Official team lists, updates and injury news for round 21 of the 2021 Telstra Premiership season.
Round 21 team lists
Knights v Broncos, Thursday 7.50pm at Suncorp Stadium
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Knights: Lachlan Fitzgibbon has been promoted to the starting side an hour before kick-off. Mitch Barnett moves into the middle and pushes Connor Watson to the bench with Josh King dropping out of the side. Phoenix Crossland is 18th man.
Mitchell Pearce said on Tuesday "unless something drastic happens" at a final training run on Wednesday he was a certain starter for the clash.
Hooker Jayden Brailey has been rested so Chris Randall called into the starting side.
Starford To'a and Jack Johns were the first two players cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
The Knights have won their past three games against the Broncos.
Broncos: On Wednesday, Broncos coach Kevin Walters said Albert Kelly would come onto the bench and is likely to take on back-up hooker duties with TC Robati the man to drop out of the 17. Robati is 18th man and David Mead was the last player cut an hour before kick-off.
Danny Levi was successful at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night to beat a dangerous contact charge but he was never going to miss any game time regardless of the outcome.
Levi replaces Jake Turpin (ankle) at hooker against his former side while Jesse Arthars comes in for the injured Kotoni Staggs.
Xavier Coates and Anthony Milford were omitted from the extended squad on Wednesday.
The Broncos are aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time since the opening rounds of 2020.
Raiders v Dragons, Friday 6pm at Cbus Super Stadium
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Raiders: Ricky Stuart's team will start 1-17 with Sia Soliola the 18th man.
Ryan Sutton returns from a chest injury at lock so Hudson Young shifts to the second row and Corey Harawira-Naera moves to the bench.
Dunamis Lui and Siliva Havili were the first two players cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
The Raiders have won three of their past four games against the Dragons.
Dragons: St George Illawarra will start 1-17, with Matt Dufty the 18th man.
Cody Ramsey (wrist) will play after missing last week's loss to the Rabbitohs.
Corey Norman shifts from centre to five-eighth and Jayden Sullivan drops to the reserves to allow for Ramsey and Zac Lomax to form the new centre pairing.
Sullivan and Daniel Alvaro were the first two players cut from the extended squad on Thursday.
The Dragons have conceded 114 points in three losses since their bye in round 17.
Eels v Rabbitohs, Friday 8.05pm at Cbus Super Stadium
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Eels: After training well during the week, Mitchell Moses will return in a huge boost for the Eels.
Blake Ferguson (head laceration) is out, with Haze Dunster to start on the wing. Jake Arthur was the other player to drop out of the extended squad 24 hours before kick-off.
Ray Stone will be the 18th man and Waqa Blake will play after passing protocols after failing a HIA last week.
Oregon Kaufusi moves into the starting side at prop with Reagan Campbell-Gillard (groin) out for an indefinite period.
Marata Niukore and Bryce Cartwright have been added to the bench.
Eels fullback Clint Gutherson has scored five tries in his past five games against the Rabbitohs.
Rabbitohs: South Sydney will start 1-17 with Braidon Burns the 18th man.
Tevita Tatola will make an early return from a knee injury and Benji Marshall will return from a 14-day mandatory quarantine.
"I'll go into captain's run on Thursday and have a bit of a run on Friday," Marshall told NRL360 this week.
"I'm just looking forward to getting back with the team."
Patrick Mago and Blake Taaffe were omitted from the extended bench on Thursday night.
The Rabbitohs have scored 38 points in each of three consecutive wins over the Eels.
Warriors v Sharks, Saturday 3pm at Cbus Super Stadium
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Warriors: Chanel Harris-Tavita (pectoral) and Addin Fonua-Blake (finger) are on track to play after recovering from injuries.
Josh Curran also returns for the side after missing a week with an elbow injury so Eliesa Katoa goes to the bench.
Jazz Tevaga has been moved into the starting side at hooker with Taniela Otukolo sidelined by a knee injury.
Jack Murchie and Adam Pompey were dropped when the team was cut back to 19 players 24 hours out from kick-off.
The Warriors are aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time in 2021.
Sharks: Jesse Ramien has been named to return from an ear infection while Luke Metcalf replaces Royce Hunt (birth of child) on the bench.
Matt Moylan (calf) was listed among the reserves but given his injury history, he won't be risked by Josh Hannay at this stage of the season. Fellow reserve Billy Magoulias was also omitted from the squad on Friday.
The Sharks have won eight of their past nine games against the Warriors.
Roosters v Panthers, Saturday 5.30pm at Suncorp Stadium
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Roosters: Dale Copley drops out of the side with Joseph Manu moving to the wing, Sitili Tupouniua to centre and Nat Butcher to the second row. Siosiua Taukeiaho starts at prop with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves to come off the bench.
Fletcher Baker joins the interchange, Copley is the 18th man and Naufahu Whyte dropped out of the playing squad on game day.
