The team lists for NRL Round Three are in, with the Wests Tigers making a big change to their squad from last week by dropping centre Joey Leilua following the club's horror start to season 2021.
It appears Tigers coach Michael Maguire has seen enough following two brutal defeats at the hands of the Raiders and Roosters to open the club's season.
Leilua, who's understood to be on a deal worth around $700,000 per year, has been placed on the reserves, with young gun Tommy Talau and James Roberts to take over in the centres.
In other team news, the Penrith Panthers have named Nathan Cleary for Thursday's grand final rematch with the Storm despite the playmaker leaving the field for an HIA last weekend after copping a high shot during his side's win over the Bulldogs.
While the South Sydney Rabbitohs have recalled veteran winger Josh Mansour, who was last week dropped and left out of the top 17.
FULL TEAMS BELOW:
Penrith Panthers v Melbourne Storm, BlueBet Stadium 8.05pm (AEDT) Thursday
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Charlie Staines 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To'o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Tyrone May 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Matthew Eisenhuth 17. Liam Martin 18. Scott Sorensen 19. Matt Burton 20. J'maine Hopgood 21. Jaeman Salmon
Changes: No changes to the top 17 from last week.
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. George Jennings 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Brandon Smith 10. Christian Welch 11. Tom Eisenhuth 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 14. Aaron Pene 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Chris Lewis 17. Nicholas Hynes 18. Cooper Johns 19. Darryn Schonig 20. Tyson Smoothy 21. Dean Ieremia
Changes: Tom Eisenhuth starts up front following the suspension to Felise Kaufusi.
St George Illawarra Dragons v Manly Sea Eagles, WIN Stadium 6.00pm (AEDT) Friday
Dragons: 1. Matthew Dufty 2. Cody Ramsey 3. Jack Bird 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Corey Norman 7. Ben Hunt 8. Blake Lawrie 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Josh Kerr 12. Tariq Sims 13. Tyrell Fuimaono 14. Poasa Faamausili 15. Trent Merrin 16. Daniel Alvaro 17. Brayden Wiliame 18. Adam Clune 19. Kaide Ellis 20. Jackson Ford 21. Jordan Pereira
Changes: No changes to the top 17 from last week.
Manly: 1. Dylan Walker 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Moses Suli 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Martin Taupau 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Josh Schuster 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Cade Cust 15. Morgan Boyle 16. Sean Keppie 17. Josh Aloiai 18. Tevita Funa 19. Morgan Harper 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. Christian Tuipulotu
Changes: Josh Schuster will start following the ACL injury to back-rower Andrew Davey. Morgan Boyle comes into the top side and is named on the bench.
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Sydney Roosters, Stadium Australia 8.05pm (AEDT) Friday
Souths: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Dane Gagai 4. Campbell Graham 5. Josh Mansour 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Burgess 9. Damien Cook 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Cameron Murray 14. Benji Marshall 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Patrick Mago 17. Jai Arrow 18. Jacob Host 19. Tautau Moga 20. Troy Dargan 21. Steven Marsters
Changes: Josh Mansour comes into the side for Jaxson Paulo, who is set to be rested following two concussions in two weeks.
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Josh Morris 4. Joseph Manu 5. Brett Morris 6. Lachlan Lam 7. Luke Keary 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Isaac Liu 14. Victor Radley 15. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 16. Nat Butcher 17. Daniel Suluka-fifita 18. Drew Hutchison 19. Matt Ikuvalu 20. Sam Walker 21. Fletcher Baker
Changes: Victor Radley returns from an ACL injury and is named on the bench. Angus Crichton returns from suspension, which will see Nat Butcher move back to the bench, while Drew Hutchison and Fletcher Baker shift to the reserves.
Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors, GIO Stadium 3.00pm (AEDT) Saturday
Raiders: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Curtis Scott 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. George Williams 8. Josh Papali'i 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Dunamis Lui 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine 14. Siliva Havili 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Iosia Soliola 17. Ryan James 18. Sam Williams 19. Tom Starling 20. Caleb Aekins 21. Sebastian Kris
Changes: Captain Jarrod Croker returns to the side, with Seb Kris moving to the reserves.
Warriors: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. David Fusitu'a 3. Adam Pompey 4. Peta Hiku 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Sean O'Sullivan 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Eliesa Katoa 12. Bayley Sironen 13. Tohu Harris 14. Jazz Tevaga 15. Ben Murdoch-Masila 16. Leeson Ah Mau 17. Jack Murchie 18. Tom Ale 20. Marcelo Montoya 21. Paul Turner 22. Kane Evans
Changes: Sean O'Sullivan will make his debut and replace the injured Chanel Harris-Tavita, while Bunty Afoa moves to the front row following the suspension of Jamayne Taunoa-Brown. Jack Murchie is named on the bench.
