NRL: Herbie Farnworth returns, Rushton NRL debut & Hastings starts

England World Cup hopeful Herbie Farnworth will return from a leg injury for Brisbane Broncos against Canterbury Bulldogs in the NRL this weekend.

Cronulla Sharks v Manly Sea Eagles (Thursday, 10:50am, Watch NRL)

Cameron McInnes starts at loose forward for Cronulla with Dale Finucane missing out due to a head knock. 

Sharks: W Kennedy; S Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Mulitalo; Moylan, Hynes; Rudolf, Brailey, Tolman, Nikora, Wilton, McInnes. Subs: Trindall, Williams, R Hunt, A Fifita.

Sea Eagles: Garrick; Saab, Parker, Harper, Tuipulotu; Foran, Cherry-Evans; Sipley, Croker, Paseka, Olakau’atu, Davey, J Trbojevic. Subs: D Walker, Lawton, Bullemor, De Luis.

Brisbane Broncos v Canterbury Bulldogs (Friday 10:55am, Sky Sports Arena & Watch NRL)

Herbie Farnworth returns at centre for Brisbane after missing last week’s game due to a leg injury. Payne Haas is also back at prop after serving his one-game ban while Tesi Niu’s injury sees Te Maire Martin set to play his first NRL game since 2019. The 26-year-old makes a triumphant return after being forced to retire in 2020 due to a bleed on the brain. 

The Bulldogs have been forced into a mass of late changes with several players missing out due to COVID, including former Leeds forward Ava Seumanufagai. Luke Thompson is retains his place in the starting line-up. 

Broncos: Martin; Oates, Staggs, Herbie Farnworth, Cobbo; Gamble, Reynolds; Jensen, Paix, Haas, Capewell, Riki, K Hetherington. Subs: Walters, R Kennedy, Flegler, Palasia.

Bulldogs: Dufty; Okunbor, Schoupp, Kirza, Addo-Carr; Burton, Flanagan; L Thompson, Marshall-King, Vaughan, Waddell, Pangai Jr, Jackson. Subs: Biondi-Odo, Stimson, M King, Tsikrikas.

North Queensland Cowboys v Gold Coast Titans (Saturday, 8:30am, Sky Sports Arena & Watch NRL)

Hamiso Taubuai-Fidow has been named on the Cowboys’ extended bench as he nears a return from a knee injury.

Cowboys: Drinkwater; Feldt, Holmes, Hiku, Taulagi; Dearden, Townsend; McLean, Robson, Hess, Luki, Nanai, Taumalolo. Subs: Granville, Gilbert, Cotter, Neame.

Titans: Isaako; Sami, Kelly, Herbert, Marzhew; Brimson, Sexton; Fotuaika, Clark, Liu, D Fifita, Fermor, Fa’asuamaleaui. Subs: W Smith, Lisone, Jolliffe, Wallace.

Wests Tigers v South Sydney Rabbitohs (Saturday, 10:35am, Watch NRL)

After an exceptional performance last week, Jackson Hastings starts again at half-back while Oliver Gildart has not been named for the second straight game but could be set to feature in the NSW Cup for the Western Suburbs Magpies.

Tom Burgess moves back to the interchange for the Rabbioths with Hame Sele taking his place in the starting front row.

Tigers: Lauire; Nofoaluma, Roberts, To’a, Maumalo; Brooks, Hastings; Tamou, Simpkin, Musgrove, Tuilagi, Leilua, Ofahengaue. Subs: Madden, Twal, Mikaele, Garner.

Rabbitohs: Taaffe; Johnston, Milne, Graham, Mansour; C Walker, Ilias; Tatola, Cook, Sele, Koloamatangi, Arrow, Murray. Subs: T Burgess, Host, Moale, Knight.

Newcastle Knights v Parramatta Eels (Sunday, 5am, Watch NRL)

Adam Clune is back at half-back for Newcastle with Phoenix Crossland reverting to the bench.

Parramatta’s forward unit has been given a big boost with Junior Paulo set to return at prop. Reagan Campbell-Gillard has been named as the other front-rower despite suffering an ankle injury. 

Knights: Ponga; Lee, Gagai, Best, Tuala; Clifford, Clune; Klemmer, Randall, D Saifiti, Frizell, Jones, Mann. Subs: Crossland, J Saifiti, L Thompson, Sue.

Eels: Gutherson; Perham, Penisini, Opacic, Simonsson; D Brown, Moses; Campbell-Gillard, Mahoney, Paulo, Lane, Papali’i, N Brown. Subs: Makatoa, Matterson, O Kaufusi, Arthur.

Penrith Panthers v Canberra Raiders (Sunday, 7:05am, Sky Sports Mix & Watch NRL)

Harry Rushton looks set to make his NRL debut after being named on Canberra interchange while Elliott Whitehead and Ryan Sutton start at second-row and loose-forward retrospectively. Another exciting youngster in Xavier Savage is back in the Raiders’ starting line-up on the wing.

Panthers: Edwards; Staines, Tago, S Crichton, May; Luai, Cleary; Eisenhuth, Koroisau, Fisher-Harris, Kikau, L Martin, Yeo. Subs: Kenny, Sorensen, Leniu, Salmon.

Raiders: Rapana; Cotric, Timoko, Valemei, Savage; Wighton, Schneider; Papalii, Starling, Tapine, Harawira-Naera, Whitehead, Sutton. Subs: Nicoll-Klokstad, Rushton, Elliott, Horsburgh. 

St George Illawarra Dragons v Sydney Roosters (Monday, 7am, Watch NRL)

George Burgess has again been named on the bench for St George Illawarra as they come up against the Roosters. 

Former Leigh half-back, Drew Hutchison, returns to Sydney’s matchday squad and will be set to come off the bench.

Dragons: Mbye; Feagai, Suli, Lomax, Ravalawa; Bird, B Hunt; Molo, McCullough, Kerr, Sims, Su’A, De Belin. Subs: Amone, Lawrie, McGuire, G Burgess.

Roosters: Tedesco; Tupou, Momirovski, Manu, Suaalii; S Walker, Keary; Waerea-Hargreaves, Verrills, Collins, A Crichton, Tupouniua. Subs: Hutchison, Baker, Butcher, Taukeiaho.

Melbourne Storm v New Zealand Warriors (Monday, 10am, Watch NRL)

Three big boosts for Melbourne with the Bromwich brothers returning to the squad after missing last week due to COVID while star full-back Ryan Papenhuyzen is set to start despite picking up an ankle injury.

Storm: Papenhuyen; Meaney, R Smith, Olam, Coates; Munster, Hughes; J Bromwich, Grant, Asofa-Solomona, F Kaufusi, K Bromwich, J King. Subs: B Smith, Wilshart, Loiero, Moeroa.

Warriors: Walsh; Watene-Zelezniak, Arthars, Pompey, Kosi; Harris-Tavita, Johnson; Fonua-Blake, Egan, Lodge, Aitken, Sironen, Curran. Subs: Nikorima, Afoa, Pene, E Katoa.

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