To'o boost for Blues; DWZ set for Warriors return

Star winger Brian To’o is set to provide a massive boost for the Panthers and Westpac NSW Blues after being named to make his eagerly awaited return for the premiers in North Queensland on Saturday night.

To’o has played just three matches this season after reinjuring the hamstring that forced him to miss the NRL season opener in Las Vegas during Penrith’s Round 4 loss to the Rabbitohs.

If fit, To’o is almost certain to be one of the first players picked for the Blues in State of Origin as he is not only among the best finishers in the game but he regularly creates a good start to sets with yardage carries out of his own end.

The Samoan international averages more than 200m with the ball in his 12 Origin appearances for NSW since 2021, and boasts similar statistics for Penrith over the past seven seasons.

New Blues coach Laurie Daley will select his team for Origin I in Brisbane on May 28 at the conclusion of Round 11 and To’o only needs to get through Saturday night’s match against the Cowboys unscathed as Penrith have a bye the following weekend.

After thrashing Brisbane 38-18 at Magic Round on Sunday to climb off the bottom of the NRL ladder, the Panthers also welcome back hooker Mitch Kenny form suspension as the four-time premiers look to make a charge.

Ivan Cleary’s team included 10 members of last year’s grand final winning team against the Broncos and that figure has increased to 12 for the trip to Townsville.

The third-placed Warriors have also received a boost with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak set to make his first appearance of the season after breaking his wrist during the Pre-season Challenge match against Cronulla.

Dally M Medalist Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been named among the reserves.

Watene-Zelezniak to make his first NRL appearance of the year after breaking his wrist in the Preseason Challenge match against Cronulla Sutherland more than 12 weeks ago.

The 29-year-old has been selected in his customary position on the right wing with Taine Tuaupiki switched to the left flank.

Tuivasa-Sheck has been included on the extended bench as he moves closer to returning from the hamstring injury that forced him off the field 55 minutes into the third-round encounter with the Sydney Roosters on March 21.

Preferred centres Ali Leiataua (ankle) and Rocco Berry (hamstring) are out for a few weeks each, forcing  Queensland Origin utility Kurt Capewell to shift to the backs.

Winger Edward Kosi is also out with a chest injury he suffered early in last weekend’s match against the Cowboys but courageously played out the full 80 minutes after the loss of Berry.

South Sydney will welcome Latrell Mitchell back from suspension and boom halfback Jamie Humphreys (hamstring) for Friday night's match against the Broncos at Accor Stadium.

With Mitchell taking over the fullback role, Jye Gray moves to the interchange.

Tongan international Siliva Havili has been named at hooker to replace the injured Peter Mamouzelos (elbow), while Isaiah Tass shifts to the centres and Fletcher Myers comes onto the wing.

Highly regarded teenage forward Loko Pasifiki Tonga is set to make his NRL debut for the Dragons in Saturday's match against the Warriors in place of injured prop Emre Guler (shoulder).

Pasifiki Tonga is the latest young forward handed a debut by St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan, joining lock Hamish Stewart and secondrower Dylan Egan.

The trio are 20 years old, while prop Toby Couchman and his injury twin, Ryan, are 21.