NRL teams: Roosters shake-up as Rabbitohs make big Latrell Mitchell change

The Roosters have named a new-look line-up while the Rabbitohs have confirmed a big change for Latrell Mitchell this weekend.

Master coach Wayne Bennett has turned to Latrell Mitchell to cover his injury crisis in the halves for South Sydney, while it’s a different story at the Roosters where veteran playmaker Chad Townsend has been axed after five rounds.

It’s a big move by Trent Robinson who has seen his side make more line-breaks than their opponents in the past three weeks, only to lose all three games with the halves unable to turn the chances into points.

FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.

“Being a half, when you win the games, you get the credit. But when you lose the game or the side is going bad, it’s your fault,” teammate Connor Watson said on Monday.

“We need to do a better job for our halves. We need to give them a better platform, and making errors out of our own end isn’t helping them.

Chad Townsend has been dropped as the Roosters look for an attacking spark. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

“As a team, we can sort that discipline out and it’ll makes the halves’ job so much easier.”

Townsend has been replaced by youngster Hugo Savala, while there could be another change with reports Dom Young could lose his spot to the returning Mark Nawaqanitawase who has been named on an extended bench.

The Roosters do get Victor Radley back from injury, while Nat Butcher has been moved to the front row to replace Lindsay Collins who will miss six weeks with a knee injury.

They face a Broncos side that has named Adam Reynolds even though the veteran halfback failed to finish last week’s game, while Jaiyden Hunt replaces the suspended Brendan Piakura in the back row.

Latrell Mitchell starts at five-eighth with both of South Sydney’s regular halves injured. Picture: NRL Photos

There’s big news at Souths where Mitchell has been named at five-eighth alongside Jayden Sullivan with regular halves Jamie Humphreys and Cody Walker both battling hamstring injuries.

Bennett has opted to move Mitchell into the No. 6 jersey instead of Jack Wighton, who won a Dally M Medal at five-eighth, but will remain in the centres.

Alex Johnston returns from injury and Euan Aitken will make his club debut in the centres against a Cowboys side that welcomes back Reuben Cotter at lock.

There are mass changes at the Panthers who get Dylan Edwards back from injury as they look to end a four-game losing streak.

He’s one of three changes to the spine, with the premiers losing Mitch Kenny to a shoulder injury and Jack Cole to a head knock, with Luke Sommerton and high-profile recruit Blaize Talagi back in the side.

The Knights have been forced into a major reshuffle with Jack Cogger, Adam Elliott, Jack Hetherington, James Schiller and Jacob Saifiti all unavailable.

Phoenix Crossland shifts to halfback, Jayden Brailey moves to hooker, Kyle McCarthy starts on the wing, with Matt Arthur and Tyrone Thompson to make their club debuts off the bench.

They host a Tigers side that gets Jarome Luai back from suspension, while Jeral Skelton and Samuela Fainu also return from injury.

And Lachlan Croker could make his first appearance of the season after he was named on Manly’s extended bench against a Sharks side that get Teig Wilton and Siosifa Talakai back after a tough loss in Canberra.

THURSDAY

Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers, 7.50pm AEST at Suncorp Stadium

Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Tom Gilbert 13. Max Plath 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Connelly Lemuelu 17. Josh Kerr 18. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Kenny Bromwich 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Max Feagai 22. Junior Tupou

Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Paul Alamoti 3. Izack Tago 4. Thomas Jenkins 5. Casey McLean 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Brad Schneider 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Liam Henry 17. Luke Garner 18. Daine Laurie 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Trent Toelau 21. Mavrik Geyer 22. Jesse McLean

FRIDAY

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Gold Coast Titans, 6pm AEST at WIN Stadium

Dragons team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Hamish Stewart 17. Dylan Egan 18. Mathew Feagai 19. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 20. Sione Finau 21. Lyhkan King-Togia 22. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga

Titans team: 1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Tony Francis 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Chris Randall 14. Arama Hau 15. David Fifita 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Brock Gray 18. Tom Weaver 19. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 20. Sean Mullany 21. Tukimihia Simpkins 22. Allan Fitzgibbon

Brisbane Broncos vs Sydney Roosters, 8pm AEST at Suncorp Stadium

Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jaiyden Hunt 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Billy Walters 15. Corey Jensen 16. Xavier Willison 17. Martin Taupau 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Deine Mariner 20. Jock Madden 21. Benjamin Te Kura 22. Blake Mozer

Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Dominic Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Nat Butcher 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Blake Steep 17. Spencer Leniu 18. Mark Nawaqanitawase 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Ethan King 21. Chad Townsend 22. Makahesi Makatoa

SATURDAY

Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles, 3pm AEST at Optus Stadium, Perth

Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Mawene Hiroti 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Billy Burns 20. Hohepa Puru 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Jesse Colquhoun

Sea Eagles team: 1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Clayton Faulalo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Nathan Brown 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Tommy Talau 19. Aaron Schoupp 20. Jakob Arthur 21. Lachlan Croker 22. Michael Chee Kam

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs North Queensland Cowboys, 5.30pm AEST at Optus Stadium, Perth

Rabbitohs team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Euan Aitken 4. Jack Wighton 5. Isaiah Tass 6. Latrell Mitchell 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner 14. Liam Le Blanc 15. Siliva Havili 16. Tallis Duncan 17. Davvy Moale 18. Thomas Fletcher 19. Salesi Ataata 20. Fletcher Myers 21. Haizyn Mellars 22. Nazareth Taua

Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. John Bateman 12. Kai O’Donnell 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Jeremiah Nanai 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Harrison Edwards 19. Zac Laybutt 20. Thomas Duffy 21. Karl Lawton 22. Thomas Mikaele

Parramatta Eels vs Canberra Raiders, 7.35pm AEST at TIO Stadium, Darwin

Eels team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Josh Addo-Carr 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Zac Lomax 6. Dylan Brown 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 16. Charlie Guymer 17. Sam Tuivaiti 18. Joash Papali’i 19. Dan Keir 20. Bailey Simonsson 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Ryan Matterson

Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota 18. Trey Mooney 19. Jed Stuart 20. Adam Cook 21. Pasami Saulo 22. Danny Levi

SUNDAY

Melbourne Storm vs New Zealand Warriors, 2pm AEST at AAMI Park

Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Grant Anderson 3. Jack Howarth 4. Moses Leo 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Bronson Garlick 18. Joe Chan 19. Lazarus Vaalepu 20. Kane Bradley 21. Sualauvi Faalogo 22. Keagan Russell-Smith

Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Rocco Berry 4. Ali Leiataua 5. Adam Pompey 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 14. Bunty Afoa 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima 18. Tanah Boyd 20. Jacob Laban 21. Samuel Healey 22. Te Maire Martin 23. Edward Kosi

Newcastle Knights vs Wests Tigers, 4.05pm AEST at McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights team:1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Kyle McCarthy 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Brodie Jones 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Thomas Cant 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Matthew Arthur 15. Tyrone Thompson 16. Jermaine McEwen 17. Mathew Croker 18. Paul Bryan 19. Jackson Hastings 20. Riley Jones 21. Francis Manuleleua

Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu 18. Tony Sukkar 19. Heath Mason 20. Luke Laulilii 21. Brent Naden 22. Kit Laulilii

Bye: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Originally published as NRL teams: Roosters shake-up as Rabbitohs make big Latrell Mitchell change