MELBOURNE STORM VS BRISBANE BRONCOS
Thursday, 14 Match 7:50pm AEDT at AAMI Park
STORM | # | BRONCOS |
Jahrome Hughes | 1 | Darius Boyd (c) |
Suliasi Vunivalu | 2 | Corey Oates |
Will Chambers | 3 | James Roberts |
Curtis Scott | 4 | Jack Bird |
Josh Addo-Carr | 5 | Jamayne Isaako |
Cameron Munster | 6 | Anthony Milford |
Brodie Croft | 7 | Kodi Nikorima |
Jesse Bromwich | 8 | Matt Lodge |
Cameron Smith (c) | 9 | Andrew McCullough |
Nelson Asofa-Solomona | 10 | Joe Ofahengaue |
Felise Kaufusi | 11 | Alex Glenn |
Kenny Bromwich | 12 | Jaydn Su'A |
Dale Finucane | 13 | Matt Gillett |
INTERCHANGE | ||
Brandon Smith | 14 | Kotoni Staggs |
Christian Welch | 15 | David Fifita |
Tui Kamikamica | 16 | Thomas Flegler |
Patrick Kaufusi | 17 | Tevita Pangai Jnr |
Ryan Papenhuyzen | 18 | Shaun Fensom |
Tom Eisenhuth | 19 | Patrick Carrigan |
Billy Walters | 20 | Sean O'Sullivan |
Marion Seve | 21 | Gehamat Shibasaki |
Four players to be omitted from both sides.
NOTES
With Scott Drinkwater sidelined through injury, Jahrome Hughes gets the first chance to replace retired legend Billy Slater as Melbourne's fullback.
Fourteen members of the Storm team that played in last year's grand final are named in the top 17. Reliable back-rower Joe Stimson (back soreness) is out.
Matt Gillett returns to the NRL at lock after missing the majority of 2018 with a fractured neck, while Brisbane's Jack Bird will play his first NRL match since round 10 last year at left centre.
Powerhouse forward Tevita Pangai Jnr starts from the pine after overcoming a hamstring complaint. Teenage tearaway prop Thomas Flegler makes his NRL debut off the bench.
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS VS CRONULLA SHARKS
Friday, 15 March 6pm AEDT at McDonald Jones Stadium
KNIGHTS | # | SHARKS |
Connor Watson | 1 | Matt Moylan |
Edrick Lee | 2 | Sosaia Feki |
Hymel Hunt | 3 | Josh Dugan |
Jesse Ramien | 4 | Josh Morris |
Shaun Kenny-Dowall | 5 | Sione Katoa |
Kalyn Ponga | 6 | Shaun Johnson |
Mitchell Pearce (c) | 7 | Chad Townsend |
David Klemmer | 8 | Andrew Fifita |
Danny Levi | 9 | Jayden Brailey |
James Gavet | 10 | Matt Prior |
Lachlan Fitzgibbon | 11 | Briton Nikora |
Sione Mata'utia | 12 | Kurt Capewell |
Tim Glasby | 13 | Paul Gallen (c) |
INTERCHANGE | ||
Kurt Mann | 14 | Blayke Brailey |
Aidan Guerra | 15 | Jayson Bukuya |
Mitch Barnett | 16 | Aaron Woods |
Daniel Saifiti | 17 | Jack Williams |
Jamie Buhrer | 18 | Scott Sorensen |
Herman Ese'ese | 19 | Kyle Flanagan |
Josh King | 20 | Bronson Xerri |
Brodie Jones | 21 | Braden Hamlin-Uele |
Four players to be omitted from both sides.
NOTES
Seven recruits headlined by Test prop David Klemmer form the crux of a new-look Knights side.
As expected and seen in the trials, Kalyn Ponga will play in the halves alongside Mitchell Pearce while Connor Watson shifts to fullback.
Josh Dugan takes his place in the centres for Cronulla after shrugging off a head knock sustained in the Sharks' 30-6 trial win against Newcastle two weekends ago.
Young Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey has won a bench spot (pending fitness) as Shaun Johnson and Chad Townsend rekindle the scrum-base partnership from their days together at the Warriors.
