NRL Round 6 squad announcements

Broncos: Centre Jesse Arthars missed Wednesday's captain's run with illness and is out of the side to face Penrith. David Mead moves into the centres and Corey Oates gets a recall on the left wing for his first game of 2021.

Prop Tom Flegler also missed training on Wednesday due to illness but he is expected to play.

Five-eighth Anthony Milford has been dropped with his place taken by Brodie Croft. Back-rower Ben Te'o is scheduled to undergo surgery this week and will be out for at least 12 weeks after suffering a biceps injury against the Rabbitohs. Ethan Bullemor has taken his place on the bench.

Patrick Carrigan will return from suspension at lock, pushing Tevita Pangai jnr to the second row and Jordan Riki to the bench.

Keenan Palasia was omitted from the squad 24 hours before kick-off. Cory Paix was cut an hour before game time and Rhys Kennedy is the 18th man.

The Broncos have won four of their past five games against the Panthers.

Panthers: The Panthers had the luxury of naming the same squad that beat Canberra last week and will line up 1-17.

The only Penrith players sidelined at the moment are fullback Dylan Edwards (hand, round 8) and hooker Api Koroisau (wrist, round 8-10).

Robert Jennings and J'maine Hopgood were the first two players cut from the squad on Thursday. Scott Sorensen was omitted an hour before kick-off and Jaeman Salmon is the 18th man.

The Panthers have averaged 28 points per game in 2021.

Panthers tactics pick apart makeshift Raiders

Knights v Sharks, Friday 6pm at McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights: Three big ins with Bradman Best (elbow), five-eighth Kurt Mann (concussion) and prop Jacob Saifiti (suspension) all back on deck.

Best's return sees Gehamat Shibasaki drop out of the side while Connor Watson has shifted from five-eighth to lock to accommodate Mann.

Saifiti will return on the bench with Pasami Saulo dropping to the reserves.

Cessnock product Brayden Musgrove has been named to make his debut on the wing.

Edrick Lee (foot) and Tex Hoy (hamstring) are another week away while Phoenix Crossland (knee) was included in the extended squad but dropped out on Thursday along with Shibasaki. Simi Sasagi and Pasami Saulo were omitted on game day.

Fullback Kalyn Ponga has won his past five games at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Sharks: Winger Ronaldo Mulitalo (knee) dropped out on Thursday and the backline shuffle sees Connor Tracey move from centre to wing, Teig Wilton from second row to centre and Jack Williams come into the back row. The new addition on the bench is Braydon Trindall.

Having "regained full fitness" after shoulder surgery, per the Sharks website, back-rower Siosfia Talakai is set to play his first game of the season after being included on the bench.

Captain Wade Graham and centre Josh Dugan will both miss the game after failing HIAs last week. Graham has had two concussions in the space of three weeks and said on Tuesday he's a "week-to-week proposition".

Briton Nikora comes back from suspension to fill the hole in the back row.

Jenson Taumoepeau dropped out of the squad on game day while Franklin Pele is the 18th man. Nene Macdonald was omitted from the squad 24 hours before kick-off. 

Fullback William Kennedy has scored six tries in five games in 2021.

Fitzgibbon backed to succeed by Robinson

Storm v Roosters, Friday 7.55pm at AAMI Park

Storm: Premiership-winning centre Brenko Lee successfully returned from a hamstring injury in the Queensland Cup last week and was named in the extended squad but will not make his comeback this week. Lee and Aaron Pene were cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Tui Kamikamica starts at lock with Nelson Asofa-Solomona to come off the bench.

Dean Ieremia dropped off the reserves list on game day, with Chris Lewis the 18th man.

Dale Finucane (calf) is still at least another week away.

Fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen has scored 46 points in his past two games.

Roosters: Brett Morris has been ruled out with hamstring tightness, replaced on the wing by Matt Ikuvalu, while Fletcher Baker is the 18th man.

Hooker Ben Marschke was successful at the judiciary on Tuesday night in challenging a crusher tackle charge and is free to play.

He will slot in at No.9 to fill the void left by Freddy Lussick, who suffered a fractured arm in round five and could miss 6-8 weeks.

Prop Lindsay Collins is set to come back from the head knock and ankle injury he suffered in the loss to the Rabbitohs while utility Adam Keighran (dislocated wrist) has been named to return on the bench.

Jesse Marshcke and Daniel Suluka-Fifita were the first two players cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Sea Eagles v Titans, Saturday 3pm at Glen Willow Stadium, Mudgee

Sea Eagles: Gun fullback Tom Trbojevic has been locked in to make his long-awaited return from a hamstring injury. Trbojevic's last game was in round 19, 2020.

Josh Aloiai and Sean Keppie were promoted to the starting side on game day with Martin Taupau and Haumole Olakauatu shifting to the bench. Olakau'atu (elbow) and bench utility Cade Cust (virus) are both returning to the side. 

Dylan Walker, who filled in at the back in the opening five rounds, faces about eight weeks out with a hamstring injury.

Forward Jack Gosiewski could be out up to three months after suffering a foot injury in the drought-breaking win over the Warriors.

Zac Saddler dropped off the reserves an hour before kick-off, with Tevita Funa the 18th man. Christian Tuipulotu and Ben Trbojevic were the players omitted from the reserves list on Friday. 

The Sea Eagles will play their first NRL game in Mudgee.

Titans: Winger Phillip Sami has not passed HIA protocols after a head knock last week and coach Justin Holbrook confirmed on Friday that he would not suit up, with Jonus Pearson coming onto the wing for his first NRL start of 2021.

