NRL round 20 squad announcements

Round 20 team lists

Roosters v Eels, Thursday 7.50pm at BB Print Stadium, Mackay

Roosters: The Roosters are 1-17 with Siosiua Taukeiaho returning from a hamstring injury via the interchange bench.

Veteran centre Josh Morris returns to the side in place of the luckless Billy Smith, who is gone for the season with an ankle injury.

Joey Manu shifts to the wing to replace Matt Ikuvalu, who also suffered an ankle injury against the Knights with Adam Keighran a goal-kicking option at centre.

Fletcher Baker is 18th man. Moala Graham-Taufa dropped off the reserves list an hour before kick-off after Ben Marschke and Naufahu Whyte were omitted from the squad on Wednesday.

The Roosters have won four of their past five games against the Eels.

Eels: Centre Tom Opacic is back after being rested in round 19. Ray Stone replaces Bryce Cartwright on the bench, with Haze Dunster the 18th man.

Marata Niukore is out with a knee injury. Will Penisini was relegated to the reserves and omitted from the squad on Wednesday along with Joey Lussick. 

The Eels have not defeated the Roosters twice in the same season since 2007.

Wests Tigers v Warriors, Friday 6pm at Suncorp Stadium

Wests Tigers: James Tamou is out, with the returning Alex Twal to start at prop after overcoming a shoulder injury.

Kelma Tuilagi moves from the reserves list to the interchange bench, with Zac Cini the 18th man.

Jock Madden and Jake Simpkin were the first two players omitted from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.

Wests Tigers five-eighth Adam Doueihi has scored 42 points in his past three games at Suncorp Stadium.

Warriors: In changes announced an hour before kick-off, Euan Aitken moves from the centres into the second row with Viliami Vailea (No.18) to start at centre. Bayley Sironen moves to lock and Jazz Tevaga back to the bench.

Pride Petterson-Robati will be the 18th man.

Eliesa Katoa has passed concussion protocols and will play. 

Peta Hiku returns from a shoulder injury and has been named to captain the side in the wake of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's decision to return home to New Zealand. 

Taniela Otukolo will start at hooker.

The Warriors have won three of their past four games against Wests Tigers.

Broncos v Cowboys, Friday 8.05pm at Suncorp Stadium

Broncos: Teenage forward Xavier Willison has been promoted to the bench and will make his NRL debut on Friday with TC Robati dropping to 18th man.

“I feel it's the right opportunity for Xavier to make his debut for the Broncos,” Broncos coach Kevin Walters said on Thursday.

“He's been training really well, he's keen, he's a big young thing, so looking forward to seeing him get his first opportunity at NRL level.”

Rhys Kennedy has a minor back problem and failed to finish training on Thursday but will play.

Jake Turpin has been named at hooker despite breaking his thumb against the Panthers last week and will need to tick some boxes to play.

Danny Levi is on the bench as back-up for Turpin.

Albert Kelly and Xavier Coates were omitted from the squad 24 hours before kick-off. Jesse Arthars was cut an hour before kick-off.

The Broncos have won seven of their past nine games against the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium.

Cowboys: The Cowboys are 1-17 with no late changes.

Ben Hampton will play after he was held back from a return last week. 

Coach Todd Payten has stuck with the same starting 13 that pushed Melbourne all the way last start.

Peter Hola and Ben Condon were the first two players cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off. Lachlan Burr was the last man cut an hour before kick-off and Daejarn Asi is 18th man.

Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt will make his 150th NRL appearance.

Knights v Raiders, Sunday 1.50pm at Suncorp Stadium

Knights: In a minor change announced an hour before kick-off, Sauaso Sue will start at lock with Connor Watson moving back to the bench. Tex Hoy will be the 18th man.

Mitchell Pearce was named among the reserves on Tuesday but was ruled out due to his hamstring problem. Simi Sasagi was the other player to drop out of the squad on Friday.

Kalyn Ponga dismissed any concerns around a sternum injury suffered against the Roosters last week during a media conference on Tuesday. 

Teenage young gun Bradman Best also said he was confident of playing after being named to return three weeks early from syndesmosis surgery.

Prop David Klemmer (head knock) returns to claim a place on the interchange, pushing Jack Johns out of the 21.

The Knights have won only one of their past five games at Suncorp Stadium.

Raiders: Joe Tapine moves from the bench to the starting side, with Josh Papalii now on the interchange. Dunamis Lui will be the 18th man for the Green Machine.

Bailey Simonsson (foot) and Dunamis Lui (calf) returned to full training but Simonsson was omitted from the 21-man squad on Friday.

Jack Wighton (ribs) was restricted to no contact training on Monday but took part in the side's skills session. 

English forward Elliott Whitehead (shoulder) trained strongly and will play.

Ryan James was the other player omitted from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.

The Raiders have conceded only 44 points in their past three games.

Storm v Panthers, Sunday 4.05pm at Suncorp Stadium

Storm: Harry Grant will return from a hamstring injury via the bench. He joins Jordan Grant, Chris Lewis and Ryan Papenhuyzen as the interchange players.

