8
Jesse Bromwich
Isaac Luke
9
Cameron Smith (c)
Leeson Ah Mau
10
Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Isaiah Papali’i
11
Felise Kaufusi
Tohu Harris
12
Kenneath Bromwich
Adam Blair
13
Dale Finucane
Bench
Lachlan Burr
14
Brandon Smith
Bunty Afoa
15
Joe Stimson
Chris Satae
16
Tui Kamikamica
Karl Lawton
17
Ryan Papenhuyzen
Reserves
Gerard Beale
18
Justin Olam
Leivaha Pulu
20/19
Patrick Kaufusi
Jackson Frei
21/20
Albert Vete
Chanel Harris-Tavita
22/21
Sandor Earl
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks vs Parramatta Eels
Saturday, 5:30pm at PointsBet Stadium
Sharks
Number
Eels
Matt Moylan
1
Clint Gutherson (c)
Sosaia Feki
2
Maika Sivo
Bronson Xerri
3
Michael Jennings
Josh Dugan
4
Josh Hoffman
Aaron Gray
5
Blake Ferguson
Kyle Flanagan
6
Will Smith
Chad Townsend
7
Mitchell Moses
Andrew Fifita
8
Kane Evans
Jayden Brailey
9
Reed Mahoney
Matt Prior
10
Junior Paulo
Briton Nikora
11
Shaun Lane
Kurt Capewell
12
Manu Ma’u
Paul Gallen (c)
13
Tepai Moeroa
Bench
Blayke Brailey
14
Peni Terepo
Jayson Bukuya
15
Ray Stone
Jack Williams
16
David Gower
Braden Hamlin-Uele
17
Marata Niukore
Reserves
Scott Sorensen
18
Brad Takairangi
Siona Katoa
19
George Jennings
Wade Graham
20
Tim Mannah
Shaun Johnson
21
Nathan Brown
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North Queensland Cowboys vs Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Saturday, 7:35pm at 1300SMILES Stadium
Cowboys
Number
Sea Eagles
Michael Morgan (c)
1
Tom Trbojevic
Kyle Feldt
2
Jorge Taufua
Mitch Dunn
3
Dylan Walker
Tom Opacic
4
Moses Suli
Enari Tuala
5
Reuben Garrick
John Asiata
6
Cade Cust
Jake Clifford
7
Kane Elgey
Josh McGuire
8
Addin Fonua-Blake
Jake Granville
9
Apisai Koroisau
Jordan McLean
10
Martin Taupau
Gavin Cooper
11
Joel Thompson
Coen Hess
12
Curtis Sironen
Jason Taumalolo
13
Jack Gosiewski
Bench
Reuben Cotter
14
Manase Fainu
Shane Wright
15
Brendan Elliot
Scott Bolton
16
Morgan Boyle
Francis Molo
17
Taniela Paseka
Reserves
Peter Hola
18
Jake Trbojevic
Javid Bowen
19
Daly Cherry-Evans (c)
Corey Jensen
20
Haumole Olakau’atu
Emry Pere
21
Lloyd Perrett
Brisbane Broncos vs Gold Coast Titans
Saturday, 2pm at Suncorp Stadium
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Broncos
Number
Titans
Darius Boyd (c)
1
AJ Brimson
Corey Oates
2
Anthony Don
Kotoni Staggs
3
Jesse Arthars
Gehamat Shibasaki
4
Brian Kelly
Jamayne Isaako
5
Dale Copley
Anthony Milford
6
Tyrone Roberts (c)
Tom Dearden
7
Ash Taylor
Matthew Lodge
8
Jarrod Wallace
Jake Turpin
9
Mitch Rein
Payne Haas
10
Moeaki Fotuaika
Alex Glenn
11
Kevin Proctor
Matt Gillett
12
Keegan Kipgrave
Tevita Pangai Jr.
13
Jai Arrow
Bench
Andrew McCullough
14
Tyrone Peachey
David Fifita
15
Shannon Boyd
Thomas Fleger
16
Bryce Cartwright
Joe Ofahengaue
17
Jai Whitbread
Reserves
Patrick Carrigan
18
Jack Stockwell
Jaydn Su’A
19
Max King
Richard Kennar
20
Ryley Jacks
Sean O’Sullivan
21
Nathan Peats
Penrith Panthers vs Sydney Roosters
Sunday, 4:05pm at Panthers Stadium
Panthers
Number
Roosters
Dylan Edwards
1
James Tedesco
Josh Mansour
2
Daniel Tupou
Isaah Yeo
3
Latrell Mitchell
Brent Naden
4
Joseph Manu
Brian To’o
5
Matt Ikuvalu
Jarome Luai
6
Drew Hutchison
James Maloney
7
Cooper Cronk
James Tamou (c)
8
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Wayde Egan
9
Victor Radley
Reagan Campbell-Gillard
10
Siosiua Taukeiaho
Villame Kikau
11
Boyd Cordner (c)
Frank Winterstein
12
Angus Crichton
James Fisher-Harris
13
Isaac Liu
Bench
Siona Katoa
14
Nat Butcher
Liam Martin
15
Zane Tetevano
Moses Leota
16
Sitili Tupouniua
Hame Sele
17
Mitchell Aubusson
Reserves
Kaide Ellis
18
Poasa Faamausili
Caleb Aekins
19
Ryan Hall
Mitchell Kenny
20
Lindsay Collins
Nathan Cleary
21
Sam Verrills
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs St George-Illawarra Dragons