NRL Round 12 squad announcements

Broncos: Rhys Kennedy will not play due to a leg infection so John Asiata moves into the starting side at prop with Dale Copley promoted to the interchange. Selwyn Cobbo is the 18th man.

Last week's 18th man Teui Robati has been named to make his debut off the bench to make up for the absence of suspended prop Matt Lodge in the front row.

Walters has given Anthony Milford a third chance, naming the five-eighth to replace suspended No.7 Tyson Gamble with last round's comeback story Albert Kelly shifting to halfback.

Centre Herbie Farnworth is back in the line-up after his late withdrawal last week.

Kotoni Staggs (knee) and Alex Glenn (calf) are at least another week away from returning. 

The Broncos are aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time since rounds 1-2 of 2020.

Storm: Cooper Johns starts at five-eighth with Chris Smith moving to the bench, while Nelson Asofa-Solomona starts in place of Christian Welch (swollen knee).

Aaron Pene joins the bench and Trent Loero is the 18th man, with Dean Ieremia dropping out of the playing squad on game day.

Welch and Isaac Lumelume dropped out of the squad on Wednesday.

Jahrome Hughes (calf) is back in the No.7 after his late withdrawal from the Raiders clash but back-rower Kenny Bromwich (hamstring) will spend at least another week on the sideline.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy expects Ryan Papenhuyzen to be sidelined for 3-4 more weeks which means in-form understudy Nicho Hynes remains at fullback.

Cowboys v Warriors, Friday 6pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Cowboys: Coen Hess will come from the bench in his return from a head knock with Corey Jensen promoted to the starting side. Ben Condon was the last man cut an hour before kick-off and Daejarn Asi is the 18th man.

Jason Taumalolo (suspended) and centre Connolly Lemuelu (thumb) are out but Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow's return from a leg injury is a boost for Todd Payten's men.

The absence of bench forwards Lachlan Burr (suspended) and Francis Molo (head knock) opens up places on the interchange for Peter Hola and Hess with try-scoring debutant Heilum Luki retaining his spot in the 17.

Justin O'Neill and Emry Pere were the first two players cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Warriors: The Warriors will line up 1-17 with Sean O'Sullivan the last man cut and Rocco Berry 18th man.

Teen sensation Reece Walsh has retained the No.1 jersey with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck staying on the wing. 

Prop Bunty Afoa and second-rower Ben Murdoch-Masila drop back to the interchange, swapping places with Kane Evans and Jack Murchie.

Taniela Otukolo and Jackson Frei were the first two cuts from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Back-rower Josh Curran (elbow) and prop Tom Ale (ankle) are at least another week away from returning. 

The Warriors have won four of their past five games against the Cowboys.

Wests Tigers v Dragons, Friday 7.55pm at Bankwest Stadium

Wests Tigers: They'll start 1-17 with Kiah Cooper the 18th man. James Roberts is back after four weeks on the sideline with a pectoral injury. He comes onto the wing with Tommy Talau moving into centre and Joey Leilua dropping out of the squad.

Last week's late inclusion, dummy-half Jake Simpkin, drops off the interchange with Tom Amone taking his place.

Simpkin and Stefano Utoikamanu were omitted from the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off.

Dragons: In a late positional change, Poasa Faamausili will start at prop with Paul Vaughan moving back to the bench. Apart from that, the Dragons are 1-17 with Kaide Ellis the 18th man.

Forward Josh Kerr (shoulder charge) misses a week after entering an early guilty plea and is replaced by Tariq Sims, who returns after serving a one-game ban.

Fullback Cody Ramsey, interchange forward Jaiyden Hunt and winger Max Feagai all failed HIAs during the loss to the Sharks with the first two named this week and Feagai replaced by the returning Brayden Wiliame (calf).

Late call-up Talatau Amone drops back to the interchange with recently signed veteran Gerard Beale earning the first start of his Dragons return in the centres.

Jayden Sullivan and Billy Brittain dropped off the extended bench on Thursday.

Panthers v Bulldogs, Saturday 3pm at BlueBet Stadium

Panthers: Maroons back-rower Kurt Capewell (crusher) accepted a one-week ban with an early plea, allowing Moses Leota (shoulder) to slot back in after his late withdrawal last week. Liam Martin shifts back to the second row.

Dylan Edwards (hamstring) has failed to recover so Stephen Crichton stays at fullback and Paul Momirovski partners hat-trick hero Matt Burton in the centres.

Izack Tago is the 18th man, with Robert Jennings dropping off the extended bench on game day. Mitch Kenny and Lindsay Smith were omitted when the squad was trimmed to 19 players 24 hours out from kick-off.

The Panthers have won their past 14 games at BlueBet Stadium.

Bulldogs: In a late change, Brad Deitz starts at hooker with Jackson Topine moving to the bench.

Jack Hetherington returns at prop and captain Josh Jackson is back locking the scrum in a major revamp of the Canterbury pack.

Ava Seumanufagai drops back to the interchange, Adam Elliott moves from No.13 to the second row in place of Chris Smith (suspended) and Topine returns from injury to replace Sione Katoa (suspended) in the squad.. 

Fullback Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will play despite suffering a foot injury in the loss to Gold Coast and rookie centre Aaron Schoupp retains his place.

Corey Waddell is the 18th man with Tui Katoa omitted from the reserves an hour before kick-off. Kyle Flanagan and Renouf Atoni were dropped from the bench on Friday.