Copley had been initially named to start on the wing following the loss of Josh Morris (hamstring) for at least five weeks.
Ben Marschke and Moala Graham-Taufa were omitted 24 hours before the match.
The Roosters have scored 114 points in their past three games at Suncorp Stadium.
Panthers: Taylan May replaces Brent Naden on the wing, while there's a reshuffle in the pack with Matt Eisenhuth starting at prop, Liam Martin moving to the second row and Scott Sorensen shifting to the bench.
Izack Tago is on the bench with J'maine Hopgood the 18th man. Nathan Cleary's return from a shoulder injury has been delayed another week.
With Stephen Crichton (contrary conduct) accepting a one-week ban, Paul Momirovski comes into the centres where he will partner Kurt Capewell.
New recruit Tevita Pangai jnr will not make his Panthers debut on the interchange after taking leave due to personal reasons with J'maine Hopgood a chance of a recall from the extended bench.
Mitch Kenny drops to the interchange to make way for Api Koroisau while Isaah Yeo returns at lock.
The Panthers have won their past three games against the Roosters.
Sea Eagles v Storm, Saturday 7.35pm at Suncorp Stadium
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Sea Eagles: Toafofoa Sipley has again been promoted to the starting side on game day with Taniela Paseka going back to the bench.
Des Hasler's side has gone from depleted to fully stocked this season with Curtis Sironen's return to the NRL short-lived given the side's depth is at its healthiest this year.
Otherwise, it's steady as she goes for the Sea Eagles as they continue to push for a top-four spot.
Cade Cust and Curtis Sironen were the two players left out 24 hours before the match. Kurt De Luis was last man cut an hour before kick-off and Moses Suli is 18th man.
Hasler is the only current NRL coach with a winning record against Craig Bellamy (17-14).
Storm: In late changes an hour before kick-off Tom Eisenhuth has come into the starting side, Chris Lewis to the bench and Tepai Moeroa joins the 17. Jordan Grant has been relegated to 18th man. Trent Loiero was the last man cut.
Kenny Bromwich got through concussion protocols after failing a head injury assessment last week.
Jahrome Hughes (calf) is also good to go.
Isaac Lumelume and Cooper Johns were the two players left out the day before the match.
The Storm have won their past three games against the Sea Eagles.
Bulldogs v Wests Tigers, Sunday 2pm at Cbus Super Stadium
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Bulldogs: In a minor change announced an hour before kick-off, Dylan Napa will start the match, with Ava Seumanufagai (No.8) to start off the bench. Watson Heleta will be the 18th man.
Trent Barrett has tinkered with his side for yet another week in a bid to finish the season on a high.
Bailey Biondi-Odo gets his first NRL start at five-eighth with Jake Averillo shifting to halfback.
Jayden Okunbor and Kyle Flanagan were the major omissions after poor performances last week.
Tui Katoa, Kyle Flanagan and Jackson Topine dropped off the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off, with Heleta added to the reserves.
The Bulldogs have lost their past nine games at Suncorp Stadium.
Wests Tigers: Michael Maguire's side will start 1-17, with Tukimihia Simpkins the 18th man.
James Tamou (foot) will play after missing last week's loss to the Warriors with a minor setback.
Moses Mbye steps in at fullback for Daine Laurie (fractured leg) as he did for 78 minutes last week.
Veteran utility Micheal Chee Kam has been promoted from the bench to take Mbye's place in the centres.
Outside back Zac Cini has been included on the interchange.
Tom Amone and Jock Madden were omitted from the reserves on Saturday.
Wests Tigers are aiming for three consecutive wins over the Bulldogs for the first time.
Titans v Cowboys, Sunday 4.05pm at Cbus Super Stadium
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Titans: In a repeat of previous weeks, the Titans announced an hour before kick-off that Beau Fermor will start the match and David Fifita will be on the interchange bench.
Apart from that, the Titans are 1-17 with Esan Marsters the 18th man.
Jamal Fogarty (finger) was a chance of returning will now look at a round 22 return.
Erin Clark (elbow) is good to go and Patrick Herbert returns from suspension.
Sam McIntyre and Anthony Don dropped off the reserves list 24 hours before kick-off.
The Titans are aiming for two wins in a season against the Cowboys for the first time since 2012.
Cowboys: North Queensland will start 1-17 with Daejarn Asi the 18th man.
Valentine Holmes (shoulder) returns at fullback and coach Todd Payten said the Maroons winger will play through the pain barrier for the remainder of the year.
With winger Kane Bradley (fractured hand) set to miss the remainder of the season Ben Hampton goes from the interchange to the centres and Murray Taulagi shifts to the wing.
Jason Taumalolo shifts to the second row in a tactical decision Payten hopes creates more space.
Francis Molo and Peter Hola were omitted from the extended bench on Saturday.
Cowboys winger Kyle Feldt has scored five tries in his past six games.
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