NRL Round 13 teams: Dragons axe Corey Norman, Knights pick Blake Green
Some of the NRL’s biggest names are missing from the team sheets this weekend, including a highly paid playmaker at the Dragons and a SuperCoach star. CHECK OUT THE FULL LIST OF TEAMS
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Team List Tuesday turned into a day of carnage with a slew of NRL stars, including Corey Norman, Harry Grant and Kyle Flanagan either being rested, out injured or unmercifully axed for this weekend’s action.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson sprung a selection surprise when he left Flanagan, the game’s leading point scorer, out of the side to take on St George Illawarra on Thursday night.
But The Daily Telegraph can reveal Robinson has decided to rest Flanagan ahead of the reigning premier’s round 14 blockbuster against the Storm.
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Rising playmaker Lachlan Lam, who has played off the bench over the last month, has been named in the No.7 jumper. Veteran back Josh Morris [calf] returns from injury while skipper Boyd Cordner has been given another week off to overcome his concussion issues.
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St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has also made a number of key changes, including axing marquee half Corey Norman. Adam Clune has been named to take Norman’s spot at halfback alongside Ben Hunt at five-eighth.
Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire has made wholesale changes to his team to take on Newcastle on Saturday.
In a massive blow to SuperCoaches, hooker Harry Grant (knee) and Alex Twal (rib) are both out with injury. Maguire has also made mass positional changes with Moses Mbye named at hooker, Tommy Talau shifting into the centres, Matt Eisenhuth moving to lock and Luke Brooks winning back his starting spot in the halves alongside Benji Marshall. Maguire is also set to debut his newest recruit, Sydney Roosters junior Asu Kepaoa on the wing.
The Knights will also roll out their lastest signing Blake Green. Green’s arrival has relegated Kurt Mann from his preferred position at five-eighth and into hooker.
Popular SuperCoach CTW Bradman Best is out indefinitely with an ankle injury. Best will see a surgeon on Wednesday with the best case scenario a six-week stint on the sidelines.
Injury-prone Sharks playmaker Matt Moylan (hamstring) is expected to return and take his place in the halves against the Eels. Cronulla coach John Morris has also axed boom backrower Briton Nikora.
The Broncos can’t catch a break on or off the field with centre Kotoni Staggs caught up in a revenge porn scandal on Tuesday afternoon. While Staggs will take the field, the Broncos will be without Anthony Milford (hamstring) but welcome back forward David Fifita for his first game since March.
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South Sydney forward Jaydn Su’A has been rubbed out of a showdown with million-dollar man David Fifita and the Broncos after failing to overturn a one-match ban at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night.
Su’A will spend a week on the sidelines after being found guilty of a late hit on St George Illawarra captain Cameron McInnes
Melbourne will be without skipper Cameron Smith (shoulder) when they take on the Bulldogs. Brandon Smith has been named at hooker. Coach Craig Bellamy has also opted to rest fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen and handed Nicho Hynes the fullback jumper.
For North Queensland, Michael Morgan finally returns from a shoulder in place of Jake Clifford, who has been relegated to the reserves.
DRAGONS COMMENT: Corey Norman has been dropped and is replaced by Adam Clune who missed last week due to concussion. Trent Merrin (concussion) returns on the bench which sees Jacob Host relegated to the reserves.
ROOSTERS COMMENT: Kyle Flanagan is out with the young playmaker replaced at halfback by Lachlan Lam with Drew Hutchison coming on to the bench in place of Lam. Josh Morris returns in the centres which sees Sitili Tupouniua revert to the second row. Still no sign of Boyd Cordner who has been given another week to recover from concussion issues.
SEA EAGLES COMMENT: Dylan Walker’s injury sees last week’s late omission Cade Cust return to the team at five-eighth. Tevita Funa returns from a lengthy injury break and he comes in at centre replacing Brad Parker (concussion).
WARRIORS COMMENT: Halfback Blake Green (club switch to Knights) is out, replaced by Chanel Harris-Tavita in the only change from last week’s team.