Veteran winger Anthony Don (hip) will sit out this round but the club expects he'll be "definitely right" for the following week's clash with South Sydney.

Herman Ese'ese and Sam McIntyre dropped off the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off. Beau Fermor is 18th man.

The Titans have won four of their past five games against the Sea Eagles.

Team effort key to turnaround: Tamou

Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers, Saturday 5.30pm at Stadium Australia

Rabbitohs: Liam Knight (concussion) will make his first appearance of the season and replaces Patrick Mago on the bench, with Hame Sele and Troy Dargan dropping off the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off.

"I'm pretty sure he’s close to coming back," Jai Arrow told NRL.com of Knight on Wednesday.

"He actually did his first full [contact] session where he was in there. He was definitely enjoying himself, he was taking some carries and he was into the boys."

Cody Walker will return from suspension to reclaim the No.6 jumper, pushing Benji Marshall back to the bench. Playmaker Dean Hawkins, who debuted off the interchange against Brisbane last week, was unavailable due to a cut suffered post-match that required 15 stitches.

Fullback Latrell Mitchell has scored six tries in seven games against the Tigers.

Wests Tigers: The Tigers will line up as named on Tuesday. Jake Simpkin will finally get his chance to start at dummy-half with Jacob Liddle dropping out of the side.

Asu Kepaoa has replaced Joey Leilua after the centre, a late addition to the team for the clash with North Queensland, failed a HIA after lasting just 13 minutes. 

Former Eel Stefano Utoikamanu, who has looked better each week, will swap places with prop Zane Musgrove while Tom Amone is the new face in the reserves. 

Liddle and Tom Amone dropped out of the initial 21-man squad on Friday. Alexander Seyfarth is the 18th man.

Wests Tigers have conceded 20 points or more in 15 consecutive games.

Raiders v Eels, Saturday 7.35pm at GIO Stadium

Raiders: Ryan Sutton comes into the starting side and Iosia Soliola goes to the bench in a late switch an hour before game time.

Hooker Josh Hodgson suffered a hip injury against the Panthers but has been cleared to play.

Centre Curtis Scott (ribs) will make his comeback from injury, sending Sebastian Kris to the reserves.

Caleb Aekins has come into the side at fullback in place of Charnze Nicholl-Klokstad (neck), who failed a HIA following a head knock he suffered in the first half against Penrith.

Veteran forward Ryan James (rested) is out of the 21-man squad with Joseph Tapine named at lock and Emre Guler the new face on the interchange. 

Matt Frawley and Dunamis Lui were omitted from the reserves 24 hours before kick-off. Corey Harawira-Naera was the last man cut an hour before kick-off and Kris is 18th man.

Canberra have kept the Eels tryless in their past two games at GIO Stadium.

Eels: Ryan Matterson has been ruled out once again due to concussion symptoms, with Isaiah Papali'i starting in the second row and Wiremu Greig coming onto the bench in jersey 20 for his NRL debut.

Dylan Brown has been suspended for one game for a crusher tackle with his place at five-eighth taken by Will Smith.

Keegan Hipgrave has been recalled on the bench after being left out last week. Joey Lussick dropped off the extended bench on Friday night and Jordan Rankin was the last player cut an hour before kick-off. Haze Dunster is 18th man.

The Eels have not won in Canberra since 2006.

Get Caught Up: Round 5 must-see moments

Dragons v  Warriors, Sunday 2pm at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

Dragons: Josh McGuire will make his Dragons debut via the interchange bench just days after he completed a move from the Cowboys. 

In a move announced on Saturday, Blake Lawrie (cork) drops out of the side, with Trent Merrin promoted to starting prop. Jordan Pereira was the other player omitted from the squad on Saturday.

Another recent signing, former Panthers back-rower Billy Burns will be the 18th man.

Fullback Matt Dufty has scored eight tries in his past seven games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.

Warriors: In a series of moves, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown will start at prop with Leeson Ah Mau dropping back to the bench, Ben Murdoch-Masila will start in the second-row with Jack Murchie now the 18th man and Peta Hiku moved from the wing into the centres in a straight swap with Marcelo Montoya.

Kane Evans also moves from the bench into the front row with Tohu Harris going from prop to lock.

Josh Curran is set to start in the second row with Eliesa Katoa dropping out of the squad.

Tom Ale and Taniela Otukolo dropped off the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off.

The Warriors have won their past four games against the Dragons.

Cowboys v Bulldogs, Sunday 4.05pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Cowboys: Jason Taumalolo (hand) is ruled out once more after suffering a new fractured hand at training, on the opposite hand to the one that he injured in March.

Lachlan Burr will start at lock and Mitch Dunn joining the interchange. Esan Marsters also dropped out of the squad on Saturday.

Jake Clifford is the 18th man.

Justin O'Neill (head knock) is set to make his return from injury in the centres in place of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (ankle). Connolly Lemuelu has been named despite being under a cloud with a shoulder complaint.

The Cowboys have won seven of their past nine games against the Bulldogs.

Bulldogs: In a late change, Renouf Atoni will start at prop with Dylan Napa back to the interchange bench. Aaron Schoupp will be the 18th man.

Skipper Josh Jackson is out after suffering a torn calf at training, with English forward Luke Thompson replacing him at lock.

Chris Smith has moved from the reserves to the interchange. 

Brandon Wakeham, Dean Britt and Joe Stimson dropped off the initial reserves list on Saturday, with Schoupp the new addition.

Playmaker Lachlan Lewis (head knock) was a chance of returning this week but will have to wait until at least next round.

The Bulldogs have not won in Queensland since May 2019.