The Gold Coast Titans are on the cusp of one of the upsets of the season as they lead the Sea Eagles 38-24 with 10 minutes remaining.
Justin Holbrook’s men are playing with a freedom barely seen this season, while Manly need a miracle in the final stages to keep their season alive.
MATCH CENTER: Titans vs Sea Eagles live updates, video stats
Titans forward Jaimin Jolliffe went from zero to hero in the opening minutes of the game.
Jolliffe was a late replacement for Gold Coast skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui who was a late omission due to the birth of his child.
Jolliffe dropped the first hit-up of the game but quickly made amends by scoring the opening try of the match in the seventh minute.
Manly struck back when Reuben Garrick scored in the 12th minute and converted his own try.
Sea Eagles utility Dylan Walker came into the game at the 20-minute mark and lasted just 20 seconds before he was binned for a high shot.
“The very first tackle he’s made and he’s gone 10 in the bin,” Corey Parker said on Fox League.
The Titans celebrate scoring. Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
The Gold Coast quickly made them pay with teenager Tanah Boyd throwing a beautiful cut-out pass for Jojo Fifita to score in the corner.
Despite being a man down, Manly found a way to strike back with Jake Trbojevic barging over from close range to score his first try of the season.
Daly Cherry-Evans was looking for the Sea Eagles’ third when he threw a cut-out pass that was picked off by Titans center Brian Kelly who dashed 60 meters to score.
Boyd slotted a penalty on the stroke of halftime push the lead past a converted try.
The Titans burst out of the blocks in the second half to score three tries between the 46th and 57th minutes.
Beau Fermor, AJ Brimson and David Fifita all crossed, with the latter scoring a brilliant try to the delight of Holbrook.
Brad Parker and Tolutau Koula pulled back consolation tries in the 61st minute but it looks too little, too late for Manly.
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Fremantle expect Rory Lobb to back up against GWS, despite being subbed out of the win over West Coast.
While the Roos are counting the injury toll from a bruising encounter with the Crows.
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FREMANTLE coach Justin Longmuir has defended the club’s decision to sub Rory Lob out of the win over West Coast late, despite then admitting he expects the star to play next weekend.
Lobb has been carrying a shoulder injury for the past few weeks and appeared to aggravate it in a marking contest in the third term.
But the big forward waved away medical staff and played on, despite clearly carrying his right shoulder.
“He’s sore,” Longmuir admitted post-match. “We don’t think it’s too significant. We’re proud of his efforts after he got injured and halved some contests and remained in the game and kept working his way through it.
“(We) expect him to play (against GWS).
“Players have played plenty of times after they’ve been subbed out.
“He was carrying his arm around so he’s got an injury. He’s been carrying it for three weeks so he got a stinger on it and couldn’t go on tonight but we think he’ll be alright.”
Longmuir said he would enjoy the win over West Coast before contemplating having both Lobb and fellow big forward Matt Taberner unavailable for the away clash with GWS.
“I’ll worry about that when I get home,” he laughed.
“It’s not ideal and I’d love Lobby to play next week. We haven’t really crossed that bridge yet.
“When you see a player out there carrying their arm, you want to protect them so that’s why we subbed him out.
“He’s a fast healer. He played the week after he hurt it the first time from memory. So fingers crossed he gets up. He doesn’t let on when he brings injuries into games and he pushes through it really well.
“He’s 205cm and we needed to contest forward of the ball.
“I’m really proud of his efforts to keep competing, sometimes with one arm.”
Saint in hot water over bump? | 00:41
The call to sub Lobb out of the contest came with just four minutes remaining when the match was all but won.
“The docs went out and checked him and probably decided that he couldn’t go on anymore,” Longmuir said.
“He battled as well as he could for as long as he could. We needed to get him off for his own welfare from him.”
Lobb’s potential absence could hurt Fremantle’s top four push with Taberner already sidelined. skipper Nat Fyfe is no guarantee to return from his hamstring injury in Round 23 with Longmuir adamant the club would take a cautious approach.
