In selections this week, Manly will trim two from their bench with former Parramatta forward Jack Afamasaga named in the extended lineup. New boy Baeu Ryan retains his starting spot for the Tigers. For the Broncos Darius Boyd and David Stagg are the new centre combination with Hodges and Tate now out for an extended period.
For Penrith – Richie Rich moves into the halves, partnering Craig Gower and Michael ‘Flash’ Gordon starts at fullback. The Bulldogs only make one forced change with Morrin in for Kane Cleal who was injured last week. Phil Graham returns for the Canberra Raiders. Former Roosters half, Anthony Watts retains his halves spot at the Sharks after an impressive game last week as does fellow Shark and former Eel Henry Perenara.
The Eels welcome Timana Tahu back into the centres for Ben Smith (knee wound) and Joel Reddy comes into the side for Luke Burt. South Sydney are fielding an impressive lineup, Shane Rigon comes in for the suspended Issac Luke. Cooper Cronk is back for the Storm, as is Dallas Johnson. Newcastle name the same side that smashed Parramatta and have Jarrod Mullen on an extended bench this week.
Here are the announced NRL teams and lineups for round 18 of the NRL competition (all times AEST):
FRIDAY NIGHT
MANLY SEA EAGLES v WESTS TIGERS location: Brookvale Oval, 7.30pm
MANLY SEA EAGLES: Brett Stewart, Michael Robertson, Steve Bell, Steve Matai, Chris Hicks, Jamie Lyon, Matt Orford (captain), Jason King, Michael Monaghan, Brent Kite, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart, Luke Williamson. Interchange Bench: Glenn Hall, Mark Bryant, Steve Menzies, Travis Burns, Jack Afamasaga, Adam Cuthbertson (two to be omitted).
WESTS TIGERS: Daniel Fitzhenry, Beau Ryan, Dean Collis, Paul Whatuira, Chris Lawrence, John Morris, Robbie Farah, Todd Payten (captain), Dene Halatau, Bryce Gibbs, Taniela Tuiaki, Chris Heighington, Ben Galea. Interchange Bench: Liam Fulton, Stuart Flanagan, Bronson Harrison, Keith Galloway, Shannon McDonnell (one to be omitted).
Referee: Steve Clark
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS v BRISBANE BRONCOS at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 7.30pm
NTH QLD COWBOYS: Matt Bowen, Ashley Graham, Scott Minto, Paul Bowman, Ty Williams, Jason Smith, Johnathan Thurston (captain), Shane Tronc, Aaron Payne, Carl Webb, Steve Southern, Justin Smith, Sione Faumuina. Interchange Bench: David Faiumu, Ben Farrar, Jacob Lillyman, Ray Cashmere, Matt Scott (one to be omitted).
BRISBANE BRONCOS: Karmichael Hunt, Steve Michaels, Darius Boyd, David Stagg, Craig Frawley, Darren Lockyer (captain), Michael Ennis, Ben Hannant, Shaun Berrigan, Petero Civoniceva, Corey Parker, Dane Carlaw, Tonie Carroll. Interchange Bench: Greg Eastwood, Dave Taylor, Brad Thorn, John TeReo, Nick Kenny, Nick Emmett (two to be omitted).
Referee: Sean Hampstead
SATURDAY
BULLDOGS v PENRITH PANTHERS at Telstra Stadium, 5.30pm
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Daryl Millard, Willie Tonga, Cameron Phelps, Ben Roberts, Brent Sherwin, Mark O’Meley, Corey Hughes, Willie Mason, Sonny Bill Williams, Andrew Ryan (captain), Reni Maitua. Interchange Bench: Adam Perry, Nick Kouparitsas, Brad Morrin, Jarrad Hickey.
PENRITH PANTHERS: Michael Gordon, Geoff Daniela, Michael Jennings, Maurice Blair, Nick Youngquest, Richie Williams, Craig Gower (captain), Joel Clinton, Keith Peters, Bryan Norrie, Frank Pritchard, Tony Puletua, Nathan Smith. Interchange Bench: Frank Puletua, Matthew Bell, Peter Wallace, Luke Lewis, Paul Aiton (one to be omitted).
Referee: Tony De Las Heras
SYDNEY ROOSTERS v CRONULLA SHARKS at Aussie Stadium, 7.30pm
SYDNEY CITY ROOSTERS: Amos Roberts, John Williams, Joel Monaghan, Mitchell Aubusson, Sam Perrett, Setaimata Sa, Craig Wing, Nate Myles, Heath L’Estrange, Danny Nutley, Anthony Tupou, Craig Fitzgibbon (captain), Braith Anasta. Interchange Bench: David Shillington, Lopini Paea, Danny Williams, Ashley Harrison.
