NRL Team Lists: Pre-season Challenge Round 2

Knights: Adam O’Brien has named a near full-strength team for the clash with Parramatta. Skipper Kalyn Ponga will start at five-eighth alongside Jackson Hastings after overcoming a calf injury. New recruit Lachlan Miller makes his club debut at fullback while veteran back-rower Adam Elliott also plays his first match in red and blue off the bench. England winger Dom Young and Tyson Frizell are included for their first hit-outs of the season.

Eels: Stars Clint Gutherson, Will Penisini, Dylan Brown, Mitch Moses, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Junior Paulo all line up for their first game of the season. Sean Russell goes to the wing after a strong showing at fullback last week. New recruits J'maine Hopgood and Jack Murchie pull on a Parra jersey for the first time. Waqa Blake, Bryce Cartwright and Haze Dunster are all expected to be available for selection come Round 1. 

Roosters v Sea Eagles, Friday 8.00pm at Industree Group Stadium, Gosford

Roosters: World Cup winning skipper James Tedesco leads a host of big names having their first game of 2023 including Joseph Suaalii, Daniel Tupou, Lindsay Collins and Nat Butcher. Former Bulldog Corey Allan makes his club debut in the centres while Drew Hutchison and Sam Walker call the shots in the halves. Gun playmaker Luke Keary is being held back for the season opener against the Dolphins on March 5.

Sea Eagles: Josh Schuster gets his first crack at the five-eighth position he hopes to make his own in 2023. Cooper Johns will play halfback and Daly Cherry-Evans will be held back for Round 1. World Cup winner Jake Trbojevic will captain the side in his first hit-out of the season while Haumole Olakauatu, Kelma Tuilagi and Sean Keppie are all ready to go. Impressive fullback Jake Toby moves to the bench after a strong showing in the No.1 last week. 

Dragons v Rabbitohs, Saturday 4.20pm at Glen Willow Stadium, Mudgee

Dragons: Tyrell Sloan takes over at fullback after playing for the Indigenous All Stars last week. Moses Mbye moves to No.6 and skipper Ben Hunt launches his 2023 season at halfback. Former Tiger Zane Musgrove will play his first game for the Dragons and back-rower Jaydn Su'A joins the fray after being rested last week. Veteran prop Aaron Woods, utility Jayden Sullivan and forwards Francis and Michael Molo all step out for their first game of the season while Josh Kerr returns from All Stars duty.

Rabbitohs: Indigenous All Stars Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker are named to line up in Mudgee, as are skipper Cameron Murray, hooker Damien Cook, winger Alex Johnston, centre Campbell Graham, halfback Lachlan Ilias, prop Tom Burgess and back-rower Kaeon Koloamatangi. Jai Arrow will come off the bench after being named to start, with Jacob Host moving to the run-on side in the second row. Coach Jason Demetriou is rolling out a strong line-up which also includes Blake Taaffe in the No.14 utility role he looks likely to fill come Round 1.

Panthers v St Helens, Saturday 6.50pm at BlueBet Stadium

Panthers: After their young guns got the job done last week it's time for the premiers to roll out the big guns with Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Isaah Yeo, Stephen Crichton, Brian To'o, Moses Leota and James Fisher-Harris all lining up in the WCC. Izack Tago (shoulder) and Spencer Leniu (shoulder) have both been named to play. Clive Churchill Medal winner Dylan Edwards gets another week off to prepare for the season proper so Samoan superstar Crichton will play fullback and Sunia Turuva holds his place in the centres.

Saints: The Super League champions welcome Morgan Knowles back at lock after he missed the Dragons game due to illness. Fellow England international Tommy Makinson suffered a cork in the first half in Wollongong but he's right to go as the Saints chase a third World Club Challenge title. Agnatius Paasi and Curtis Sironen added plenty of impact off the bench last week and they'll look to play a similar role this week. 

Broncos v Cowboys, Saturday 8.55pm AEDT at Sunshine Coast Stadium

Broncos: Indigenous All Stars hat-trick hero Selwyn Cobbo takes over at fullback from the injured Reece Walsh. Skipper Adam Reynolds, winger Corey Oates, back-rower Kurt Capewell and Kangaroos prop Pat Carrigan line up for their first hit-out of the season while former Tiger Jock Madden has been named on the extended bench. Hard-running Jordan Riki is back from Māori All Stars camp to take his place in the second row.  

