The official team lists for the eighth round of the Telstra Premiership season, kicking off on Anzac Day with the traditional Dragons v Roosters and Storm v Warriors clashes.
St George Illawarra Dragons v Sydney Roosters, Wednesday 4.10pm at Allianz Stadium
Dragons: 1 Matthew Dufty, 2 Nene Macdonald, 3 Euan Aitken, 4 Tim Lafai, 5 Jason Nightingale, 6 Gareth Widdop (c), 7 Ben Hunt, 8 James Graham, 9 Cameron McInnes, 10 Paul Vaughan, 11 Tyson Frizell, 12 Tariq Sims, 13 Jack De Belin
Interchange: 14 Jeremy Latimore, 15 Kurt Mann, 16 Leeson Ah Mau, 17 Jacob Host
Jacob Host replaces Hame Sele on the interchange in an otherwise unchanged 17. Sele and Reece Robson were dropped off their extended bench on Tuesday. They will run out 1-17 with Zachary Lomax and Mitchell Allgood omitted an hour before kick-off.
Roosters: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Joseph Manu, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 4 Mitchell Aubusson, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Luke Keary, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Zane Tetevano, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Dylan Napa, 11 Boyd Cordner (c), 12 Ryan Matterson, 13 Isaac Liu
Interchange: 14 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 15 Sio Siua Taukeiiaho, 16 Nat Butcher, 17 Victor Radley
Sio Siua Taukeaiaho returns from a knee injury on the bench, bumping Frank-Paul Nuuausala to the reserves. Jake Friend is named despite suffering a head knock last week. Sitili Tupouniua and Reece Robinson drop off the extended bench. Trent Robinson has finalised his squad, 1-17 with Frank-Paul Nuuausala and Kurt Baptiste omitted an hour before kick-off.
Melbourne Storm v New Zealand Warriors, 7pm Wednesday at AAMI Park
Storm: 1 Billy Slater, 21 Young Tonumaipea, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Ryley Jacks, 8 Tim Glasby, 9 Cameron Smith (c), 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11 Felise Kaufusi, 12 Ryan Hoffman, 15 Christian Welch
Interchange: 13 Kenny Bromwich, 14 Brandon Smith, 16 Sam Kasiano, 17 Joe Stimson
Young Tonumaipea is a late inclusion for Suliasi Vunivalu and Christian Welch will start the match with Kenny Bromwich dropping back to the bench. Patrick Kaufusi and Brodie Croft were the last two to drop off the interchange bench. Jesse Bromwich (knee) is out with Tim Glasby moving to prop, Kenny Bromwich starting at lock and Joe Stimson joining the interchange.
Warriors: 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), 2 David Fusitu'a, 3 Peta Hiku, 17 Anthony Gelling, 5 Ken Maumalo, 6 Blake Green, 7 Mason Lino, 8 Bunty Afoa, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Agnatius Paasi, 11 Simon Mannering, 12 Isaiah Papali'i, 13 Adam Blair
Interchange: 14 Jazz Tevaga, 15 Sam Lisone, 16 Albert Vete, 20 Tevita Satae
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Joseph Vuna were dropped from the bench an hour before kick-off. Tohu Harris (concussion) joins Shaun Johnson (groin) on the sidelines, with Isaiah Papali'i replacing Harris in the second row.
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Brisbane Broncos, 7.50pm Thursday at ANZ Stadium
Rabbitohs: 1 Alex Johnston, 2 Richie Kennar, 3 Greg Inglis (c), 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Robert Jennings, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Thomas Burgess, 9 Damien Cook, 10 George Burgess, 11 John Sutton, 12 Angus Crichton, 13 Cameron Murray
Interchange: 14 Adam Doueihi, 15 Mark Nicholls, 16 Jason Clark, 17 Tevita Tatola
Hymel Hunt and Kyle Turner were the last two players to drop off the bench 24 hours out from kick-off. Cameron Murray returns from a hamstring strain to replace Sam Burgess (suspension, 2 weeks) at lock. Adam Doueihi is recalled on the bench in place of Hymel Hunt. Robbie Farah and Campbell Graham were the two players to drop off the bench 24 hours prior to the kick-off.
