The Bulldogs are reportedly set for a huge boost with an off-season recruit’s long-awaited return looming.
The Roosters will also welcome back their biggest off-season signing, who is fit and firing ahead of an NRL return.
Meanwhile, a Panthers superstar could return from a hamstring injury if Panthers medicos don’t opt to take the cautious approach.
Read below for all the latest Team Tips ahead of Round 20!
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FRIDAY
Newcastle Knights vs Wests Tigers at McDonald Jones Stadium, 8:00pm AEDT
Knights Round 18 team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Enari Tuala 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 15. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott 8. Daniel Saifiti 14. Kurt Mann 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker
Team Tips: Veteran centre Dane Gagai is expected to return from a foot injury, likely forcing Enari Tuala out of the starting 17. Elsewhere, Jacob Saifiti looks unlikely to back up after being picked for the Blues with only a two-day turnaround. Daniel Saifiti will likely take his place in the starting team, with Brodie Jones, Jack Johns orDylan Lucas coming on to the bench.
Last week’s Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Asu Kepaoa 3. Starford To’a 4. Tommy Talau 5. Junior Tupou 19. Will Smith 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Jake Simpkin 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Shawn Blore 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Aistasi James
Team Tips: Daine Laurie was a late exclusion from the Tigers’ Round 19 team with a quad injury and could be available for selection. However, Will Smith was solid in the halves and could retain his position. Alex Twal will return from suspension, likely shifting last week’s debutant Aistasi James off the pine. Apisai Koroisau and Luke Brooks both remain at leats two weeks away from returning to the field, while Brent Naden (shoulder) and David Nofoaluma (shoulder) are both touch and go for this week. If the pair are deemed fit, both Asu Kepaoa and Starford To’a are on the chopping block after Tommy Talau’s solid performance against the Sharks.
SATURDAY
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs Brisbane Broncos at Belmore Sports Ground, 3:00pm AEDT
Last week’s Bulldogs team: 1. Jake Averillo 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Braidon Burns 22. Ethan Quai-Ward 5. Blake Wilson 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Ryan Sutton 4. Jackson Topine 12. Jacob Preston 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 11. Jayden Okunbor 14. Kyle Flanagan 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Tevita Pangai Junior
Team Tips: Prop Ryan Sutton has been cleared of serious unjury but is unlikely to take the field in Round 20. According to the SMH, gun backrower Viliame Kikau could make a timely return after suffering a training pectoral injury leading in to Round 7. Kikau remains a slight chance of taking the field this week and could join the side off the bench to ease back in to first grade football, with Tevita Pangai Junior taking Sutton’s spot in the front row. Kikau’s return comes as a huge boost for the Bulldogs, with his initial return date scheduled for Round 22.
Round 18 Broncos team: 21. Tristan Sailor 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Keenan Palasia 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 16. Kobe Hetherington 13. Patrick Carrigan 12. Xavier Willison 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Corey Jensen 17. Martin Taupau
Team Tips: The Broncos will still be without Reece Walsh due to suspension, and Tristan Sailor remains the likely man to once again fill in at fullback. Veteran backrower Kurt Capewell is expected to return and could shift Kobe Hetherington back to the bench, with Xavier Willison dropping out of the team. Elsewhere, Payne Haas won’t take the field due to an ankle injury and will likely be replaced by Corey Jensen in the starting team. Pat Carrigan is also a strong chance of backing up from Origin on Wednesday night.
Manly Sea Eagles vs North Queensland Cowboys at 4 Pines Park, 5:40pm AEDT
Round 18 Sea Eagles team: 1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Aaron Woods
Team Tips: Manly got through their Round 18 clash unscathed and both halfback Daly Cherry-Evans and lock Jake Trbojevic are expected to back up after Origin Game III.
Round 18 Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Semi Valemei 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. Luciano Leilua 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 18. Jason Taumalolo
Team Tips: Jason Taumalolo returned successfully in Round 18 and is expected to return to the starting team. He could replace Reuben Cotter who could back up from Origin Game III off the bench. Both Valentine Holmes and Murray Taulagi are also expected to back up with Todd Payten hopeful of continuing a run towards finals football.