“We don’t need to (bring him straight back), but if he’s fit to play, he’ll put his hand up for selection,” Longmuir said.
“If he’s not declared fit, we’re not going to put him out there and risk him. You injure yourself at this time of year and have a repeat injury to that hammy, then your season’s almost done.”
Longmuir said Fyfe may even go back to the WAFL for a second time this year to build fitness heading into finals.
“If it’s not this week, then we’ve got the bye and a WAFL game in the bye so we’ll look at that,” he said.
ST KILDA‘s Jimmy Webster‘s season is all but over after he injured his hamstring in the loss to Brisbane.
With the Saints now only a mathematical chance of finals, Webster is set for scans in the coming days.
He was subbed out of the loss to Brisbane early and was iced up for the remainder of the clash.
Cunnington emotional after huge return! | 02:47
ADELAIDE forward Shane McAdam is in doubt for this weekend’s Showdown with Port Adelaide.
McAdam was subbed out of the win over North Melbourne with a hamstring complaint.
“Forward Shane McAdam injured his hamstring while leading for the ball in the final quarter and was subbed out of the game,” Crows high performance manager Darren Burgess said.
“He will be assessed in coming days ahead of next week’s Showdown.”
NORTH MELBOURNE are counting the cost of a bruising loss to the Crows, with three players injured and young Paul Curtis now racing to be fit for the final match of the season.
jed anderson suffered concussion and won’t play again this season under the AFL’s protocols.
skipper jack ziebell is also likely done for 2022 after suffering a “significant” shoulder injury.
“It didn’t look great for Ziebs in particular,” coach Leigh Adams said.
“It’s some sort of shoulder injury. I think we all know Jack Ziebell is going to put his body on the line every time.
“I’m not sure if its collarbone or a dislocation but for him to come straight off and get subbed off, it must have been pretty bad. He doesn’t come off unless something is wrong.
“Fingers crossed it’s not too bad but it looks like his season is over.”
Kangaroos miss chance against Crows | 01:34
Jaidyn Stephenson will have to prove his fitness to play again this season after coming off with a back injury.
“Stevo’s had a bit of back issues that can come good pretty quick.”
Adams defended the club’s decision to send Anderson back out into the contest, as he was later ruled out with concussion.
“I haven’t seen the vision yet – I’m comfortable our doctors will have made the right decision,” he said.
“I know he came off with the blood rule and I was told at three quarter time he’d gone into the concussion protocols.”
Adams said the club wouldn’t take any risk with young Curtis after he copped a knock to his shoulder.
“This time of year obviously with one game to go, we won’t take any risk with a young kid like that,” he said.
GWS could be without Lachlan Keeffe after he complained of groin soreness in the loss to the Western Bulldogs.
Caretaker coach Mark McVeigh said the club would take precautions with the veteran.
“We’ll assess Keeffey who complained of a bit of groin soreness. We’ll take precautions there,” he said.
Tanner Bruhn won’t play again this season after entering the AFL’s concussion protocols.
“Tanner Bruhn with the HIA so he’ll enter those protocols which is not ideal for him,” McVeigh said.
the WESTERN BULLDOGS admit skipper Marcus Bontempelli is not fully fit but continues to press on.
“I finished the game off alright didn’t he?” coach Luke Beveridge said.
“He’s struggling a little bit with a niggle or two. I had Marcus and Chrissy Bell in my office yesterday talking through, he’s got a bit of an adductor issue going on.
“Both Marcus and Chris were sure he’d get through the game.
“He’s not 100 per cent. I have pushed through a bit of discomfort today.”
Bulldogs keep finals in sight | 02:53
GEELONG Coach Chris Scott has hinted at resting more players for the final round clash against West Coast.
With top spot assured, the Cats do have one injury concern with Rhys Stanley subbed out of the win over the Gold Coast.
“They tell me he’s got a low grade adductor strain,” Scott said.
