Two Dragons players have seen an immediate uptick in their fortunes after their former coach was given his marching orders on Tuesday.
Anthony Griffin’s dismissal as Dragons coach has already had profound effects on the team, with Zac Lomax and Jacob Liddle both recalled for this week’s clash against the Roosters.
Lomax and Liddle had both fallen out of favour under the old coach and have not played over the past two weeks after being dropped.
However, the pair have been recalled by interim coach Ryan Carr, who took over at the Dragons after Griffin was officially sacked on Tuesday morning.
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Elsewhere in the NRL, Broncos captain Adam Reynolds will miss his team’s blockbuster clash against the Panthers after being stretchered off last week.
Reynolds has been replaced by Jock Madden in the halves for Kevin Walters’ side, which is suddenly in need of a big scalp after being well beaten by the Storm last week.
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There are also some late State of Origin auditions for a couple of star Blues, with both Josh Addo-Carr and Jake Trbojevic named after injury layoffs.
Both players are gunning to be named in Brad Fittler’s New South Wales side for the May 31 opener in Adelaide.
Thursday
7.50pm | Brisbane Broncos v Penrith Panthers, Suncorp Stadium
Brisbane Broncos
1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Jock Madden 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Cory Paix 15. Corey Jensen 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Martin Taupau 18. Deine Mariner 19. Keenan Palasia 20. Brendan Piakura 21. Xavier Willison 22. Jordan Pereira
Penrith Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Tyrone Peachey 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Zac Hosking 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Martin 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Jack Cogger 19. Luke Garner 20. Thomas Jenkins 21. Chris Smith 22. Liam Henry
Referee: Adam Gee
Analysis: Jock Madden’s inclusion for Adam Reynolds is the only change to the Broncos side which was beaten by the Storm. There are no changes to the Panthers side after a big win over the Roosters. Spencer Leniu is still sidelined after undergoing surgery on a ruptured testicle.
Friday
6pm | St George-Illawarra Dragons v Sydney Roosters, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
St George-Illawarra Dragons
1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Jack de Belin 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Jack Bird 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Michael Molo 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Toby Couchman 16. Ben Murdoch-Masila 17. Josh Kerr 18. Francis Molo 19. Moses Mbye 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Zane Musgrove 22. Max Feagai
Sydney Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Corey Allan 3. Joseph Suaalii 4. Billy Smith 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Keary 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Egan Butcher 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley 14. Jake Turpin 15. Nat Butcher 16. Angus Crichton 17. Matthew Lodge 18. Sandon Smith 19. Fletcher Baker 20. Nathan Brown 21. Junior Pauga 22. Terrell May
Referee: Peter Gough
Analysis: Zac Lomax’s return means Max Feagai loses his starting spot in the centres, while Dragons skipper Ben Hunt returns to the No.7 jersey. Luke Keary has been moved to five-eighth in the absence of Joseph Manu for the Roosters.
8pm | South Sydney Rabbitohs v Parramatta Eels, Allianz Stadium
South Sydney Rabbitohs
1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Hame Sele 11. Michael Chee Kam 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron Murray 14. Blake Taaffe 15. Jai Arrow 16. Liam Knight 17. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 18. Ben Lovett 19. Richard Kennar 20. Peter Mamouzelos 21. Shaq Mitchell 22. Dean Hawkins
Parramatta Eels
1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Wiremu Greig 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Junior Paulo 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Andrew Davey 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Ofahiki Ogden 15. Brendan Hands 16. Ryan Matterson 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Haze Dunster 20. Ky Rodwell 21. Daejarn Asi 22. Luca Moretti
Referee: Ashley Klein
Analysis: Tom Burgess remains sidelined once again after being a late scratch last week due to back spasms. There is a return for star Eels halfback Mitchell Moses who missed round 11 due under concussion protocols.
