The NRL Round 23 teams have been announced, with Boyd Cordner’s continued absence from the Roosters the biggest story.
It’s an otherwise quiet news week on the team selection front, with most sides sticking with the 17s they picked a week ago.
CHECK OUT THE FULL TEAMS
Thursday, 7:50pm at Bankwest Stadium
Eels
1. Clint Gutherson, 2. Maika Sivo, 3. Michael Jennings, 4. Waqa Blake, 5. Brad Takairangi, 6. Dylan Brown, 7. Mitchell Moses, 8. Kane Evans, 9. Reed Mahoney, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Shaun Lane, 12. Manu Ma’u, 13. Nathan Brown
Bench/Reserves: 14. Peni Terepo, 15. David Gower, 16. Daniel Alvaro, 17. Marata Niukore, 18. Tepai Moeroa, 19. George Jennings, 20. Stefano Utiokamanu, 21. Jaeman Salmon
Bulldogs
1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 2. Nick Meaney, 3. Kerrod Holland, 4. Will Hopoate, 5. Reimis Smith, 6. Kieran Foran, 7. Lachlan Lewis, 8. Aiden Tolman, 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Dylan Napa, 11. Josh Jackson, 12. Corey Harawira-Naera, 13. Adam Elliott
Bench/Reserves: 14. Jack Cogger, 15. Renouf Toomaga, 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner, 17. Chris Smith, 19. Danny Fualalo, 20. Morgan Harper, 21. Michael Lichaa, 22. Ofahiki Ogden
Friday, 6pm at 1300SMILES Stadium
Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater, 2. Kyle Feldt, 3. Jordan Kahu, 4. Tom Opcacic, 5. Murray Taulagi, 6. Michael Morgan, 7. Jake Clifford, 8. Scott Bolton, 9. Jake Granville, 10. Jordan McLean, 11. Gavin Cooper, 12. Shane Wright, 13. John Asiata
Bench/Reserves: 14. Reuben Cotter, 15. Coen Hess, 16. Peter Hola, 17. Francis Molo, 18. Jason Taumalalo, 19. Tom Gilbert, 20. Corey Jensen, 21. Gideon Gela-Mosby
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Stephe Crichton, 3. Dean Whare, 4. Brent Naden, 5. Brian To’o, 6. James Maloney, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. James Tamou, 9. Mitchell Kenny, 10. James Fisher-Harris, 11. Villame Kikau, 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo
Bench/Reserves: 14. Jarome Luai, 15. Spencer Leniu, 16. Moses Leota, 17. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 18. Wayde Egan, 19. William Burns, 20. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, 21. Hame Sele
Friday, 7:55pm at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos
1. Anthony Milford, 2. Corey Oates, 3. Kotoni Staggs, 4. Alex Glenn, 5. Jamayne Isaako, 6. Darius Boyd, 7. Sean O’Sullivan, 8. Matthew Lodge, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. Payne Haas, 11. David Fifita, 12. Matt Gillett, 13. Joe Ofahengaue
Bench/Reserves: 14. James Segeyaro, 15. Thomas Flegler, 16. Gehamat Shibasaki, 17. Patrick Carrigan, 18. Rhys Kennedy, 19. Izaia Perese, 20. Shaun Fensom 21. Fanitesi Niu
Rabbitohs
1. Adam Doueihi, 2. Dane Gagai, 3. James Roberts, 4. Kyle Turner, 5. Campbell Graham, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. Sam Burgess, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Liam Knight, 11. John Sutton, 12. Jaydn Su’A, 13. Cameron Murray
Bench/Reserves: 14. Mark Nicholls, 15. Ethan Lowe, 16. Dean Britt, 17. Tevita Tavola, 18. Tom Amone, 19. Corey Allan, 20. Bayley Sironen, 21. Connor Tracey
Saturday, 3pm at PointsBet Stadium
Sharks
1. Josh Dugan, 2. Sosaia Feki, 3. Bronson Xerri, 4. Josh Morris, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Shaun Johnson, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Aaron Woods, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Matt Prior, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Wade Graham, 13. Paul Gallen
Bench/Reserves: 14. Kurt Capewell, 15. Jack Williams, 16. Andrew Fifita, 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele, 18. Billy Magoulias, 19. Blayke Brailey, 20. Sione Katoa, 21. Kyle Flanagan
Warriors