“Generally when they say low grade it’s a week or two. It will be unlikely he’ll play next week is the feedback I’ve got but they are not too worried beyond that.”
GOLD COAST coach Stuart Dew says he feels for Sam Day after the forward re-injured his knee.
“Suspected that he’s hurt his meniscus that he’s had repaired last year and it was the same mechanism the way he slid and jammed that joint so we’ve got fingers crossed but unfortunately I think Sam might have hurt his knee which is really unfortunate,” Dew said.
Izak Rankin also remains in doubt for Round 23 after injuring his shoulder.
“He hurt that shoulder a few weeks back… clearly awkward landing/hit and he’s stirred that up,” Dew said.
“We’ll just see how that settles.”
WEST COAST could be without both Nic Naitanui and jamine jones for the trip to Geelong.
Jones was subbed out of the loss to the Dockers with a back issue.
“His back just seized up. We weighed up before the game whether to pull him out … He’s had a big year and carried some injuries. He just couldn’t last,” coach Adam Simpson said.
Simpson also admitted Naitanui was playing through the pain.
“He’s playing because the club needs him,” Simpson said.
The Broncos have beaten the Knights 28-10 on the back of brilliant displays from Te Maire Martin and Ezra Mam and a hat-trick to Selwyn Cobbo.
Martin’s return from injury gave the Broncos an edge in attack and Cobbo cashed in with a brilliant three-try performance as the Knights’ edges were blown apart.
MATCH CENTER: Broncos vs Knights teams, SuperCoach scores, videos, updates
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Cobbo opened the scoring in the corner after some brilliant lead-up work from Adam Reynolds and Martin.
Corey Oates crossed in the opposite corner for his 19th try of the season after a questionable last pass from Delouise Hoeter was cleared.
Mam and Martin combined for one of the long-range tries of the season to push the Broncos out to a commanding 18-0 lead.
Daniel Saifiti barged over from close range to give the Knights a chance at a late comeback.
Bradman Best dived over to cut the deficit to eight points and set up a grandstand finish.
However, Cobbo snuffed out the comeback after securing his double to seal an important win for the Broncos.
Cobbo sealed his hat-trick when Reynolds put the ball on a dime for him to score in the corner and put the icing on the cake.
Here are the key takeaways from the match.
MARTIN PROVES MISSING LINK FOR BRONCOS
Te Maire Martin returned for his first game since Round 16 and showed the Broncos exactly what they have been missing in a masterful display.
Martin is a five-eighth turned fullback and his playing ability adds another dimension to the Broncos attack.
Corey Parker believes Martin’s inclusion ensured the Broncos looked far more cohesive in attack and it took the pressure of his halves and allowed them to play their games.
“They look more in sync with Martin back,” Parker said.
“He has got a real nice slight of hand. Not your traditional fullback in regards to getting lots of run meters, but he had two try assists in the first half.
“He alleviated a lot of pressure off the halves just by his ability to be able to ball play and Cobbo and Mam were the beneficiaries of that.”
Michael Ennis credited Martin with getting the Broncos out of their funk in terms of their attack over their two game losing run.
“What a game from Te Maire Martin,” Ennis said.
“Coming into the side after being out since Round 16, boy he made a difference just with his composure and his control.
“He has ignited the Brisbane attack.”
MAM SHINES AS REYNOLDS STEERS BRONCOS TO VICTORY
The Broncos were not at their best but with the brilliant running game of Ezra Mam providing the perfect foil for Adam Reynolds’ organisation, Brisbane took the game by the scruff of the neck in the key moments.
As long as the Broncos can get their defense in order, with Mam and Reynolds driving the ship and Selwyn Cobbo finishing in the corner, they can create more than enough points to make a deep run in the finals.
Cooper Cronk noted that the Broncos were not at the peak of their powers against the Knights, but Reynolds and Mam were able to ice the try-scoring opportunities.
“The Broncos did it in second gear,” Cronk said.
“They had the tools to break open the game at any stage with the likes of Adam Reynolds with some craft to sell the dummy for the Oates try.
