NRL 2021 Round 3 Teams: KFC SuperCoach trade talk

Penrith have announced whether star halfback Nathan Cleary will face Melbourne Storm on Thursday night. And it has massive implications for SuperCoach players.

The will-he or won’t-he saga over Nathan Cleary is over, with Penrith coach Ivan Cleary ruling his son out of Thursday night’s grand final replay against Melbourne Storm.

His place will likely be taken by Bulldogs-bound Matt Burton.

Cleary was taken off in the last 10 minutes of the game against the Bulldogs last Saturday after being hit by a high shot from Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

Meanwhile, star lock forward Victor Radley has been named to return from an ACL injury for the Sydney Roosters in their blockbuster clash with South Sydney on Friday night.

Radley, who missed all but seven matches of the 2020 season, has been named to come off the bench in the showdown between the two foundation clubs.

The 23-year-old was also served with a two-match suspension after he was embroiled in a scuffle in Byron Bay over the off-season.

Watch The 2021 NRL Telstra Premiership Live & On-Demand with No Ad-Breaks During Play. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

The Roosters have scored 86 points in their first two games, easily the most of any team in the NRL, and the addition of Radley’s ball-playing in the middle of the field should make them even more dangerous against their old rivals.

The Tricolours will also welcome back Angus Crichton after he served a one-match suspension for a crusher tackle while Josh Mansour has earned a recall for South Sydney after he was dropped for last week’s match against Manly.

The Roosters welcome back Victor Radley to face the Rabbitohs. Picture: Grant Trouville/NRL Photos

Canberra also welcome back a key player with skipper Jarrod Croker named to return from a shoulder injury.

Croker was given a clean bill of health to return several weeks ago but Ricky Stuart was determined to have his co-captain return at peak fitness.

The veteran replaces Seb Kris at left centre for Sunday’s match against the Warriors.

Parramatta’s Isaiah Papali’i has been rewarded for his strong start to the season, earning a starting berth after Ryan Matterson was ruled out of the Eels’ clash with Cronulla on Saturday.

Papali’i has impressed in the middle of the field in the first two games of the season and will slot in at his preferred spot of second row after Matterson suffered a concussion last week against Melbourne.

Newcastle have been given a boost after Kurt Mann was cleared to return against the Tigers but Blake Green and Kalyn Ponga are both several weeks away from slotting back into the side.

The Titans also have a change to their halves after Ash Taylor was diagnosed with a broken hand in last week’s win over Brisbane.

Former Bronco Tanah Boyd will partner Jamal Fogarty for the club’s match against the Titans on Sunday afternoon.

PANTHERS SUPERCOACH COMMENT: Same 17 with Nathan Cleary (concussion) named. It will be a case of ducks and drakes from the Panthers to annoy the Storm up until an hour before kick-off, when they must finalise their 17-man squad. Api Koroisau (broken wrist) was a late withdrawal last week and is again replaced by Mitch Kenny at hooker.

STORMSUPERCOACH COMMENT: Felise Kaufusi (suspension, round five) is replaced in the starting side by Tom Eisenhuth. Reserve hooker Tyson Smoothy also drops out of the 17. Aaron Pene and Nicho Hynes are the new faces on the bench.

DRAGONSSUPERCOACH COMMENT: No changes after an important win over the Cowboys in Townsville.

SEA EAGLESSUPERCOACH COMMENT: Josh Schuster looms as a KFC SuperCoach cheapie after being named to start in the edge back row spot vacated by Andrew Davey (ACL), with Curtis Sironen (knee, round six) and Haumole Olakau’atu (elbow, indefinite) also unavailable. Tom Trbojevic (hamstring) is at least another week away.

RABBITOHSSUPERCOACH COMMENT: Veteran winger Josh Mansour has been recalled to the starting side to replace Jaxson Paulo (concussion). Adam Reynolds (concussion) has been named but is in doubt, with Troy Dargan named as cover on the extended bench.

ROOSTERSSUPERCOACH COMMENT: Big news for KFC SuperCoaches with Angus Crichton (suspension) returning, which is particularly important following the unavailability of Ryan Matterson (concussion). Victor Radley (ACL/disciplinary suspension) returns on the bench after a long lay-off. The return of Radley and Crichton pushes Drew Hutchison and Fletcher Baker out of the side. Highly-touted young gun Sam Walker is again lurking on the extended bench after an aborted debut last week.

RAIDERS SUPERCOACH COMMENT: Jarrod Croker (shoulder) returns after off-season surgery with impressive young gun Sebastian Kris making way.

WARRIORSSUPERCOACH COMMENT: Chanel Harris-Tavita (foot) is out for three months, replaced by cheapie prospect Sean O’Sullivan at halfback. Bayley Sironen (shoulder) has been named but is in doubt. Bunty Afoa will start at prop in place of the suspended Jamayne Taunua-Brown and Jack Murchie returns from a pectoral injury on the bench.

BRONCOS SUPERCOACH COMMENT: No changes from the team that was towelled up by the Titans last week as Kevvie picks and sticks. Tom Dearden has been named at 18 but it would not surprise to see him lifted into the 17-man squad prior to kick-off.

BULLDOGS SUPERCOACH COMMENT: Raymond Faitala-Mariner (broken foot) is out, possibly for the season, which will see Corey Waddell come into the starting side with Joe Stimson coming into the reserves. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (suspended) is out and Tui Katoa will start on the wing in his place.

EELSSUPERCOACH COMMENT: We all expected it but now we know it’s true, Ryan Matterson will not play this week having been concussed in last week’s match against the Storm. Matterson is replaced on the edge by Isaiah Papali’i – which does not necessarily make IPap a SC buy as he’ll do less work through the middle. Ray Stone comes on to the bench which means Parramatta have two utilities (Stone and Will Smith) which may mean no 80-minutes for the popular Reed Mahoney.

SHARKS SUPERCOACH COMMENT: Mawene Hiroti was hooked at half time last week by John Morris and he’s lost his spot in the team for this game with Connor Tracey named at centre – keep an eye on Tracey he could be a cheapie pick up if he goes well.

KNIGHTSSUPERCOACH COMMENT: Kurt Mann is back after missing last week with a knee injury. Mann’s return comes at the expense of Phoenix Crossland. Connor Watson has once again been named to start at lock, I expect he may actually start there this week unlike the first two rounds where Watson started off the bench despite being named at 13.

TIGERSSUPERCOACH COMMENT: After being found out in defence, Joey Leilua has been sent to the NSW Cup. Leilua’s place in the team has been taken by the returning James Roberts. Joe Ofahengaue is another to feel Maguire’s wrath though not as severely with the former Bronco sent to the reserves with Zane Musgrove named to start at prop.

COWBOYS SUPERCOACH COMMENT: Kyle Feldt (suspended) is out which sees Murray Tualagi start on the wing for the Cowboys. No other changes for North Queensland which is a team lacking SC interest.

TITANSSUPERCOACH COMMENT: Ash Taylor (hand) is out, replaced at five-eighth by Tanah Boyd. Plenty will be hoping this means Jamal Fogarty delivers on the promise he showed at the back end of 2020. No other changes to the team that beat the Broncos.

Originally published as NRL 2021 Round 3 Teams: KFC SuperCoach trade talk