The most drama-packed teams day in a looooong time. Here are the winners and losers, with @tomsangsterSC. pic.twitter.com/FuBr9EJJIX
— SuperCoach NRL (@SuperCoachNRL) August 4, 2020
RABBITOHS COMMENT: Just the one change for the Rabbitohs with Jayden Su’A rubbed out of the clash after failing to overturn a one-match ban at the NRL judiciary. Liam Knight is likely to come into the starting with Jack Johns being promoted to the bench. Adam Reynolds has been named to start despite not being able to finish last week’s game due to neck nerve issues.
BRONCOS COMMENT: In yet another test for the Brisbane backline depth, Anthony Milford (hamstring) is out and unlikely to return for a number of weeks. Milford is replaced in the halves by Brodie Croft. It’s not all doom and gloom though with David Fifita returning to the side and named to start on the edge in place of Joe Ofahengaue. Joe O moves to the interchange bench which sees Ethan Bullemor shift to the reserves.
STORM COMMENT: Cameron Smith (shoulder) is out which sees Brandon Smith take on the hooker role and Ryley Jacks come on to the interchange bench. Ryan Papenhuyzen (rest) is out which sees Nicho Hynes win a start at fullback. Marion Seve is out, Tom Eisenhuth wins the start at centre in his place. Jesse Bromwich starts at prop pushing Nelson Asofa-Solomona to the interchange.
BULLDOGS COMMENT: Aiden Tolman has been benched with Ofahiki Ogden named to start in his place. Sione Katoa and Jeremy Marshall-King swap starting hooker/interchange roles and Jack Cogger is replaced on the interchange bench by Reimis Smith.
KNIGHTS COMMENT: New recruit Blake Green earns an immediate start at five-eighth, allowing Kurt Mann to shift to hooker in place of Chris Randall (concussion). Centres Bradman Best (ankle) and Tautau Moga (dropped) are both out, replaced by Gehamat Shibasaki and Starford Toa. Brodie Jones replaces the suspended Pasami Saulo on the bench.
WESTS TIGERS COMMENT: Massive overhaul. Harry Grant (knee) and Alex Twal (rib) are out, while Joseph Leilua, Russell Packer (both suspension), Matt Eisenhuth (knee) and former Dally M halfback of the year Luke Brooks are key inclusions. New recruit Asu Kepaoa debuts on the wing. Sam McIntyre earns a promotion to the starting side.
PANTHERS COMMENT: The rollercoaster ride continues for boom winger Charlie Staines, who has scored six tries in just 107 minutes of NRL but is now out for 4-6 weeks with a hamstring injury. He is replaced on the wing by Malakai Watene-Zelezniak.
RAIDERS COMMENT: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (dislocated finger) returns at fullback, pushing Jordan Rapana to the wing and Semi Valemei (knee) out of the side.
This week looms as one of the toughest, if not the toughest, of the year. Here's who to buy, hold and sell., with @TomSangsterSC. pic.twitter.com/4dbW1qNOmO
— SuperCoach NRL (@SuperCoachNRL) August 4, 2020
TITANS COMMENT: Sam Lisone (shoulder) returns on the bench in place of Sam Stone. AJ Brimson continues at fullback after being a late inclusion last week. Beau Fermor is lurking on the extended bench.
COWBOYS COMMENT: Total overhaul. Massive double boost with captain Michael Morgan (shoulder) and Josh McGuire (suspension) back. Morgan slots in at halfback in place of Jake Clifford, who drops to the reserves with Ben Hampton retained at five-eighth. McGuire’s return at prop pushes Francis Molo to the bench. Shane Wright, Gavin Cooper and John Asiata (knee) miss out. Jake Granville has been recalled on the bench, while 21-year-old prop Emry Pere will make his debut from the interchange. Tom Opacic makes his comeback from injury at centre with Justin O’Neill shifting to the wing to replace Murray Taulagi (wrist). Mitch Dunn earns a start in the back row.
SHARKS COMMENT: Matt Moylan (hamstring) is a key inclusion, replacing Braydon Trindall in the halves. Jesse Ramien and Josh Dugan (both hamstring) return in the centres, pushing Siosifa Talakai to the second row with Briton Nikora dropped. Last week’s debutant Jackson Ferris (knee/suspension) is out for 4-6 weeks. Scott Sorensen (knee) has been named on the extended bench after a long lay-off.
EELS COMMENT: Ryan Matterson (concussion) remains sidelined. Ray Stone replaces Brad Takairangi on the bench in the only change.