“This was the attempt of the first half from Ezra Mam.
“He scored with five minutes to go and it set the tone for the rest of the game for the Broncos.”
Michael Ennis marveled at Mam’s ability to break the game open out of nothing at such a young age and with a long career ahead of him.
“Mam was electric,” Ennis said.
“19 years of age. Boy isn’t he an excitement machine.
“The Broncos have now jumped the Eels into sixth and have a healthy points differential lead over them.”
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KNIGHTS WOEFUL ATTACK GOES FROM BAD TO WORSE
The Knights had enough ball and field position to win easily against the Broncos, but a combination of their soft defense and inept attack gave them no chance at Suncorp Stadium.
Cooper Cronk lamented the Knights’ inability to create any real try-scoring opportunities despite a mountain of possession in the first half.
“It was a strange first half because statistically the Knights were the better team,” Cronk said.
“They had more ball and more possession but to be honest they didn’t look like scoring a try.
“Their centers Bradman Best and Dane Gagai were under immense pressure.
“They carved up Dane Gagai on the right edge for the Knights.
“The Knights didn’t look like firing a shot.
“When they get down the other end they are just not engaging that Brisbane defensive line at all.”
Corey Parker slammed the Knights’ horror attack, which failed to put the Broncos under any sustained scoreboard pressure.
“25 times the Knights were tackled inside the Broncos 20 without even looking like scoring,” Parker said.
“The only time they were able to mount any sort of pressure was off a couple of repeat sets.
“They were awful with their attack the Knights.
“The Knights are in all sorts at the moment.”
Michael Ennis was at a loss as to why the Knights haven’t been able to be more competitive with the roster they have at their disposal. in 2022.
“You just watch that Newcastle side come out and you see the Saifiti brothers, Dane Gagai and Tyson Frizell who are absolute weapons and great leaders at different stages throughout their careers and I find it hard to fathom that Newcastle are sitting where they are this year with the roster they have,” Ennis said.
MATCH PREVIEW
The Brisbane Broncos host the Newcastle Knights in a clash at Suncorp Stadium.
Te Maire Martin returns at fullback for the Broncos, while Delouise Hoeter replaces Brenko Lee in the centers after his hamstring injury.
Ryan James starts at lockout, with Kobe Hetherington switching to the bench.
The Knights have lost David Klemmer to injury, with Jacob Saifiti to start and Sauaso Sue joining the bench.
Adam Clune returns to the No.7 jumper with Jake Clifford out with a fractured arm.
The seventh place Broncos desperately need to avoid a third straight loss to keep their slim top four hopes alive, while the Knights are playing for pride as they look for their second straight win.
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Latrell Mitchell says September football is “what I live for” as he eyes off four upcoming blockbuster club clashes and playing finals footy in a Rabbitohs jersey for the first time.
Mitchell, who starred in the 38-point walloping of the Warriors on Saturday with a personal haul of 24 points to lift South Sydney to sixth position on the ladder, has not played in a final since winning the 2019 decider with the Roosters.
Since joining the Rabbitohs he missed the 2020 finals series with a ruptured hamstring tendon and last year’s finals due to suspension.
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He has a sensational record in football finals, winning six of seven games and two premierships with the Roosters. He throws in five tries, with a try in each of his first five appearances, and it is his time to shine.
The 25-year-old custodian is not satisfied with what he has done. It is what comes next that drives him. Winning a competition with South Sydney is his quest from him, but huge games against the Eels, Panthers, Cowboys and Roosters in the next month could make or break the Rabbitohs
“I just love the pressure of this time of year. I love the competitiveness. It is what I live for. I strive for that,” Mitchell said.
“When you know what semi-finals tastes like, it is where you want to be.
Latrell Mitchell starred for the Rabbitohs against the Warriors. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“Let’s focus on getting there first… but it would be a different feeling winning [a title] here at South Sydney. I know the passion of the South Sydney fans, members, sponsors and investors… everyone who has put their blood, sweat and tears into it. It is time to repay that.
