NRL teams round 27: Corey Horsburgh captain as Raiders make 10 changes

In an extraordinary story of perseverance, once-maligned forward Corey Horsburgh will captain a new-look Canberra Raiders side for the final regular-season round.

Seven players rested, three injured, three debutants and a new captain worthy of one of the stories of the year.

That’s the situation for minor premiers the Raiders, who will name a new-look line-up to tackle the Dolphins on Sunday.

With a concern for the length of recovery time the Raiders will receive should they be scheduled to host their first finals match next Saturday, coach Ricky Stuart has pulled the pin on influential figures including Jamal Fogarty, Joe Tapine, Josh Papalii and Hudson Young.

They are among seven players rested, while Ethan Strange (neck), Keao Weekes (calf) and Simi Sasagi (leg) have been ruled out due to injury.

The total of 10 changes has prompted Stuart to hand debuts to winger Michael Asomua, centre Manaia Waitere and backrower Joe Roddy.

With the resting of Tapine, Stuart informed lock-forward Corey Horsburgh that he will captain the side.

The elevation of Horsburgh to captain is an extraordinary story of perseverance.

Falling out of love with the game, it was just 12-months ago that he requested a release from the club before Stuart was able to challenge Horsburgh to raise his training standards across last pre-season, and as a result, begin to enjoy his footy again.

Corey Horsburgh (left) is set to lead Ricky Stuart’s Raiders. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

SUPERCOACH WINNERS FROM TEAMS

* Corey Horsburgh – Yes, there are 10 changes at the Raiders with many SuperCoach players missing out (more below). But Horsburgh is still popular and should play big minutes as captain in a new-look side.

* Herbie Farnworth - Named on an extended bench as he aims to return from a hamstring injury. Most popular replacement for the injured Jacob Kiraz.

* Sam Walker - Returns from concussion in a crucial boost for many top SuperCoaches.

* Eli Katoa and Jahrome Hughes - Among the returning players at a near full-strength Storm for the final round.

* Bulldogs - No resting for the Dogs in a huge boost for SuperCoaches.

* Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards - Among a huge contingent of returning players at the Panthers, who rested 16 players last week.

* Cameron Murray - Set to play his first game of the season for the Rabbitohs after an Achilles injury, but from the bench.

* Joey Walsh, Cooper Bai, Carter Gordon, Heamasi Makasini - A host of young guns have been handed debuts in the final round. It’s a great opportunity to see these kids on the big stage, but hopefully they don’t go too well and ruin their prices for 2025!

SUPERCOACH LOSERS FROM TEAMS

* Hudson Young, Ethan Strange, Joseph Tapine, Kaeo Weekes and the Raiders - Ricky Stuart has made 10 changes after wrapping up the minor premiership last week. Seven are rested, three through injury.

* Scott Drinkwater, Tom Dearden, Jaxon Purdue and the Cowboys - On the bye for the final round, meaning a host of popular players are unavailable.

* Jacob Kiraz - Out for around a month and therefore the second most sold player.

Hudson Young is among 10 players rested by the Raiders. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

NRL ROUND 27 TEAMS

BRONCOS v STORM

Thursday, 7:50pm, Suncorp Stadium

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Billy Walters 7. Ben Hunt 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

Interchange: 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Ben Talty 17. Jaiyden Hunt

Reserves: 18. Delouise Hoeter 19. Fletcher Baker 20. Jock Madden 21. Va’a Semu 22. Gehamat Shibasaki

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Will Warbick 3. Grant Anderson 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Ativalu Lisati 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero

Interchange: 14. Tyran Wishart15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Joe Chan

Reserves: 18. Marion Seve 19. Jack Howarth 20. Jonah Pezet 21. Kane Bradley 22. Lazarus Vaalepu

SEA EAGLES v WARRIORS

Friday, 6:00pm, 4 Pines Park

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Clayon Faulalo 4. Tommy Talau 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Corey Waddell 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jazz Tevaga

Interchange: 14. Joey Walsh 15. Caleb Navale 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley

Reserves: 18. Aaron Schoupp 19. Navren Willett 20. D’Jazirhae Pua’avase 21. Simione Laiafi 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Rocco Berry 5. Roger Tuivasa-sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Samuel Healey 10. Tanner Stowers-Smith 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima

Reserves:18. Taine Tuaupiki 20. Kalani Going 21. Bunty Afoa 22. Edward Kosi 23. Luke Hanson

ROOSTERS v RABBITOHS

Friday, 8:00pm, Allianz Stadium

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Hugo Savala 7. Sam Walker 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Victor Radley 13. Naufahu Whyte

