NRL Round 4 squad announcements

Sea Eagles: Morgan Boyle is promoted to the starting pack with Jack Gosiewski shifting back to the bench. Toafofoa Sipley dropped out of last week's side that went down to the Dragons.

Star fullback Tom Trbojevic (hamstring) is at least another round away from riding to the rescue. Stand-in fullback Dylan Walker had a much better game against the Dragons and holds on to the No.1 jersey.

Injuries to key back-rowers saw young playmaker Josh Schuster move into the pack and he was more than up for the challenge so he'll again wear the No.12 jersey.

Tevita Funa and Christian Tuipulotu dropped off the reserves list on game day after Morgan Harper and Christian Tuipulotu were omitted 24 hours before kick-off.

Penrith: The Panthers are 1-17 as named on Tuesday. With Dylan Edwards expected to miss a month after breaking his hand in the grand final rematch, Stephen Crichton shifts to fullback, Matt Burton goes to the centres and co-captain Nathan Cleary returns at halfback.

The forward pack remains unchanged and Spencer Leniu has been named to take his place on the interchange despite hurting his shoulder against the Storm.

Scott Sorensen, Jaeman Salmon, Billy Burns and J'Maine Hopgood made way from the intial 21-man squad.

Bulldogs v Rabbitohs, Friday 4.05pm at Stadium Australia

Bulldogs: Dummy-half Jeremy Marshall-King suffered a mid-foot ligament injury against the Broncos and will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks. Sione Katoa has been named to replace him at hooker.

Nick Meaney moves to fullback in a straight swap with Corey Allan, while Lachlan Lewis gets a recall at five-eighth with Jake Averillo sidelined by an ankle injury.

Josh Jackson's suspension for a crusher tackle opens the door for Renouf Atoni to start while Jackson Topine and Dean Britt are the new faces on the bench.

Averillo and Chris Smith were the first two players omitted from the 21-man squad on Thursday. Brandon Wakeham and Matt Doorey were dropped an hour before kick-off to leave the Dogs 1-17.

Winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and English forward Luke Thompson are due back from suspension in round five.

Rabbitohs: No changes to the 17 which took care of arch-rivals the Roosters in impressive fashion in round three.

Prop Junior Tatola did not train with the side on Monday due to a hamstring niggle but will play. Fellow prop Liam Knight has been ruled out indefinitely after suffering a head knock at training in February. 

Dean Hawkins and Troy Dargan were cut from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off. Steven Marsters and Jacob Host suffered the same fate on game day.

Hame Sele (ribs) is at least another two weeks away while Taane Milne (knee), Braidon Burns (knee) and Blake Taaffe (ankle) are looking at around another month on the sideline.  

Storm v Broncos, Friday 8.05pm at AAMI Park

Storm: A number of late changes for the Storm with youngster Trent Loiero called in to make his NRL debut on the bench in jersey 20. Nicho Hynes also comes onto the bench after being named in the reserves on Tuesday. Tui Kamikamica comes into the starting side and Nelson Asofa-Solomona switches to the bench.

Aaron Pene and Dean Ieremia were the last two players omitted an hour before kick-off.

Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen makes his return from a neck injury while back-rower Tom Eisenhuth will also play after suffering rib cartilage damage against Penrith.

Tyson Smoothy and Darryn Schonig were omitted from the squad on Thursday night.

Brenko Lee (hamstring) has had his return delayed by Brisbane's COVID lockdown, which denied him a first hit-out of the season in the Intrust Super Cup,  with Felise Kaufusi (suspension) and Dale Finucane (calf) targeting round five and hooker Harry Grant (knee) an outside chance of also returning that week.

Broncos: Kevin Walters has made a late change in the halves with Tom Dearden promoted to start at halfback at the expense of Brodie Croft, who goes back to the bench.

The return of Payne Haas (suspension) and Matt Lodge (hamstring) is a huge boost for the Broncos and sees Tevita Pangai and Thomas Flegler move to the bench.

Rhys Kennedy and Richie Kennar dropped off the reserves list 24 hours before kick-off. John Asiata and Ethan Bullemor were cut an hour before game time.

Sharks v Cowboys, Saturday 5.15pm at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

Sharks: Cronulla are 1-17, with Will Kennedy and Wade Graham (head knocks) both cleared to face the Cowboys.

Winger Sione Katoa suffered a knee injury midway through the first half in Saturday's loss to the Eels and is looking at eight weeks out. He has been replaced by Mawene Hiroti.

Briton Nikora accepted a two-week ban for a shoulder charge on Clint Gutherson and his spot in the pack has been taken by Teig Wilton. The new face on the bench is Braydon Trindall.

Centre Jesse Ramien (suspension) will be available for round five while forwards Royce Hunt (knee) and Siosifa Talakai (shoulder) had their returns pushed back to about round seven.

Frankline Pele and Nene Macdonald dropped off the reserves list on game day after Andrew Fifita and Jason Taumoepeau were the two players left out 24 hours before the match.

The Sharks have won their past five games against the Cowboys.

Cowboys: Coach Todd Payten's patience has run out after three losses with Jake Clifford and Esan Marsters dropped while Mitchell Dunn (foot) and Reuben Cotter (head knock) have missed out through injury.

Justin O'Neill will move from the wing to the centres and partner Connelly Lemuelu, who has come in for his first game of the season. Youngster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will go back to the wing.

