Round 16 NRL team lists
The official team lists for round 16 of the 2018 NRL Telstra Premiership season.
St George Illawarra Dragons v Parramatta Eels, Thursday 7.50pm at WIN Stadium
Dragons: 1 Matt Dufty, 2 Nene Macdonald, 3 Euan Aitken, 4 Tim Lafai, 5 Kurt Mann, 6 Gareth Widdop (c), 7 Ben Hunt, 8 James Graham, 9 Cameron McInnes, 10 Paul Vaughan, 11 Jacob Host, 12 Tariq Sims, 13 Jack De Belin
Interchange: 14 Jeremy Latimore, 15 Jason Nightingale, 17 Luciano Leilua, 18 Blake Lawrie
Leeson Ah Mau has been left out of the final 17 for the Dragons following a lengthy trip back from the Denver Test. Jai Field and Hame Sele were the two other players omitted an hour before game time. Jack De Belin has been named despite copping another knock to his hip in Origin but back-rower Tyson Frizell, who passed a HIA test in the first half of Origin II, will sit out a week. Jacob Host starts with Luciano Leilua on the bench. Leeson Reece Robson, Darren Nicholls and Patrick Herbert were dropped off an extended bench 24 hours out from kick-off.
Eels: 1 Clint Gutherson (c), 2 Bevan French, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Jarryd Hayne, 5 George Jennings, 6 Mitchell Moses, 7 Corey Norman, 8 Daniel Alvaro, 9 Cameron King, 10 Siosaia Vave, 11 Marata Niukore, 12 Brad Takairangi, 13 Nathan Brown
Interchange: 14 Will Smith, 15 Tim Mannah (c), 16 David Gower, 17 Peni Terepo
The Eels will start 1-17 after Kirisome Auva'a, Kane Evans and Jaeman Salmon were taken off the bench an hour before kick-off. Mitch Moses's return from a knee injury in the halves pushes Clint Gutherson to fullback, Bevan French to the wing and Josh Hoffman out of the side. Siosaia Vave starts for Tim Mannah (bench). Marata Niukore starts in the back row with Manu Ma'u (fractured cheek) out. Will Smith replaces Reed Mahoney (suspension) on the bench. Suaia Matagi was dropped off the bench 24 hours out from kick-off.
New Zealand Warriors v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Friday 8pm (6pm AEST) at Mt Smart Stadium
Warriors: 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 3 Anthony Gelling, 23 Peta Hiku, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Gerard Beale, 6 Blake Green, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 James Gavet, 24 Issac Luke, 10 Agnatius Paasi, 11 Isaiah Papali'i, 12 Tohu Harris, 13 Simon Mannering
Interchange: 9 Karl Lawton, 15 Tevita Satae, 16 Bunty Afoa, 17 Jazz Tevaga
In a raft of late changes an hour before kick-off, Kiwis Test pair Peta Hiku and Issac Luke will start and Anthony Gelling moves from centre to the wing with David Fusitua dropping out of the team. Fusitua, Sam Cook and Sam Lisone were the three players dropped from the squad. With Luke back in the starting 13, Karl Lawton drops back to the bench. Simon Mannering starts at lock for the suspended Adam Blair. Sam Cook and Jazz Tevaga have been called up to the bench. Blake Ayshford, Albert Vete and Maumalo were dropped from the bench 24 hours out from kick-off.
Sharks: 1 Valentine Holmes, 2 Sione Katoa, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Edrick Lee, 6 Matt Moylan, 7 Chad Townsend, 8 Andrew Fifita, 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Matt Prior, 11 Kurt Capewell, 12 Scott Sorensen, 13 Paul Gallen (c)
Interchange: 14 Joseph Paulo, 15 James Segeyaro, 16 Aaron Woods, 17 Jayson Bukuya
The Sharks will be 1-17 with 18 Aaron Gray, 19 Avagalu Seumanufagai the last two players to drop off the bench an hour before kick-off. New recruit Aaron Woods is straight into the team on the bench replacing Jack Williams (pec). Kurt Capewell and Scott Sorensen are in as the new second row with Luke Lewis (calf) and Wade Graham (cheek) both injured. Sosaia Feki, Braden Uele, Kurt Dillon and Kyle Flanagan were dropped from the bench 24 hours out from kick-off.
