Penrith Panthers roll dice in week of surprise NRL team announcements
Penrith has kept rising star Matt Burton out in the cold after selecting Nathan Cleary to stay in the starting side despite an ugly head injury last week.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary earlier this week suggested Burton was available for selection, but the wily mentor will keep fans guessing as to whether Burton will replace his son as a result of a high tackle from former teammate Dallin Watene-Zelezniak which saw Cleary forced from the field in their win over the Bulldogs this weekend.
The club says Cleary will be monitored for concussion symptoms. Burton has already signed a contract with the Bulldogs, beginning in 2022, but the Panthers have refused to release him while under contract, despite the fact Burton has been unable to win selection this year, stuck behind Cleary, Jarome Luai and fullback Dylan Edwards.
Cleary’s selection has seen Penrith name an unchanged 17 for their Round 3 clash with the Storm on Thursday.
The bold call headlines a number of dramatic team announcements, including:
— Titans star Ash Taylor being replaced by Tanah Boyd as a result of a broken hand injury.
— Rabbitohs star Josh Mansour will return on the wing after Jaxson Paulo was ruled out with multiple concussions this season.
Nathan Cleary is being monitored.Source:Getty Images
— Roosters enforcer Victor Radley will play his first game since Round 7, 2020 after finally being cleared.
— Raiders sharp-shooter Jarrod Croker will play his first game of the year after recovering from shoulder surgery.
— The Warriors have been forced into a halves switch with Sean O’Sullivan replacing Chanel Harris-Tavita, who will spend up to 12 weeks on the sideline after scans revealed a stress fracture in his left foot.
Joey Leilua is still the most frustrating player for Tigers fans.Source:The Daily Telegraph
— Broncos coach Kevin Walters will keep fans on their toes after selecting halfback tom Dearden to play on the bench. There had been speculation Dearden would start at No. 7 as a straight swap for Brodie Croft. Dearden was spotted spending time at training in the hooking role and could be used as an interchange option for Jake Turpin.
— The Eels have confirmed centre Waqa Blake will miss at least another month after injuring his calf at training last week; and
— Tigers star Joseph Leilua has been dropped cold after his defensive nightmare against the Roosters on Sunday. He has been replaced by James Roberts.
OFFICIAL NRL TEAM LISTS ROUND 3
THURSDAY MARCH 25
Penrith Panthers vs Melbourne Storm, 8.05pm at Panthers Stadium
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Charlie Staines 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Tyrone May 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Matthew Eisenhuth 17. Liam Martin 18. Scott Sorensen 19. Matt Burton 20. J’maine Hopgood 21. Jaeman Salmon
Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. George Jennings 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Brandon Smith 10. Christian Welch 11. Tom Eisenhuth 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 14. Aaron Pene 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Chris Lewis 17. Nicholas Hynes 18. Cooper Johns 19. Darryn Schonig 20. Tyson Smoothy 21. Dean Ieremia
NRL: The NRL 360 panel dives in on a myriad of issues affecting the Brisbane Broncos, and how losses will continue to pile pressure on the struggling side….
NRL: The NRL 360 panel dives in on a myriad of issues affecting the Brisbane Broncos, and how losses will continue to pile pressure on the struggling side.
FRIDAY MARCH 26
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Manly Sea Eagles, 6pm at WIN Stadium
Dragons team: 1. Matthew Dufty 2. Cody Ramsey 3. Jack Bird 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Corey Norman 7. Ben Hunt 8. Blake Lawrie 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Josh Kerr 12. Tariq Sims 13. Tyrell Fuimaono 14. Poasa Faamausili 15. Trent Merrin 16. Daniel Alvaro 17. Brayden Wiliame 18. Adam Clune 19. Kaide Ellis 20. Jackson Ford 21. Jordan Pereira
Sea Eagles team: 1. Dylan Walker 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Moses Suli 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Martin Taupau 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Josh Schuster 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Cade Cust 15. Morgan Boyle 16. Sean Keppie 17. Josh Aloiai 18. Tevita Funa 19. Morgan Harper 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. Christian Tuipulotu
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters, 8.05pm at Stadium Australia
Rabbitohs team: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Dane Gagai 4. Campbell Graham 5. Josh Mansour 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Burgess 9. Damien Cook 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Cameron Murray 14. Benji Marshall 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Patrick Mago 17. Jai Arrow 18. Jacob Host 19. Tautau Moga 20. Troy Dargan 21. Steven Marsters
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Josh Morris 4. Joseph Manu 5. Brett Morris 6. Lachlan Lam 7. Luke Keary 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Isaac Liu 14. Victor Radley 15. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 16. Nat Butcher 17. Daniel Suluka-fifita 18. Drew Hutchison 19. Matt Ikuvalu 20. Sam Walker 21. Fletcher Baker
SATURDAY MARCH 27
Canberra Raiders vs Warriors, 3pm at GIO Stadium
Raiders team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Curtis Scott 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. George Williams 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Dunamis Lui 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine 14. Siliva Havili 15. Ryan Sutton 16. Iosia Soliola 17. Ryan James 18. Sam Williams 19. Tom Starling 20. Caleb Aekins 21. Sebastian Kris
Warriors team: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. David Fusitu’a 3. Adam Pompey 4. Peta Hiku 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Eliesa Katoa 12. Bayley Sironen 13. Tohu Harris 14. Jazz Tevaga 15. Ben Murdoch-Masila 16. Leeson Ah Mau 17. Jack Murchie 18. Tom Ale 20. Marcelo Montoya 21. Paul Turner 22. Kane Evans
NRL: Michael Ennis believes that after a multitude of coaches and position changes, nothing seems to be working for Anthony Milford and it might be best for him to leave….
