NRL Round 11 squad announcements

Cowboys: Prop Coen Hess failed his HIA in the loss to the Roosters and will sit out this week's match due to the short turnaround. 

Tom Gilbert comes into the starting side to replace Hess and the new face on the bench is 20-year-old back-rower Heilum Luki, who will make his NRL debut.

Daejarn Asi is the 18th man, with Corey Jensen dropping out of the playing squad on game day. Ben Condon and Kane Bradley were the first two players cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.

The Cowboys have won five of their past seven games against the Knights and their past three games at QCB Stadium.

Knights: Kurt Mann moves to fullback in a reshuffled Knights backline, with Simi Sasagi replacing Bradman Best (hamstring) in the centres and Blake Green at halfback.

Winger Hymel Hunt has been sidelined by the recurrence of a hamstring injury and his place is taken by Brayden Musgrove.

Phoenix Crossland goes to five-eighth and Tex Hoy is the new 18th man with Josh King omitted an hour before kick-off.

Gehamat Shibasaki was omitted from the squad on Wednesday.

Gun fullback Kalyn Ponga missed Magic Round due to a hip injury and remains sidelined.

The Knights have not won in Townsville since 2015 and only one of their past 15 games in Queensland.

Warriors v Wests Tigers, Friday 6pm at Central Coast Stadium

Warriors: Young gun Reece Walsh has come in to the starting side at fullback after initially being named on the bench. Skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck moves to the wing to replace Ken Maumalo. 

Bunty Afoa and Eliesa Katoa move into the starting side with Kane Evans and Jack Murchie shifting to the bench.

Josh Curran is out for up to a month after he hyper-extended his right elbow in the loss to Parramatta while rookie centre Rocco Berry (head knock) is also out. Marcelo Montoya returns from a knee injury to take Berry's place.

Edward Kosi is the 18th man with Taniela Otukolo dropping off the reserves list on game day. Maumalo and Sean O'Sullivan were the two players to come out of the squad on Thursday.

Prop Ben Murdoch-Masila has scored three tries in his past four games.

Wests Tigers: Jake Simpkin replaces Jock Madden on the bench and Michael Chee Kam is the 18th man.

Adam Doueihi remains at centre and Moses Mbye at five-eighth, the positional switch which paid off handsomely at Suncorp.

Stefano Utoikamanu and Tom Amone were the first two players omitted 24 hours before kick-off.

Russell Packer will wait at least another week to return from a knee injury while James Roberts (shoulder) is pushing to be back in round 12.

David Nofoaluma will play his 150th NRL game while Wests Tigers have won five of their past seven games against the Warriors.

Sharks v Dragons, Friday 7.55pm at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium

Sharks: Andrew Fifita is out, with Billy Magoulias added to the bench. Shaun Johnson was the other player omitted from the extended bench on Thursday night after failing to overcome his hamstring injury.

Franklin Pele is 18th man with Jensen Taumoepeau omitted from the playing squad on game day.

The Sharks have won four of their past five games against the Dragons, fullback Will Kennedy has scored five tries in his past four games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium while prop Aaron Woods has scored three tries in his past four games against the Dragons.

Dragons: St George Illawarra have reshuffled their team on game day. Talatau Amone starts at centre, Billy Burns moves to the bach row, Poasa Faamausili shifting to the front row and Paul Vaughan to the bench.

Adam Clune replaces Daniel Alvaro on the bench, with Alvaro the new 18th man.

The Dragons are without Josh McGuire (five weeks), Tyrell Fuimaono (five weeks), Mikaele Ravalawa (two weeks) and Tariq Sims (one week) after all four entered guilty please to charges generated during the Magic Round loss to Melbourne. Fullback Matt Dufty (shoulder) is also sidelined.

Cody Ramsey shifts from wing to fullback while Jordan Pereira returns from suspension on one wing and youngster Max Feagai is the other winger.

Prop Jaiyden Hunt has been named to make his NRL debut from the bench where he will be joined by second-gamer Junior Amone, Kaide Ellis and Daniel Alvaro.

Billy Brittain dropped out of the side on game day after Hayden Lomax and Gerard Beale were trimmed from the reserves 24 hours before kick-off.

The Dragons have won only two of their past seven games at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.