Sydney Roosters v Melbourne Storm, Friday 7.35pm (7.55pm AEST) at Adelaide Oval
Roosters: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 17 Matthew Ikuvalu, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Luke Keary, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Dylan Napa, 11 Victor Radley, 12, Nat Butcher, 13 Isaac Liu
Interchange: 14 Lindsay Collins, 15 Zane Tetevano, 16 Kurt Baptiste, 18 Sitili Tupouniua
Mitchell Aubusson is a late omission from the Roosters side, with Matthew Ikuvalu to start in the centres. Boyd Cordner (concussion) is out and Nat Butcher will start in the back row. Paul Momirovski and Frank-Paul Nuuausala joined Aubusson as the players omitted an hour out from kick-off. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves won't play following the delayed flight back from Denver, with Siosiua Taukeiaho returning in a straight swap at prop. Lindsay Collins and Matthew Ikuvalu are the new names on the bench. Mitchell Cornish, Billy Smith and Waerea-Hargreaves were dropped from the bench on Thursday night.
Storm: 1 Billy Slater, 2 Suliasi Vunivalu, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cameron Munster, 17 Jahrome Hughes, 8 Tim Glasby, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 16 Joe Stimson, 12 Ryan Hoffman, 13 Kenny Bromwich
Interchange: 14 Brandon Smith, 15 Christian Welch, 19 Tui Kamikamica, 20 Patrick Kaufusi
Jahrome Hughes will start at halfback for the Storm after Ryley Jacks were left out of the side an hour before kick-off. Origin back-rower Felise Kaufusi was ruled out with an ankle injury on Thursday night, but the Storm expect him to be right for Origin III on July 11. Joe Stimson takes his place in the starting side. Young Tonumapiea and Cheyse Blair joined Jacks as the players left out an hour out from game time. Billy Slater (hamstring) returns at fullback with Jahrome Hughes benched and Sam Kasiano out. Ryan Hoffman starts in the back row moving Joe Stimson to the bench. Brodie Croft, Justin Olam and Kaufusi were dropped from the reserves list 24 hours out from kick-off.
Penrith Panthers v Manly Sea Eagles, Saturday 3pm at Panthers Stadium
Panthers: 1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 2 Christian Crichton, 3 Tyrone Peachey, 4 Dean Whare, 5 Tyrone Phillips, 6 James Maloney (c), 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 Trent Merrin, 9 Sione Katoa, 10 James Tamou, 11 Viliame Kikau, 12 Isaah Yeo, 13 James Fisher-Harris
Interchange: 14 Wayde Egan, 15 Kaide Ellis, 16 Jack Hetherington, 17 Moses Leota
The Panthers are 1-17, which is good news for coach Anthony Griffin after having several players involved in last weekend's Rep Round. James Tamou starts for Reagan Campbell-Gillard (cheek fracture) with Moses Leota joining the interchange. Viliame Kikau (knee) returns and starts in the back row with Corey Harawira-Naera (groin) out. Liam Martin, Caleb Aukins and Paea Pua were cut from the reserves on Friday afternoon, while Jarome Luai, Tyrone May and Nick Lui-Toso were trimmed from the reserves an hour prior to kick-off.
Sea Eagles: 1 Tom Trbojevic, 15 Matt Wright, 3 Moses Suli, 4 Brian Kelly, 5 Bradley Parker, 6 Dylan Walker, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Manase Fainu, 10 Martin Taupau, 11 Joel Thompson, 16 Shaun Lane, 1 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 12 Frank Winterstein, 14 Trent Hodkinson, 17 Taniela Paseka, 21 Kelepi Tanginoa
Jorge Taufua is out, replaced on the wing by Matt Wright, while Shaun Lane has been promoted to the starting line-up at the expense of Frank Winterstein. Dylan Walker returns at five-eighth with Trent Hodkinson benched. Brad Parker replaces Akuila Uate (ankle, season) on the wing. Kelepi Tanginoa moves to the interchange bench after initially being dropped on Friday. Lloyd Perrett was dropped from the reserves 24 hours before kick-off, while Tom Wright and Toafofoa Sipley were omitted an hour before kick-off.
