Official team lists, updates and injury news for round 23 of the 2021 Telstra Premiership season.
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
This article contains content that is only available on NRL.com
Round 23 team lists
Titans v Storm, Thursday 7.50pm at Cbus Super Stadium
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Titans: The Titans are 1-17 with no late changes.
David Fifita has been named to start again but may revert to the bench as he has in recent weeks.
AJ Brimson underwent surgery for a fractured jaw on Tuesday and is unlikely to play again this year in a blow for the side's finals chances.
Sam McIntyre returns to the side at lock with Tino Fa'asuamaleaui moving to the front row in place of Moeaki Fotuaika (knee).
Mitch Rein and Herman Ese'ese were the first two players cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off. Esan Marsters was the last man cut an hour before kick-off and Phillip Sami is 18th man.
Fifita has scored 12 tries in nine games at Cbus Super Stadium in 2021.
Storm: In a late change an hour before kick-off Aaron Pene joins the bench in jersey No.20 and Aaron Booth drops to 18th man.
Jahrome Hughes (concussion) is replaced by Nicho Hynes in the halves which allows Ryan Papenhuyzen to return to fullback.
George Jennings (knee) is good to go and replaces Dean Ieremia on the wing.
Brandon Smith and Justin Olam have been rested for this week.
Jordan Grant and Trent Loiero were cut from the squad on Wednesday and Isaac Lulelume was the last man cut an hour before kick-off.
The Storm have won 10 of their past 11 games against the Titans.
Raiders v Sea Eagles, Friday 6pm at Suncorp Stadium
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Raiders: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has been named to return via the bench as Ricky Stuart looks to ease the fullback back into the game.
Stuart said he would give CNK around 20-30 minutes off the bench while playmaker Matt Frawley will also be on the interchange to help cover for the absence of Tom Starling (broken jaw) and Corey Harawira-Naera (suspended).
Veteran prop Sia Soliola is out due to personal reasons and has been replaced on the bench by Dunamis Lui.
Trey Mooney is 18th man and Elijah Anderson was the last man cut an hour before kick-off.
Caleb Aekins was omitted from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
The Raiders are aiming for two wins in a season against the Sea Eagles for the first time since 2016.
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Sea Eagles: Superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic (cheekbone) was ruled out on Thursday and his place is taken by Tevita Funa in jersey No.19. Cade Cust was the other player to drop out of the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
Toafofoa Sipley has come into the starting side an hour before kick-off with Josh Aloai going back to the bench. Jack Gosiewski was the last man cut and Kurt De Luis is 18th man.
Brad Parker (concussion) will be rested with Moses Suli coming into the starting side.
The Sea Eagles have won six of their past eight games against the Raiders.
Panthers v Rabbitohs, Friday 8.05pm at Suncorp Stadium
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Panthers: Tevita Pangai jnr will make his Panthers debut after being moved from the reserves to the interchange an hour before kick-off.
In a minor change also announced 60 minutes before the game, Viliame Kikau reverts to the bench with Kurt Capewell to start in the back row. Izack Tago will be the 18th man.
James Fisher-Harris, who was also listed on the bench after missing the last few weeks for personal reasons, will be given another week of training before making his return.
Fisher-Harris and Taylan May dropped off the reserves list 24 hours before kick-off.
The Panthers have won five of their past six games against the Rabbitohs.
Rabbitohs: In a minor change announced an hour before kick-off, Tevita Tatola moves into the starting side with Tom Burgess going back to the bench. Blake Taaffe will be the 18th man.
Dane Gagai (hamstring) and Alex Johnston (hamstring) will return while Campbell Graham (head knock) has overcome a nasty concussion.
Hame Sele is the new face on the interchange with Jaydn Su'A dropping out of the 17.
Su'A and Patrick Mago were omitted from the extended bench on Thursday night.
The Rabbitohs require two tries to break the club’s 2014 record of 118 tries scored in a season.
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Wests Tigers v Sharks, Saturday 3pm at Browne Park, Rockhampton
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Wests Tigers: James Tamou (foot) was a late withdrawal last week and will not play.
James Roberts was attempting to play his first game since round 16 and was named on the interchange, but Michael Maguire has opted to give him another week of training before making his comeback.
Joe Ofahengaue will start at prop for Tamou while Billy Walters and Tom Amone were elevated to the interchange 24 hours out from kick-off.
Zac Cini is the 18th man with Jock Madded dropping off the reserves list on game day.
Wests Tigers are aiming for three consecutive wins for the first time since 2018.
Sharks: Matt Moylan will be a late inclusion following a further setback with a calf injury a fortnight ago. Sharks coach Josh Hannay said the veteran playmaker would be restricted to limited minutes but was in good spirits about getting back on the field.
He will move from the reserves to the interchange, Luke Metcalf has been promoted to start at five-eighth, with Connor Tracey shifting to centre and Mawene Hiroti dropping out of the squad altogether on Friday along with Will Chambers.