Kurt Capewell and rookie Briton Nikora have won the race to replace the injured Wade Graham and the retired Luke Lewis in the second-row.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS VS SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Friday, 15 March 7:55pm AEDT at Sydney Cricket Ground
ROOSTERS | # | RABBITOHS |
James Tedesco | 1 | Alex Johnston |
Daniel Tupou | 2 | Dane Gagai |
Latrell Mitchell | 3 | Greg Inglis (c) |
Joseph Manu | 4 | Braidon Burns |
Brett Morris | 5 | Campbell Graham |
Luke Keary | 6 | Cody Walker |
Cooper Cronk | 7 | Adam Reynolds |
Jared Warea-Hargreaves | 8 | Tevita Tatola |
Jake Friend (c) | 9 | Damien Cook |
Siosiua Taukeiaho | 10 | Thomas Burgess |
Boyd Cordner (c) | 11 | John Sutton |
Mitchell Aubusson | 12 | Sam Burgess |
Victor Radley | 13 | Cameron Murray |
INTERCHANGE | ||
Isaac Lui | 14 | Liam Knight |
Zane Tetevano | 15 | Mark Nicholls |
Lindsay Collins | 16 | Ethan Lowe |
Angus Crichton | 17 | Corey Allan |
Nat Butcher | 18 | Kyle Turner |
Matt Ikuvalu | 19 | Connor Tracey |
Lachlan Lam | 20 | Rhys Kennedy |
Poasa Faamausili | 21 | Mawene Hiroti |
Four players to be omitted from both sides.
NOTES
All but three players from the Roosters' premiership-winning 2018 team are back on deck.
Angus Crichton makes his anticipated Chooks debut from the bench against his old club.
Rabbitohs captain Greg Inglis (knee) is named at centre but a call on his fitness will be made on Wednesday.
George Burgess is absent from the Souths line-up for three games due to a suspension he collected playing for England in November.
Sam Burgess moves to an edge forward role, allowing 20-year-old gun Cameron Murray to start at lock.
Rookie back Corey Allan has snuck onto Wayne Bennett's bench for Souths.
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS VS CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Saturday, 16 March 3pm AEDT at Mt Smart Stadium
WARRIORS | # | BULLDOGS |
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c) | 1 | Will Hopoate |
David Fusitu'a | 2 | Christian Crichton |
Peta Hiku | 3 | Kerrod Holland |
Solomone Kata | 4 | Marcelo Montoya |
Ken Maumalo | 5 | Reimis Smith |
Adam Keighran | 6 | Kieran Foran |
Blake Green | 7 | Lachlan Lewis |
Agnatius Pasi | 8 | Aiden Tolman |
Nathaniel Roache | 9 | Michael Lichaa |
Bunty Afoa | 10 | Dylan Napa |
Adam Blair | 11 | Josh Jackson (c) |
Tohu Harris | 12 | Raymond Faitala-Mariner |
Lachlan Burr | 13 | Adam Elliott |
INTERCHANGE | ||
Jazz Tevaga | 14 | Jeremy Marshall-King |
Sam Lisone | 15 | Danny Fualalo |
Leeson Ah Mau | 16 | Corey Harawira-Naera |
Blake Ayshford | 17 | Sauaso Sue |
Gerard Beale | 18 | Jack Cogger |
Ligi Sao | 20 | Nick Meaney |
Karl Lawton | 21 | Chris Smith |
Chanel Harris-Tavita | 22 | Ofahiki Ogden |
Four players to be omitted from both sides.
NOTES
Warriors back-rower Isaiah Papali'i was stood down by his club for drink-driving on Tuesday. He is replaced by Lachlan Burr at lock.
Rookie Adam Keighran starts at five-eighth with Blake Green in the No.7 as New Zealand accustom to life without Shaun Johnson.
Nathaniel Roache is named as the Warriors' hooker in his first game since 2017 after a run of injuries, with Isaac Luke still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.
Despite an impressive introduction to the NRL last year, Bulldogs forward Rhyse Martin has been relegated to reserve grade in favour of former Panther Corey Harawira-Naera.