Saturday
3pm | Cronulla Sharks v Newcastle Knights, Coffs Harbour International Stadium
Cronulla Sharks
1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Connor Tracey 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane 14. Braydon Trindall 15. Jack Williams 16. Wade Graham 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Daniel Atkinson 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Braden Hamlin-Uele 21. Jesse Colquhoun 22. Jayden Berrell
Newcastle Knights
1. Lachlan Miller 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Kalyn Ponga 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Jack Hetherington 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Leo Thompson 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Adam Elliott 17. Mathew Croker 18. Jack Johns 19. Enari Tuala 20. Adam Clune 21. Hymel Hunt 22. Simi Sasagi
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Analysis: Oregon Kaufusi returns to the Sharks lineup after being a late withdrawal last week, but Siosifa Talakai remains sidelined due to a neck injury. The Knights go unchanged although there’s been a positional switch between Jack Hetherington and Leo Thompson.
5.30pm | Wests Tigers v North Queensland Cowboys, Leichhardt Oval
Wests Tigers
1. Jahream Bula 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To’a 4. Tommy Talau 5. Junior Tupou 6. Brandon Wakeham 7. Luke Brooks 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Alex Twal 17. Asu Kepaoa 18. Alex Seyfarth 19. Shawn Blore 20. Justin Matamua 21. Daine Laurie 22. Aistasi James
North Queensland Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jack Gosiewski 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Mitchell Dunn 16. Riley Price 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 18. Zac Laybutt 19. Ben Hampton 20. Sylvester Namo 21. Brendan Elliot 22. Sam McIntyre
Referee: Ben Cummins
Analysis: The Tigers go in unchanged with Tommy Talau retaining his spot in the centres in Brent Naden’s absence. The Cowboys are still without Jason Taumalolo, who is expected to return next week following a lengthy layoff due to a knee injury.
7.35pm | Dolphins v Melbourne Storm, Suncorp Stadium
Dolphins
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Euan Aitken 4. Brenko Lee 5. Tesi Niu 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Kenny Bromwich 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Tom Gilbert 14. Jarrod Wallace 15. Anthony Milford 16. Ray Stone 17. Herman Ese’ese 18. Mark Nicholls 19. Kurt Donoghoe 20. Edrick Lee 21. Valynce Te Whare 22. JJ Collins
Melbourne Storm
1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Aaron Pene 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Tui Kamikamica 18. Grant Anderson 19. Tariq Sims 20. Tepai Moeroa 21. Tyran Wishart 22. Jayden Nikorima
Referee: Grant Atkins
Analysis: The return of Dolphins skipper Jesse Bromwich and Brenko Lee from injuries means Valynce Te Whare drops out despite scoring a double on debut. Nelson Asofa-Solomona retains his spot in Craig Bellamy’s starting lineup despite suffering a knock last week.
Sunday
2pm | Canterbury Bulldogs v Gold Coast Titans, Accor Stadium
Canterbury Bulldogs
1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Karl Oloapu 7. Matt Burton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Corey Waddell 12. Jacob Preston 13. Harrison Edwards 14. Josh Reynolds 15. Jayden Okunbor 16. Samuel Hughes 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 19. Blake Wilson 20. Jackson Topine 21. Ryan Sutton 22. Kyle Flanagan 23. Kurtis Morrin
Gold Coast Titans
1. Jayden Campbell 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Isaac Liu 14. Kruise Leeming 15. Erin Clark 16. Klese Haas 17. Jo Vuna 18. Aaron Schoupp 19. Thomas Mikaele 20. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 21. Keano Kini 22. Ken Maumalo
Referee: Chris Butler
Analysis: Josh Addo-Carr returns to the Bulldogs side with a two-week runway until the State of Origin opener, while Josh Reynolds has been dropped back to the bench. For the Titans, Erin Clark returns to the side after missing round 11 with a finger injury.
4.05pm | Canberra Raiders v Manly Sea Eagles, GIO Stadium
Canberra Raiders
1. Sebastian Kris 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Danny Levi 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Ata Mariota 18. James Schiller 19. Hohepa Puru 20. Brad Schneider 21. Corey Harawira-Naera 22. Nick Cotric
Manly Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Sean Keppie 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Karl Lawton 15. Samuela Fainu 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Ben Condon 18. Kaeo Weekes 19. Morgan Harper 20. Cooper Johns 21. Morgan Boyle 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Analysis: Danny Levi makes his return for the Raiders after suffering a broken jaw earlier this season. Manly is boosted by the return of Jake Trbojevic from a calf injury as well as the return of Josh Schuster from quad injury.
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