Ronaldo Mulitalo (HIA) and Teig Wilton (hamstring) will both play after overcoming injury concerns.
Kai O'Donnell is 18th man, with Jonaiah Lualua dropping out of the playing squad an hour before kick-off.
The Sharks have won six of their past seven games against the Tigers.
Bulldogs v Knights, Saturday 5.30pm at Cbus Super Stadium
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Bulldogs: Lachlan Lewis starts at five-eighth in place of Jake Averillo, who is out with a foot problem and a calf strain.
Corey Allan, a late withdrawal due to illness on Sunday, is back on deck and straight into the starting side.
Matt Doorey is 18th man, with Watson Heleta dropping out of the squad an hour before kick-off. Falakiko Manu and Chris Patolo were left out on Friday.
The Bulldogs have won eight of their past 10 games against the Knights.
Knights: Tyson Frizell has accepted a one-game ban for a high tackle on Sharks fullback Will Kennedy with Brodie Jones stepping up to start in his place.
The loss of Daniel Saifiti to a knee injury sees David Klemmer move in to the starting side.
Jirah Momoisea will make his NRL debut from the bench after overcoming a ruptured Achilles earlier this year.
Chris Randall will provide utility cover from the bench this week with Roosters-bound livewire Connor Watson to start.
Nathaniel Sasagi is the 18th man. Pasami Saulo dropped off the reserves list on game day after Jack Johns and Phoenix Crossland were omitted 24 hours before the game.
The Knights are aiming for two wins in a season against the Bulldogs for the first time since 2013.
Eels v Cowboys, Saturday 7.35pm at Cbus Super Stadium
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Eels: The Eels are 1-17 with no late changes.
Oregon Kaufusi (concussion) will play after missing last week's loss to the Sea Eagles.
Centre Tom Opacic (ribs) will miss a couple of weeks with Will Penisini and Haze Dunster promoted from the extended bench to start this week.
Sean Russell and Jake Arthur were omitted 24 hours before the match. Keegan Hipgrave was the last man cut an hour before kick-off and Ray Stone is 18th man.
The Eels have been outscored 124-22 in their past three games.
Cowboys: In late changes an hour before kick-off Jake Granville has gone from the centres to the bench, Ben Hampton from wing to centre and 21-year-old Laitia Moceidreke comes in on the wing for his debut. Mitch Dunn has been promoted to the starting side at lock with Coen Hess reverting to the bench. Tom Gilbert dropped out on game day and Connelly Lemuelu is 18th man.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow trained on Friday and is a late inclusion after a lengthy lay-off due to appendicitis. He will play fullback with Val Holmes on the wing.
Star lock Jason Taumalolo has failed in his bid to return from a broken hand while winger Kyle Feldt (head knock) has also been ruled out.
Dragons v Roosters, Sunday 2pm at Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba
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Broncos: Jake Turpin returns at hooker, with Danny Levi shifting to the bench. David Mead will be the 18th man.
Albert Kelly (knee) has been cleared of any serious injury after being collected by Victor Radley last week but is in some doubt due to ongoing soreness.
Herbie Farnworth (illness/leg) has been named after failing to finish training last Thursday and missing the Roosters clash.
Cory Paix and Brodie Croft dropped off the extended bench on Saturday.
The Broncos will play their 300th game at Suncorp Stadium.
Warriors: In changes announced an hour before kick-off, Chad Townsend (halfback) and Jazz Tevaga (hooker) come into the starting side with Sean O'Sullivan out and Wayde Egan moving back to the bench.
Jackson Frei will be 18th man for Nathan Brown's team.
Kodi Nikorima and Edward Kosi dropped out of the playing squad 24 hours before kick-off.
The Warriors are aiming for four consecutive wins for the first time since 2018.
Broncos v Warriors, Sunday 4.05pm at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
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Broncos: Jake Turpin returns at hooker, with Danny Levi shifting to the bench and David Mead out of the 17.
Albert Kelly (knee) has been cleared of any serious injury after being collected by Victor Radley last week but is in some doubt due to ongoing soreness.
Hooker Danny Levi (head knock) will be monitored after leaving the field last week.
Herbie Farnworth (illness/leg) has been named after failing to finish training last Thursday and missing the Roosters clash.
Cory Paix and Brodie Croft dropped off the extended bench on Saturday.
The Broncos will play their 300th game at Suncorp Stadium.
Warriors: Jack Murchie replaces Kodi Nikorima on the bench. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak returns after serving a one-game ban and will chalk up his 150th career game.
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown is promoted from the interchange to take the place of rookie prop Jackson Frei, who drops to the extended bench, while the return of Bayley Sironen pushes Jazz Tevaga to the bench.
Nikorima and Edward Kosi dropped out of the playing squad 24 hours before kick-off.
The Warriors are aiming for four consecutive wins for the first time since 2018.