Nathan Cleary heads the list of big names returning this weekend with the superstar halfback suiting up for his first game in over a month for the Panthers’ Anzac Round clash with the Cowboys.
The Broncos are bringing Payne Haas and Adam Reynolds back into their side, though Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo are absent for their clash with the Tigers in Campbelltown.
Sam Walker is the big in for the Roosters in the showpiece Anzac Day game against the Dragons at Allianz Stadium, while Dom Young is immediately back in the side after suspension, shifting Joseph Suaalii to the centres and Michael Jennings out entirely.
St George Illawarra winger Mikaele Ravalawa has been ruled out of the Anzac Day clash with knee soreness.
It means Zac Lomax’s return to the centres is short-lived, with the departing Dragon reverting to the right wing while Christian Tuipulotu stays on the left one.
Parramatta bring Maika Sivo back in amid a major reshuffle that sees almost the entire bench changed: Kelma Tuilagi, Brendan Hands and Makahesi Makatoa are all new on the interchange.
Kalyn Ponga kicks off for the Newcastle Knights. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
All eyes will be on Ethan Sanders, with the gun NSW Cup half listed as five eighth on NRL debut for the Eels’ trip to Manly, who are almost full strength with Josh Aloiai and Nathan Brown back from suspension.
Kalyn Ponga’s replacement has been confirmed as debutant David Armstrong, with the 23-year-old NSW Cup standout selected ahead of English import Will Pryce.
Dane Gagai, who had also been mooted as a potential fill-in at 1, returns to the centres after missing the loss to the Bulldogs with a calf injury.
For the Raiders, with rookie Ethan Strange lining up at five-eighth this season, coach Ricky Stuart calls up another inexperienced playmaker in Manly recruit Kaeo Weekes for Sunday’s GIO Stadium stoush with the Sharks in place of the injured Jamal Fogarty.
Cronulla stood down Braydon Trindall following his DUI charge on Tuesday, with Dan Atkinson taking the six jumper.
Wests Tigers winger Junior Tupou suffered a suspected broken foot in Saturday’s loss to the Panthers and is replaced by ex-Super Rugby star Solomon Alaimalo.
Cowboys back-rower Heilum Luki has not been named this Saturday in the home fixture against Penrith after ankle surgery, with Todd Payten opting not to ring the changes after his side’s thrashing on the road to Cronulla.
Rabbitohs prop Tevita Tatola is facing 12 weeks on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a fractured foot while winger Tyrone Munro is also out long term due to surgery to repair his fractured collarbone.
But they boosted by Jai Arrow making his first appearance since suffering shoulder damage in Las Vegas and the recall of Damien Cook to the starting side.
Experienced second-rower Kurt Capewell has suffered a throat injury and misses the Warriors’ Anzac Day clash against Gold Coast, replaced in the starting side by Jacob Laban.
Round 8 teams
All times AEST
Warriors vs Gold Coast at Go Media Stadium: 2pm, Thursday April 25
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Jacob Laban 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Tom Ale 16. Zyon Maiu’u 17. Paul Roache 18. Adam Pompey 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Ali Leiataua 22. Edward Kosi 23. Tanner Stowers-Smith
Veteran utility Dylan Walker returns from an ankle injury while Chanel Harris-Tavita drops out. Jacob Laban replaces Kurt Capewell (throat).
Titans: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Harley Smith-Shields 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Tanah Boyd 7. Kieran Foran 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Klese Haas 14. Sam Verrills 15. Erin Clark 16. Isaac Liu 17. Josiah Pahulu 18. Joe Stimson 19. Tony Francis 20. Aaron Schoupp 21. Keano Kini 22. Jacob Alick
Young prop Keenan Palasia, winger Phil Sami and fullback Jayden Campbell are all still absent so Des Hasler names an unchanged team.
Jack Bird. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
St George Illawarra vs Sydney at Allianz Stadium: 4.05pm, Thursday April 25
Dragons: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Moses Suli 19. Jack Bird 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Hame Sele 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth 14. Fa’amanu Brown 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Jack de Belin 17. Ben Murdoch-Masila 18. Michael Molo 20. Toby Couchman 21. Viliami Fifita 22. Jesse Marschke
Second-rower Luciano Leilua remains out while Mikaele Ravalawa’s knee injury causes a reshuffle with Jack Bird in off the reserves at centre and Zac Lomax back on the wing.