The 1-13 named on Tuesday will start the match with Tepai Moeroa the 18th man for Melbourne.

In changes announced on Friday, Aaron Pene, Tui Kamikamica and Tom Eisenhuth were the three players to drop out.

Nicho Hynes holds on to the No.1 jersey with Ryan Papenhuyzen on the bench.

The Storm have won their past 11 games at Suncorp Stadium.

Panthers: Penrith will start 1-17 with Paul Momirovski the 18th man.

Robert Jennings comes on to the wing to replace Origin star Brian To'o, who is expected to undergo syndesmosis surgery and miss around six weeks.

Tyrone May (knee) also faces a significant stint on the sideline. His absence sees Matt Burton move to five-eighth, with Brent Naden replacing him in the centres.

Lindsay Smith and Kurt Falls were the two players dropped from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.

The Panthers have won three of their past five games against the Storm.

Dragons v Rabbitohs, Sunday 6.25pm at Suncorp Stadium

Dragons: Interchange forward Kaide Ellis gets a start at prop in a late swap with Josh Kerr.

Cody Ramsey has been named 18th man while Jordan Pereira is the final cut from the 17-man squad.

Talatau Amone has taken over Ramsey's starting spot while Corey Norman has also been listed in the centres.

Dragons quartet Jack de Belin, Jack Bird, Josh McGuire and Blake Lawrie are the four players serving their bans this week for the Shellharbour BBQ incident earlier this month.

Jaiyden Hunt and Jackson Ford come on to the bench.

Matt Dufty and Brayden Wiliame were omitted from the reserves 24 hours out from kick-off.

Dragons second-rower Tariq Sims will reach the milestone of 200 NRL games.

Rabbitohs: There are no late changes with halfback Adam Reynolds (hamstring) a confirmed starter. Halves partner Cody Walker (knee) is also good to go.

Braidon Burns is the 18th man with Dean Hawkins the final omission from the squad.

Lingering concussion symptoms mean that centre Campbell Graham, who Bennett said is "still getting some headaches", and prop Liam Knight have been ruled out for the second consecutive week.

Taane Milne replaces Graham while teenage prop Davvy Moale has been called on to the interchange to make his NRL debut.

NSW representative Cameron Murray has accepted a one-game ban for a crusher tackle charge with Jai Arrow moving into the starting side.

The Rabbitohs have won their past five games against the Dragons.

Bulldogs v Titans, Monday 6.05pm at Suncorp Stadium

Bulldogs: English international Luke Thompson failed in his judiciary bid on Tuesday night and received a three-match ban.

With Thompson suspended, Dylan Napa starts at prop with Renouf Atoni joining the bench. Chris Patolo has also joined the bench.

Ava Seumanufagai was the other player omitted from the squad when the team was cut back to 19. Joe Stimson was the last player cut an hour before kick-off and Falakiko Manu is 18th man.

Recalled halfback Kyle Flanagan gets another chance after being dropped in round 16 with Lachlan Lewis relegated to the extended bench. 

Titans: As he did last week against the Dragons, Justin Holbrook has moved David Fifita to the bench and Beau Fermor will start the game.

Jamal Fogarty was the last man cut an hour before kick-off and Sam McIntyre is 18th man.

Recalled centre Esan Marsters replaces Patrick Herbert (suspension) on the right edge while Brian Kelly takes his place on the left side after overcoming an ankle injury suffered last week.

Sam Stone and Anthony Don were the first two players cut from the squad.

The Titans have won three of their past four games against the Bulldogs.

Sharks v Sea Eagles, Monday 8.05pm at Suncorp Stadium

Sharks: Cronulla have been granted an exemption to replace Jesse Ramien due to an ear infection. Siosifa Talakai will switch to the centres, bench forward Jack Williams has been elevated to start in the second row with Luke Metcalf the new face on the interchange.

Bill Magoulias is the 18th man and Joaniah Lualua was the last man cut an hour before kick-off.

Matt Moylan, who was initially named among the reserves, won't make his return from a calf injury.

Veteran prop Aiden Tolman is back from suspension, triggering a pack reshuffle that sees Toby Rudolf return to lock.

The Sharks were dealt a blow losing Shaun Johnson for the season with his hamstring tear.

The Sharks have not defeated the Sea Eagles in consecutive games since 2004.

Sea Eagles: In a late switch an hour before kick-off Toafofoa Sipley comes into the starting side and Taniela Paseka reverts to the bench.

Dylan Walker and Lachlan Croker have passed the concussion protocols and both will play.

Curtis Sironen (knee) got through a week's worth of conditioning training last week and has been included on the bench. Karl Lawton (back) will play after missing last week.

Cade Cust and Jack Gosiewski were dropped from the squad when it was reduced to 19 players 24 hours out from the new kick-off time. Kurt De Luis was the last man cut an hour before kick-off and Moses Suli is 18th man.