NRL Team Lists: Round 18

Cowboys: Tom Dearden and Tom Gilbert are set to back up for the Cowboys 48 hours after debuting for Queensland in Wednesday night’s decider at Suncorp Stadium, while coach Todd Payten has opted to rest veteran centre Valentine Holmes and back-rower Jeremiah Nanai.

Murray Taulagi is out after testing positive to COVID last week in Queensland camp, with Brendan Elliot named to make his second start of the year on the wing. Jordan McLean (hamstring) is replaced in the starting side by Jamayne Taunoa-Brown and Coen Hess returns after a week off with a shoulder injury.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Reece Robson and Chad Townsend will all start after being part of the wider squads for Origin III. Forward Connelly Lemuelu is back in the team after missing the Round 16 victory over the Broncos

Sharks: Nicho Hynes and Toby Rudolf return after the pair missed last week's win over the Storm due to COVID-19 protocols so Braydon Trindall goes to 18th Man and Andrew Fifita to interchange. Briton Nikora has accepted a one-match ban for dangerous contact on Kenny Bromwich and he is replaced on the edge by Teig Wilton. Blues Origin rep Siosifa Talakai is listed among the reserves.

Eels v Warriors, Friday 7.55pm at CommBank Stadium

Eels: Junior Paulo has been named to back up just 48 hours after Origin III. Marata Niukore shifts back to lock, Makahesi Makatao to the bench and Nathan Brown to the reserves. Ryan Matterson (ribs) remains sidelined after missing the win over the Tigers. Jake Arthur has been added to the bench for his first game since Round 8 and Tom Opacic goes to 18th Man.

Warriors: Departing fullback Reece Walsh returns to the side after missing the New Zealand homecoming due to COVID-19 protocols. Walsh, who announced his return to the Broncos in 2023, will be looking to finish his brief time at the club on the right note. Walsh's return sees Chanel Harris-Tavita shift back to five-eighth with youngster Ronald Volkman sidelined by a virus.

Edward Kosi has scored seven tries in his past five games for Redcliffe in Hostplus Cup last weekend and gets a shot on the wing in place of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (COVID). Jack Murchie gets a start on the bench with Bayley Sironen suffering a fractured eye socket.

Interim coach Stacey Jones has also been isolating after a positive COVID test and it is yet to be determined whether he will be able to join the team in Sydney.

Roosters v Dragons, Saturday 3.00pm at Central Coast Stadium

Roosters: Still no sign of playmaker Luke Keary, who hasn’t played since Round 14 due to concussion symptoms, leaving Joey Manu to play in the No.6 jersey once again. Captain James Tedesco is named to back up from Origin III and is joined in the starting team by Blues team-mates Daniel Tupou and Angus Crichton. Prop Matt Lodge is a chance of making his club debut after being included in the reserves, while Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has recovered from a hamstring injury and will come off the interchange in his first game since Round 12.

Dragons: Ben Hunt's fitness will be monitored ahead of the clash with the Dragons captain likely to play more minutes in the Origin III decider after the withdrawal of Cameron Munster. Winger Mikaele Ravalawa's hamstring injury sees Tautua Moga join the starting side while Jack de Belin also starts in place of the suspended Tariq Sims. The new man on the bench is Aaron Woods.

Sea Eagles v Knights, Saturday 5.30pm at 4 Pines Park

Sea Eagles: Des Hasler has named the same 17 that got the job done against Melbourne, with Origin stars Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic set to back up after Wednesday's decider. Josh Aloiai is listed as 18th Man after he missed Round 16 due to a concussion.

Knights: Kalyn Ponga, Jacob Saifiti and Dane Gagai have been named to back up after Origin III. Ponga hasn't featured for the Knights since round 15 after back-to-back head knocks.

Centre Bradman Best is out after suffering a new injury to his thumb in the loss to the Rabbitohs.