Titans v Bulldogs, Saturday 3pm at Cbus Super Stadium

Titans: Gold Coast will start 1-17 with Jai Whitbread the 18th man. With Herman Ese'ese (three weeks) and Tyrone Peachey (two weeks) suspended, the Titans have reshuffled their pack. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui shifts from prop to lock and Mo Fotuaika moves into the starting side at prop.

Sam Stone and Erin Clark are the new faces on the bench.

Ash Taylor and Toby Sexton were culled when the 19-man squad was announced 24 hours out from kick-off.

The Titans have won four of their past five games at Cbus Super Stadium but they have conceded 188 points in their past five outings in 2021.

Bulldogs: In a change announced an hour before kick-off, Adam Elliott moves into the starting side, with Renouf Atoni now on the interchange. Ofahiki Ogden is the 18th man. 

Winger Tui Katoa has been sidelined after he was on the end of Josh Papalii's high shot on Saturday.

Canterbury have been granted an NRL exemption to replace him with Watson Heleta in their squad. Heleta was omitted an hour before kick-off. Kyle Flanagan and Joe Stimson were also omitted from their reserves on Friday.

Nick Meaney moves out to the wing and the new centre is 19-year-old debutant Aaron Schoupp.

Prop Dylan Napa has been named on the bench in his return from a shoulder injury.

Matt Doorey has been promoted to the starting side in the second row.

Jeremy Marshall-King (foot), Josh Jackson (calf) and Jack Hetherington (suspension) are at least another week away. 

The Bulldogs have lost their past seven games in Queensland.

Roosters v Broncos, Saturday 5.30pm at Sydney Cricket Ground

Roosters: Teen prodigy Joseph Suaalii will start in the centres after Josh Morris was omitted an hour before kick-off. It will be a much-anticipated debut for the 17-year-old.

Trent Robinson confirmed on Thursday that Suaalii would play.

"It's been really clear to all of us that Joseph has been ready for the last few weeks, and it's time for him to start his journey in the NRL this weekend," Robinson said. 

Egan Butcher will be the 18th man.

Forwards Sitili Tupouniua and Angus Crichton are free to play after being assessed with fines following their high tackle and dangerous contact charges.

Daniel Suluka-Fifita and Naufahu Whyte were the first two players cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off and Fletcher Baker came onto the bench.

The Roosters scored 117 points in home and away wins over the Broncos in 2020 and fullback James Tedesco has scored eight tries in his past seven games at the SCG.

Broncos: Super League returnee Albert Kelly is the new five-eighth after coach Kevin Walters again lost patience with inconsistent playmaker Anthony Milford in the wake of Brisbane's humiliating loss to Manly.

Centre Herbie Farnworth was forced out by hamstring tightness on Friday with Dale Copley into the starting side after the Broncos were granted an exemption to add Richard Kennar to their 21-man squad.

Kennar was omitted an hour before kick-off with Teui Robati the 18th man.

In other changes, last week's 18th man Keenan Palasia will add to the two career games he played in 2019 as the replacement for suspended back-rower Jordan Riki, David Mead comes on to one wing in place of former Origin star Corey Oates, and hooker Kobe Hetherington, son of former Origin rake Jason, has been named to make his NRL debut off the bench.

Brendan Piakura and Danny Levi dropped out of the squad 24 hours before kick-off.

The Broncos, who have not won in Sydney since round 16, 2019 and have lost 14 consecutive games away from Suncorp Stadium, have another opportunity to claim the 500th win in the club’s history.

Raiders v Storm, Saturday 7.55pm at GIO Stadium

Raiders: Ryan Sutton has been promoted to the starting side in his return from an elbow injury and Hudson Young reverts to the bench. Matthew Timoko is 18th man,

Ricky Stuart has been forced into multiple changes by the suspensions of Jack Wighton, Josh Papalii and Josh Hodgson.

Veteran playmaker Sam Williams is the new five-eighth, Dunamis Lui moves from lock to prop to cover for Papalii and NSW Cup halfback Brad Schneider has been named to make his NRL debut off the bench in place of Hodgson.

Siliva Havili and Harry Rushton were the first two players cut 24 hours before kick-off and Iosia Soliola was the last man cut an hour before kick-off.

Joe Tapine (knee) and Jordan Rapana (hamstring) are at least another week away from selection.

Captain Jarrod Croker has recovered from a shoulder injury but will remain out indefinitely as he receives treatment for a knee issue.

