NRL finals week one teams: Tom Trbojevic, Nathan Cleary, Ryan Papenhuyzen back, Jacob Kiraz cleared

Teams for week one of the NRL 2024 finals series are in, and a host of injured stars are set to return in the nick of time. See the full teams.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - AUGUST 23: The Bulldogs celebrate a try to Jacob Kiraz during the round 25 NRL match between New Zealand Warriors and Canterbury Bulldogs at Shaun Johnson Stadium, on August 23, 2024, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Teenager Jonathan Sua began his year earning $200 per-shift for packing furniture into containers for a company at Silverwater.

On Sunday in an elimination final against the Sea Eagles, the 19-year-old is hoping to fill the void of multi million-dollar winger Josh Addo-Carr after being named in Canterbury’s squad.

Alongside Jeral Skelton and Jacob Kiraz, who were named to start on Tuesday, Sua is one of several Canterbury wing options for head coach Cameron Ciraldo, following Addo-Carr’s decision to stand down as he awaits results from a failed roadside drug test.

Skelton, Sua and Eli Clark are all viable options for Ciraldo, who is likely to leave a final call on his selection until close to Sunday’s kick off.

Shifting Connor Tracey from fullback to the wing and elevating Blake Taaffe into the no.1 jersey is another.

However, if Sua wins the race for a start in the Bulldogs backline, it will cap an extraordinary rise from the former Bankstown Sports and St Johns Eagles local junior.

Sua held his gloves up during his NRL debut last week in the Bulldogs loss to the Cowboys.

“It’s been unreal. It happened so quickly,’’ Sua said.

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Jacob Kiraz has been cleared to face Manly in a big boost for the Bulldogs. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“My goal at the start of the year was to play week in, week out footy in Jersey Flegg and hopefully crack a spot in the NSW Cup side.

“I missed round one of the Flegg season because I broke my thumb when a box landed on me awkwardly at work.

“I was working part-time. I’d go to work in the morning, finish early and go home and rest up before training in the afternoon.

“I did my rehab for my thumb and when I got back out there I gave it my all.

“I didn’t think I was going to play first grade this year. I was just focusing on playing each week in Jersey Flegg.’’

The softly-spoken Sua, who moved from New Zealand to Condell Park with his family when he was two-years-old, explained how influential Addo-Carr has been in helping his stunning rise through the ranks.

“Fox has been helping me out alot in defence and attack,’’ Sua, who scored 15 tries this season in the NSW Cup, said.

“He’s been a massive help.

“If I get the call to play on Sunday, I’ve got to focus on myself and prepare the best I can.

“If I do get the call-up, I’ll have the mentality of staying present and turning up for the boys.’’

NRL FINALS WEEK ONE TEAMS

PANTHERS vs ROOSTERS

Friday 13 September, 7:50pm, BlueBet Stadium, Penrith

PANTHERS

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 14. Trent Toelau 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Luke Garner

Reserves: 18. Matt Eisenhuth 19. Brad Schneider 20. Casey McLean 21. Daine Laurie 22. Luke Sommerton

ROOSTERS

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Nat Butcher

Interchange: 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Siua Wong 17. Terrell May

Reserves: 18. Michael Jennings 19. Blake Steep 20. Mark Nawaqanitawase 21. Jake Elliott 22. Salesi Foketi

STORM vs SHARKS

Saturday 14 September, 4:05pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne

STORM

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero

Interchange: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Christian Welch 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Alec MacDonald

Reserves: 18. Grant Anderson 19. Lazarus Vaalepu 20. Kane Bradley 21. Joe Chan 22. Ativalu Lisati

SHARKS

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 17. Siosifa Talakai

Reserves: 18. Braden Hamlin-Uele 19. Chris Veaila 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Thomas Hazelton

COWBOYS vs KNIGHTS

Saturday 14 September, 7:50pm, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

COWBOYS

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange: 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Griffin Neame

Reserves: 18. Jaxon Purdue 19. Chad Townsend 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Marly Bitungane 22. Tomas Chester

KNIGHTS

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jack Cogger 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott

Interchange: 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones

Reserves: 18. Thomas Cant 19. Will Pryce 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Kyle McCarthy 22. Kai Pearce-Paul

BULLDOGS vs SEA EAGLES

Sunday, 15 September, 4:05pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

BULLDOGS

1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon

Interchange: 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Harry Hayes 17. Josh Curran

Reserves: 19. Blake Taaffe 20. Lipoi Hopoi 21. Jonathan Sua 22. Drew Hutchison 23. Chris Patolo

SEA EAGLES

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Tommy Talau 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Karl Lawton 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown

Reserves: 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Jamie Humphreys 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 22. Corey Waddell