NRL Round Nine teams: Bulldogs, Dragons, Cowboys, Titans among clubs to ring the changes
Despite bold showings against two competition heavyweights in recent weeks, Dragons coach Paul McGregor has still wielded the axe for Sunday’s showdown with Manly. And that’s good news for one high-profile player.
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St George Illawarra halfback Ben Hunt has risen from the bench and has been named to start at hooker against Manly on Sunday.
Million-dollar player Hunt has been used as an impact player off the bench in recent weeks but coach Paul McGregor has shook things up after two consecutive defeats by promoting Hunt among a swathe of positional and personnel changes.
Regular rake Cameron McInnes shifts to lock forward to replace Trent Merrin, who drops back to the bench, while Tariq Sims (wrist) and Jordan Pereira (suspension) are back.
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Tyrell Fuimaono reverts to the bench and Korbin Sims and Jason Saab have been demoted to the reserves.
Meanwhile, they have only won once since the NRL’s resumption so it should come as no surprise that Canterbury have thrown star English recruit Luke Thompson into the fray this weekend.
Just weeks after arriving in the country, the 25-year-old will look to get the last-placed Bulldogs firing when they face fellow strugglers Brisbane on Saturday evening.
The Cowboys have dropped a selection bombshell by moving fullback Valentine Holmes to the wing in favour of young gun Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow for Thursday night’s clash with the Roosters in Townsville.
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And in news for Cronulla, Josh Dugan will return to fullback in place of the injured Matt Moylan. Bryson Goodwin will move into the centres.
The Sharks have opted for the experience of the 30-year-old for their crucial clash with Penrith on Saturday.
Cowboys comment: Big news with Val Holmes pushed to the wing and Tabuai-Fidow recalled to play fullback. I’m not sure you’d want to start HTF against the Roosters but the cheapie’s recall is just what plenty of KFC SuperCoach NRL players were hoping to hear. Holmes takes Justin O’Neill’s (injured) wing spot. One more change in the backline with Connelly Lemuelu coming in to centre at the expense of Tom Opacic. No Jordan McLean so Francis Molo wins a start and Tom Gilbert comes on the interchange bench.
Roosters comment: Injury has opened the door for Ryan Hall to get an extended run on the wing for the Roosters. With a very solid base, Hall is a sneaky POD play in KFC SuperCoach NRL classic and should definitely be on your radar in draft. Boyd Cordner (concussion) is out with his place taken on the left edge by Mitch Aubusson and Lachlan Lam coming on to the bench.
Titans comment: This isn’t a reshuffle, it’s a wholesale change. Corey Thompson’s return to fullback is the most conventional of the positional swaps. From there, Beau Fermor’s KFC SuperCoach NRL cheapie credentials get a boost, but not at second row as he was last week. Instead Fermor has been named to start at centre in place of Brian Kelly. It’s a strange centre pairing at the Gold Coast with Bryce Cartwright replacing Tyrone Peachey (interchange). Phillip Sami has lost his wing spot to Treymain Spry. Changes up front too, with hooker Mitch Rein (calf) replaced by Erin Clark while Sam Stone takes Fermor’s second row spot.
Warriors comment: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (suspension) is a welcome inclusion. RTS’ return sees Peter Hiku shift to centre at the expense of Gerard Beale. Change in the halves with Kodi Nikorima (concussion) out, this sees Blake Green move to halfback and Chanel Harris-Tavita come into the starting side at five-eighth. Movement up front with Adam Blair shifting from lock to prop at the expense of Agnatius Paasi (interchange). Karl Lawton named to start at lock but Jazz Tevaga returns from injury and I expect he will come in at lock when Lawton needs a rest. This signals an end to Tohu Harris’ days as a KFC SuperCoach POD as he will now spend the full 80 minutes on an edge.
Rabbitohs comment: Braidon Burns (patella) is facing a lengthy stint in rehab and in his place the Rabbitohs have named Bayley Sironen in an all forward bench.
Tigers c omment: Joseph Leilua (suspended) is replaced at centre by Michael Chee-Kam with Chee-Kam’s spot on the interchange bench taken by veteran Chris Lawrence.
Sharks comment: Matt Moylan (hamstring) is out and replaced at fullback by Josh Dugan with Bryson Goodwin moving from wing to centre to replace Dugan and Ronaldo Mulitalo coming on to the wing to cover for Goodwin.
Panthers c omment: Brian To’o (ankle) is a long term loss for the Panthers and is replaced on the wing this week by Brent Naden which opens the door for Dean Whare to return to the side at centre.
Broncos comment: Under-fire coach Anthony Seibold has resisted the urge to make changes, naming the same 17 players as last week. However, there is a positional reshuffle with Tevita Pangai Jnr moving to prop, Thomas Flegler to the bench and Corey Oates to start in the second row. Kotoni Staggs (hamstring) and Matt Lodge (knee) have been named on an extended bench as they eye returns.
Bulldogs c omment: One forced change with Adam Elliott (shoulder) replaced at lock by British recruit Luke Thompson, who will make his NRL debut.
Raiders c omment: Sia Soliola (facial fracture) may have played his last game for the club, while Emre Guler (ankle) is also out. Dunamis Lui and Kai O’Donnell come into the 17. Joe Tapine starts at lock with Ryan Sutton reverting to the pine. Jordan Rapana takes Curtis Scott’s place on the interchange.
Storm c omment: Cameron Smith reverts to hooker despite starring in the halves last week. But look out for the game-day switch of Smith to five-eighth, Brandon Smith to hooker and Ryley Jacks to the bench. Suliasi Vunivalu (hamstring) is replaced by Marion Seve on the wing. Cameron Munster (knee) has been named in reserves and could make an early return.
Knights c omment: Kalyn Ponga (concussion) has been named and is expected to play. Winger Edrick Lee (broken arm) is replaced by young tyro Tex Hoy. Aidan Guerra starts in the back row for Sione Mata’utia (concussion). Starford To’a and Brodie Jones are the new faces on the bench.
Eels c omment: Nathan Brown (suspension) is a key inclusion at lock, pushing Marata Niukore to the bench. Popular early-season cheapie Stefano Utoikamanu finally earns his debut off the interchange with Ray Stone and Oregon Kaufusi out of the 17.
Dragons c omment: Big gun Tariq Sims (wrist) returns in the back row, pushing Tyrell Fuimaono to the bench and Korbin Sims out of the 17. Ben Hunt has been playing hooker from the bench over the last few weeks but he starts in the No. 9 this week with Cameron McInnes switching to lock and Trent Merrin benched. Jordan Pereira replaces Jason Saab on wing.
Sea Eagles c omment: Just the one forced change with Addin Fonua Blake (suspension) replaced at starting prop by Taniela Paseka with Morgan Boyle added to the bench.