Will Hopoate has retained the No.1 jersey with recruit Nick Meaney included on an extended bench.
WESTS TIGERS VS MANLY SEA EAGLES
Saturday, 15 March 5:30pm at Leichhardt Oval
WESTS TIGERS | # | SEA EAGLES |
Corey Thompson | 1 | Brendan Elliot |
Mahe Fonua | 2 | Jorge Taufua |
Paul Momirovski | 3 | Moses Suli |
Esan Marsters | 4 | Brad Parker |
Robert Jennings | 5 | Reuben Garrick |
Benji Marshall | 6 | Kane Elgey |
Luke Brooks | 7 | Daly Cherry-Evans (c) |
Ben Matulino | 8 | Addin Fonua-Blake |
Robbie Farah | 9 | Apisai Koroisau |
Alex Twal | 10 | Martin Taupau |
Ryan Matterson | 11 | Joel Thompson |
Luke Garner | 12 | Curtis Sironen |
Elijah Taylor | 13 | Jake Trbojevic |
INTERCHANGE | ||
Russell Packer | 14 | Trent Hodkinson |
Thomas Mikaele | 15 | Jack Gosiewski |
Josh Aloiai | 16 | Kelepi Tanginoa |
Michael Chee-Kam | 17 | Toafofoa Sipley |
Josh Reynolds | 18 | Tevita Funa |
Matthew Eisenhuth | 19 | Cade Cust |
Jacob Liddle | 20 | Lloyd Perrett |
Chris McQueen | 21 | Lachlan Croker |
Four players to be omitted from both sides.
NOTES
New Tigers coach Michael Maguire has dropped a bomb with his first official team list, axing playmaker Josh Reynolds to reserve grade.
Captain Moses Mbye (knee) and winger David Nofoaluma (shoulder) were ruled out for the Tigers.
Veteran Benji Marshall retains the five-eighth spot, while Robert Jennings makes his club debut on the wing.
Luke Garner replaces the injured Chris Lawrence in the second-row and Thomas Mikaele will play his first NRL game from the bench.
For Manly, Brendan Elliott deputises for the injured Tom Trbojevic (hamstring) at fullback. The uncapped Reuben Garrick has nabbed a wing spot.
Kane Elgey gets a start as Daly Cherry-Evans' halves accomplice.
Centre Dylan Walker is stood down and unavailable for selection until his domestic violence court case is concluded.
NORTH QUEENSLAND VS ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Saturday, 16 March 7:35pm AEDT at 1300 SMILES Stadium
COWBOYS | # | DRAGONS |
Jordan Kahu | 1 | Gareth Widdop (c) |
Nene Macdonald | 2 | Jordan Pereira |
Justin O'Neill | 3 | Euan Aitken |
Tom Opacic | 4 | Tim Lafai |
Javid Bowen | 5 | Mikaele Ravalawa |
Te Maire Martin | 6 | Corey Norman |
Michael Morgan (c) | 7 | Ben Hunt |
Matt Scott | 8 | James Graham |
Jake Granville | 9 | Cameron McInnes |
Jordan McLean | 10 | Paul Vaughan |
Gavin Cooper | 11 | Jacob Host |
Coen Hess | 12 | Tariq Sims |
Jason Taumalolo | 13 | Tyson Frizell |
INTERCHANGE | ||
John Asiata | 14 | Jeremy Latimore |
Josh McGuire | 15 | Matt Dufty |
Mitchell Dunn | 16 | Blake Lawrie |
Francis Molo | 17 | Luciano Leilua |
Ben Hampton | 18 | Zac Lomax |
Jake Clifford | 19 | Josh Kerr |
Gideon Gela-Mosby | 20 | Reece Robson |
Enari Tuala | 23/21 | Jonus Pearson |
Four players to be omitted from both sides.
NOTES
Late Cowboys recruit Jordan Kahu has been chosen at fullback after the sacking of Ben Barba.
North Queensland winger Nene Macdonald is included in the starting side against his former team despite reports he was on the outer at his new club.
Josh McGuire makes his Cowboys debut from the pine as the destructive Jason Taumalolo remains in the middle.