Broncos: 1 Darius Boyd (c), 2 Corey Oates, 3 James Roberts, 18 Tom Opacic, 5 Jamayne Isaako, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Jack Bird, 8 Matthew Lodge, 9 Josh McGuire, 10 Sam Thaiday, 11 Alex Glenn, 12 Jaydn Su'a, 13 Tevita Pangai jnr
Interchange: 15 Joe Ofahengaue, 16 Kodi Nikorima, 17 Korbin Sims, 25 Payne Haas
Payne Haas will make his NRL debut via the bench after Sam Tagataese and Jonus Pearson were the two players dropped from the squad 24 hours out from kick-off. Josh McGuire starts at hooker for Andrew McCullough (elbow, 4-6 weeks) with Tevita Pangai jnr moving to starting lock. Jaydn Su'A starts in the back row for Korbin Sims (bench) while Jack Bird and Anthony Milford swap the No.6 and 7 jerseys. Todd Murphy and Patrick Mago were the two players to drop off the bench 24 hours out from kick-off.
Manly Sea Eagles v Newcastle Knights, 6pm Friday at Lottoland
Sea Eagles: 1 Tom Trbojevic, 2 Matthew Wright, 3 Dylan Walker, 4 Brian Kelly, 5 Akuila Uate, 6 Lachlan Croker, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Apisai Koroisau, 10 Martin Taupau, 11 Joel Thompson, 12 Jack Gosiewski, 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 14 Lewis Brown, 15 Shaun Lane, 16 Lloyd Perrett, 17 Taniela Paseka
Manly are 1-17, with Frank Winterstein and Jonathan Wright omitted an hour before kick-off. Matt Wright moves to the starting side in place of winger Brad Parker (knee, 4-6 weeks) with Lewis Brown joining the bench. Thomas Wright and Toafofoa Sipley were the two players to drop off the interchange bench 24 hours out from kick-off.
Knights: 1 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Ken Sio, 3 Sione Mata'utia, 4 Nathan Ross, 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6 Connor Watson, 7 Jack Cogger, 8 Herman Ese'ese, 9 Slade Griffin, 10 Daniel Saifiti, 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12 Aidan Guerra (c), 13 Mitchell Barnett
Interchange: 14 Jamie Buhrer (c), 15 Chris Heighington, 16 Luke Yates, 17 Jacob Saifiti
The Knights are 1-17, with reserves Brock Lamb and Josh King cut an hour before kick-off. Jacob Lillyman won't play against the Sea Eagles after being dropped from the extended bench 24 hours out from kick-off. Connor Watson makes a timely return from a shoulder injury to start in the halves in place of Mitch Pearce (pec, 10-16 weeks), with Jack Cogger switching from five-eighth to halfback. Cory Denniss also dropped off the bench 24 hours before game time.
Penrith Panthers v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 7.55pm Friday at Panthers
Stadium
Panthers: 1 Dylan Edwards, 2 Christian Crichton, 3 Corey Harawira-Naera, 4 Dean Whare, 5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 6 Tyrone Peachey, 7 James Maloney, 8 Trent Merrin, 14. Sione Katoa, 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 11 Viliame Kikau, 12 Isaah Yeo, 13 James Fisher-Harris
Interchange: 15 Jack Hetherington, 16 Moses Leota, 17 James Tamou 18 Wayde Egan
Captain and hooker Peter Wallace (neck injury) is a late withdrawal and been replaced by Sione Katoa. Wayde Egan fills the vacancy on the interchange bench. Nick Lui-Toso and Kaide Ellis were omitted from the squad on Thursday night, while Tom Eisenhuth was cut an hour before kick-off.
Bulldogs: 1 Moses Mbye, 2 Brett Morris, 3 Josh Morris, 4 Will Hopoate, 5 Marcelo Montoya, 6 Jeremy Marshall-King, 7 Kieran Foran, 8 Aaron Woods, 9 Michael Lichaa, 10 David Klemmer, 11 Josh Jackson (c), 12 Raymond Faitala-Mariner, 13 Adam Elliott
Interchange: 14 Asipeli Fine, 15 Danny Fualalo, 16 Greg Eastwood, 17 Kerrod Holland
Canterbury are 1-17 and unchanged from last week's 6-0 loss to the Roosters. Renouf Toomaga and Matthew Frawley dropped off the bench on Thursday night, while John Olive and Rhyse Martin were cut an hour from kick-off.
Gold Coast Titans v Cronulla Sharks, 5.30pm Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: 1 Michael Gordon, 2 Anthony Don, 3 Brendan Elliot, 4 Konrad Hurrell, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 Bryce Cartwright, 7 Ashley Taylor, 8 Jarrod Wallace, 9 Mitch Rein, 10 Ryan James (c), 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Will Matthews, 13 Jai Arrow
Interchange: 14 Max King, 15 Jack Stockwell, 16 Keegan Hipgrave, 17 Morgan Boyle
The Gold Coast are 1-17. Titans coach Garth Brennan dropped five-eighth Kane Elgey from last week's team beaten by the Cowboys, moving Bryce Cartwright to five-eighth. Morgan Boyle returns on the bench, while winger Tyronne Roberts-Davis has also been dropped. Phillip Sami reverts to wing and Brendan Elliot will play centre.
