The NRL underwent yet another Origin-affected round, with just five games scheduled for weekend as both NSW and Queensland head into camp.
Penrith and North Queensland went head-to-head on Friday night without a plethora of their biggest stars, while the Storm were hit hard by rep duty commitments and injuries.
Meanwhile, after a disappointing loss in Round 15, Trent Robinson made a number of changes in a bid to save the Roosters' season.
NRL ROUND 16 RESULTS:
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS 27 - 23 PENRITH PANTHERS
Friday 16th June, Queensland Country Bank Stadium (8pm)
Cowboys confirmed team:
1. Scott Drinkwater
2. Kyle Feldt
3. Zac Laybutt
4. Peta Hiku
5. Semi Valemei
6. Tom Dearden
7. Chad Townsend
8. Jordan McLean
9. Jake Granville
10. Coen Hess
11. Luciano Leilua
12. Heilum Luki
16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
13. Jason Taumalolo
14. Sam McIntyre
15. Griffin Neame
17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki
18. Brendan Elliot
Cowboys team news:
Jason Taumalolo (knee) has been moved back to the bench prior to kickoff, with Jamayne Taunoa-Brown set to start at lock and Jake Granville moving into the dummy-half role.
Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi, Jeremiah Nanai, Reuben Cotter and Reece Robson will all be missing due to State of Origin duties.
Mid-season recruit from the Gold Coast, Sam McIntyre, will make his club debut off the bench where he is joined by Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.
Zac Laybutt gets the nod at centre, while Kyle Feldt returns on the wing after being 18th man for North Queensland's last match.
Panthers confirmed team:
1. Dylan Edwards
2. Sunia Turuva
3. Izack Tago
4. Tyrone Peachey
5. Tom Jenkins
6. Jaeman Salmon
7. Jack Cogger
16. Spencer Leniu
9. Mitch Kenny
10. James Fisher-Harris
11. Scott Sorensen
12. Zac Hosking
13. Matt Eisenhuth
14. Soni Luke
15. Lindsay Smith
17. Luke Garner
19. Liam Henry
18. Jack Cole
Panthers team news:
Mose Leota will miss the clash due to the birth of his child, which will see Spencer Leniu shift to the front-row and Liam Henry join the bench.
Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo and Brian To'o are all unavailable due to their NSW selection, while Nathan Cleary remains out with a hamstring injury.
Jaeman Salmon moves from off the bench into the halves, Tyrone Peachey gains a spot in the centres and Tom Jenkins starts on the wing.
Matt Eisenhuth will cover Yeo's absence at lock, while there is also a place for Luke Garner on the bench.
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS 16 - 18 SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Saturday 17th June, McDonald Jones Stadium (3pm)
Knights confirmed team:
1. Kalyn Ponga
2. Dominic Young
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Enari Tuala
6. Tyson Gamble
7. Jackson Hastings
15. Jacob Saifiti
9. Phoenix Crossland
10. Leo Thompson
11. Dylan Lucas
12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon
13. Adam Elliott
14. Kurt Mann
16. Jack Hetherington
17. Mat Croker
20. Brodie Jones
19. Simi Sasagi
Knights team news:
Daniel Saifiti has been ruled out 24 hours prior to kickoff, with his brother Jacob promoted to the starting side and Brodie Jones coming onto the bench.
Tyson Frizell is the sole representative who will be missing for Newcastle although this will be offset by the return of Lachlan Fitzgibbon from a calf injury.
Greg Marzhew has been replaced on the wing by Enari Tuala due to missing the team bus last weekend.
Roosters confirmed team:
1. Joseph Manu
2. Daniel Tupou
3. Corey Allan
4. Billy Smith
5. Junior Pauga
6. Luke Keary
7. Sandon Smith
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9. Jake Turpin
10. Nat Butcher
11. Egan Butcher
12. Sitili Tupouniua
13. Naufahu Whyte
14. Drew Hutchison
15. Nathan Brown
16. Terrell May
17. Angus Crichton
19. Zach Dockar-Clay
Roosters team news:
James Tedesco and Lindsay Collins will both be away on Origin duties, which sees Joseph Manu slot into the No.1 jumper and Sandon Smith earn his first NRL start in the halves.
Nat Butcher surprisingly moves to prop, with Matt Lodge omitted from the side altogether.
Sitili Tupouniua moves into second row and Naufahu Whyte starts in the No.13 jersey.
Meanwhile, Billy Smith regains his centre spot after missing last week through injury with Terrell May a new addition to the bench.
PARRAMATTA EELS 34 - 4 MANLY SEA EAGLES
Saturday 17th June, CommBank Stadium (5.30pm)
Eels confirmed team:
1. Clint Gutherson
2. Maika Sivo
3. Will Penisini
4. Bailey Simonsson
5. Sean Russell
6. Ryan Matterson
7. Daejarn Asi
8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
9. Brendan Hands
10. Ofahiki Ogden
11. Bryce Cartwright
12. Andrew Davey
13. J'maine Hopgood
14. Luca Moretti
15. Joe Ofahengaue
16. Matt Doorey
17. Makahesi Makatoa
18. Haze Dunster
Eels team news:
Parramatta will be without Junior Paulo and Mitchell Moses due to State of Origin commitments, which sees Ryan Matterson make his return from injury in at five-eighth with Daejarn Asi switching to halfback.
