NRL teams lists Round 9: Big guns James Tedesco and Josh Papalii return, KFC SuperCoach
Fullback James Tedesco is back for the injury-hit Roosters, who have lost another key player for an extended period. Check out all the team news for Round 9.
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Roosters hooker Sam Verrills is set to be sidelined for a month with a semi-detached retina, suffered last weekend against Newcastle.
Ben Marschke has been named at No. 9 to play against Parramatta.
James Tedesco (concussion) returns at fullback with Matt Ikuvalu named in placed of Brett Morris (ACL). Sitili Tupouniua is replaced by Nat Butcher in the backrow. Lachlan Lam (knee) has been named on the extended bench.
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Manly have suffered a huge blow with forward Josh Aloiai facing three months on the sideline with a wrist injury. “It’s not good news for Josh, he may miss up to three months,” Manly physio James Rahme said.
Enforcer Martin Taupau is also unavailable for Sunday’s game against the Warriors.
At Redfern, untimely injuries have forced Wayne Bennett into a backline reshuffle. Adam Reynolds has avoided surgery on a thumb injury but will miss up to a month.
“It was really loose and unstable after the game … the surgeon is really comfortable with how the joint has recovered within the days he saw Adam and he is not going to require surgery,” Rabbitohs head of performance, Jarrod Wade said.
Benji Marshall has been named to replace Reynolds against Melbourne.
Braidon Burns will replace Campbell Graham (hand) at centre, Alex Johnston is named at fullback and Bennett has named a new wing pairing in Steven Marsters and Taane Milne.
Cameron Murray (ankle) is replaced by Jai Arrow at lock.
Boom Wests Tigers back Zac Cini has been named on the wing for Saturday’s clash against the Titans. Centre James Roberts is expected to miss a month, while Moses Mbye has been named at centre to replace the suspended Tommy Talau.
The Titans welcome back Tino Fa‘asuamaleaui (suspension). Corey Thompson (ankle) will miss two months, Beau Fermor has been named at centre with Phillip Sami shifting to the wing.
Centre Jesse Ramien (glute) is back for Cronulla, with Braden Hamlin-Uele (ankle) replaced by Teig Wilton on the bench for Friday’s Penrith clash.
Keep up to date with all the latest team selection news in our Early Mail here.
ROUND 9 TEAMS
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
RABBITOHS: Adam Reynolds (thumb, two weeks), Cameron Murray (ankle, 4-6 weeks), Jaxson Paulo (hand, 6-8 weeks) and Campbell Graham (hand, four weeks) are all out after suffering injuries on the weekend. A massive backline reshuffle includes Braidon Burns in the centres, while Steven Marsters and Taane Milne are on the wings. Cody Walker returns to the halves to partner Benji Marshall. That allows Alex Johnston to shift to fullback. Junior Tatola is back after a concussion rest with Jai Arrow switching to lock. Josh Mansour is a week or two away from returning from hamstring injury.
STORM: Welcome back both Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Robert Jennings after they missed the Sharks game due to concussion. Jennings replaces Dean Ieremia on the right wing with Asofa-Solomona coming onto the bench for Chris Lewis. Harry Grant has again been named to start but suffered sternum and hand injuries during the game on Friday and could be in some doubt. Ryan Papenhuyzen (shoulder) miss out again with Nicho Hynes to continue at fullback.
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
PANTHERS
No changes. Kurt Capewell (ribs) has been named despite failing to finish last week and will need to prove his fitness. James Fisher-Harris (hamstring) is also in some doubt. Matt Burton is free to play after only being charged with grade one careless high tackle for his hit on Martin Taupau and escaping with a fine.
SHARKS
Without Braden Hamlin-Uele (ankle) after he suffered a syndesmosis injury which will keep him out for an extended period. Jesse Ramien (glute) returns at centre with Teig Wilton switching to the bench to replace Hamlin-Uele. Matt Moylan (quad) remains on the extended bench. Wade Graham (concussion/eye) is right to go despite failing to finish.
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
EELS
Same 17 with lock Nathan Brown (hip) remarkably named despite appearing to suffer a serious injury last week. King Gutho was given an early shower on the weekend and is not injured.
ROOSTERS
Hit hard by injury with Brett Morris and Lindsay Collins (both ACL) ruled out for the rest of the season. But in some good news James Tedesco returns at fullback after missing the Knights game, allowing Joseph Manu to move back to right centre to replace the injured Morris with Matt Ikuvalu to continue on the right wing. Siosiua Taukeiaho starts at prop for the injured Collins with Daniel Suluka-Fifita coming onto the bench. Sitili Tupouniua will miss one week after pleading guilty to a shoulder charge with Nat Butcher to start on the right edge and Fletcher Baker coming onto the bench. Lachlan Lam (knee) has been named on an extended bench and is aiming to return. Ben Marschke has been called up from the interchange to slot in at hooker for Sam Verrills and Adam Keighran inherits the No. 14 jersey.
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
RAIDERS
Two big inclusions with prop Josh Papalii (rested) and halfback George Williams (hamstring) both returning. Papalii replaces Ryan James, who drops out of the squad entirely. Josh Hodgson (calf) and Jarrod Croker (shoulder) miss out again but are hopeful of playing next week.
KNIGHTS
Blake Green (ribs) is replaced in the halves by Phoenix Crossland. Hymel Hunt (hamstring) resumes on the wing with Starford To’a dropping to the reserves. Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) and Tex Hoy (hamstring) have been named on the extended bench and are aiming for returns.
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
WESTS TIGERS
Tommy Talau (suspension) is replaced at centre by Moses Mbye. This sees Jacob Liddle come onto the interchange which will likely place game time pressure on KFC SuperCoach cheapie Jake Simpkin. James Roberts (shoulder) remains sidelined.
TITANS
Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (suspension) returns at prop, pushing Moeaki Fotuaika to the interchange bench. Corey Thompson (ankle) is out long-term. Phillip Sami moves from centre to wing with Beau Fermor earning a start in the No. 4. Jaimin Joliffe replaces Sam McIntyre on the interchange. Sami (ankle), Jarrod Wallace (shoulder) and AJ Brimson (ankle) all need to be checked after suffering minor injuries on the weekend.
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
COWBOYS
Ben Hampton (pectoral) is replaced in the halves by Jake Clifford. Mitch Dunn (suspension) has been named in the reserves. Javid Bowen comes into the centres in place of Justin O’Neill.
BRONCOS
No changes. Anthony Milford and Tyson Gamble continue in the halves with Jesse Arthars at right centre. Kotoni Staggs (knee) and Alex Glenn (calf) are aiming for next week.
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
SEA EAGLES
Key forwards Josh Aloiai (wrist) and Martin Taupau (concussion) are both out. Sean Keppie moves to the front row and Haumole Olakau’atu goes from the interchange into the second row. Centre Moses Suli (back) joins the interchange bench and is aiming to return from injury.
WARRIORS
Eliesa Katoa, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Euan Aitken could all return. Katoa has been named to start in the second row with Ben Murdoch-Masila (concussion) out. Harris-Tavita (foot) and Aitken (ankle) have been named on the extended bench and will push for inclusion.
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
DRAGONS
Zac Lomax (dislocated thumb) is replaced in the centres by Tyrell Fuimaono with Poasa Faamausili coming onto the bench. Cody Ramsey (ribs) has been named but is in doubt with Mathew Feagai in the reserves as cover.
BULLDOGS
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Nick Meaney switch positions, with DWZ to play fullback and Meaney on the wing. Dylan Napa (shoulder) has been named but is in doubt.