“I am definitely putting my hand up to do that because I haven’t played [finals] since 2019 and I am really excited to feel the pressure and see what unfolds.
“The next month, I think it is definitely what we need. It is only going to be a positive for us. It will outline a few things that we need to work on. This week’s done. Next week is Parra’.”
Mitchell said he had learned a lot about getting the best out of himself, while reflecting on his three-year absence from the business end of the season.
“That is a real eye opener, but it is a disappointing thing as well… with injury and suspension. Things happen in a split second,” he said.
“I have taken a lot of things out of the last three years, just with my growth. I’ve learned how to be a better teammate, and a better dad off the field as well. When your off-field is making you happy it translates into your footy, and vice-versa. I am continuing to build my legacy.
“I want to keep working on the little things and put myself in the best position.”
The Rabbitohs have won five of six matches since Mitchell’s return from a nine-week absence due to a hamstring injury suffered in round five. After putting the Warriors to the sword, South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou said Mitchell’s best of him was yet to come in the next month.
The Rabbitohs fullback said the entire side had another gear.
“We still haven’t got our full strength back yet,” Mitchell said. We still have Campbell Graham to come back into the team and a few others. It is exciting. It is a great time of the year to give everyone a taste and see where our depth is at.”
Things went from bad to worse for Carlton on Sunday in the second quarter against the Brisbane Lions.
Being blown off the park as they found themselves down 38-2, the Blues needed a spark and skipper Patrick Cripps tried to deliver it.
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A long kick down the line from Adam Cerra was punched high into the air by Brisbane’s Daniel Rich and Lions teammate Callum Ah Chee camped himself underneath it.
As the ball came down, Cripps came in at a hundred miles an hour and launched off the deck and flattened Ah Chee with a nasty hip and shoulder.
The impact of the hit left Ah Chee flat on the Gabba surface as several Lions teammates remonstrated with Cripps.
Medical staff rushed to Ah Chee’s side and he remained hunched over on his hands and knees before he was able to get back to his feet and under his own power make his way off the ground.
To make matters even worse for Cripps and his upcoming date with the Match Review Panel, Ah Chee was subbed out of the game with concussion, Mitch Robinson took his place.
Cripps was sixth favorite for the 2022 Brownlow Medal on TAB markets, but his name will surely contain an asterisk on the AFL’s night of nights.
“He’s much more likely to be suspended than not. The AFL’s bottom line is if you choose to bump, you’re responsible for the fallout,” Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy during the halftime show.
“This is a textbook case. He jumps off the ground, it’s not a marking contest, he doesn’t really contest the ball, he braces rather than reaches for the ball.
“Ah Chee is subbed out so it is absolutely medium impact, potentially even high impact.”
Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard was rubbed out earlier in the year for a strikingly similar hit on GWS’ Daniel Lloyd that resulted in him missing two weeks.
“It’s a tough one to watch,” former Carlton star Eddie Betts said on Fox Footy.
Carlton’s place in the finals is on the line, currently sitting seventh on the ladder one game clear of the ninth placed St Kilda.
They finish the season with games against the reigning premiers Melbourne and the running-hot Collingwood.
Failing to win any and they could find themselves standing on the outside looking in and having to secure a win without their inspirational skipper could prove to be mission impossible.
There’s fears Sydney veteran Josh Kennedy has played his last match after suffering another hamstring injury in the VFL.
Plus the Saints’ sweat on Dan Hannebery’s fitness after the luckless midfielder goes down once again.
Get the latest AFL injury news in our Round 21 Casualty Ward!
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SYDNEY veteran Josh Kennedy could potentially be “pushed into retirement” after another hamstring injury; this time suffered in the VFL on Sunday.
Kennedy missed 10 matches after a horror hamstring tendon injury suffered against Carlton back in Round 10.
He made his return as the medi sub last round, but didn’t get on the field.
So the Swans made the call to send Kennedy back to the VFL. But he has now injured the hamstring on his opposite leg.
