If the Broncos are to conquer the Storm in Melbourne on Friday the revived outfit will need to do so without captain and marquee recruit Adam Reynolds, after the veteran halfback was ruled out due to injury.
Reynolds has been replaced by journeyman playmaker Tyrone Roberts, who’ll pair up with youngster Ezra Mam in the halves.
The loss of Reynolds due to a rib injury is a blow to the Broncos as they hunt an eighth win in succession and look to consolidate their position in the top four.
READ MORE: Legend defends Storm gun’s controversial act
READ MORE: Tennis icon’s raw account of mental health battle
READ MORE: Huni warned over heavyweight’s ‘dark arts’
Rising Brisbane centre Herbie Farnworth will also miss the Melbourne clash due to a bicep injury, but megastar prop Payne Haas has been named to play despite injuring the AC joint in his right shoulder in the Broncos’ win against the Raiders last week.
The Broncos haven’t defeated the Storm since round 25, 2016 and will be out to snap a 10-game losing streak against Craig Bellamy’s men.
THURSDAY
St George Illawarra Dragons vs South Sydney Rabbitohs at WIN Stadium, 7.50pm
Referee: Grant Atkins
Dragons
1. Cody Ramsey 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Jack de Belin 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Jack Bird 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tariq Sims 14. Moses Mbye 15. Francis Molo 16. Aaron Woods 17. Michael Molo 18. Josh Kerr 19. Tautau Moga 20. Jayden Sullivan 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Billy Burns
Analysis
Mikaele Ravalawa (hamstring) and Mat Feagai (illness) return, as Josh McGuire (groin) drops out and Tariq Sims (State of Origin) becomes a new face in the forward pack.
Rabbitohs
1. Kodi Nikorima 2. Alex Johnston 3. Taane Milne 4. Campbell Graham 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Blake Taaffe 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Siliva Havili 17. Hame Sele 18. Peter Mamouzelos 19. Isaiah Tass 20. Dean Hawkins 21. Jed Cartwright 22. Liam Knight
Analysis
Blake Taaffe replaces Peter Mamouzelos on the bench.
Stream the NRL premiership 2022 live and free on 9Now.
FRIDAY
Manly Sea Eagles vs North Queensland Cowboys at 4 Pines Park, 6pm
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Sea Eagles
1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Morgan Harper 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Andrew Davey 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Dylan Walker 15. Josh Schuster 16. Martin Taupau 17. Sean Keppie 18. Taniela Paseka 19. Ben Trbojevic 20. Ethan Bullemor 21. Kaeo Weekes 22. Kurt De Luis
Analysis
Daly Cherry-Evans (quadricep) returns as Josh Schuster drops to the bench.
Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Jake Granville 15. Coen Hess 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Griffin Neame 18. Ben Condon 19. Brendan Elliot 20. Kane Bradley 23. Ben Hampton 24. Robert Derby
Analysis
Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai return after being rested due to Queensland duty, but Luciano Leilua, who crossed from Wests Tigers to the Cowboys on Tuesday, has not been named to play.
Melbourne Storm vs Brisbane Broncos at AAMI Park, 7.55pm
Referee: Adam Gee
Storm
1. Nick Meaney 2. Dean Ieremia 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Grant Anderson 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harry Grant 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Josh King 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Trent Loiero 17. Chris Lewis 18. Jayden Nikorima 19. Alec MacDonald 20. Jordan Grant 21. Ryan Papenhuyzen 22. Tyran Wishart
Analysis
Ryan Papenhuyzen (hamstring) is named in the reserves in his bid to return for his first match since round nine.
Broncos
1. Te Maire Martin 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Brenko Lee 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Tyrone Roberts 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Jake Turpin 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Thomas Flegler 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Jordan Pereira 19. Rhys Kennedy 20. Delouise Hoeter 21. Xavier Willison 22. Ryan James
Analysis
State of Origin representatives Selwyn Cobbo, Kotoni Staggs and Kurt Capewell return to a side stripped of Adam Reynolds (rib) and Herbie Farnworth (bicep).
Watch State of Origin exclusively live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now.
SATURDAY
Cronulla Sharks vs Gold Coast Titans at C.ex Coffs International Park, 3pm
Referee: Chris Sutton
Sharks
1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Aiden Tolman 15. Braydon Trindall 16. Teig Wilton 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Connor Tracey 19. Dale Finucane 20. Lachlan Miller 21. Jesse Colquhoun 22. Kade Dykes
Analysis
Unchanged, but Dale Finucane (knee) is named as a reserve as he aims to return for his first game since round 10.