1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2. David Fusitu’a, 3. Peta Hiku, 4. Patrick Herbert, 5. Ken Maumalo, 6. Chanel Harris-Tevita, 7. Blake Green, 8. Agnatius Paasi, 9. Isaac Luke, 10. Leeson Ah Mau, 11. Adam Blair, 12. Isaiah Papali’i, 13. Jazz Tevaga
Bench/Reserves: 14. Lachlan Burr, 15. Sam Lisone, 16. Bunty Afoa, 17. Kodi Nikorima, 18. Adam Pompey, 20. Ligi Sao, 21. Adam Keighran, 22. Blake Ayshford
Saturday, 5:30pm at Campbelltown Stadium
Tigers
1. Corey Thompson, 2. Robert Jennings, 3. Paul Momirovski, 4. Esan Marsters, 5. David Nofoaluma, 6. Benji Marshall, 7. Luke Brooks, 8. Thomas Mikaele, 9. Josh Reynolds, 10. Oliver Clark, 11. Luke Garner, 12. Chris Lawrence, 13. Ryan Matterson
Bench/Reserves: 14. Matthew Eisenhuth, 15. Elijah Taylor, 16. Alex Twal, 17. Michael Chee-Kam, 18. Tommy Talau, 19. Chris McQueen, 20. Sam McIntyre
Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Hymel Hunt, 3. Sione Mata’utia, 4. Tautau Moga, 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6. Mason Lino, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Danny Levi, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Mitchell Barnett, 13. Josh King
Bench/Reserves: 14. Kurt Mann, 15. Herman Ese’ese, 16. Jacob Saifiti, 17. Aidan Guerra, 18. Jamie Buhrer, 19. Chris Randall, 20. Bradman Best, 21. Tim Glasby
Saturday, 7:35pm at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Dragons
1. Corey Norman, 2. Zac Lomax, 3. Euan Aitken, 4. Timoteo Lafai, 5. Jonus Pearson, 6. Gareth Widdop, 7. Ben Hunt, 8. James Graham, 9. Cameron McInnes, 10. Paul Vaughan, 11. Jackson Ford, 12. Luciano Leilua, 13. Tyson Frizell
Bench/Reserves: 14. Jeremy Latimore, 15. Korbin Sims, 16. Blake Lawrie, 17. Patrick Kaufusi, 18. Tristan Sailor, 19. Josh Kerr, 20. Jacob Host, 21. Mikaele Ravalawa
Roosters
1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Joseph Manu, 5. Brett Morris, 6. Luke Keary, 7. Cooper Cronk, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Sam Verrills, 10. Isaac Liu, 11. Angus Crichton, 12. Mitchell Aubusson, 13. Victor Radley
Bench/Reserves: 14. Nat Butcher, 15. Zane Tetevano, 16. Poasa Faamausili, 17. Sio Siua Taukeiaho, 18. Lindsay Collins, 19. Lachlan Lam, 20. Billy Smith, 21.Sitili Tupouniua
Sunday, 2pm at AAMI Park
Storm
1. Jahrome Hughes, 2. Suliasi Vunivalu, 3. Will Chambers, 4. Justin Olam, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Brodie Croft, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenneath Bromwich, 13. Dale Finucane
Bench/Reserves: 14. Brandon Smith, 15. Tui Kamikamica, 16. Joe Stimson, 17. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 18. Curtis Scott, 19. Tom Eisenhuth, 20. Max King, 21. Harry Grant
Titans
1. Michael Gordon, 2. Jesse Arthars, 3. Kallum Watkins, 4. Brian Kelly, 5. Phillip Sami, 6. Tyrone Peachey, 7. Ryley Jacks, 8. Moeaki Fotuaika, 9. Mitch Rein, 10. Jai Arrow, 11. Kevin Proctor, 12. Sam Stone, 13. Nathan Peats
Bench/Reserves: 14. AJ Brimson, 15. Jai Whitbread, 16. Jarrod Wallace, 17. Brenko Lee, 18. Bryce Cartwright, 19. Tanah Boyd, 20. Anthony Don, 21. Jack Stockwell
Sunday, 4:05pm at GIO Stadium
Raiders
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker, 4. Joseph Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Josh Hogdson, 10. Iosia Soliola, 11. John Bateman, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Ryan Sutton
Bench/Reserves: 14. Bailey Simonsson, 15. Dunmais Lui, 16. Corey Horsburgh, 17. Hudson Young, 18. Sam Williams, 19. Siliva Havili, 20. Emre Guler, 21. Michael Oldfield
Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Jorge Taufua, 3. Brendan Elliot, 4. Moses Suli, 5. Reuben Garrick, 6. Dylan Walker, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. Martin Taupau, 11. Joel Thompson, 12. Jack Gosiewski, 13. Jake Trbojevic
Bench/Reserves: 14. Manase Fainu, 15. Corey Waddell, 16. Morgan Boyle, 17. Taniela Paseka, 18. Lachlan Croker, 19. Tevita Funa 20. Cade Cust, 21. Lloyd Perrett
All times AEST (Sydney/Brisbane/Melbourne).