Bulldogs winger Nick Meaney has scored tries in his past three games.

Rabbitohs v Eels, Saturday 5.30pm at Stadium Australia

Rabbitohs: Cameron Murray (ankle) and Jacob Host (quad) will make their returns, with Liam Knight and Jaydn Su'A relegated from the side humbled by Penrith.

Murray moves to an edge forward role with Mark Nicolls starting at lock and Host to come off the bench. 

Josh Mansour (head knock) will miss this week's game and his place on the wing is taken by Taane Milne.

Jai Arrow has been promoted to start at prop with Thomas Burgess going to the bench. Hame Sele joins the bench and Jed Cartwright misses out.

Su'A is the 18th man with Braidon Burns dropping off the extended bench an hour before kick-off. Knight and Patrick Mago were the first two players cut from the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Eels: Prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard took an early plea on a high tackle charge and will miss this weekend's game. Oregon Kaufusi moves into the starting side and Marata Niukore joins the bench in his comeback game from a two-week suspension.

Will Penisini is the 18th man with Makahesi Makatoa dropping off the reserves list on game day. Haze Dunster and Jordan Rankin were the first two players omitted from the extended squad on Friday.

Five-eighth Dylan Brown has another week of his ban to serve. Utility Will Smith (thumb) is likely at least another week away from a return.

Roosters v Raiders, Saturday 7.35pm at Central Coast Stadium

Roosters: Several late changes with halfback Sam Walker dropping out of the side to 18th man and Joey Manu shifting to five-eighth and Lachlan Lam to halfback.

Manu's shift away from the centres sees teenager Joseph Suaalii return to the starting side in jersey 21.

Egan Butcher joins the bench and Tuku Hau Tupuha is out.

Nat Butcher was moved into the starting side in place of the suspended Angus Crichton 24 hours before kick-off. Naufahu Whyte was left out on the eve of the match.

Both Victor Radley (five matches) and Crichton (two matches) were suspended after being unsuccessful at the judiciary on Tuesday night.

With Radley out, Isaac Liu moves from prop to lock and Siosiua Taukeiaho is promoted to start at prop. Daniel Suluka Fifita joins the bench.

Raiders: Josh Hodgson has been promoted to the starting side in his comeback game from suspension and Tom Starling goes to the bench.

Five-eighth Jack Wighton also returns from suspension and winger Jordan Rapana is back from a hamstring injury. 

Sam Williams is the new halfback after Englishman George Williams was granted an immediate release by the club during the week.

Veteran Sia Soliola has been named on the bench and Hudson Young drops out. Also gone from last week's bench is Brad Schneider, who made his NRL debut last week.

Elliott Whitehead suffered a gruesome finger injury during the deflating loss to Melbourne but will play. 

Harry Rushton and Brad Schneider were left out 24 hours before kick-off. Elijah Anderson is 18th man.

Sharks v Titans, Sunday 2pm at C.ex Coffs International Stadium, Coffs Harbour

Sharks: One late change on the bench, with Franklin Pele (No.20) moving into the 17. Billy Magoulias will be the 18th man.

The absence of suspended trio Mawene Hiroti, Josh Dugan and Teig Wilton has forced a reshuffle. Hiroti's wing spot is taken by Ronaldo Mulitalo, who returns from a knee injury.

Wilton is replaced on the interchange bench by Siosifa Talakai, who returns from a four-game suspension. Jesse Ramien is back from an eye injury to fill the centre spot vacated by Dugan.

Shaun Johnson has again been named to return from a hamstring injury for his 200th career game with halfback Chad Townsend dropped to the reserves list.

Franklin Pele replaces Andrew Fifita on the bench, with Jensen Taumoepeau the other player omitted from the reserves 24 hours before kick-off.

Titans: Gold Coast will start 1-17 with Esen Marsters the 18th man. The return of David Fifita from suspension pushes Beau Fermor to the bench and Sam Stone out of the squad.

Patrick Herbert is back from a calf injury in the centres.

Jai Whitbread and Ash Taylor (hip) dropped off the extended bench on Saturday.

Knights v Sea Eagles, Sunday 4.05pm at McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights: Star fullback Kalyn Ponga (groin injury) and five-eighth Kurt Mann are both out. Tex Hoy replaces Ponga at fullback with Connor Watson replacing Mann.

Watson will partner Phoenix Crossland in the halves after veteran Blake Green announced his immediate retirement from rugby league earlier this week. New signing Jake Clifford will be available next week.

Simi Sasagi is the 18th man.

Ponga and Jack Johns were trimmed from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Lock Mitch Barnett plays his 100th game for the club.

Sea Eagles: Josh Schuster is out after sustaining a leg injury at the captain's run with Tevita Funa the new five-eighth. Christian Tuipulotu is the 18th man.

A big in for Manly with Curtis Sironen named to return early from a knee injury via the interchange bench. Karl Lawton retains his spot in the side after playing his first game for the club last weekend and has been promoted from the bench to the run-on side in the back row.

Haumole Olakau'atu has been sidelined by a hand injury. 

Toafofoa Sipley (dangerous contact) and Lawton (high tackle) have both escaped with fines after entering early guilty pleas.

Dylan Walker (hamstring) and Kieran Foran (hand) are not expected back until after the bye.

Toafofoa Sipley (dangerous contact) and Lawton (high tackle) have both escaped with fines after entering early guilty pleas.

Dylan Walker (hamstring) and Kieran Foran (hand) are not expected back until after the bye.