Titans
1. AJ Brimson 2. Greg Marzhew 3. Brian Kelly 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Jamayne Isaako 6. Paul Turner 7. Toby Sexton 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Erin Clark 10. Isaac Liu 11. Sam McIntyre 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Tanah Boyd 15. Moeaki Fotuaika 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Sam Lisone 18. Sosefo Fifita 19. Herman Ese’ese 20. Aaron Booth 21. Kevin Proctor 22. Esan Marsters
Analysis
AJ Brimson (COVID-19) returns as Jamayne Isaako shifts to a wing.
New Zealand Warriors vs Penrith Panthers at Moreton Daily Stadium, 5.30pm
Referee: Peter Gough
Warriors
1. Reece Walsh 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Jesse Arthars 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Ronald Volkman 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Bunty Afoa 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jazz Tevaga 11. Jack Murchie 12. Tohu Harris 13. Josh Curran 14. Chanel Harris-Tavita 15. Aaron Pene 16. Dunamis Lui 17. Bayley Sironen 18. Freddy Lussick 20. Eliesa Katoa 21. Rocco Berry 22. Daejarn Asi 23. Addin Fonua-Blake
Analysis
Ben Murdoch-Masila (elbow) is replaced in the front row by Bunty Afoa, but Addin Fonua-Blake will fill that spot if he gets through training this week. The big-framed Warrior hasn’t played since suffering a foot injury in round 11. Rocco Berry is also replaced in the centres by Jesse Arthars.
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Taylan May 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Mitch Kenny 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Robert Jennings 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Chris Smith 21. Soni Luke 22. Thomas Jenkins
Analysis
Isaah Yeo returns after being rested following State of Origin, knocking Matt Eisenhuth out of the side.
Parramatta Eels vs Sydney Roosters at CommBank Stadium, 7.35pm
Referee: Todd Smith
Eels
1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Waqa Blake 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Marata Niukore 13. Isaiah Papali’i 14. Makahesi Makatoa 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Nathan Brown 18. Tom Opacic 19. Jakob Arthur 20. Bryce Cartwright 21. Ky Rodwell 22. Sean Russell
Analysis
Unchanged despite being belted by Canterbury.
Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Sam Walker 7. Luke Keary 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Sam Verrills 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Nat Butcher 14. Connor Watson 15. Drew Hutchison 16. Egan Butcher 17. Fletcher Baker 18. Lachlan Lam 19. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 20. Paul Momirovski 21. Terrell May 22. Adam Keighran
Analysis
Luke Keary is named despite a concussion suffered in the loss to the Storm last week. Sam Verrills (collarbone) returns for his first match since round nine, pushing Drew Hutchison to the bench.
SUNDAY
Canberra Raiders vs Newcastle Knights at GIO Stadium, 2pm
Referee: Ashley Klein
Raiders
1. Xavier Savage 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tom Starling 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Corey Harawira-Naera 17. Corey Horsburgh 18. Brad Schneider 19. James Schiller 20. Trey Mooney 21. Semi Valemei 22. Adrian Trevilyan
Analysis
Jordan Rapana returns from a one-match suspension, squeezing James Schiller out of the side.
Knights
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Dane Gagai 4. Enari Tuala 5. Dominic Young 6. Anthony Milford 7. Jake Clifford 8. David Klemmer 9. Chris Randall 10. Jacob Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Kurt Mann 14. Simi Sasagi 15. Leo Thompson 16. Mathew Croker 17. Pasami Saulo 18. Phoenix Crossland 19. Tex Hoy 20. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 21. Adam Clune 22. Hymel Hunt
Analysis
Kalyn Ponga is named despite suffering a concussion in last week’s loss to the Panthers.
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Wests Tigers at CommBank Stadium, 4.05pm
Referee: Ben Cummins
Bulldogs
1. Jake Averillo 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Corey Allan 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Josh Jackson 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Tevita Pangai Junior 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Corey Waddell 16. Joe Stimson 17. Kurtis Morrin 19. Matt Dufty 20. Bailey Biondi-Odo 21. Jayden Tanner 22. Isaac Lumelume 24. Jackson Topine
Analysis
Chris Patolo (concussion) drops out and is replaced by Kurtis Morrin.
Tigers
1. Daine Laurie 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To’a 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jackson Hastings 8. James Tamou 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Zane Musgrove 11. Luke Garner 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Joe Ofahengaue 14. Fa’amanu Brown 15. Alex Twal 16. Adam Doueihi 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Jake Simpkin 19. Fonua Pole 20. Austin Dias 21. Junior Tupou 22. Tyrone Peachey
Analysis
Adam Doueihi (knee) is named on the bench as he pushes to return for his first game since round 23 of last season.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!