Cowboys: A full dress rehearsal for Round 1 of the Telstra Premiership with 12 of the starting 13 from last year's preliminary final against the Eels named to play this week. The only man not there is Tom Gilbert, who has joined the Dolphins. Coen Hess joins the starting side. Recruits James Tamou and Jack Gosiewski get another chance to press their claims for a spot in Todd Payten's best 17 come the season opener against the Raiders on March 4.

Warriors v Storm, Sunday 12.50pm AEDT at Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch

Warriors: New recruits Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Mitch Barnett, Marata Niukore and Dylan Walker have all been named by coach Andrew Webster for their first matches of the season. Barnett will start at prop alongside Addin Fonua-Blake up front. Shaun Johnson is also back and will start in the halves alongside rookie Ronald Volkman, who starts in place of Te Maire Martin who is out due to the birth of his first child. 

Storm: Big guns Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant make their first appearance of the year. Prop Christian Welch got some miles in the legs last week in his return from an Achilles injury and he'll line up again in a pack that features Kiwi giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona in his first hit-out. Nick Meaney will occupy the fullback spot with Ryan Papenhuyzen expected to miss the first 6-8 weeks of the NRL season. New recruit Tariq Sims (calf) is still a few weeks away. Xavier Coates is a late inclusion in the starting side as he returns from a hamstring injury.

Wests Tigers v Raiders, Sunday 2.55pm at Belmore Sports Ground

Wests Tigers: Big guns Daine Laurie, David Nofoaluma, Ken Maumalo, Adam Doueihi, David Klemmer, Isaiah Papali'i and Alex Twal step out for the first time but new skipper Api Koroisau is being kept in cotton wool for another week. Chief playmaker Luke Brooks is continuing his recovery from a calf injury and won't play this week. Charlie Staines has been named on interchange as has Fonua Pole, who was so impressive against the Warriors. 

Raiders: Xavier Savage (jaw) is replaced at fullback by Jordan Rapana while Jack Wighton and Jamal Fogarty will run the show in the halves. Seb Kris and Matt Timoko take over in the centres so Jarrod Croker misses out. Forward leader Josh Papalii steps out for his first game alongside new recruit Danny Levi at hooker and Emre Guler in the front row. Back-rowers Hudson Young and Elliott Whitehead are ready to rumble after being held back last week and Joseph Tapine returns from Māori All Stars camp to kick start his Raiders season.

Bulldogs v Sharks, Sunday 5.00pm at Belmore Sports Ground

Bulldogs: World Cup stars Josh Addo-Carr and Matt Burton line up for their first game of the year and the highly touted Hayze Perham will wear the No.1 jersey. Star recruit Viliame Kikau joins Tevita Pangai in a powerhouse pack that also includes Luke Thompson at lock and Reed Mahoney at hooker. Favourite son Josh Reynolds earns a bench spot alongside recruits Ryan Sutton and Andrew Davey.

Sharks: Craig Fitzgibbon has included all his stars for the club’s final hit-out against the Bulldogs with Nicho Hynes and Matt Moylan in the halves and Will Kennedy at the back. Teig Wilton will start with Wade Graham to come off the bench alongside Cameron McInnes and new recruit Oregon Kaufusi. Samoan international Braden Hamlin-Uele, who had his World Cup cut short due to a calf injury, will have his first game back off the interchange.

Dolphins v Titans, Sunday 7.05pm AEDT at Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe

Dolphins: A huge boost for the NRL newcomers with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow ready to go at fullback after overcoming an ankle injury. Brenko Lee (calf) is also back on deck and teams up with Tesi Niu in the centres. Former Panther Sean O'Sullivan takes over at halfback while skipper Jesse Bromwich, hooker Jeremy Marshall-King, prop Mark Nicholls, back-rowers Felise Kaufusi and Kenny Bromwich and lock Tom Gilbert step out for the first time as the Dolphins crank up preparations for Round 1.

Titans: Veteran playmaker Kieran Foran plays his first match in Titans colours alongside Tanah Boyd in the halves. AJ Brimson is back on deck at fullback so Jayden Campbell shifts to the bench utility role. Former Rooster Sam Verrills makes his club debut at hooker and skipper Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has his first run of the year as does Moeaki Fotuaika.