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Connor Watson 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Egan Butcher 17. Terrell May 18. Michael Jennings 19. Siua Wong 20. Zach Dockar-Clay 21. Xavier Va’a 22. Fetalaiga Pauga
Sam Walker is back, so Connor Watson goes to the bench and Zach Dockar-Clay to the reserves.
Melbourne vs South Sydney at AAMI Park: 7.50pm, Thursday April 25
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Christian Welch 16. Joe Chan 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Jack Howarth 19. Grant Anderson 20. Marion Seve 21. Jonah Pezet 22. Tristan Powell
Craig Bellamy’s side are unchanged, though Nelson Asofa-Solomona is listed in the 8 jumper but may swap places with Christian Welch on gameday.
Rabbitohs: 1. Jye Gray 2. Jacob Gagai 3. Jack Wighton 4. Isaiah Tass 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Shaquai Mitchell 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron Murray 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Siliva Havili 16. Davvy Moale 17. Jai Arrow 18. Michael Chee Kam 19. Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson 20. Tallis Duncan 21. Sean Keppie 22. Dion Teaupa
Latrell Mitchell has two more matches to serve on his ban so Jye Gray continues at fullback. Struggling South Sydney have recalled State of Origin hooker Damien Cook for Thursday’s clash against Melbourne. He is joined in the 17 by newly fit Jai Arrow and Tyrone Munro’s injury replacement Jacob Gagai
Manly vs Parramatta at 4 Pines Park: 8pm, Friday April 26
Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Tommy Talau 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Corey Waddell 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Karl Lawton 15. Ethan Bullemor 16. Matthew Lodge 17. Nathan Brown 18. Aaron Woods 19. Jakob Arthur 20. Jaxson Paulo 21. Dean Matterson 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
Josh Aloiai and Nathan Brown are back, forcing Matt Lodge to the bench and Aaron Woods to 18th man.
Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Morgan Harper 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Ethan Sanders 7. Dylan Brown 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Ryan Matterson 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Brendan Hands 15. Makahesi Makatoa 16. Joe Ofahengaue 17. Kelma Tuilagi 18. Sean Russell 19. Luca Moretti 20. Daejarn Asi 21. Wiremu Greig 22. Blaize Talagi
Ethan Sanders replaces Daejarn Asi (head knock) in the halves for struggling Parramatta, whose coach Brad Arthur has made a handful of other changes in response to the 44-16 loss to the Dolphins.
Sean Russell, Bryce Cartwright, Luca Moretti and Blaize Talagi all drop out of the 17 that lost in Darwin, where Arthur said his side “gave up” in the second half.
Maika Sivo returns from his spell in reserve grade to face Manly on Friday, with Brendan Hands, Makahesi Makatoa and Kelma Tuilagi all joining the Eels’ bench.
Payne Haas. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Wests vs Brisbane at Campbelltown Sports Stadium: 5.30pm, Saturday April 27
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Charlie Staines 3. Brent Naden 4. Justin Olam 5. Solomon Alaimalo 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Samuela Fainu 13. John Bateman 14. Latu Fainu 15. Alex Twal 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Fonua Pole 18. Justin Matamua 19. Alexander Lobb 20. Asu Kepaoa 21. Jake Simpkin 22. Tallyn Da Silva
Young winger Junior Tupou suffered a suspected broken foot in Saturday’s loss to the Panthers and is replaced by debutant Solomon Alaimalo.
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Jesse Arthars 5. Deine Mariner 6. Jock Madden 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Xavier Willison 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Fletcher Baker 18. Tristan Sailor 19. Jaiyden Hunt 20. Martin Taupau 21. Jordan Pereira 22. Benjamin Te Kura
Payne Haas (knee), winger Deine Mariner (back), captain Adam Reynolds (hamstring) and second-rower Brendan Piakura (ankle) are all back, meaning Tristan Sailor and Jaiyden Hunt go to the reserves.
Jock Madden switches to 6 to cover Ezra Mam and Jesse Arthars moves in one to fill Selwyn Cobbo’s centre position.
