A long injury list will cause plenty of havoc as the NRL prepares for Round 2, while there is also a touted miracle return for Cameron McInnes.
Here is all the latest team news and rumours ahead of teams being confirmed at 4pm (AEDT) on Tuesday afternoon.
Melbourne Storm vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
Melbourne Storm
The Storm have three big injuries coming out of last week. Christian Welch and George Jennings are almost certain to miss the remainder of the season, while Brandon Smith will miss somewhere between three and six weeks.
Replacing Smith will be the easy part, with Harry Grant to return from suspension. Jesse Bromwich returns from health and safety protocols, and so will slot straight into the front row for Welch. Dean Ieremia is the man likely to replace Jennings, although Nick Meaney could also shift out wide after a solid showing in the halves last week.
With Trent Loiero avoiding a suspension, he will likely hold his spot on the bench, with Chris Lewis to return from suspension and replace either Tepai Moeroa or Alec MacDonald.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Latrell Mitchell slots straight back into the South Sydney side at fullback, with Alex Johnston moving back to the wing and Josh Mansour out of the side altogether. Blake Taaffe’s ankle injury is worse than first thought, so he will remain out of the side with no other changes expected as the Rabbitohs chase their first-ever win in Melbourne.
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Penrith Panthers
St George Illawarra Dragons
Jayden Sullivan and Tariq Sims are both due to be fit for the Dragons this week. Sims may be forced to play from the bench in place of Jack Gosiewski after Jack Bird and Jaydn Su’a both turned in excellent performances last week, although he may also be shifted up front for Aaron Woods who is battling an ankle injury. Sims played front row in New South Wales Cup last week.
Sulliva is likely to struggle to crack the team given the Round 1 win and Talatau Amone’s performance. George Burgess is also a chance of playing.
Penrith Panthers
Moses Leota is out for an extended period at the Panthers with a shoulder fracture. It means Spencer Leniu will slot straight into the starting side, with Matthew Eisenhuth battling J’maine Hopgood for a spot on the bench.
Sydney Roosters vs Manly Sea Eagles
Sydney Roosters
The Roosters will be unchanged for their clash with Manly if Victor Radley and Billy Smith can pass concussion protocols. If Radley is out, then Siosiua Taukeiaho would come into the starting side at lock. If Smith is out, then it’s likely Kevin Naiqama could gain a start.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is also likely to swap back into the starting team after Fletcher Baker took his spot an hour before kick-off in last weeks’ horror loss to the Knights.
Manly Sea Eagles
Karl Lawton is the only concern for the Sea Eagles as he battles HIA protocols. If he is out, then the Eagles already short second row would likely need to call a returning Andrew Davey into the side.
Gold Coast Titans vs New Zealand Warriors
Gold Coast Titans
AJ Brimson’s timely return from injury will see him slot into the halves, Will Smith fall back to the bench and Tanah Boyd go to the reserves list, after Smith won the race for a spot over Boyd in last week’s original team list. Corey Thompson suffered a hand injury too with Greg Marzhew to gain a place.
New Zealand Warriors
The Warriors have been hit hard by injuries, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Viliami Vailea and Shaun Johnson expected to miss a month or more of action. Adam Pompey and Jesse Arthars are the two men most likely to come into the outside backs, although Euan Aitken could also shift out to centre with Ben Murdoch-Masila or Bayley Sironen coming into the forward pack.
Chanel Harris-Tavita could move to the halves for Johnson, although he is in a race for the spot against Ashley Taylor, who could make his Warriors debut against his old club.
In better news for the Warriors, Reece Walsh and Matt Lodge are both back. If Harris-Tavita doesn’t move to the halves, he will miss the team, while Lodge’s return pushed Bunty Afoa to the bench and Aaron Pene out of the side.
Cronulla Sharks vs Parramatta Eels
Cronulla Sharks
In the biggest shock of the week, reports suggest Cameron McInnes will return for the Sharks, likely to play at lock. That would move Dale Finucane to the front row and either Toby Rudolf or Braden Hamlin-Uele back to the bench, with Aiden Tolman likely to drop out of the side. Connor Tracey is also expected to be back, although it’s a little unclear where he will slot into the side at this stage.
Parramatta Eels
The Eels backline issues are getting worse with Sean Russell ruled out indefinitely with a fractured rib and punctured lung. Tom Opacic could play on the wing, as could Hayze Perham, although Brad Arthur could also call on either Samuel Loizou or Solomone Naiduki.
Marata Niukore will be back though and shoukld replace Jakob Arthur on the bench, while Nathan Brown’s return from injury will push Ryan Matterson back to the bench and Makahesi Makatoa out of the side.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders
North Queensland Cowboys
Reuben Cotter will likely return from injury for Round 2 and could replace Jake Granville on the bench. The only other issue for Todd Payten’s side is Jamayne Taunoa-Brown’s hamstring. If he is out, then Jordan McLean or Tom Gilbert will likely start, with Griffin Neame coming onto the bench.
Canberra Raiders
It’s relatively good news on the Josh Hodgson front for the Raiders, with a serious looking knee injury only set to keep him out for two or three weeks. Tom Starling will move straight into hooker, with Ryan Sutton likely to return on the bench.
Brad Schneider is out with COVID though, meaning Matt Frawley or Sam Williams will start.
Newcastle Knights vs Wests Tigers
Newcastle Knights
The Knights aren’t expected to make any changes, although Daniel Saifiti is an outside chance to return. As unlikely as it is, he would start, with Jacob Saifiti going back to the bench and Leo Thompson dropping out.
Wests Tigers
Only one change expected for the Tigers, with James Tamou to come onto the bench for either Zane Musgrove or Alex Seyfarth.
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Brisbane Broncos
Canterbury Bulldogs
Tevita Pangai Junior should come straight back into the Bulldogs side for their clash with Brisbane, moving Corey Waddell back to the bench and Ava Seumanufagai likely out of the side, with Luke Thompson to go back into the starting side.
Chris Patolo, Jeremy Marshall-King, Braidon Burns and Brent Naden are all HIA concerns.
Brisbane Broncos
Adam Reynolds will play his first game in Brisbane colours after missing Round 1 with COVID. Albert Kelly will likely remain in the starting side, with Billy Walters dropping back to the bench and Tyrone Roberts out of the side. Brendan Piakura (suspension) and Kobe Hetherington (COVID) are also due back, but it’s unclear if coach Kevin Walters will make any changes.