With Clifford gone, Ben Hampton has been brought into the side at halfback to partner Scott Drinkwater.

The back row has taken on a whole new look with Ben Condon coming in for his second NRL game to join Shane Wright and Josh McGuire.

Michael Morgan's shoulder injury continues to keep him sidelined.

Jake Clifford and Peta Hola were omitted from the reserves an hour before kick-off after Marsters and Griffin Neame dropped out of the squad the day before the match.

Second-rower Coen Hess will make his 100th NRL appearance from the bench with Payten hoping to "simplify" his role.

Titans v Raiders, Saturday 7.45pm at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

Titans: The Titans are 1-17. Tyrone Peachey will again start at lock with key recruit Tino Fa'asuamaleaui at prop.

The Titans can achieve their best start to a season after four rounds in five years.

Brian Kelly won't return from his broken hand for another week. He and Beau Fermor dropped off the reserves list an hour before kick-off after Herman Ese'ese and Sam McIntyre were left out of the squad the day before the match.

Raiders: Ryan James moves into the starting side at prop with Josh Papalii to come off the bench. James and centre Sebastian Kris passed concussion protocols after suffering head knocks last week.

Kris will replace Curtis Scott (ribs) in the starting team.

Dunamis Lui and Hudson Young return in a boost for a pack that was bruised and battered in last round's heart-breaking loss to the Warriors.

Lui will come in at prop with Ryan Sutton sliding back to lock as the replacement for Joseph Tapine (ankle).

Sam Williams and Semi Valemei dropped off the extended bench on game day after Caleb Aekins and Emre Guler were the two players omitted 24 hours before kick-off.

The Raiders have won their past four games against the Titans.

Knights v Dragons, Sunday 4.05pm at McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights: Coach Adam O'Brien has again swapped lock Connor Watson and interchange forward Suaso Sue on match day but otherwise the final Newcastle squad is 1-17.

The final omissions from the Knights' match-day squad are Brodie Jones and Dominic Young.

Bradman Best (elbow), a late withdrawal last week, misses the side and is replaced in the centres by Gehamat Shibasaki, who shifts in from the wing. Starford To'a is the new winger.

Five-eighth Blake Green, making his way back from a knee injury, is on the team list for the first time this season. Green has been named on the interchange bench in jersey No.17. 

Forward Jacob Saifiti (leg) has been named on the interchange after having failed to finish the loss to Wests Tigers.

Simi Sasagi and Pasami Saulo dropped off the reserves list 24 hours before kick-off.

Dragons: No late changes an hour before kickoff with the squad confirmed to run out 1-17. Kaide Ellis and Jordan Pereira are the match-day cuts.

Adam Clune is the replacement for skipper Ben Hunt who suffered an impact fracture to his fibula in the win over the Sea Eagles and is scheduled to return in round eight.

Brayden Wiliame has been promoted from the bench to replace suspended centre Jack Bird after scoring a late try off the bench in the romp over Manly.

Max Feagai and Eddie Blacker were the players omitted from the extended squad on Saturday.

Roosters v Warriors, Sunday 6.15pm at Sydney Cricket Ground

Roosters: Former Bulldogs hooker Benjamin Marschke comes on to the bench in place of outside back Matt Ikuvalu in the only match-day change to the home team's 17. Ikuvalu and Egan Butcher are the men to omitted from the squad.

Victor Radley makes a welcome return from a shoulder injury at lock for the 2019 premiers. Last week's No.13 Isaac Liu moves up to prop to replace Lindsay Collins (ankle). 

As expected, boom youngster Sam Walker replaces Luke Keary (knee) at halfback and Drew Hutchison takes the luckless Lachlan Lam's place at five-eighth.

Nat Butcher is the new face on the interchange. Joseph Suaalii and Tukupa-Ke Hau Tapuha were trimmed from the reserves on Saturday.

Warriors: Injury has forced a change to the starting line-up after Peta Hiku was ruled out with a knee injury that is expected to sideline him for at least a month. Former Bulldog Marcelo Montoya has been called into the centres to make his club debut in Hiku's place.

There has also been a reshuffle in the pack with Bayley Sironen promoted from the interchange to the starting second row, Tohu Harris shifting to lock and Jazz Tevaga sliding back to the bench.

Tom Ale and Kane Evans were cut from the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off. Paul Turner and Rocco Berry were dropped on game day.

Wests Tigers v Eels, Monday 4.05pm at Stadium Australia

Tigers: Coach Michael Maguire has named an unchanged squad for the local derby after a morale-boosting weekend saw the team not only pick up two points but also avoid the injury carnage that battered so many sides. 

The club's only absentees, Shawn Blore (wrist) and Billy Walters (knee), are both at least two weeks away from a return to action.

Joey Leilua and Alex Seyfarth were dropped from the squad 24 hours out from kick-off. Russell Packer and Michael Chee Kam were left out on game day.

The Tigers are chasing back-to-back wins for the first time since Round 7, 2020.

Eels: Ryan Matterson was named to return from a head knock but was omitted from the squad an hour out from kick-off.

Matterson's absence in the second-row has again been taken by Isaiah Papali'i with Keegan Hipgrave promoted from the reserves to the interchange.

Back-rower Bryce Cartwright was included among the reserves after recovering from a broken jaw suffered in a pre-season training accident but missed out on the game-day 17 and played in the NSW Cup curtain-raiser.

Jordan Rankin and Haze Dunster were omitted on Sunday.