Kennedy limped off the ground in the second term after trying to lay a tackle on North’s Tarryn Thomas.
“It’s disastrous developments,” Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph said.
“It seemed to be a really serious hamstring injury.
“The worst case scenario for a hamstring tear at the high end scale or a tendon injury probably puts him out for the rest of the season and potentially pushes him into retirement.”
Riewoldt on ‘mind-boggling’ McEvoy trade | 01:14
PORT ADELAIDE star connor rozee will undergo scans after a knee scare in Saturday night’s loss to Richmond, but club doctors are confident the mercurial midfielder has avoided significant damage.
The 22-year-old limped from the ground in the second quarter at Adelaide Oval after his left leg twisted awkwardly under him as he attempted a quick change of direction.
He was clearly in pain as he was assessed on the sideline and was taken to the changerooms for treatment before half-time, then shortly emerged with the knee heavily strapped to play out the second half.
The Power was playing for pride only, having been knocked out of finals contention by Collingwood, but coach Ken Hinkley was comfortable with the decision not to put the young star in cotton wool.
“What you do when you manage a player is you have good conversations with the medical team and they were very certain and sure that there was not going to be any further damage done,” Hinkley said.
“It was about whether the pain was manageable for Connor and he seemed to think it was.
“You wouldn’t take a risk with a player like Connor, and we never do, regardless of the state of the season.
“(The medical staff) said structurally it’s all fine so that should give us confidence.”
RICHMOND are waiting on the results of scans on defender Nick Vlastuin after he was subbed out of the win over Port Adelaide.
Vlastuin sustained rib damage in a collision with Charlie Dixon, with Richmond coach Damien Hardwick conceding it is unlikely the important defender will be fit to take on the Hawks on Sunday.
He could also be in doubt to face Essendon in Round 23.
Tigers down Port to keep finals alive | 01:09
GEELONG are taking a cautious approach with star Patrick Dangerfieldafter the veteran was a late withdrawal from Saturday’s win over St Kilda.
But Cats coach Chris Scott is confident Dangerfield will be fit to face the Gold Coast next weekend.
“The feedback I’ve got from him and the medical staff is that he’s fine,” Scott said.
“He just felt some awareness (of calf tightness) in the warm-up and I think in the past he’s pushed through these things thinking he’d be fine.
“And even if there was a one per cent chance that he might do some damage, he wasn’t prepared to take it. So it seemed a logical call.”
ST KILDA coach Brett Ratten says Dan Hannebery is in a race to be fit for the must-win clash with Brisbane on Friday night.
The injury-prone Hannebery was subbed out of the loss to Geelong with an ankle injury.
He’s managed just 17 games for the Saints since crossing from Sydney at the end of 2018 due to ongoing soft tissue injuries.
Hannebery is also out of contract at the end of this season.
“We’ve just got to look after him,” Ratten said.
Geelong stay top with massive Saints win | 02:30
“It was a risk to put him back out there; we’re not taking a risk with a player we are trying to get up for next week.
“He might not even get up this week. We’ve just got to work through what it will look like for Dan post this game.
“He’ll be a test all the way until the last day. It’ll be tight.”
Ratten conceded Hannebery was in “a bit of discomfort” post match but said if he provided himself fit, he’ll keep his spot in the line up to face the Lions.
FREMANTLE‘s Matt Taberner is racing to be fit to face West Coast in next weekend’s Western Derby after being subbed out of the win over the Western Bulldogs.
Taberner failed to see out the match once again, this time with a calf issue, after being restricted to just 12 games in 2022 due to back and hamstring complaints.
Coach Justin Longmuir said the latest setback was disappointing.
“He was looking dangerous again so it’s disappointing for him and us,” he said.
“We’ll rehab it and see what the rest of the year looks like.
“We’ll see what the scan says and see what the doctors recommend for his time out but there’s not much of the season left to be too cautious so we’ll see how it pans out over the next couple of days.”
