Round 5 teams: Tigers duo survive the axe as Bulldogs veteran prepares to return home

The Bulldogs will welcome back a fan favourite for the first time in six years, while there will be relieved players at the Wests Tigers and Dragons.

Jack Wighton is one of several stars who will miss this weekend’s action due to suspension. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

Tim Sheens has resisted the urge to swing the axe, with the Wests Tigers coach picking the same spine for this weekend’s game against the Broncos despite his four main men failing to generate any continuity in attack.

The Tigers have scored the fewest points out of the sides that have played four games, but halves Luke Brooks and Brandon Wakeham have kept their spots despite suggestions one of them may have been dropped.

Luke Brooks has kept his spot in the halves despite struggling to create anything in attack for a Tigers side that has lost its opening four matches. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“It does help if the same combination is in there every week. If we can all play well at the same time then we can keep our jobs,” Wakeham said on Tuesday, with Adam Doueihi retained at fullback.

The Tigers have made a stack of changes to the bench, with Daine Laurie, Alex Seyfarth and Shawn Blore all dropping out against a Broncos side that is unbeaten and unchanged from the one that scraped home against the Dolphins.

There are two major changes for the opening game of round 5, with Drew Hutchison replacing the suspended Joseph Manu at right centre for he Roosters, while Wiremu Greig makes his first start for Parramatta in place of the suspended Junior Paulo.

The Panthers have been forced to make several changes for Isaah Yeo’s 200th appearance, with Scott Sorensen named in the back row in place of Luke Garner, who suffered a rib injury at training last week.

Kangaroos star Liam Martin will miss another game because of a hamstring injury, while bench hooker Soni Luke has been ruled out under the NRL’s concussion protocols.

Jaeman Salmon has overcome a finger injury and will return to Canberra for the first time since last year’s controversy. Picture: NRL Photos

Tyrone Peachey has been named to make his Panthers return via the bench alongside Jaeman Salmon, who has overcome a finger concern.

The two-time defending premiers will start hot favourites on the road against a Canberra side that gets Jordan Rapana back on the bench but loses Jack Wighton to suspension for the next fortnight.

South Sydney welcomes back Hame Sele from concussion protocols to alleviate some of their concerns in the middle, while Alex Johnston has been cleared to play after suffering a corked thigh in last week’s win over Manly.

New recruit Aaron Woods hasn’t been included in Manly’s squad for the trip to Mudgee where they’ll be without electrifying centre Tolu Koula who faces 4-6 weeks out with a knee injury.

He’s been replaced by Morgan Harper, who won’t have to worry about Englishman Dom Young given the hulking winger hasn’t been able to fight his way back into Newcastle’s 17.

Pressure is mounting on Anthony Griffin ahead of this weekend’s game against the Dolphins. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Embattled coach Anthony Griffin has stayed loyal to the side that crumbled at home against Cronulla last week, with Jack de Belin a chance to make his season debut if he can shake off a calf injury in time for Saturday’s game against the Dolphins.

It’s a huge night for the visitors whose depth will be tested after Sean O’Sullivan (pec) and Tesi Niu (knee) suffered long-term injuries at Suncorp Stadium last week.

Anthony Milford will partner the returning Isaiya Katoa in the halves, Jack Bostock makes his NRL debut on the wing, while Jeremy Marshall-King is a huge in having served his two-game ban.

Young gun Ronald Volkman gets a crack at five-eighth for the high-flying Warriors, with Te Maire Martin (head knock) unavailable.

Inspirational forward Tohu Harris has been named despite coming off with a knee injury last week, while Wayde Egan has cleared concussion protocols and replaces Freddy Lussick at dummy-half.

And the Bulldogs welcome back Josh Reynolds for the first time in six years, with the fan favourite set to make his return on the bench for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys.

It will be an emotional return to Accor Stadium where the Bulldogs will be looking to bounce back against a Cowboys side that has lost Murray Taulagi (knee), James Tamou (foot), Gehamat Shibasaki (hamstring) and Jeremiah Nanai (suspended).

Originally published as Round 5 teams: Tigers duo survive the axe as Bulldogs veteran prepares to return home