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
BA Liddle had played 10 games in NSW Cup all at 80 mins and the experienced head he had last week was Taylor. Had Lids not broken down I expect he would have played a strong 80 mins.
steveng
Roar Rookie
I agree 100% PS, we just don’t have the replacements (like other clubs do inn the top 4 or the 8) that come up to top NRL standards! Let’s see, they have extended Mark Nicholls contract to 2021, why? Surely Tom Amone and Bayley Sironen should be given a go (as you said) as Dean Britt (who thank god, is not playing for us next year) has been hopeless to ordinary at best! We have been in this position for many years now, we have not recruited well and all across the board, as we relied on our usuals, just as an example, who have we recruited and/or have come through our system of any calibre in the last 5 years and are still playing for us? Let’s see, Walker, Murry and Roberts to a certain extent, then we have Gagai, Cook ‘no one else’ of any impact and/or class! Our biggest loss was surely GI, who we should have had a replacement for! I was really shocked that Dallin Watene-Zelezniak slipped through, as he would have been perfect at the Bunnies and what we needed! He would have either filled the gap that we have at FB or a centre, AJ is not a FB and Burns (however good he is) is prone to his hammy but, DWZ could have filled both of those positions, that is the type of recruitment(s) that the Bunnies need, as we have missed the mark and surely that is why we are in the hopeless poison that we are today! Very disappointing and I don’t give the Bunnies a chance, either on Friday or for the finals, hope I’m very wrong!
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Curtis Scott back for the Storm in reserves? Just in time to punch Walker again next week at Manly.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
That's what Souths did with Sam Burgess which is why he avoided suspension and why Storm players rarely ever get suspended.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Yeah thought I’d read they were contesting but obviously just shooting for the downgrade then.
Emcie
Roar Guru
Depends if they're contesting the whole thing or just going for a downgrade
BA Sports
Roar Guru
I think Mikaele Ravalawa might have played his last game in the Red V.... Josh Reynolds should have been on the bench for the Tigers last week. Liddle hadn't played more than 39 minutes in a game since Rd 10 last year and unfortunately for the kid he seems to have bad knees which have plagued his young career. And having lost Mbye and Farah, could have done with an experienced head out there. It was pretty foolish of Madge IMO. Meanwhile at Parra, there is still one perplexing decision being made by Brad Arthur; Player A has played 197 fewer minutes than Player B, but has more total post contact metres, just 5 fewer run metres and averages fewer missed tackles. Player A hasn't played first grade since Rd 11 while Player B remains in the side (except when suspended). Player A is the club captain and player B is Peni Terepo. It baffles me what Arthur see's in Terepo. He looks like he is running hard, but he doesn't break many tackles and he is a walking penalty machine. It isn't even like Terepo is a good guy for morale... Total mystery to me.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Why isn’t TPJ in the broncos 21? Thought they were fighting his charge?
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Souths are already in trouble if both Mark Nicholls and Dean Britt are in the 17. IMO Bennett should replace them with Tom Amone and Bayley Sironen. However, I would bring Connor Tracey onto the bench over Sironen as cover for the busted Reynolds and the shell-shocked Cody Walker. Either of whom could fall apart at any moment of the game and Tracey can cover Cook to give him a break as well.