The Bulldogs lodged the quickest captain’s challenge in NRL history and earned a dream start against the Cowboys.
That led to the first try in the opening set of the game and Matt Burton crossed for the Dogs’ second.
But the Cowboys hit back just before the break with quick-fire tries to Griffin Neame and Chad Townsend to make 10-10 at halftime.
MATCH CENTER: Bulldogs v Cowboys, stats, teams, videos
North Queensland kicked off the match and the touch judge ruled it to bounce out, but Braidon Burns said he got a hand to it with his foot planted out.
The Dogs challenged and replays proved Burns correct, giving Canterbury a penalty on halfway which led to the first try.
Burton put through a grubber and Peta Hiku hesitated just long enough for Josh Addo-Carr to swoop through and score in the third minute.
Burton then turned scorer when he proved too strong from close range off the back off a scrum move in the 18th minute.
The Cowboys were finally rewarded for their sustained pressure when forward Griffin Neame barged over from close range in the 31st minute.
North Queensland halfback Chad Townsend made it two tries in three minutes when he put his head down and burrowed over in the corner.
34TH MINUTE
North Queensland halfback Chad Townsend put his head down and burrowed his way over in the corner.
31ST MINUTES
The Cowboys were finally rewarded for their sustained pressure when forward Griffin Neame barged over from close range.
18TH MINUTE
Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton proved too strong from close range to finish off the back off a scrum move.
3RD MINUTE
Matt Burton put through a grubber and Peta Hiku hesitated just long enough for Josh Addo-Carr to swoop through and score.
“Hiku thought the fullback Scott Drinkwater was going to come in and attack the ball and the Foxx is right there on the sport,” Steve Roach said on Fox League.
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MATCH PREVIEW
The Bulldogs have brought Raymond Faitala-Mariner into their starting side at lock to face the Cowboys, with Tevita Pangai Junior moving to the bench.
Canterbury look like a new side under Mick Potter and the Dogs are chasing a third straight win in what would be their biggest scalp of the season.
North Queensland have won six of their past seven and are looking to solidify a second spot on the ladder.
The Cowboys are 1-17 on side coach Todd Payten named on Tuesday.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow takes Kyle Feldt’s place after it was confirmed he would miss two games with a hamstring injury. Jake Granville slots onto the bench.
The Panthers have turned to Sean O’Sullivan and Jaeman Salmon in the halves as the defending premiers try to navigate the rest of the regular season without stars Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai.
Cleary will miss the rest of the regular season after he was sent off and banned for five matches for an ugly spear tackle on Parramatta’s Dylan Brown, while Luai continues to recover from a knee injury.
O’Sullivan has shown he can fill in for the rep stars when required, but it’s a huge call bringing in Salmon, given he hasn’t started a game at five-eighth since 2019 when he played seven games for the Eels in the No .6 jumper.
Coach Ivan Cleary could yet spring a late change with rookie Kurt Falls named in the reserves for Saturday’s trip to take on the resurgent Raiders.
In a boost for the Panthers, center Stephen Crichton returns from his sickening head clash with Cronulla’s Dale Finucane which required emergency plastic surgery to repair an ear.
Canberra winger Jordan Rapana is back from suspension and replaces Albert Hopoate on the right wing as the Raiders try to keep their top-eight hopes alive.
The Broncos have named Kobe Hetherington at lock in place of the suspended Patrick Carrigan for Thursday’s blockbuster against the Roosters.
Brisbane’s hopes of returning to the top four have been helped with winger Selwyn Cobbo back for his first game since he was knocked out early in the State of Origin decider.
Lindsay Collins was also knocked out in that game and he’ll miss Thursday’s match after he suffered another head knock against the Sea Eagles last week. Teammate Egan Butcher is also missing through suspension, which means Matt Lodge will start.
The Storm welcome back Brandon Smith after his three-game ban for verbally abusing referee Adam Gee. He’ll start from the bench while mid-season recruit David Nofoaluma starts on the wing to bolster their weakened backline.