North Qld vs Penrith at QCB Stadium: 7.35pm, Saturday April 27
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Tomas Chester 5. Semi Valemei 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Jason Taumalolo 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Thomas Mikaele 18. Viliami Vailea 19. Jack Gosiewski 20. Marly Bitungane 21. Jamal Shibasaki 22. Jake Clifford
Todd Payten said he could swing the axe at the selection table after their Shark Park smash-up but has stuck to the side that lost.
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Taylan May 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Daine Laurie 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Luke Garner 18. Matt Eisenhuth 19. Paul Alamoti 20. Brad Schneider 21. Mavrik Geyer 22. Tyrone Peachey
Nathan Cleary is back, so Brad Schneider goes to the reserves. Paul Alamoti also drops back to allow Taylan May a return.
Dolphins vs Newcastle at Suncorp Stadium: 2pm, Sunday April 28
Dolphins: 1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Tesi Niu 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Kenny Bromwich 12. Euan Aitken 13. Max Plath 14. Josh Kerr 15. Kurt Donoghoe 16. Ray Stone 17. Oryn Keeley 18. Mason Teague 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Jarrod Wallace 21. Valynce Te Whare 22. Connelly Lemuelu
Trai Fuller retains his 1 jumper after a strong showing against Parramatta, while Kurt Donoghoe is straight back in following suspension.
Knights: 1. David Armstrong 2. Greg Marzhew 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jed Cartwright 17. Brodie Jones 18. Mathew Croker 19. Thomas Cant 20. Jack Cogger 21. Will Pryce 22. Krystian Mapapalangi
Tyson Gamble is preferred at 6 after a late switch with Jack Cogger last week. Jed Cartwright is elevated to the bench for the suspended Jack Hetherington.
Newcastle have named uncapped David Armstrong as Kalyn Ponga’s injury replacement at fullback to help salvage their ailing NRL season.
Armstrong, 23, joined the Knights’ top-30 squad this season after two years in NSW Cup and has already attracted Super League interest, despite not yet debuting at first-grade level.
Dane Gagai will captain the Knights on return from his calf injury.
Canberra vs Cronulla at GIO Stadium: 2pm, Sunday April 28
Raiders: 1. Chevy Stewart 2. James Schiller 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Kaeo Weekes 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Danny Levi 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Simi Sasagi 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Tom Starling 15. Ata Mariota 16. Trey Mooney 17. Pasami Saulo 18. Albert Hopoate 19. Emre Guler 20. Zac Woolford 21. Nick Cotric 22. Peter Hola
The long-term absence of Jamal Fogarty is a huge blow for the Green Machine with Kaeo Weekes to partner rookie Ethan Strange in the halves.
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Mawene Hiroti 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Samuel Stonestreet 21. Royce Hunt 22. Kade Dykes
Winger Sione Katoa (suspension) will return to replace debutant Sam Stonestreet but Dale Finucane’s shock retirement eases Craig Fitzgibbon’s current selection headache after Royce Hunt couldn’t get a start in the game-day 17 against North Queensland due to their glut of forwards in form. Dan Atkinson will debut at five-eighth for Braydon Trindall, who has been stood down for his drink-driving incident.
Bye
Bulldogs: Young prop Chris Patolo is set to miss a large chunk of the season after suffering an MCL rupture in the early stages of Sunday’s win over Newcastle.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Yes, an upset win might get JD to the end of the season. But on the other side of the coin, a 30 or 40 point drubbing will probably see him gone by Monday. Certainly plenty on the line for Souths and their coaching staff.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yes Cam, that should be very interesting to see how 5' 58" Jay Gray goes under the continual bombs as he's at much more of a disadvantage than Chevy Stewart had to endure who everyone was making a big deal out of, as far as Jacob Gagai is concerned, he is big enough at 6' and looks like an established sort of a winger that can hold his own and might just be slightly disadvantaged by the height 6'3 with of Will Warbrick and Xavier Coates at 6'4 who are both good under the high ball and will be fed by Huges continually, so all this should be interesting to see and could be annulled if Souths have a real go. But lets see how much these blokes are willing to put into this game as a team (which they haven't been doing) as the Storm have been beaten by lesser talented sides in the past. Should be an interesting game and could be a make or break for allot of players including the coach overall, as and if the Bunnies don't recover in 2024 with LM and CW and all their so called Clayton Stars then JD is gone and allot of this roster will also be gone imo as something has to drastically change at Souths as their use by date ended in R11 13 May 2023, as they haven't been competitive in the NRL since then! Go You Bunnies :thumbup:
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Hope your Bunnies do an amazing turnaround & win tonight.
