Official team lists, updates and injury news for round 25 of the 2021 Telstra Premiership season.
Round 25 team lists
Raiders v Roosters, Thursday 7.50pm at BB Print Stadium, Mackay
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Raiders: A late change on game day with centre Seb Kris dropping out and Semi Valemei coming into the side on the wing with Jordan Rapana shifting to centre. The other player to drop out an hour before kick-off was Sam Williams and Elijah Anderson is 18th man.
Joseph Tapine suffered a knee injury in round 24 but will play. The only change in the pack is Iosia Soliola coming in at lock and Ryan Sutton going to the bench.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad makes his first run-on start since returning from a neck injury, slotting into his favoured fullback position.
Trey Mooney was cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
To play finals, the Raiders must beat the Roosters and rely on the Storm defeating the Sharks.
Roosters: In late changes an hour before kick-off Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is out of the side, Isaac Liu moves to prop and Egan Butcher is promoted from the bench to start at lock.
Naufahu Whyte has been added to the bench. Brad Abbey is 18th man.
Josh Morris (hamstring) and Matt Ikuvalu (ankle) have been part of team training for the past week and will play. Adam Keighran (head knock) returns after a week off.
Siosiua Taukeiaho (knee) was cleared of any serious damage from a Liam Knight tackle last week and should also be OK to take his spot in the side.
Moala Graham-Taufa and Daniel Suluka-Fifita were the first two players cut from the squad 24 hours before kick-off.
The Roosters have won five of their past seven games against the Raiders.
Sharks v Storm, Friday 6pm at Cbus Super Stadium
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Sharks: The final team is 1-17 from the side announced on Tuesday, with Matt Moylan's return to the starting side pushing Luke Metcalf to the interchange and Kai O'Donnell 18th man.
The Sharks can confirm their place in a seventh consecutive finals series with a victory.
Storm: Two further game day changes were announced with Trent Loiero into the squad as a starting back-rower, pushing Aaron Pene to the bench and Jordan Grant to 18th man, while Daniel Atkinson displaced Cooper Johns on the interchange.
George Jennings (knee) was named on Tuesday but was ruled out through the week with Isaac Lumelume to start on the wing.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (hamstring) had a false start in his return to the paddock last week but is right to go.
Dale Finucane (head knock) returns to the pack which sees Harry Grant revert to the bench and Brandon Smith shift from lock to starting hooker.
The Storm have won four of their past five games against the Sharks.
Eels v Panthers, Friday 8.05pm at Cbus Super Stadium
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Eels: Parramatta will start 1-17 with Will Penisini the 18th man.
Shaun Lane (head knock) has passed concussion protocols this week to take his place.
Tom Opacic (ribs) returns and will partner Michael Oldfield in the centres.
Oregon Kaufusi, Makahesi Makatoa, Bryce Cartwright, Keegan Hipgrave and Ray Stone all come into the starting pack with Brad Arthur resting his stars.
Isaiah Papali'i and Nathan Brown dropped off the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off.
The Eels have won four of their past six games at Cbus Super Stadium.
Panthers: As has been the case in recent weeks, Viliame Kikau will start on the bench with Liam Martin in the run-on side. Izack Tago will be the 18th man.
Spencer Leniu and Taylan May were omitted from the reserves on Thursday night.
Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary has won 35 of his past 37 NRL games.
Broncos v Knights, Saturday 3pm at Suncorp Stadium
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Broncos: Jordan Riki will play after he was a late withdrawal last week with an ankle injury so TC Robati reverts to the bench.
Danny Levi and Jamayne Isaako drop off the extended bench. Brodie Croft is 18th man and Jesse Arthars is 19th man for the game which will be retiring captain Alex Glenn’s 285th and final NRL appearance for the Broncos.
Brodie Croft is 18th man with Jesse Arthars omitted from the reserves an hour before kick-off.
Departing Broncos five-eighth Anthony Milford has scored seven tries in his past seven games against the Knights.
Knights: Representative second-rower Tyson Frizell has been rested for Newcastle, as they have sealed their spot in seventh for this year's finals series.
Sauaso Sue (hamstring) is a late withdrawal while Jayden Brailey, Mitch Barnett and Jacob Saifiti had already been given a break when the squad was announced on Tuesday.
Josh King will start at prop and Jack Johns in the second row for Sue and Frizell with Pasami Saulo and Simi Sasagi joining the interchange.
