The whips are well and truly cracking now we’re at the business end of the season and several contenders are close to full strength.
Storm superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen will play his first game of footy all year, making his return from a serious knee injury in reserve grade.
The Melbourne fullback will play for the Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Q Cup on Saturday at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet so I’m sort of just going through the training week and trying to prepare like it’s a normal game,” Papenhuyzen said.
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FOX LEAGUE PODCAST – YVONNE SAMPSON
Fox League presenter Yvonne Sampson joins the podcast this week to celebrate Women in League Round. ‘Vonny’ looks back over her journey in media — from covering pigeon races in rural Queensland to hosting the coverage of some of the biggest events in Australian sport.Listen NOW >
“It’s just been a while between drinks. It’s had its ups and downs and setbacks, and it’s probably taken a little bit longer than expected but at the same time I’m happy I did that.
“It’s been long enough now that I feel ready, and I guess that’s the main thing about long-term rehab is that resistance to being ready.”
Meanwhile, fellow top four aspirants the Rabbitohs, Raiders and Warriors have most of their stars back on deck for some crunch clashes.
Read on for the Team Lists for Round 23.
THURSDAY AUGUST 3
Sydney Roosters vs Manly Sea Eagles at Sydney Cricket Ground, 7.50pm AEST
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Siua Wong 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Nathan Brown 16. Terrell May 17. Fletcher Baker 18. Corey Allan 19. Elie El Zakhem 20. Jake Turpin 21. Fetalaiga Pauga 22. Dylan Napa
Sea Eagles team: 1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Aaron Woods 16. Dean Matterson 17. Ethan Bullemor 18. Ben Condon 19. Jakob Arthur 20. Kaeo Weekes 21. Morgan Harper 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
NSWRL crowd fight results in sanctions | 00:34
FRIDAY AUGUST 4
Gold Coast Titans vs Warriors at Cbus Super Stadium, 6.00pm AEST
Titans team: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Isaac Liu 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Erin Clark 14. Jayden Campbell 15. Chris Randall 16. Klese Haas 17. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 18. Keano Kini 19. Jacob Alick 20. Jo Vuna 21. Kruise Leeming 22. Ken Maumalo
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. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Josh Curran 18. Jazz Tevaga 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Freddy Lussick 22. Tom Ale 23. Ronald Volkman
Penrith Panthers vs Melbourne Storm at BlueBet Stadium, 8.00pm AEST
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Zac Hosking 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. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Jack Cogger 19. Luke Garner 20. Izack Tago 21. Thomas Jenkins 22. Liam Henry
Storm team: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Marion Seve 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 13. Josh King 14. Tom Eisenhuth 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tepai Moeroa 17. Eliesa Katoa 18. Tyran Wishart 19. Bronson Garlick 20. Jonah Pezet 21. George Jennings 22. Grant Anderson
‘He is over-hyped!’ Clash on Suaalii | 04:09
SATURDAY AUGUST 5
North Queensland Cowboys vs Brisbane Broncos at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, 3.00pm AEST
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. Jason Taumalolo 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Coen Hess 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Heilum Luki 17. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 18. Sam McIntyre 19. Kyle Feldt 20. Riley Price 21. Brendan Elliot 22. Jack Gosiewski
Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Brendan Piakura 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Corey Jensen 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Deine Mariner 19. Xavier Willison 20. Jordan Riki 21. Jock Madden 22. Tristan Sailor
Dolphins vs Newcastle Knights at Optus Stadium, Perth, 5.30pm AEST
Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Kodi Nikorima 4. Valynce Te Whare 5. Tesi Niu 6. Anthony Milford 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Kenny Bromwich 14. Herman Ese’ese 15. Josh Kerr 16. Isaiya Katoa 17. Jarrod Wallace 18. Max Plath 19. Trai Fuller 20. Poasa Faamausili 21. Ray Stone 22. Jack Bostock
Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott 14. Kurt Mann 15. Brodie Jones 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Enari Tuala 20. Simi Sasagi 21. Dane Aukafolau 22. Jack Johns
Cronulla Sharks vs South Sydney Rabbitohs at Optus Stadium, Perth, 7.35pm AEST
Sharks team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Thomas Hazelton 16. Royce Hunt 17. Jesse Colquhoun 18. Matt Moylan 19. Kayal Iro 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Tuku Hau Tapuha 22. Daniel Atkinson
Rabbitohs team: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Jai Arrow 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Michael Chee Kam 13. Cameron Murray 14. Davvy Moale 15. Siliva Havili 16. Jed Cartwright 17. Tallis Duncan 18. Tyrone Munro 19. Jacob Host 20. Shaquai Mitchell 21. Peter Mamouzelos 22. Dean Hawkins
Smith defends Storm’s stripped titles | 03:27
SUNDAY AUGUST 6
Parramatta Eels vs St George Illawarra Dragons at CommBank Stadium, 2.00pm AEST
Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Isaac Lumelume 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Luca Moretti 15. Andrew Davey 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Brendan Hands 19. Arthur Miller-Stephen 20. Ofahiki Ogden 21. Daejarn Asi 22. Jack Murchie
Dragons team: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Billy Burns 12. Dan Russell 13. Jack de Belin 14. Connor Muhleisen 15. Michael Molo 16. Toby Couchman 17. Zane Musgrove 18. Ryan Couchman 19. Sione Finau 20. Jack Bird 21. Max Feagai 22. Ben Murdoch-Masila
Canberra Raiders vs Wests Tigers at GIO Stadium, 4.05pm AEST
Raiders team: 1. Jordan Rapana 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Sebastian Kris 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Nick Cotric 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Adrian Trevilyan 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Ata Mariota 18. Utuloa Asouma 19. Matt Frawley 20. Tom Starling 21. Trey Mooney 22. Ethan Strange
Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To’a 4. Junior Tupou 5. Charlie Staines 6. Daine Laurie 7. Luke Brooks 8. Alex Twal 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Justin Matamua 16. Aitasi James 17. Asu Kepaoa 18. Tallyn Da Silva 19. Alex Seyfarth 20. Will Smith 21. Kit Laulilii 22. Josh Feledy
Bye: Bulldogs