Will Freddy remain as Blues coach? | 01:38
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Sydney Roosters vs Melbourne Storm at Sydney Cricket Ground, 7:35pm AEDT
Round 18 Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 4. Joseph Manu 19. Corey Allan 18. Junior Pauga 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Turpin 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Victor Radley 21. Nat Butcher 13. Nathan Brown 12. Naufahu Whyte 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Terrell May 16. Siua Wong
Team Tips: Four players are expected to return from their respective head knocks, with Egan Butcher, Billy Smith, Joseph Suaalii and Jake Turpin all spending the week off under the NRL’s concussion protocols. Suaalii is expected to return on the wing, with Smith on his inside shifting Junior Pauga and Corey Allan out of the 17. Meanwhile, Butcher will likely replace Siua Wong on the bench. Connor Watson is a few weeks away from a return, but hooker Brandon Smith is expected to take up his place in the starting team after being sidelined with a finger break, shifting Turpin to the bench and potentially Naufahu Whyte out of the 17 if Trent Robinson opts to carry Drew Hutchison. According to the SMH, Smith has dropped weight during his time off and has been training hard to be fit and firing ahead of his NRL return. James Tedesco is also expected to back up for the Tricolours.
Round 18 Storm team: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tariq Sims 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 16. Tui Kamikamica 18. Tyran Wishart 19. Tom Eisenhuth. 18th man: 15. Alec MacDonald
Team Tips: Will Warbrick suffered a head knock in Round 18 but is free to play after Melbourne had a week off. Both Cameron Munster and Harry Grant will likely back up after Origin on Wednesday.
SUNDAY
New Zealand Warriors vs Cronulla Shakrs at Go Media Stadium, 2:00pm AEDT
Last week’s Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Bayley Sironen 16. Tom Ale 17. Freddy Lussick
Team Tips: Josh Curran will return after he was handed a suspension for an off-field incident, likely taking Freddy Lussick’s spot on the bench. Dylan Walker is expected to be free to play, having suffered an arm injury in Round 19 which was only a nerve issue according to coach Andrew Webster.
Last week’s Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Wade Graham 16. Jesse Colquhoun 17. Thomas Hazelton
Team Tips: The Sharks got through Round 19 unscathed and no changes are expected, with Dale Finucane still another week away from returning from suspension.
Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers at Kayo Stadium, 4:05pm AEDT
Last week’s Dolphins team: 1. Kodi Nikorima 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Euan Aitken 4. Valynce Te Whare 5. Tesi Niu 6. Isaiya Katoa 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 19. Harrison Graham 15. Mark Nicholls 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Ray Stone 10. Herman Ese’ese 14. Josh Kerr 16. Anthony Milford 17. Jarrod Wallace 22. Kurt Donoghoe
Team Tips: With an injury cloud surrounding hooker Jeremy Marshall-King, Harrison Graham was strong in his absence. Expect the young gun to continue at starting hooker, with Wayne Bennett potentially shifting Isaiya Katoa to dummy-half and Anthony Milford in to the halves to give Graham a rest. Elsewhere, Felise Kaufusi will return in the backrow, potentially pushing Kenny Bromwich to prop and Mark Nicholls to the bench. Origin gun Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is also expected to replace Valynce Te Whare in the centres.
Redcliffe Dolphins Press Conference | 05:48
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Round 18 Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Jack Cogger 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 19. Matt Eisenhuth 18. Zac Hosking 21. Tyrone Peachey. 18th man: 17. Jaeman Salmon
Team Tips: Scott Sorensen is expected to take the field after suffering a neck injury while Nathan Cleary is also a chance of returning from a hamstring injury. However, Panthers medicos may take a cautious approach to his recovery and leave him on the sidelines for a further week. The remaining four Origin players, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo will all likely back up with a four day turnaround.
Parramatta Eels vs Gold Coast Titans at CommBank Stadium, 6:15pm AEDT
Last week’s Eels team: 1. Sean Russell 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Isaac Lumelume 6. Ryan Matterson 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Ofahiki Ogden 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Andrew Davey 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Luca Moretti 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Shaun Lane 17. Makahesi Makatoa
Team Tips: The Eels will welcome Reagan Campbell-Gillard back into the front row, with Ofahiki Ogden likely shifting to the bench in place of Luca Moretti. Josh Hodgson won’t return from a neck injury. Clint Gutherson will also replacing Sean Russell at fullback, shifting the young gun to the wing in place of Isaac Lumelume.
Last week’s Titans team: 1. Jayden Campbell 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Jaimin Jolliffe 9. Sam Verrills 14. Chris Randall 11. Klese Haas 12. Joe Stimson 13. Isaac Liu 10. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 15. Erin Clark 16. Jojo Fifita 17. Jacob Alick 19. Keano Kini
Team Tips: Joe Stimson will likely sit out under the NRL’s concussion protocols after suffering a head knock in Round 19. The Origin trio of David Fifita, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and AJ Brimson will all return, sparking some big changes. Jayden Campbell could shift back to the bench despite a mammoth performance in Round 19, while Fifita will be a straight swap for Stimson. Fa’asuamaleaui will likely take Chris Randall’s spot in the front row, shifting Jacob Alick off the bench.
Bye:Dragons, Rabbitohs, Raiders
