Broncos coach Kevin Walters has stuck by his misfiring halves but patience has run out at Concord after Joey Leilua's latest scattergun performances cast doubt over his Wests Tigers future.
Anthony Milford and Brodie Croft have been retained in Brisbane's scrumbase for Saturday's crunch clash with Canterbury, despite mounting pressure from young playmaker Tom Dearden.
He and Croft swapped in and out of halfback duties during Tuesday's training session with Dearden named on an extended bench, having also trained at hooker throughout the session as well.
Leilua, meanwhile, has been dropped from Michael Maguire's 17 for Sunday's trip to Newcastle.
The 29-year-old has had an underwhelming start to 2021 after being shifted to the left edge alongside brother Luciano, with a 56 per cent tackle efficiency from 18 tackles and nine misses across two games.
Episode 4 - Christian Welch
James Roberts has been named to return from a shoulder injury on the right edge, shifting Tommy Talau across to replace Leilua, who is also off-contract after arriving from Canberra last season.
Leilua's Wests Tigers contract contains a 2022 option in the club's favour, with the Raiders understood to have paid a significant, six-figure portion of his salary last season.
Prop Zane Tetevano also returns from suspension straight into the starting side, pushing recruit Joe Ofahengaue to the bench.
Elsewhere, Penrith and South Sydney have named star halves Nathan Cleary and Adam Reynolds as they both undergo respective HIA protocols.
However, the Panthers are tipped to play it safe with Cleary's recovery from a high shot by former teammate Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, keeping Matt Burton on their extended bench as cover for Thursday's grand final rematch.
Every try from round 2
A call on Cleary won't be made until game day.
If he is ruled out Burton will partner Jarome Luai in the halves, underlining exactly why Penrith have refused to entertain Canterbury's numerous release requests for him to make his Belmore move early.
Before inking his Bulldogs deal Burton had briefly been discussed as a Storm signings target over summer when Jahrome Hughes was weighing up his own future.
With an extra day's recovery time, Reynolds is firming to be fit for the Rabbitohs-Roosters blockbuster on Friday.
South Sydney have Benji Marshall as a back-up option and no issue around Latrell Mitchell after he sat out Tuesday's training session with the club easing the gun No.1s workload in wet conditions.
While veteran winger Josh Mansour comes in for Jaxson Paulo (head knock), Marshall insisted Reynolds will be fit after presenting without concussion symptoms since copping a knock against Manly on Saturday.
"I won't be [starting]," Marshall said. "He's fine. He's all good. I think he could have come back on the field."
For the Roosters Victor Radley makes a long-awaited return from his ACL rupture and Angus Crichton is back from suspension.
Raiders captain Jarrod Croker also comes back from a significant lay-off due to shoulder surgery, while Hudson Young (knee) has been named to take on the Warriors on Saturday as well.
The visitors will be without Chanel Harris-Tavita for the next three months after he had surgery on a broken foot. Sean O'Sullivan replaces him in the halves.
As expected, Ryan Matterson will miss Parramatta's clash with Cronulla after copping an elbow to the head from Melbourne's Felise Kaufusi.
Matterson's concussion sees Isaiah Papali'i come into the starting line-up as Marata Niukora is retained at centre.
He'll line up on fellow makeshift three-quarter Connor Tracey, who starts at centre for the Sharks with Jesse Ramien suspended and Mawene Hiroti dropped.
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