Cowboys flanker Kyle Feldt is out with a groin strain.
Talented rookie Zac Lomax was not chosen for the Dragons, with Mikaele Ravalawa picked for his NRL debut on the wing.
Matt Dufty will come off the bench with Gareth Widdop reverting to fullback and Corey Norman selected at five-eighth.
PENRITH PANTHERS VS PARRAMATTA EELS
Sunday, 17 March 4:05pm AEDT at Panthers Stadium
PANTHERS | # | EELS |
Dylan Edwards | 1 | Clinton Gutherson |
Josh Mansour | 2 | Maika Sivo |
Dean Whare | 3 | Michael Jennings |
Waqa Blake | 4 | Brad Takairangi |
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak | 5 | Blake Ferguson |
James Maloney | 6 | Dylan Brown |
Nathan Cleary | 7 | Mitch Moses |
James Tamou | 8 | Daniel Alvaro |
Sione Katoa | 9 | Reed Mahoney |
Reagan Campbell-Gillard | 10 | Tepai Moeroa |
Jack Hetherington | 11 | Shaun Lane |
Isaah Yeo | 12 | Marata Niukore |
James Fisher-Harris | 13 | Nathan Brown |
INTERCHANGE | ||
Wayde Egan | 14 | Will Smith |
Tyrell Fuimaono | 15 | Tim Mannah |
Moses Leota | 16 | Kane Evans |
Hame Sele | 17 | David Gower |
Jarome Luai | 18 | Josh Hoffman |
Tim Grant | 19 | Oregon Kaufusi |
Liam Martin | 20 | Bevan French |
Malakai Watene-Zelezniak | 21 | Junior Paulo |
Four players to be omitted from both sides.
NOTES
Penrith's Dylan Edwards returns at fullback after sitting out half of last year with injury, pushing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to the wing.
Teenager Dylan Brown will debut for Parramatta at five-eighth.
Wrecking ball front-rower Junior Paulo is racing the clock to play for the Eels as he recovers from a hamstring strain, only included in the reserves.
Eels forward Peni Terepo was stood down on Monday for an alleged drunken incident on a flight.
GOLD COAST TITANS VS CANBERRA RAIDERS
Sunday, 17 March 6:10pm at CBUS Super Stadium
TITANS | # | RAIDERS |
Michael Gordon | 1 | Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad |
Brenko Lee | 2 | Nick Cotric |
Tyrone Peachey | 3 | Jarrod Croker (c) |
Brian Kelly | 4 | Joseph Leilua |
Phillip Sami | 5 | Bayley Simonsson |
Tyrone Roberts | 6 | Jack Wighton |
Ashley Taylor | 7 | Aidan Sezer |
Jarrod Wallace | 8 | Josh Papalii |
Nathan Peats | 9 | Josh Hodgson (c) |
Shannon Boyd | 10 | Sia Soliola |
Kevin Proctor | 11 | Joseph Tapine |
Ryan James (c) | 12 | Elliott Whitehead |
Jai Arrow | 13 | John Bateman |
INTERCHANGE | ||
AJ Brimson | 14 | Siliva Havili |
Moeaki Fotuaika | 15 | Ryan Sutton |
Max King | 16 | Dunamis Lui |
Bryce Cartwright | 17 | Corey Horsburgh |
Mitch Rein | 18 | Sam Williams |
Dale Copley | 19 | Jack Murchie |
Anthony Don | 20 | Luke Bateman |
Keegan Hipgrave | 21 | JJ Collins |
Four players to be omitted from both sides.
NOTES
Breakout Titans star AJ Brimson has been pushed back to the bench, with the experienced Michael Gordon to play fullback.
Tyrone Roberts has beaten out Ryley Jacks to partner Ash Taylor in the halves, while recruit Tyrone Peachey begins life on the Gold Coast in the centres.
Titans winger Anthony Don has been dropped while enigmatic talent Bryce Cartwright is on the interchange.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is Canberra's new fullback, with Jack Wighton's switch to five-eighth confirmed.
Highly-rated English recruit John Batement starts at lock for the Raiders.