That backline has taken more damage with Nick Meaney (shoulder) and Justin Olam (Covid) both sidelined for Friday’s match against the Titans, but there is a chance rep winger Xavier Coates returns for his first game since the State of Origin opener when he hurt his ankle.
Toby Sexton has been “rested” which means AJ Brimson moves to the halves with Jayden Campbell set to start at fullback against the team he made his NRL debut against last year.
Six members of the “Sea Eagles seven” have been included in this week’s squad, but Josh Aloiai will miss Friday’s crucial clash with Parramatta because of injury.
Josh Schuster has been named in the No.18 jersey.
The Eels have called on Jake Arthur to replace the injured Mitch Moses for the rest of the regular season as he nurses a broken finger. It’ll be the young half’s first game since he was booed by some Parramatta fans in Round 19.
There will be a very special debut at Shark Park on Saturday night with Kade Dykes set to make his NRL debut at fullback.
The 20-year-old will become a third-generation Shark after his dad Adam and grandfather John both represented the club.
Dykes comes in for Will Kennedy, who will miss the rest of the regular season with a serious ankle injury.
Dragons coach Anthony Griffin has stuck with the same 17 who scored just one try against North Queensland last week, which has their final hopes on life support.
The Cowboys have suffered a setback with try-scoring machine Kyle Feldt ruled out for two weeks with a hamstring injury. His place has been taken by speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.
Meanwhile, Newcastle prop David Klemmer has been stood down by the club for an on-field incident during the Knights’ clash with the Bulldogs. He is ineligible to play until he responds to the club-imposed sanction.
Sydney Swans champion Josh Kennedy is yet to make up his mind about playing on next year. Either that, or coach John Longmire isn’t giving anything away.
Kennedy technically edged one game closer to his 300-game milestone on Saturday as the medical substitute despite not being used in the Swans’ crushing 73-point triumph over the Giants.
The 34-year-old, who has played 290 matches and would need to extend into next season to reach 300, is yet to return to the senior side since recovering from a serious hamstring injury.
He has played three consecutive VFL contests, including winning 25 disposals and laying six tackles for Sydney’s reserves after the seniors got the job done.
The Swans gatecrashed the top four with their fourth-straight win – the first time they have achieved that this year – and that promises to make a potential fairytale finish more difficult for the former co-captain.
Players such as prized early draftees Logan McDonald and Braeden Campbell, veteran defender Harry Cunningham and forwards Sam Wicks, Ben Ronke and Hayden McLean are also stuck at the lower level.
“I had a brief chat with him a couple of weeks ago about how he’s feeling about (playing on),” Longmire said of Kennedy.
“He said, ‘All I want to do is get back and play this year’, so he’s very much a live-in-the moment-type of person.
“He’s just wanting to get his body right and come back and play, so that’s the way he wanted to approach it. Josh will be the driver of that.”
Longmire oftens fends off selection-related questions at his Monday media conferences by leaning on it being too early in the week to answer and he did so again about Kennedy’s chances of facing North Melbourne.
He said there would be more than just sentiment involved, particularly in regards to Kennedy’s impending milestone, when deciding whether Kennedy continued into a 17th season.
The coach expects ruckmen Tom Hickey and Peter Ladhams to both available this weekend, the latter after missing the past three games with a broken thumb on his dominant right hand.
At what level Ladhams returns at remains to be determined, Longmire said, especially with Sam Reid’s renaissance season as a forward-ruck creating a “good problem”.
With that in mind, he is wary of the last-placed Kangaroos’ centre-bounce prowess, especially after Sydney needed to kick the final four goals against them in round 4 to escape with an 11-point victory.
That is partly why Longmire won’t even contemplate viewing the clash as a possible percentage-booster that could help the Swans’ top-four hopes.
“They’ve obviously changed coach the last three weeks, their clearance stuff is through the roof and their ground-balls are No.1 in the comp, so we’re still mindful of what they can do when they well,” Longmire said .
“We got an experience of that first-hand early in the year.”