NRL: Michael Ennis believes that after a multitude of coaches and position changes, nothing seems to be working for Anthony Milford and it might be best for him to leave.
Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 5.30pm at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos team: 1. Jamayne Isaako 2. Xavier Coates 3. Herbie Farnworth 4. Tesi Niu 5. David Mead 6. Anthony Milford 7. Brodie Croft 8. Tevita Pangai Junior 9. Jake Turpin 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Alex Glenn 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. John Asiata 15. Rhys Kennedy 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Ben Te’o 18. Tom Dearden 19. Richard Kennar 20. Cory Paix 21. Corey Oates
Bulldogs team: 1. Corey Allan 2. Nick Meaney 3. Will Hopoate 4. Nick Cotric 5. Tuipulotu Katoa 6. Jake Averillo 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Ofahiki Ogden 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Jack Hetherington 11. Adam Elliott 12. Corey Waddell 13. Josh Jackson 14. Sione Katoa 15. Renouf Atoni 16. Joe Stimson 17. Dylan Napa 19. Dean Britt 20. Chris Smith 21. Lachlan Lewis 22. Ava Seumanufagai
Parramatta Eels vs Cronulla Sharks, 7.35pm at Bankwest Stadium
Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Tom Opacic 4. Marata Niukore 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Nathan Brown 14. Oregon Kaufusi 15. Keegan Hipgrave 16. Will Smith 17. Ray Stone 18. Jordan Rankin 19. Haze Dunster 20. David Hollis 21. Joey Lussick
Sharks team: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Josh Dugan 4. Connor Tracey 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Chad Townsend 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Toby Rudolf 14. Teig Wilton 15. Aiden Tolman 16. Jack Williams 17. Billy Magoulias 18. Mawene Hiroti 19. Nene Macdonald 20. Andrew Fifita 21. Braydon Trindall
NRL: James Hooper was coy on the Big League Wrap with his assessment of the Leilua brothers and how defensively they were rather weak against the Roosters….
NRL: James Hooper was coy on the Big League Wrap with his assessment of the Leilua brothers and how defensively they were rather weak against the Roosters.
SUNDAY MARCH 28
Newcastle Knights vs Wests Tigers, 4.05pm at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights team: 1. Tex Hoy 2. Starford To’a 3. Enari Tuala 4. Bradman Best 5. Hymel Hunt 6. Kurt Mann 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. David Klemmer 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Connor Watson 14. Sauaso Sue 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Josh King 17. Brodie Jones 18. Gehamat Shibasaki 19. Pasami Saulo 20. Dominic Young 21. Simi Sasagi
Tigers team: 1. Daine Laurie 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Tommy Talau 4. James Roberts 5. Asu Kepaoa 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Luke Brooks 8. Zane Musgrove 9. Jacob Liddle 10. James Tamou 11. Luke Garner 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Alex Twal 14. Joe Ofahengaue 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Stefano Utoikamanu 17. Moses Mbye 18. Michael Chee-Kam 19. Joseph Leilua 20. Russell Packer 21. Alex Seyfarth
North Queensland Cowboys vs Gold Coast Titans, 6.15pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Murray Taulagi 3. Esan Marsters 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Valentine Holmes 6. Michael Morgan 7. Jake Clifford 8. Francis Molo 9. Reece Robson 10. Jordan McLean 11. Mitchell Dunn 12. Coen Hess 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Josh Mcguire 16. Corey Jensen 17. Lachlan Burr 18. Justin O’Neill 19. Shane Wright 20. Peter Hola 21. Ben Hampton
Titans team: 1. Alexander Brimson 2. Anthony Don 3. Phillip Sami 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Corey Thompson 6. Tanah Boyd 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Mitch Rein 10. Moeaki Fotuaika 11. Kevin Proctor 12. David Fifita 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Sam Lisone 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Erin Clark 18. Beau Fermor 19. Herman Ese’ese 20. Sam McIntyre 21. Sam Stone
— with foxsports.com.au
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