Ofahiki Ogden starts at prop and Joe Ofahengaue has been drafted onto the bench after suffering an injury in his debut for the Eels weeks earlier.
Josh Hodgson is still absent due to a neck injury, with Brendan Hands starting at hooker.
Sea Eagles confirmed team:
1. Kaeo Weekes
2. Jason Saab
3. Tolu Koula
4. Reuben Garrick
5. Christian Tuipulotu
6. Josh Schuster
7. Jake Arthur
8. Taniela Paseka
9. Lachlan Croker
10. Toafofoa Sipley
11. Haumole Olakau’atu
16. Ethan Bullemor
13. Sean Keppie
12. Samuela Fainu
14. Karl Lawton
15. Josh Aloiai
18. Aaron Woods
17. Ben Condon
Sea Eagles team news:
Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans are away on Origin duties, which sees Kaeo Weekes and Jake Arthur slot into the backline.
Ethan Bullemor and Samuela Fainu have swapped roles with Bullemor coming into the starting side and Fainu going back to the bench.
Aaron Woods (hand) is a late inclusion after replacing Ben Condon on the bench.
WESTS TIGERS 6 - 28 MELBOURNE STORM
Saturday 17th June, Campbelltown Stadium (7.35pm)
Tigers confirmed team:
1. Jahream Bula
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Brent Naden
4. Asu Kepaoa
5. Junior Tupou
6. Starford To'a
7. Brandon Wakeham
8. Fonua Pole
9. Jake Simpkin
10. David Klemmer
11. Isaiah Papali’i
12. Shawn Blore
13. John Bateman
14. Tallyn Da Silva
15. Tommy Talau
16. Alex Twal
17. Alex Seyfarth
18. Will Smith
Tigers team news:
Api Koroisau (jaw) and Luke Brooks (hamstring) are sidelined for an extended period.
Jake Simpkin has claimed the No.9 jersey, while Tallyn Da Silva is set to debut off the bench as his replacement.
Brandon Wakeham shifts to halfback in Brooks' absence, while Starford To'a moves into five-eighth. This has forced a re-shuffle in the backline with Brent Naden returning at centre, while in the other centre Asu Kepaoa takes over from Tommy Talau.
Fonua Pole will start at prop after Stefano Utoikamanu's call-up to the NSW side.
Storm confirmed team:
1. Nick Meaney
2. Will Warbrick
3. Reimis Smith
4. Marion Seve
5. George Jennings
6. Jonah Pezet
7. Jahrome Hughes
8. Tui Kamikamica
9. Bronson Garlick
10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
11. Trent Loiero
15. Tom Eisenhuth
13. Josh King
12. Tariq Sims
14. Tyran Wishart
17. Aaron Pene
22. Kane Bradley
21. Chris Lewis
Storm team news:
Melbourne will be without six key players heading into Round 16, with star duo Cameron Munster and Harry Grant both away on Origin duties along with Xavier Coates.
Christian Welch is suspended for a hip-drop tackle, Eli Katoa has picked up an eye injury, while Justin Olam (head knock) is also out.
George Jennings starts on the wing, Jonah Pezet at five-eighth and Bronson Garlick takes over at dummy-half.
Aaron Pene and Kane Bradley are new additions to the interchange.
Craig Bellamy has made a late change to his bench, with Tariq Sims - who was initially named to start in the backrow - dropping back to it and Tom Eisenhuth starting instead.
CRONULLA SHARKS 48 - 10 CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Sunday 18th June, Shark Park (4.05pm)
Sharks confirmed team:
1. William Kennedy
2. Sione Katoa
3. Jesse Ramien
4. Siosifa Talakai
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo
6. Matt Moylan
7. Nicho Hynes
8. Oregon Kaufusi
9. Blayke Brailey
10. Braden Hamlin-Uele
11. Briton Nikora
12. Teig Wilton
13. Dale Finucane
14. Cam McInnes
15. Wade Graham
16. Jack Williams
17. Tom Hazelton
18. Connor Tracey
Sharks team news:
Craig Fitzgibbon has stuck strong with the side which was battered by the Storm last week with Royce Hunt the only man to drop out.
The forward has suffered a serious ankle injury and will be sidelined for up to two months, so Thomas Hazelton comes back into the side.
Bulldogs confirmed team:
1. Hayze Perham
2. Jacob Kiraz
3. Jake Averillo
4. Paul Alamoti
5. Braidon Burns
6. Karl Oloapu
20. Kyle Flanagan
8. Chris Patolo
9. Reed Mahoney
10. Tevita Pangai Junior
11. Jayden Okunbor
12. Jacob Preston
15. Kurtis Morrin
14. Khaled Rajab
16. Max King
17. Corey Waddell
23. Franklin Pele
19. Jeral Skelton
Bulldogs teams news:
Matt Burton has been called into NSW's side as 18th man after Latrell Mitchell succumbed to a calf injury.
Matt Burton called into NSW Origin as 18th man. Won’t play for @NRL_Bulldogs this weekend.
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) June 15, 2023
Kyle Flanagan has been named to take over in the halves with Khaled Rajab on the bench and Josh Reynolds added to the reserves list.
Kurtis Morrin will start at lock after Harrison Edwards dropped out as a result of copping a head knock in training, while Franklin Pele also comes in.
Braidon Burns starts on the wing in place of Josh Addo-Carr, who is on Origin duty, while Chris Patolo retains his spot at prop after being a late inclusion last week.