Sharks: 1 Josh Dugan (c), 2 Edrick Lee, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Valentine Holmes, 6 Matt Moylan, 7 Chad Townsend, 8 Andrew Fifita (c), 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Matt Prior, 11 Scott Sorensen, 18 Kurt Capewell, 13 Joseph Paulo
Interchange: 14 Jayson Bukuya, 15 James Segeyaro, 16 Avagalu Seumanufagai, 17 Kurt Dillion
Wade Graham (hamstring) is out and is now likely to make his comeback next week against Parramatta. Kurt Capewell replaces Graham in the second row. Jayson Bukuya (groin) returns on the bench. Matt Prior will play despite being hospitalised with a virus this week.
North Queensland Cowboys v Canberra Raiders, 7.35pm Saturday at 1300Smiles Stadium
Cowboys: 1 Lachlan Coote, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Justin O'Neill, 4 Ben Hampton, 5 Antonio Winterstein, 6 Michael Morgan, 7 Johnathan Thurston (c), 8 Matthew Scott (c), 9 Jake Granville, 10 Scott Bolton, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Coen Hess, 13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14 Te Maire Martin, 15 Shaun Fensom, 16 Corey Jensen, 17 Ethan Lowe
The Cowboys are 1-17. Shaun Fensom last week played his first game back from a long lay-off after breaking his leg in the 2017 grand final and this week comes straight into the Cowboys 17 in place of bench forward John Asiata (pec, 10 weeks).
Raiders: 1 Jack Wighton, 2 Nick Cotric, 3 Jarrod Croker (c), 4 Joseph Leilua, 5 Jordan Rapana, 6 Blake Austin, 7 Aidan Sezer, 8 Iosia Soliola, 9 Siliva Havili, 10 Junior Paulo, 11 Joseph Tapine, 12 Elliott Whitehead, 13 Josh Papalii
Interchange: 14 Ata Hingano, 15 Shannon Boyd, 16 Luke Bateman, 17 Dunamis Lui
Canberra are 1-17. Josh Papalii moves into the starting lock role with Luke Bateman shifting to the bench.
Parramatta Eels v Wests Tigers, 4.10pm Sunday at ANZ Stadium
Eels: 1 Clint Gutherson (c), 2 Bevan French, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Brad Takairangi, 5 George Jennings, 6 Corey Norman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Daniel Alvaro, 9 Kaysa Pritchard, 10 Suaia Matagi, 11 Manu Ma'u, 12 Tony Williams, 13 Peni Terepo
Interchange: 14 Will Smith, 15 Kenny Edwards, 16 David Gower, 17 Tim Mannah (c)
The Eels will start 1-17 after Tepai Moeroa and Josh Hoffman were the last two players to drop off the bench. Bevan French returns from a shoulder injury to replace Jarryd Hayne (hip, 4 weeks) on the wing in the only change to last week's winning team. Lock Nathan Brown remains unavailable with an ankle injury. Kane Evans and Cameron King were cut from the initial 21-man squad on Saturday afternoon.
Tigers: 1 Corey Thompson, 2 David Nofoaluma, 3 Esan Marsters, 4 Kevin Naiqama, 21 Mahe Fonua, 6 Benji Marshall (c), 7 Luke Brooks, 17 Sauaso Sue, 14 Pita Godinet, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Chris Lawrence, 12 Robbie Rochow, 8 Matthew Eisenhuth
Interchange: 9 Jacob Liddle, 15 Josh Aloiai, 16 Michael Chee-Kam, 18 Tim Grant
In the changes made to the squad an hour before kick-off: Mahe Fonua (No.21) will start the match in place of winger Malakai Watene-Zelezniak (out of the squad), Pita Godinet will start at hooker with Jacob Liddle moving back to the bench, Sauaso Sue comes off the bench to start at prop and Matt Eisinhuth will start at lock in the No.8 jersey. Watene-Zelezniak and Tyson Gamble were the two players to drop out of the squad an hour before kick-off. Chris Lawrence returns from a hamstring injury, but lock Elijah Taylor is out, with Josh Aloiai to start. Tim Grant has been promoted to the interchange bench, with Chris McQueen cut from the reserves 24 hours before kick-off.
