Round 11 looks set to be the comeback Round for one of the NRL’s favourite sons, work-a-holic Wests forward John Skandalis returns after a 3 year hiatus to help his team through a growing injury crisis. A no nonsense forward, Skando does the little things right and will be a handy boost to the Tigers who were only narrowly beaten by the Bunnies after having the Jason Taylor coached side on the ropes for a good part of the back end at the SCG.
At 32, Skandalis confirmed he was surpriused to be recalled to first grade after working at the Tigers in 2009 as a community liaison officer following his playing days in the UK.
“It’s great to be back,” he said. “But it’s definitely a surprise to be here. I’m only here because of injuries but I’m more than happy to step up and help out the team.”
Full team lists and squad line ups for Round 11 of the National Rugby League; commencing Friday Night with Wests vs Brisbane and the Eels vs Souths;
FRIDAY
WESTS TIGERS v BRISBANE at Campbelltown Stadium, 7:35pm
TIGERS: Tim Moltzen, Taniela Tuiaki, Peni Tagive, Blake Ayshford, Beau Ryan, John Morris, Benji Marshall, John Skandalis, Robbie Farah (capt), Todd Payten, Gareth Ellis, Chris Heighington, Dene Halatau. Interchange: Rhys Hanbury, Bryce Gibbs, Corey Payne, Daine Laurie.
BRONCOS: Karmichael Hunt, Antonio Winterstein, Steve Michaels, Justin Hodges, Israel Folau, Darren Lockyer (capt), Peter Wallace, Nick Kenny, PJ Marsh, Joel Clinton, Sam Thaiday, Ben T’eo, Corey Parker. Interchange: Ashton Sims, Lagi Setu, Palmer Wapau, Alex Glenn, Andrew McCullough, Aaron Gorrell, David Taylor, Josh McGuire (four to be omitted).
Referees: Ben Cummins, Jared Maxwell
PARRAMATTA V SOUTH SYDNEY at ANZ Stadium, 7:35pm
EELS: Jarryd Hayne, Etu Uaisele, Taulima Tautai, Krisnan Inu, Luke Burt, Joel Reddy, Jeff Robson, Nathan Cayless (capt), Matthew Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh, Todd Lowrie, Joe Galuvao. Interchange: Kevin Kingston, Josh Cordoba, Tim Mannah, Brendan Oake, Daniel Mortimer (one to be ommited).
RABBITOHS: Luke Capewell, Nathan Merritt, Colin Best, Beau Champion, Fetuli Talanoa, Craig Wing, Chris Sandow, Luke Stuart, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi (capt), David Kidwell, David Fa’alogo, Michael Crocker. Interchange: Jamie Simpson, Eddy Pettybourne, Jaiman Lowe, Scott Geddes, Shannan McPherson (one to be ommited)
Referees: Gavin Badger, Brett Suttor
SATURDAY
CRONULLA V ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA at Toyota Stadium, 5:30pm
SHARKS: Bronx Goodwin, Ben Pomeroy, Blake Ferguson, Reece Williams, Luke Covell, Trent Barrett, Blake Green, Kade Snowden, Tony Caine, Luke Douglas, Anthony Tupou, Reni Maitua, Paul Gallen (capt). Interchange: Atelea Vea, Jacob Selmes, Johnny Mannah, Terence Seu Seu
DRAGONS: Darius Boyd, Brett Morris, Beau Scott, Matt Cooper, Wendell Sailor, Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby (capt), Justin Poore, Dean Young, Michael Weyman, Matt Prior, Ben Creagh, Neville Costigan. Interchange: Dan Hunt, Mickey Paea, Jason Nightingale, Mathew Head
Referees: Jason Robinson, Tony De Las Heras
BULLDOGS V MELBOURNE at Bluetongue Stadium 7:30pm
BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Daryl Millard, Jamal Idris, Bryson Goodwin, Ben Roberts, Brett Kimmorley, Ben Hannant, Michael Ennis, Michael Hodgson, Greg Eastwood, Andrew Ryan (capt), David Stagg. Interchange: Gary Warburton, Yileen Gordon, Chris Armit, John Kite, Daniel Holdsworth.