Hooker Jayden Brailey returns to the starting side in his second game back from injury and Chris Randall drops to the reserves. Leo Thompson and Mat Croker drop off the bench, replaced by Simi Sasagi and Brodie Jones.

Titans v Broncos, Saturday 7.35pm at Cbus Super Stadium

Titans: Skipper Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will look to back up three days after Origin while Phil Sami (knee) and Corey Thompson (knee) return to strengthen a backline which also includes teenager Sosefo Fifita on NRL debut the wing. Tanah Boyd is the new five-eighth and Paul Turner goes to the bench. Aaron Booth makes his club debut at hooker with Erin Clark on the bench.

Jarrod Wallace is out and Jaimin Jolliffe joins the bench while Kevin Proctor (biceps) is listed among the reserves as he nears a return.

Gun fullback Jayden Campbell is still a couple of weeks away with a hamstring injury.

Broncos: Origin reps Corey Oates and Pat Carrigan have been named among the reserves and may come into the squad later in the week but Selwyn Cobbo, and Kurt Capewell will be rested. Cory Paix will miss the match after suffering a head knock against the Dragons so his place on the bench is taken by Jake Turpin. The Broncos do get Thomas Flegler back on the bench after he was part of the extended Maroons squad. Payne Haas is expected to miss another week with shoulder problems.

Wests Tigers v Panthers, Sunday 2.00pm at CommBank Stadium

Wests Tigers: Star playmaker Adam Doueihi moves to five-eighth, Jackson Hastings goes to lock and Joe Ofahengaue to prop as Brett Kimmorley searches for a winning combination. Skipper James Tamou back on deck after missing two games with a calf injury and fellow veteran Ken Maumalo (knee) also returns so Junior Tupou goes to the reserves. Second-gamer Justin Matamua moves to the starting side while Fonua Pole and Luke Garner go to the bench and Stefano Utoikamanu is out. Jake Simpkin has been added to the bench.

Panthers: Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Jarome Luai, Brian To'o, Stephen Crichton and Api Koroisau are all being rested after Origin III with Sean O'Sullivan and Kurt Falls taking over in the halves, Robert Jennings in the centres, Charlie Staines on the wing and Mitch Kenny, Chris Smith and Matt Eisenhuth in the pack. Soni Luke is the new face on the bench in his third career game.

Storm v Raiders, Sunday 4.05pm at AAMI Park

Storm: Cameron Munster has been named to return at five-eighth after COVID ruled him out of Origin so Nick Meaney goes back to the wing. Harry Grant will also back up after playing for Queensland. Felise Kaufusi has returned from perrsonal leave in the USA and comes into the back row with Chris Lewis dropping to the reserves. Kenny Bromwich (ankle) has been named to play.

Raiders: Maroons prop Josh Papali'i has been named and will be monitored after the Origin decider. Jack Wighton was part of the extended NSW squad but he'll be on deck for the Green Machine. James Schiller (shoulder) has been named on the bench in place of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in the only change to the squad that lost to the Dragons in Round 16.

Bulldogs v Rabbitohs, Sunday 6.15pm at Accor Stadium

Bulldogs: The Bulldogs will be without centre Aaron Schoupp after he tested positive to COVID on Wednesday. Five-eighth Matt Burton has been named to back up after Origin III. Tevita Pangai jnr suffered an ankle injury against the Sharks in Round 16 but is good to go. Braidon Burns returns in the centres for his first game since Round 6. Young centre Declan Casey has been named in the reserves after suffering a concussion against the Sharks and looms as the likely replacement for Schoupp.

Rabbitohs: Alex Johnston (quad) and Mark Nicholls (head knock) are back after missing the Newcastle game so Richie Kennar drops out and Kodi Nikorima goes back to the bench. Origin reps Damien Cook and Cameron Murray have been named to back up so Siliva Havili and Jed Cartwright revert to the bench and Daniel Suluka-Fifita and Shaquai Mitchell drop to the reserves. Halfback Lachlan Ilias (head knock) has been named and will be monitored through the week.