NRL teams: David Fifita dumped for Magic Round, import snubbed in Rabbitohs shake-up
A former State of Origin star has been sensationally dropped for Magic Round, while the disappearing act at the Rabbitohs continues.
Destructive back-rower David Fifita has been sensationally axed by Des Hasler, while the Dragons have also made a major move in a bid to return to winning ways at Magic Round.
The Titans have lost four games in a row, with Fifita paying the price for their form slump despite being their most damaging runner.
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He’s been dumped to the reserves for their game against the Bulldogs, with young gun Josiah Pahulu joining the bench in place of Brock Gray who suffered a season-ending ACL injury last week.
Shane Flanagan has also made a big switch this week with halfback Lachlan Ilias dropped after failing to fire at his new club.
Lyhkan King-Togia will start in the halves after signing a contract extension on Tuesday, while Corey Allan will make his club debut on the wing after a long road back from injury.
There’s another halves shock at Souths where Lewis Dodd has been named in NSW Cup despite the club being without regular playmakers Cody Walker and Jamie Humphreys, while Latrell Mitchell is suspended.
Dodd will partner Josh Schuster in the halves in reserve grade, with Jack Wighton shifting to five-eighth for the game against the Knights.
Jye Gray returns to fullback against a Knights side that welcomes back Adam Elliott and Jacob Saifiti in the middle as they look to end their losing streak.
The opening game of Magic Round sees Kayal Iro return from a hamstring injury at left centre for Cronulla, with Charlie Guymer promoted to the back row for the Eels.
It’s smooth sailing for the Roosters after their big Anzac Day win, but there are mass changes at the Dolphins who welcome back Jeremy Marshall-King, Felise Kaufusi and Kurt Donoghoe.
Max Plath remains sidelined with a foot injury, while prop forward Daniel Saifiti is expected to be out for up to a fortnight with a shoulder concern.
“Marshall-King, Kaufusi and Donoghoe are all in line to play in Magic Round, and we will know more as we watch how Saifiti’s injury settles down over the next week,” Dolphins head of performance Jeremy Hickmans said.
The Bulldogs have been forced to make several changes with Josh Curran, Matt Burton and Sitili Tupouniua all suspended.
Bailey Hayward starts at five-eighth, Daniel Suluka-Fifita gets a game at prop and Blake Taaffe joins the bench for their game against the Titans.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has swung the axe with young gun Casey McLean dumped to reserve grade, with Luke Garner set to start in the centres against a Broncos team that gets Jordan Riki back on an edge.
And Sua Fa’alogo has been cleared to start on the wing for the Storm after he was knocked out of last week’s win over the Rabbitohs courtesy of a high shot from Latrell Mitchell.
Man mountain Nelson Asofa-Solomona got through his Queensland Cup game unscathed and has been named again on an extended bench.
FRIDAY MAY 2
Cronulla Sharks v Parramatta Eels, Suncorp Stadium, 6pm
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. Billy Burns 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Jayden Berrell 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Jesse Colquhoun 21. Hohepa Puru
Eels team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Charlie Guymer 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 16. Matt Doorey 17. Sam Tuivaiti 18. Ryan Matterson 19. Joash Papali’i 20. Dean Hawkins 21. Bryce Cartwright 22. Jordan Samrani
Sydney Roosters v The Dolphins, Suncorp Stadium, 8pm
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Blake Steep 17. Egan Butcher 18. Ethan King 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Chad Townsend 21. Dominic Young 22. Makahesi Makatoa
Dolphins team:1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Felise Kaufusi 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Francis Molo 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Tom Gilbert 13. Mark Nicholls 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Ray Stone 16. Connelly Lemuelu 17. Josh Kerr 18. Kenny Bromwich 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Harrison Graham 22. Max Feagai
SATURDAY MAY 3
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Newcastle Knights, Suncorp Stadium, 3pm
Rabbitohs team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 3. Euan Aitken 4. Campbell Graham 5. Isaiah Tass 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Jai Arrow 14. Liam Le Blanc 15. Lachlan Hubner 16. Davvy Moale 17. Fletcher Myers 18. Thomas Fletcher 19. Lewis Dodd 20. Joshua Schuster 21. Salesi Ataata 22. Nazareth Taua
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. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Mathew Croker 16. Adam Elliott 17. Brodie Jones 18. Thomas Cant 19. Tyson Gamble 20. Kyle McCarthy 21. Matthew Arthur 22. Tyrone Thompson
New Zealand Warriors v North Queensland Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium, 5:30pm
Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Rocco Berry 4. Ali Leiataua 5. Adam Pompey 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. Marata Niukore 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Leka Halasima 13. Erin Clark 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Bunty Afoa 18. Tanner Stowers-Smith 20. Samuel Healey 21. Tanah Boyd 22. Eddie Ieremia 23. Edward Kosi
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. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Zac Laybutt 19. Karl Lawton 20. Kai O’Donnell 21. Kaiden Lahrs 22. Thomas Mikaele
Wests Tigers v St. George-Illawarra Dragons, Suncorp Stadium, 7:45pm
Tigers team:1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To’a 5. Brent Naden 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. Tony Sukkar 19. Heath Mason 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Solomona Faataape 22. Tristan Hope
Dragons team:1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Corey Allan 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lyhkan King-Togia 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Dylan Egan 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Hamish Stewart 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Jack de Belin 16. Emre Guler 17. Luciano Leilua 18. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 19. Nathan Lawson 20. Blake Lawrie 21. Lachlan Ilias 22. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
SUNDAY MAY 4
Gold Coast Titans v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Suncorp Stadium, 1:50pm
Titans team: 1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Tom Weaver 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Klese Haas 15. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 16. Arama Hau 17. Josiah Pahulu 18. Tony Francis 19. David Fifita 20. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 21. Tukimihia Simpkins 22. Allan Fitzgibbon
Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Bailey Hayward 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Blake Taaffe 19. Lipoi Hopoi 20. Blake Wilson 21. Jake Turpin 22. Luke Smith 23. Drew Hutchison
Penrith Panthers v Brisbane Broncos, Suncorp Stadium, 4:05pm
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Paul Alamoti 3. Izack Tago 4. Luke Garner 5. Thomas Jenkins 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Liam Henry 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Trent Toelau 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Lindsay Smith 17. Mavrik Geyer 18. Daine Laurie 19. Luron Patea 20. Casey McLean 21. Billy Scott 22. Jack Cole
Broncos team: 1. Selwyn Cobbo 2. Deine Mariner 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Xavier Willison 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Cory Paix 15. Corey Jensen 16. Brendan Piakura 17. Jaiyden Hunt 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Martin Taupau 20. Josiah Karapani 21. Jock Madden 22. Benjamin Te Kura
Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders, Suncorp Stadium, 6:25pm
Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Sualauvi Faalogo 3. Grant Anderson 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Joe Chan 18. Ativalu Lisati 19. Lazarus Vaalepu 20. Kane Bradley 21. Keagan Russell-Smith 22. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Raiders team:1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Zac Hosking 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota 18. Simi Sasagi 19. Manaia Waitere 20. Pasami Saulo 21. Trey Mooney 22. Danny Levi
Bye – Manly Sea Eagles
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