The Raiders have lost their past three games at GIO Stadium and have won only three of their past 18 games at the venue against the Storm.

Storm: A late change an hour before kick-off with Aaron Booth coming on to the bench for his NRL debut and Aaron Pene dropping back to 18th man. Dean Ieremia was the last man cut from the squad.

Jahrome Hughes (calf) and Kenny Bromwich (hamstring) came out of the side on Friday with Cooper Johns to slot in at halfback and Tom Eisenhuth moving into the back row. Trent Loiero is the new face on the bench.

With Ryan Papenhuyzen (head knock) missing round 11 as expected Nicho Hynes returns to fullback.

Brandon Smith's suspension expired at just the right time with Tyson Smoothy sidelined by a knee injury, the Kiwi coming straight back in at dummy-half.

The Storm have scored 40 points or more in six of their past seven games while winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored nine tries in his past two games.

Rabbitohs v Panthers, Sunday 2pm at Apex Oval, Dubbo

Rabbitohs: Campbell Graham has been moved from the reserves list into the centres, with Braidon Burns (No.4) now the 18th man. Jed Cartwright comes into the squad in the No.22 jersey and will be on the interchange bench. 

Campbell Latrell Mitchell reclaims the No.1 jersey after completing his suspension which allows coach Wayne Bennett to shift Cody Walker back to five-eighth and return Benji Marshall to his bench utility role.

Veteran winger Josh Mansour (hamstring) is also back in the line-up, meaning Taane Milne drops out of the 21. 

The consequences of Jaydn Su'A and Dane Gagai's transgressions in Brisbane were limited to fines for both players.

Jacob Host, Dean Hawkins and Patrick Mago were left out 24 hours before kick-off.

Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has scored 32 tries from his past 32 games while halfback Adam Reynolds has landed 21 of his past 22 attempts at goal.

Panthers: With Dylan Edwards and Moses Leota out, Stephen Crichton moves to fullback and Paul Momirovski into the centres.

Liam Martin will start at prop and Matt Eseinhuth is on the bench. Spencer Leniu is now on the interchange bench and Robert Jennings is the 18th man.

Edwards, Leota and J'maine Hopgood were omitted the day before the game.

Origin back-rower Kurt Capewell (head knock) returns this week after sitting out Magic Round which pushes last-start try-scorer Liam Martin to the interchange.

Penrith were granted an NRL exemption on Friday to replace Hopgood with Jennings.

Utility Matt Burton has once again held on to his centre spot.

The Panthers have won their past three games against the Rabbitohs and winger Charlie Staines has scored five tries in his past two games.

Eels v Sea Eagles, Sunday 4.05pm at Bankwest Stadium

Eels: The Eels will start 1-17 with Haze Dunster the 18th man. Coach Brad Arthur has made just one change to his 17 from last week with dummy-half Joey Lussick coming on to the interchange.

Halfback Mitchell Moses, who left the field late in Sunday's win over the Warriors after having his foot stepped on, has been named as expected.

Centre Marata Niukore and pivot Dylan Brown have, respectively, one and two weeks left to serve of their suspensions.

Keegan Hipgrave and Jordan Rankin were the two players to drop out 24 hours before kick-off.

The Eels have won nine of their past 12 games against the Sea Eagles, winger Maika Sivo has scored 27 tries in 27 games at Bankwest Stadium and Mitchell Moses requires three points for 200 points at Bankwest Stadium.

Sea Eagles: Five-eighth Cade Cust dropped out of the side on Friday due to a lower leg injury and Karl Lawton added. Josh Schuster shifts from second row to five-eighth, Sean Keppie goes from the bench into the second row and Lawton joins the bench.

Christian Tuipulotu is the 18th man.

Kieran Foran is expected to miss 2-4 weeks with a hand injury and return after the round 13 bye.

Injured duo Dylan Walker (hamstring) and Curtis Sironen (knee) have also had their return dates pushed back to round 14.

Tevita Funa and Jorge Taufua were the two players omitted 24 hours before the match.

Jake Trbojevic will play his 150th NRL game for the Sea Eagles while Daly Cherry-Evans will become only the third Manly player, after Jamie Lyon and Geoff Toovey, to captain the club in 100 first-grade games and Des Hasler will have the chance to become only their second coach after Bob Fulton to achieve 150 wins.