NRL Late Mail Round 3: Robson on track; Sharpe, Pompey out
Star Roosters recruit Reece Robson is on track to make an early return from a thumb injury on Friday night.
The representative hooker is set for his first appearance for the club in a Multicultural Round clash with Penrith at Allianz Stadium.
Robson is one of multiple players pushing to return this weekend, with Dragons hooker Jacob Liddle and Gold Coast playmaker Jayden Campbell also set to complete comebacks from injury.
Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett will play his first game since tearing his ACL last June but centre Adam Pompey has stayed in Auckland to support his wife Casey who is expecting the couple’s first child.
See all the late mail, official team news and updates for Round 3 of the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership competition.
NRL Late Mail Round 3
Roosters v Panthers, Friday 6.00pm (AEDT) at Allianz Stadium
Roosters: Star hooker Reece Robson is on track to play his first game as a Rooster after making a rapid recovery from pre-season thumb surgery. No late changes on game day after Benaiah Ioelu and Tom Rodwell dropped out when the squad was trimmed on Thursday. Former Dragon Cody Ramsey is part of the six-man bench as he chases a first NRL appearance since late 2022.
Panthers: No late changes for the Panthers. Liam Martin is set to play his first game of the season after overcoming a calf complaint that he has battled for the past month. The representative back-rower's return will see Luke Garner shift to the bench. Utility Jack Cogger is set to miss the match after suffering a head knock last week, with Freddy Lussick the new man on the interchange. Tom Ale and Jesse McLean were the two players to make way 24 hours before kick-off.
Storm v Broncos, Friday 8.00pm (AEDT) at AAMI Park
Storm: Back-rower Alec MacDonald returns from concussion and will start in place of Ativalu Lisati, who faces a month out after suffering a calf strain during the week. The interchange bench includes a return for Trent Loiero following his two-game suspension, alongside a potential Storm debut for playmaker Trent Toelau.
Broncos: Skipper Adam Reynolds was named on Tuesday but has been ruled out due to rib cartilage damage. "I thought he was going to play but he just unfortunately couldn't make the trip down," coach Michael Maguire said on Thursday. Ben Hunt starts the game at halfback and Blake Mozer joins the six-man bench in jersey No.20. Cook Islands star Brendan Piakura is also in the mix for his first appearance of the year after recovering from off-season knee injury and has been listed in jumper No.18. Former Storm flyer Grant Anderson comes on to the wing for his Broncos debut, with Deine Mariner shifting to the centres and Gehamat Shibasaki moving to the interchange.
Knights v Warriors, Saturday 3.00pm (AEDT) at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: Fletcher Sharpe was originally named to return from a knee injury suffered in Las Vegas but he has dropped out of the side. Tyson Gamble will come into the halves alongside Sandon Smith while Fletcher Hunt is set to start at fullback in place of Kalyn Ponga (hamstring). Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana also came out of the squad on Friday with Cody Hopwood moving onto the six-man bench.
Warriors: Star prop Mitch Barnett will come from the bench as he makes his comeback from an ACL injury suffered last June. Centre Adam Pompey has remained in Auckland for the birth of his first child so Leka Halasima shifts to centre and Marata Niukore comes into the back row in his return from a calf injury. Kurt Capewell (calf), Chanel Harris-Tavita and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (both head knocks) have all been ruled out. Taine Tuaupiki is the new fullback and Luke Hanson makes his NRL debut at five-eighth.
Sharks v Dolphins, Saturday 5.30pm (AEDT) at Ocean Protect Stadium
Sharks: Teig Wilton is pushing for his first footy of the year as he completes his recovery from off-season shoulder surgery. The punishing back-rower has been named in the extended squad for Saturday's match and coach Craig Fitzgibbon said on Friday he was looking good to take his place. No other changes expected for coach Craig Fitzgibbon from the team that lost to Penrith last week.
Dolphins: Tom Flegler has come out of the side on Friday due to a rib injury with Felise Kaufusi moving into the starting side. Max Plath retains his place in the starting side after making a successful return from an ACL injury last weekend.
Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers, Saturday 7.35pm (AEDT) at Polytec Stadium, Gosford
Rabbitohs: Campbell Graham (shoulder) and Euan Aitken (cork) have dropped out with Moala Graham-Taufa to make his club debut. "Campbell's got a shoulder problem so he won’t play tomorrow,” coach Wayne Bennett said on Friday. “It happened in last week's game but it just hasn’t recovered well enough, so he’s not fit enough." Jamie Humphreys is set for his first appearance of 2026, having served a suspension throughout the last fortnight. It marks the third halves partner in three weeks for five-eighth Cody Walker but Humphreys' return should bring some stability to the side. Tallis Duncan is set to start on Saturday night.
Wests Tigers: Jeral Skelton will start at centre after Taylan May was ruled out with a shoulder injury, with Patrick Herbert coming on to the six-man bench and in line for his first NRL match since 2022. Perth-bound winger Luke Laulilii retains his place in the starting side and has scored five tries in his last six NRL games.
Eels v Dragons, Sunday 4.05pm (AEDT) at CommBank Stadium
Eels: J'maine Hopgood is set to step straight back into the starting side in his return from suspension, prompting a minor reshuffle. Jack Williams shifts to lock and Jack de Belin moves to the six-man bench as he prepares to face his former club. Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr has scored eight tries in his last four games at CommBank Stadium, while Parramatta have won their past four games against the Dragons at the venue.
Dragons: Jacob Liddle is on track to make his return from a hamstring injury and will form a one-two punch with starting hooker Damien Cook. The co-captain left the field late in last week's loss to Melbourne but passed his HIA and is set to play on Sunday. Also cleared to line up are halves Kyle Flanagan and Daniel Atkinson, who have avoided serious ankle injuries.
Cowboys v Titans, Sunday 6.15pm (AEDT) at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys: Inspirational skipper Reuben Cotter is straight back into the starting side after missing last week's loss to the Tigers due to family reasons. Cotter's return will see Kai O'Donnell shift to the bench and Matt Lodge to the reserves. Zac Laybutt is also in the mix for his first game of the season after serving a suspension picked up in the Pre-Season Challenge.
Titans: Jayden Campbell is set to return from a hamstring injury in a major boost for new coach Josh Hannay. The playmaker has been named on the six-man bench but could come into the starting side closer to kick off. AJ Brimson and Lachlan Ilias are currently listed in the halves, but Campbell's return could prompt a reshuffle.