Interchange: 14. Benaiah Ioelu 15. Egan Butcher 16. Blake Steep 17. Siua Wong

Reserves: 18. Ethan King 19. Salesi Foketi 20. Sandon Smith 21. Tom Rodwell 22. Makahesi Makatoa

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Jack Wighton 5. Tyrone Munro 6. Ashton Ward 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Sean Keppie 9. Saliva Havili 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. Tallis Duncan 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner

Interchange: 14. Brandon Smith 15. Jacob Host 16. Cody Walker 17. Cameron Murray

Reserves: 18. Euan Aitkenl 19. Peter Mamouzelos 20. Shaquai Mitchell 21. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 22. Lewis Dodd

DRAGONS v PANTHERS

Saturday, 3:00pm, WIN Stadium

Dragons

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Hayden Buchanan 4. Mathew Feagai 5. Tyrell Sloan 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Jacob Halangahu 12. Jaydnn Su’a 13. Jack De Belin

Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Luciano Leilua 16. Hame Sele 17. Loko Pasifiki Tonga

Reserves: 18. Ben Murdoch-Masila 19. Corey Allan 20. Lachlan Ilias 21. Michael Molo 22. Blake Lawrie

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Thomas Jenkins, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Paul Alamoti, 6. Blaize Talagi, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Moses Leota, 9. Mitch Kenny, 10. Lindsay Smith, 11. Scott Sorensen, 12. Luke Garner, 13. Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 14. Brad Schneider, 15. Liam Henry, 16. Isaiah Papali’i, 17. Matthew Eisenhuth

Reserves: 18. Daine Laurie, 19. Maverick Geyer, 20. Riley Price, 21. Luron Patea, 22. Jaxen Edgar

TITANS v WESTS TIGERS

Saturday, 5:30pm, Cbus Super Stadium

Titans

1. Keano Kini 2. Brian Kelly 3. AJ Brimson 4. Carter Gordon 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui

Interchange: 14. Cooper Bai 15. Klese Haas 16. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 17. Josh Patston

Reserves: 18. Tukimihia Simpkins 19 Jaylen De Groot 20. Tom Weaver 21. Sean Mullany 22. Tony Francis

Wests Tigers

1. Jahreem Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Taylan May 4. Starford To’a 5. Heamasi Makasini 6. Jarome Luai 7. Latu Fainu 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Sione Fainu 13. Alex Twal

Interchange: 14. Heath Mason 15. Royce Hunt 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Tony Sukkar

Reserves: 18. Tristan Hope 19. Charlie Murray 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Krystian Mapalangi 22. Charlie Staines

BULLDOGS v SHARKS

Saturday, 7:35pm, Accor Stadium

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Enari Tuala 3. Bronson Xerii 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon

Interchange: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Josh Curran 17. Reed Mahoney

Reserves: 19. Jake Turpin 20. Daniel Suluka-Fififta 21. Kurtis Morrin 22. Jethro Rinakama 23. Toby Sexton

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jesse Colquhoun

Interchange: 14. Hohepa Puru 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Daniel Atkinson 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Oregon Kaufusi 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha

DOLPHINS v RAIDERS

Sunday, 2:00pm, Kayo Stadium

Dolphins

1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Tevita Naufahu 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe

Interchange: 14. Aublix Tawha 15. Ray Stone 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Josh Kerr

Reserves: 18. Kenny Bromwich 19. LJ Nonu 20. James Walsh 21. Peter Hola 22. Herbie Farnworth

Raiders

1. Chevy Stewart 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Michael Asomua 6. Adam Cook 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Owen Pattie 10. Ata Mariota 11. Noah Martin 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Morgan Smithies

Interchange: 14. Danny Levi 15. Trey Mooney 16. Manaia Waitere 17. Joseph Roddy

Reserves: 18. Kain Anderson 19. Vena Patuki-Case 20. Shaun Packer 21. Ethan Alaia 22. Myles Martin

EELS v KNIGHTS

Sunday, 4:05pm, CommBank Stadium

Eels

1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Will Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. J’maine Hopgood 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Jack Williams 13. Dylan Walker

Interchange: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Matt Doorey16. Charlie Guymer 17. Jordan Samrani

Reserves: 18. Dean Hawkins 19. Dan Keir 20. Toni Mataele 21. Joey Lussick 22. Joash Papalii

Knights

1. Fletcher Hunt 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jakob Arthur 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Jermaine McEwen 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell

Interchange: 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Mathew Croker 16. Thomas Cant 17. Elijah Salesa Leaumoana

Reserves: 18. James Schiller 19. Cody Hopwood 20. Matthew Arthur 21. Connor Votano 22. Lachlan Crouch

BYE: COWBOYS