Dominic Young was also omitted on Friday. Tex Hoy is 18th man.
The Knights have won their past four games against the Broncos.
Cowboys v Sea Eagles, Saturday 5.30pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
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Cowboys: Coen Hess (biceps) will play, replacing Reuben Cotter (shoulder) in the forward pack.
Ben Hampton was ruled out on Friday with a groin complaint, with Daejarn Asi replacing him in the centres. Lachlan Burr was the other player to drop out in the 24-hour submission.
Connelly Lemuelu is the 18th man with Tom Gilbert dropping off the extended bench an hour before kick-off.
The Cowboys are aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time since Round 12.
Sea Eagles: Taniela Paseka (ankle) was close to a return last week but was held back and will play on Saturday night.
Paseka will come off the bench, with Josh Aloiai dropping out and Toafofoa Sipley starting at prop.
Sean Keppie got out of 14-day quarantine last week following the birth of his child in Sydney and is expected to come off the bench before the finals.
Moses Suli is the 18th man with Kurt De Luis dropping out of the squad one game day.
The Sea Eagles have won four of their past five games against the Cowboys.
Rabbitohs v Dragons, Saturday 7.35pm at Sunshine Coast Stadium
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Rabbitohs: Jed Cartwright came into the starting side at prop an hour before kick-off with Patrick Mago reverting to the bench.
Wayne Bennett has chosen to rest a host of stars including Adam Reynolds, Cody Walker, Damien Cook, Dane Gagai, Thomas Burgess and Cameron Murray.
Walker and Alex Johnston were omitted 24 hours before the match. Murray was the last man cut an hour before kick-off and Jai Arrow is 18th man.
The Rabbitohs have won their past six games against the Dragons.
Dragons: The Dragons will line up 1-17 with no late changes as they look to avoid a club record eight consecutive losses.
Zac Lomax suffered another fracture to his thumb and will miss the match.
Jackson Ford and Adam Clune were left out on the eve of the match. Cody Ramsey was the last man cut on game day and Kaide Ellis is 18th man.
Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa has scored 11 tries in his past 11 games.
Titans v Warriors, Sunday 2pm at Cbus Super Stadium
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Titans: Kevin Proctor, who had been battling an AC joint problem, is out with Sam McIntyre to start in the second row.
David Fifita will again start on the interchange bench in a match the Titans need to win by 11 points or more to sneak into the finals after the Sharks and Raiders were beaten. Toby Sexton will be Gold Coast's 18th man.
In the only change to last week's 17, Moeaki Fotuaika has been promoted from the bench to start at prop with Tino Fa'asuamaleaui sliding back to lock.
Greg Marzhew and Anthony Don dropped off the extended bench 24 hours before kick-off.
The Titans have won only two of their past seven games at Cbus Super Stadium.
Warriors: In a minor change announced an hour before kick-off, Jazz Tevaga moves from the reserves list to the interchange. Kodi Nikorima will be the Warriors' 18th man.
Matt Lodge was successful in fighting a dangerous contact charge at the judiciary on Tuesday night and will take his place in the side.
Chanel Harris-Tavita (foot) returns to the line-up at five-eighth and is expected to play.
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown comes on to the interchange in place of Bunty Afoa, who picked up a hamstring injury at training on Tuesday.
Adam Pompey and Jack Murchie were omitted from the playing squad on Saturday.
The Warriors have won nine of their past 11 games against the Titans.
Wests Tigers v Bulldogs, Sunday 4.05pm at Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe
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Wests Tigers: Moses Mbye (head knock) is out, with Zac Cini named at fullback and Kelma Tuilagi joining the bench. James Roberts will be the 18th man.
Mbye and Tui Simpkins were omitted from the initial 21-man squad on Saturday.
Wests Tigers have won their past three games against the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs: Kyle Flanagan was left out of the Canterbury team an hour before kick-off, with Jake Averillo to start at halfback.
Dylan Napa will start at prop in his final match for the club, with Jack Hetherington moving into the second row and Corey Waddell back to the interchange bench.
Watson Heleta will be Canterbury's 18th man.
Bailey Biondi-Odo and Falakiko Manu were omitted from the playing squad 24 hours before kick-off.
The Bulldogs are aiming to avoid a club record-equalling 11th straight loss.