Newcastle Knights v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Saturday 5.30pm at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: 1 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Ken Sio, 3 Sione Mata'utia, 4 Cory Denniss, 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6 Connor Watson, 7 Jack Cogger, 8 Herman Ese'ese, 9 Slade Griffin, 10 Josh King, 11 Sam Stone, 12 Mitchell Barnett, 13 Aidan Guerra (c)
Interchange: 14 Danny Levi, 15 Chris Heighington, 17 Jacob Lillyman, 18 Jamie Buhrer (c)
Just one change for the Knights with Jamie Buhrer called onto the bench at the expense of Luke Yates. Pasami Saulo and Nick Meaney were cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off. Luke Yates, Nathan Ross and Brock Lamb were omitted an hour before kick-off.
Bulldogs: 1 Will Hopoate, 2 Brett Morris, 3 Kerrod Holland, 4 Marcelo Montoya, 5 Reimis Smith, 6 Lachlan Lewis, 7 Jeremy Marshall-King, 8 Aiden Tolman, 9 Michael Lichaa, 10 David Klemmer, 11 Josh Jackson (c), 12 Rhyse Martin, 13 Adam Elliott
Interchange: 14 Fa'amanu Brown, 15 Danny Fualalo, 16 Ofahiki Ogden, 17 Greg Eastwood
The Bulldogs are 1-17 and playing their first game since the exit of Moses Mbye and Aaron Woods. Will Hopoate moves to fullback with Kerrod Holland starting in the centres. Lachlan Lewis debuts at five-eighth and Jeremy Marshall-King shifts to halfback. Rhyse Martin gets a recall in the second row for Raymond Faitala-Mariner (broken hand). Marcelo Montoya shifts to centre and Brett Morris returns on the wing. David Klemmer starts at prop for the departed Woods. Clay Priest was omitted on Friday night, while Asipeli Fine, Matt Frawley and John Olive were cut an hour before kick-off.
Brisbane Broncos v Canberra Raiders, Saturday 7.35pm at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: 1 Darius Boyd (c), 2 Corey Oates, 3 James Roberts, 4 Jordan Kahu, 5 Jamayne Isaako, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Kodi Nikorima, 8 Matthew Lodge, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Sam Thaiday, 17 Alex Glenn, 12 Jaydn Su'A, 13 Josh McGuire
Interchange: 14 Patrick Mago, 16 Tom Opacic 18 Korbin Sims, 21 David Fifita
Tevita Pangai jnr (ribs) is out, with Alex Glenn moving into the starting side. Troy Dargan and Gehamat Shibasaki join Pangai jnr as the players left out 24 hours out from kick-off. The Broncos have made just one other change from their last-start win over the Sharks, with Tom Opacic coming in. Reserves Sam Tagataese, Kotoni Staggs and Joe Ofahengaue were omitted an hour prior to kick-off.
Raiders: 21 Brad Abbey, 2 Nick Cotric, 3 Jarrod Croker (c), 4 Joseph Leilua, 5 Michael Oldfield, 6 Blake Austin, 7 Aidan Sezer, 16 Dunamis Lui, 9 Josh Hodgson, 10 Shannon Boyd, 11 Joseph Tapine, 12 Elliott Whitehead, 13 Josh Papalii
Interchange: 8 Iosia Soliola, 14 Siliva Havili, 15 Junior Paulo, 17 Liam Knight
Jack Wighton has been stood down by the Raiders after his most recent court appearance on Thursday. Brad Abbey will take his place at fullback. Along with Wighton, prop Charlie Gubb was the other man left out 24 hours out from game time. Josh Hodgson starts at hooker after his successful injury comeback against the Tigers, pushing Siliva Havili to the bench. Sia Soliola starts at prop with Dunamis Lui on the bench. Junior Paulo (foot) has been named to return on the bench for Luke Bateman (knee, round 20). Jack Murchie and Craig Garvey were cut an hour before kick-off.