STORM: Billy Slater, Steve Turner, Will Chambers, Greg Inglis, Joseph Tomane, Brett Finch, Cooper Cronk, Jeff Lima, Cameron Smith (capt), Adam Blair, Matt Cross, Ryan Hoffman, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Ryan Hinchcliffe, Sika Manu, Aiden Tolman, Brett White, Hep Cahill (one to be omitted)
Referees: Shayne Hayne, Gerard Sutton
PENRITH V SYDNEY ROOSTERS at CUA Stadium 7:30pm
PANTHERS: Jarrod Sammut, Geoff Daniela, Michael Jennings, Maurice Blair, Shane Elford, Wade Graham, Luke Walsh, Frank Puletua, Paul Aiton, Petero Civoniceva (capt), Gavin Cooper, Frank Pritchard, Luke Lewis. Interchange: Nathan Smith, Tim Grant, Matthew Bell, Joseph Paulo, Masada Iosefa, Lachlan Coote (two to be omitted)
ROOSTERS: Jordan Tansey, Sam Perrett, Setaimata Sa, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Sisa Waqa, Braith Anasta (capt), Mitchell Pearce, Nate Myles, Jake Friend, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Willie Mason, Shane Shackleton, Mitchell Aubusson. Interchange: Ben Jones, Lopini Paea, Mark O’Meley, Nick Kouparitsas.
Referees: Steve Lyons, Ashley Klein
SUNDAY
CANBERRA V WARRIORS at Canberra Stadium 2pm
RAIDERS: David Milne, Adrian Purtell, Justin Carney, Joel Monaghan, Phil Graham, Terry Campese, Marc Herbert, David Shillington, Glen Buttriss, Scott Logan, Bronson Harrison, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Alan Tongue (capt). Interchange: Joe Picker, Trevor Thurling, Nigel Plum, Josh Miller, Dane Tilse (one to be omitted)
WARRIORS: Wade McKinnon, Denan Kemp, Patrick Ah Van, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Joel Moon, Stacey Jones, Sam Rapira, Ian Henderson, Steve Price (capt), Simon Mannering, Jacob Lillyman, Micheal Luck. Interchange: Lance Hohaia, Russell Packer, Jesse Royal, Ben Matulino, Lewis Brown, Aaron Heremaia (two to be ommited)
Referees: Jared Maxwell, Bernard Sutton
GOLD COAST V MANLY at Skilled Park Stadium, 3pm.
TITANS: Preston Campbell, Kevin Gordon, Esi Tonga, Brett Delaney, Chris Walker, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince (capt), Luke Bailey (capt), Nathan Friend, Michael Henderson, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Aaron Cannings, Brad Myers, Luke O’Dwyer, William Zillman, Bodene Thompson, Will Matthews (three to be omitted)
SEA EAGLES: Michael Robertson, David Williams, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Tony Williams, Chris Bailey, Matt Orford (capt), Brent Kite, Matt Ballin, Josh Perry, Anthony Watmough, Glenn Hall, Glenn Stewart. Interchange: Heath L’Estrange, Jason King, George Rose, Shane Rodney, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (one to be omitted)
Referees: Tony Archer, Matt Cecchin
MONDAY
NORTH QUEENSLAND V NEWCASTLE at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 7pm
COWBOYS: Matt Bowen, Ben Farrar, Ashley Graham, Willie Tonga, John Williams, Travis Burns, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Shane Tronc, Aaron Payne, Matt Scott, Carl Webb, Scott Bolton, Luke O’Donnell. Interchange: Anthony Watts, Steve Southern, Antonio Kaufusi, Steve Rapira, James Tamou, Ty Williams (two to be omitted)
KNIGHTS: Kurt Gidley (capt), James McManus, Junior Sau, Keith Lulia, Akuila Uate, Ben Rogers, Jarrod Mullen, Mark Taufua, Isaac De Gois, Chris Houston, Steve Simpson, Zeb Taia, Matt Hilder. Interchange: George Ndaira, Marvin Karawana, Richie Fa’aoso, Danny Wicks.
Referees: Ben Cummins, Alan Shortall