Brisbane Broncos v Canterbury Bulldogs, Suncorp Stadium 5.30pm (AEDT) Saturday
Broncos: 1. Jamayne Isaako 2. Xavier Coates 3. Herbie Farnworth 4. Tesi Niu 5. David Mead 6. Anthony Milford 7. Brodie Croft 8. Tevita Pangai Junior 9. Jake Turpin 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Alex Glenn 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. John Asiata 15. Rhys Kennedy 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Ben Te'o 18. Tom Dearden 19. Richard Kennar 20. Cory Paix 21. Corey Oates
Changes: No changes to the top 17 from last week.
Bulldogs: 1. Corey Allan 2. Nick Meaney 3. Will Hopoate 4. Nick Cotric 5. Tuipulotu Katoa 6. Jake Averillo 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Ofahiki Ogden 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Jack Hetherington 11. Adam Elliott 12. Corey Waddell 13. Josh Jackson 14. Sione Katoa 15. Renouf Atoni 16. Joe Stimson 17. Dylan Napa 19. Dean Britt 20. Chris Smith 21. Lachlan Lewis 22. Ava Seumanufagai
Changes: Tui Katoa replaces Dallin Watene-Zelezniak who's out due to suspension, while Corey Waddell comes in for the injured Raymond Faitala-Mariner.
Parramatta Eels v Cronulla Sharks, Bankwest Stadium 7.35pm (AEDT) Saturday
Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Tom Opacic 4. Marata Niukore 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali'i 13. Nathan Brown 14. Oregon Kaufusi 15. Keegan Hipgrave 16. Will Smith 17. Ray Stone 18. Jordan Rankin 19. Haze Dunster 20. David Hollis 21. Joey Lussick
Changes: Isaiah Papali'i replaces Ryan Matterson (concussion) in the back row, with Ray Stone coming in on the bench.
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Josh Dugan 4. Connor Tracey 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Chad Townsend 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Toby Rudolf 14. Teig Wilton 15. Aiden Tolman 16. Jack Williams 17. Billy Magoulias 18. Mawene Hiroti 19. Nene Macdonald 20. Andrew Fifita 21. Braydon Trindall
Changes: Connor Tracey is promoted to centre, with Mawene Hiroti dropped to the reserves.
Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers, McDonald Jones Stadium 4.05pm (AEDT) Sunday
Knights: 1. Tex Hoy 2. Starford To'a 3. Enari Tuala 4. Bradman Best 5. Hymel Hunt 6. Kurt Mann 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. David Klemmer 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Connor Watson 14. Sauaso Sue 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Josh King 17. Brodie Jones 18. Gehamat Shibasaki 19. Pasami Saulo 20. Dominic Young 21. Simi Sasagi
Changes: Kurt Mann returns and is named at five-eighth. Phoenix Crossland is out of the squad following a suspension for a Crusher Tackle.
Tigers: 1. Daine Laurie 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Tommy Talau 4. James Roberts 5. Asu Kepaoa 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Luke Brooks 8. Zane Musgrove 9. Jacob Liddle 10. James Tamou 11. Luke Garner 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Alex Twal 14. Joe Ofahengaue 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Stefano Utoikamanu 17. Moses Mbye 18. Michael Chee-Kam 19. Joseph Leilua 20. Russell Packer 21. Alex Seyfarth
Changes: James Roberts returns and is named at centre alongside Tommy Talau, with Joseph Leilua coming out of the top 17. Joe Ofahengaue moves to the bench with Zane Musgrove back from suspension.
North Queensland Cowboys v Gold Coast Titans, Queensland Country Bank Stadium 6.15pm (AEDT) Sunday
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Murray Taulagi 3. Esan Marsters 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Valentine Holmes 6. Michael Morgan 7. Jake Clifford 8. Francis Molo 9. Reece Robson 10. Jordan McLean 11. Mitchell Dunn 12. Coen Hess 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Josh Mcguire 16. Corey Jensen 17. Lachlan Burr 18. Justin O'Neill 19. Shane Wright 20. Peter Hola 21. Ben Hampton
Changes: Murray Taulagi is named on the wing and replaces Kyle Feldt (suspended).
Titans: 1. Alexander Brimson 2. Anthony Don 3. Phillip Sami 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Corey Thompson 6. Tanah Boyd 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Mitch Rein 10. Moeaki Fotuaika 11. Kevin Proctor 12. David Fifita 13. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Sam Lisone 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Erin Clark 18. Beau Fermor 19. Herman Ese'ese 20. Sam McIntyre 21. Sam Stone
Changes: Tanah Boyd replaces Ash Taylor (hand) in the halves.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.