Cam
Roar Rookie
I'm a bit scared for Jye Gray and Jacob Gagai, who have just the 2 NRL games between them. I think Munster and Hughes really test them under the high ball tonight.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
I like Madden but surely Reynolds is fit enough for kicking?
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Madden kicked Raiders and Dolphins into submission past two games. Reynolds returning from hammy, Madden will do a lot of the kicking. Madden obviously wanted to get out from under Brooks at the Tigers, But the Tigers with Madden at 7 and Galvin at 6 could have saved all the cap spent on Sullivan, pair of Fainu's, Sezer and Luai.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
At the least, I'd have Price on the interchange bench, given his versatility, but he barely makes the reserves. He must be wondering why he made to move Down Under. I recall reading a piece from the pre-season where the writer talked about O'Brien's issues around choosing the best half & five- eight. Just as teams can have too few options in key positions, they can also have too many and in this case, he's got waaay too many. I think that's caused the issues with the rest of the squad, ie chopping and changing the guys who lead the attack can hardly help the team settle into any patterns. Touch wood they get this sorted soon. I'm already reading the Knights are being talked about as possible wooden spooners.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Starting placing a reply & it just disappears again. As often happens on this site? Might as well give Pryce a go. Nothing to currently lose. Feel a bit sorry for O’Brien . He’s also been shuffling the halves cards around, as they haven’t really bought an answer. ( Perhaps young Jye Linnane may be an answer in the future? ) Pretty small in the forwards & they haven’t brought in any other big forwards to support the Saifiti brothers. Don’t think Hetherington has been that good, most of the time. Lose young Riley Jones who is a much touted dummy half , before the season started. Brailey has been often injured & really has been a disappointment . Not offering a lot in attack . Jenkins hasn’t been a great replacement for their best winger Young . Although they’d not found a way to take advantage of his pace.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
For Cogger I think you mean Madden? Agree, I was hoping Sailor in place of Mam, certainly more alike.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I've heard good things about him, but how much faith do they have in Price? They guys played 44 games in Super League yet gets passed over for a debutant in a "must win" game for the Knights. He doesn't even make the interchange bench.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Pryce is a fullback, as well as a half. Armstrong is a fullback that’s been playing well in lower grades & will get a chance in first grade. He has plenty of pace . Sharpe is a young gun at fullback. He may have been first choice, except he is currently injured. It’s just a matter of opportunity & then giving them a chance at fullback. They originally bought Pryce to play fullback , with the thought of Ponga playing 5/8 at that time.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
The only true 7 at the Raiders is Fogarty, who at 30, missed half of 2022 and now half of 2024. Sanders will get plenty of chances and would be playing for the Raiders this week if granted the release for this year.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Cogger plays for the Knights ?
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Not sure why he’d join the Raiders? His path is well & truly blocked , by all of the other young halves there.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Let's see what the Bunnies produce Thursday night after a bye and with the same side that got 34 points put on them by the Sharks who were going half pace and could have scored anything if they wanted, what is it going to be 44 or 54 against the Bunnies?
matth
Roar Guru
I’d say there might be a higher correlation between travel and injuries, although if that were 100% true the Cowboys and Warriors would be regularly decimated
Paul
Roar Rookie
Agreed. Blow outs are no fun, even if one's own team is 20 points ahead. A 'losing bonus point' for staying within a converted try is great incentive to keep the contest going. It's also a great carrot to the team leading to keep pushing in attack to stay outside that margin. There becomes a tangible, big picture reward to being tight in defence.
Noel
Roar Rookie
Interesting that Kevvy went with Cogger at 6. Might have been tempted to slot Sailor in there just to see what happens. I'm sure Cogger will be fine, but his style isn't as close to Mam as Sailor's is.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
I like a hard low scoring game won on defence and effort. The pressure on teams knowing that one missed tackle could spell disaster. The dolphin beat the Eels scoring 9 tries but had 26 missed tackle and 14 ineffective. That's a defensive error every two minutes, won't win a final on that performance
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
:laughing: