NRL teams: Relief for Manly, Eels swing axe, Burton replacement named, guns nearing return

One NRL club is breathing a sigh of relief, while one coach has dropped the axe and others have rung the changes for round 2.

Sea Eagles fans can breathe easy after superstar duo Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans were both named to take on the Raiders despite being forced off in New Zealand with injuries.

Trbojevic (hamstring tightness) and Cherry-Evans (back spasms) both received good news when their scans came back, with the pair set to be given every chance to play given the Sea Eagles play the final game of the round on Sunday evening.

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The Sea Eagles also get Tolu Koula back from injury, while their opponents have lost Zac Hosking to a broken arm, while Xavier Savage is back from suspension and replaces Albert Hopoate on the wing.

Ronald Volkman has been dropped, Kotoni Staggs is nearing a return and Tom Trbojevic has neem named. .

There are big changes in the halves for Sunday’s other game with Cameron Ciraldo naming Bailey Hayward at five-eighth in place of Matt Burton who is out with a knee injury.

Sitili Tupouniua joins the starting side in place of Viliame Kikau (knee), while the Eels have named Dean Hawkins at halfback instead of Ronald Volkman who only played the first two rounds after the club got dispensation from the NRL.

Speedster Josh Addo-Carr is also a chance of making his club debut against the team that sacked him, although the winger has been named in the reserves.

The Storm are being coy on Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s availability after the towering prop was named on an extended bench for the grand final rematch.

The New Zealand international missed last year’s clash after he copped a five-match ban for a high shot in the preliminary final, but is likely to come into the 17 after he avoided another suspension for a hip-drop tackle in reserve grade.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona (top) has been named on an extended bench for the Storm in what would be his first game back from suspension.Picture: NRL Photos

Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs has been named in the reserves for Michael Maguire’s side as he nears a return from a quad injury.

The Panthers have brought in Daine Laurie for the injured Dylan Edwards, with Brad Schneider and Isaiah Papali’i the fresh faces on the bench.

The Roosters have received a triple boost with representative forwards Lindsay Collins, Victor Radley and Spencer Leniu all back on deck for the trip to New Zealand, while Kotoni Staggs could be a late inclusion for the Broncos.

Brisbane’s opponents have made a major change with Jake Clifford replacing rookie Tom Duffy at halfback, while Jeremiah Nanai is on the bench after he was dropped last week, while veteran Jason Taumalolo returns from injury.

Jahream Bula has been named at fullback for the Tigers despite sending a scare through the team last week, while the Titans will be without try-scoring machine Alofiana Khan-Pereira (hamstring) out for at least a month.

THURSDAY

Melbourne Storm vs. Penrith Panthers, 8pm AEDT at AAMI Park

Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Grant Anderson 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 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. Lazarus Vaalepu 18. Bronson Garlick 19. Joe Chan 20. Kane Bradley 21. Coby Williamson 22. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Panthers team: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Casey McLean 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To’o 6. Jack Cole 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 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. Blaize Talagi 19. Trent Toelau 20. Matt Eisenhuth 21. Luke Sommerton 22. Thomas Jenkins

FRIDAY

New Zealand Warriors v Sydney Roosters, 6pm AEDT at Go Media Stadium

Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 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. Dylan Walker 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima 18. Jacob Laban 20. Te Maire Martin 21. Freddy Lussick 22. Bunty Afoa 23. Rocco Berry

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. Thomas Duffy 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Karl Lawton 22. Jaxson Paulo

SATURDAY

Cronulla Sharks vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs, 3pm AEDT at Sharks Stadium

Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 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. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Tuku Hau Tapuha 18. Billy Burns 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Hohepa Puru 21. Niwhai Puru 22. Jayden Berrell

Rabbitohs team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Isaiah Tass 3. Jack Wighton 4. Campbell Graham 5. Fletcher Myers 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Davvy Moale 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Tallis Duncan 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Siliva Havili 16. Liam Le Blanc 17. Tevita Tatola 18. Mikaele Ravalawa 19. Lewis Dodd 20. Jacob Host 21. Thomas Fletcher 22. Salesi Ataata

Dolphins vs. Wests Tigers, 5.30pm AEDT at Kayo Stadium

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

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. Latu Fainu 19. Heath Mason 20. Charlie Staines 21. Tony Sukkar 22. Solomona Faataape

Gold Coast Titans vs. Newcastle Knights, 7.35pm AEDT at Cbus Super Stadium

Titans team: 1. Keano Kini 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. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Chris Randall 15. David Fifita 16. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 17. Brock Gray 18. Jaylan De Groot 19. Arama Hau 20. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 21. Tom Weaver 22. Ken Maumalo

Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Brodie Jones 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Tyson Frizell 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Thomas Cant 17. Mathew Croker 18. Kyle McCarthy 19. Jermaine McEwen 20. Will Pryce 21. Matthew Arthur 22. Tyrone Thompson

SUNDAY

Parramatta Eels vs. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 4.05pm AEDT at CommBank Stadium

Eels team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Zac Lomax 5. Jordan Samrani 6. Dylan Brown 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Jack Williams 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Ryley Smith 15. Matt Doorey 16. Kitione Kautoga 17. Sam Tuivaiti 18. Ryan Matterson 19. Joash Papali’i 20. Dan Keir 21. Josh Addo-Carr 22. Joey Lussick

Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Bailey Hayward 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Josh Curran 11. Sitili Tupouniua 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 17. Kurtis Morrin 19. Joseph O’Neill 20. Jack Todd 21. Blake Taaffe 22. Luke Smith 23. Jonathan Sua

Manly Sea Eagles vs. Canberra Raiders, 6.15pm AEDT at 4 Pines Park

Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Josh Aloiai 18. Tommy Talau 19. Clayton Faulalo 20. Jakob Arthur 21. Nathan Brown 22. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega

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. Corey Horsburgh 11. Hudson Young 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Trey Mooney 17. Ata Mariota 18. Danny Levi 19. Albert Hopoate 20. Pasami Saulo 21. Jed Stuart 22. Ethan Sanders

Bye: St George Illawarra Dragons

Originally published as NRL teams: Relief for Manly, Eels swing axe, Burton replacement named, guns nearing return