Wests Tigers v Gold Coast Titans, Sunday 2pm at Leichhardt Oval
Wests Tigers: 1 Moses Mbye, 2 Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Esan Marsters, 4 Kevin Naiqama, 5 Corey Thompson, 6 Josh Reynolds, 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Russell Packer (c), 9 Robbie Farah, 14 Alex Twal, 11 Chris Lawrence, 21 Chris McQueen, 13 Elijah Taylor
Interchange: 12 Josh Aloiai, 15 Suaso Sue, 16 Michael Chee Kam, 17 Matt Eisenhuth
In a late change, Chris McQueen will make his first start for the club, with Josh Aloiai dropping back to the bench. In other news an hour before kick-off, Tyson Gamble and Robbie Rochow were the last two omitted from the squad. Ben Matulino was ruled out on Saturday, replaced at prop by Alex Twal. New recruits Robbie Farah and Moses Mbye start at hooker and fullback respectively. Mahe Fonua (broken arm) is out with Kevin Naiqama shifting into centre and Corey Thompson moving from fullback to wing. Josh Reynolds (shoulder) returns at five-eighth. Tim Grant was dropped from the initial squad on Saturday afternoon.
Titans: 1 Michael Gordon, 2 Anthony Don, 3 Dale Copley, 4 Brenko Lee, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 AJ Brimson, 7 Ashley Taylor, 8 Jarrod Wallace, 9 Nathan Peats, 10 Ryan James (c), 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Keegan Hipgrave, 13 Jai Arrow
Interchange: 14 Mitch Rein, 15 Will Matthews, 16 Moeaki Fotuaika, 17 Jack Stockwell
The Titans will start 1-17 after Morgan Boyle, Konrad Hurrell and Leilani Latu were left out an hour from kick-off. Jarrod Wallace returns from suspension at prop, pushing Jack Stockwell to the bench and Morgan Boyle to the reserves. Bryce Cartwright and Kane Elgey dropped off the reserves list on Saturday.
South Sydney Rabbitohs v North Queensland Cowboys, Sunday 4.10pm at Barlow Park, Cairns
Rabbitohs: 1 Alex Johnston, 2 Campbell Graham, 3 Greg Inglis (c), 4 Dane Gagai, 5 Robert Jennings, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Thomas Burgess, 9 Damien Cook, 10 George Burgess, 11 John Sutton, 12 Angus Crichton, 13 Sam Burgess
Interchange: 14 Adam Doueihi, 15 Cameron Murray, 16 Jason Clark, 17 Tevita Tatola
The Rabbitohs will start 1-17 after Hymel Hunt and Mark Nicholls were dropped from the bench an hour out from kick-off. South Sydney have named all their rep players to back up, including the three Burgess brothers who played in Denver. Campbell Graham replaces Hymel Hunt on the wing in their only change. Mark Nicholls and Tyrell Fuimaono were omitted on Saturday.
Cowboys: 1 Lachlan Coote, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Enari Tuala, 4 Kane Linnett, 5 Antonio Winterstein, 6 Te Maire Martin, 7 Johnathan Thurston (c), 16 Corey Jensen, 9 Jake Granville, 10 Scott Bolton, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Coen Hess, 13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14 Ben Hampton, 15 Shaun Fensom, 17 Francis Molo, 21 Shane Wright
Matt Scott will miss another week with a neck complaint. Justin O'Neill, Ethan Lowe and Javid Bowen were the players dropped from the squad an hour before kick-off. Lachlan Coote is recalled at fullback for Michael Morgan (biceps, season). Antonio Winterstein is recalled on the wing for Javid Bowen (reserves). Mitchell Dunn and Gideon Gela-Mosby were cut from the reserves 24 hours out from kick-off.