CRONULLA SHARKS: David Simmons, Mitch Brown, Ben Pomeroy, Fraser Anderson, Misi Taulapapa, Greg Bird, Anthony Watts, Luke Douglas, Isaac De Gois, Craig Stapleton, Paul Gallen, Lance Thompson, Reece Williams. Interchange Bench: Henry Perenara, Jacob Selmes, Brett Kearney, Kevin Kingston.
Referee: Ben Cummins
SUNDAY
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS at Mt Smart Stadium, 12pm
NZ WARRIORS: Wade McKinnon, Michael Crockett, Todd Byrne, Simon Mannering, Manu Vatuvei, Michael Witt, Grant Rovelli, Ruben Wiki, George Gatis, Steve Price (captain), Louis Anderson, Logan Swann, Micheal Luck. Interchange Bench: Nathan Fien, Wairangi Koopu, Epalahame Lauaki, Sam Rapira, Evarn Tuimavave (one to be omitted)
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: Ben Hornby (captain), Jason Nightingale, Chase Stanley, Matt Cooper, Josh Morris, Rangi Chase, Jamie Soward, Justin Poore, Simon Woolford, Dan Hunt, Beau Scott, Chris Houston, Ben Creagh. Interchange Bench: Adam Peek, Ben Ellis, Lagi Setu, Corey Payne.
Referee: Jared Maxwell
CANBERRA RAIDERS v GOLD COAST TITANS at Canberra Stadium, 2pm
CANBERRA RAIDERS: William Zillman, David Milne, Phil Graham, Colin Best, Bronx Goodwin, Todd Carney, Michael Dobson, Troy Thompson, Lincoln Withers, Scott Logan, Nigel Plum, Glen Turner, Alan Tongue (captain). Interchange Bench: Ryan Hinchcliffe, Dane Tilse, Marshall Chalk, Michael Weyman, Joe Picker, Trevor Thurling (two to be omitted).
GOLD COAST TITANS: Preston Campbell, Matt Petersen, Luke O’Dwyer, Brett Delaney, Smith Samau, Josh Lewis, Scott Prince (captain), Luke Bailey, Nathan Friend, Ian Donnelly, Gavin Cooper, Mark Minichiello, Luke Swain. Interchange Bench: Matthew Hilder, Daniel Conn, Kris Kahler, David Myles.
Referee: Paul Simpkins
PARRAMATTA EELS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS at Parramatta Stadium, 3pm
PARRAMATTA EELS: Jarryd Hayne, Joel Reddy, Krisnan Inu, Timana Tahu, Eric Grothe, Brett Finch, Tim Smith, Josh Cordoba, Mark Riddell, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh (captain), Feleti Mateo, Chad Robinson. Interchange Bench: PJ Marsh, Ian Hindmarsh, Weller Hauraki, Aaron Cannings, Todd Lowrie (one to be omitted).
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS: David Peachey, Nathan Merritt, Nigel Vagana, Shannon Hegarty, Paul Mellor, Ben Rogers, Jeremy Smith, Peter Cusack (captain), Stuart Webb, Roy Asotasi (captain), Luke Stuart, David Faalogo, Dean Widders. Interchange Bench: Shane Rigon, Yileen Gordon, Manase Manuokafoa, Jaiman Lowe.
Referee: Tony Archer
MONDAY
MELBOURNE STORM v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS at Olympic Park, 7pm
MELBOURNE STORM: Billy Slater, Steve Turner, Matt King, Anthony Quinn, Israel Folau, Matt Geyer, Cooper Cronk, Ben Cross, Cameron Smith, Brett White, Jeremy Smith, Ryan Hoffman, Dallas Johnson. Interchange Bench: Jeff Lima, Adam Blair, Clint Newton, James Aubusson, Sam Tagataese, Garret Crossman (two to be omitted).
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: Kurt Gidley, James McManus, George Carmont, Adam MacDougall, Cooper Vuna, Daniel Abraham, Luke Walsh, Mitchell Sargent, Danny Buderus (captain), Adam Woolnough, Steve Simpson, Zeb Taia, Reegan Tanner. Interchange Bench: Michael Young, Cory Paterson, Jesse Royal, Kade Snowden, Brad Tighe, Jarrod Mullen, Josh Perry (three to be omitted).
Referee: Gavin Badger