NRL: Gildart returns, George Burgess starts and Whitehead provides Canberra boost
Oliver Gildart in action for Wests Tigers
After missing games against South Sydney and Parramatta, former Wigan man Oliver Gildart starts at centre for the Wests Tigers as they look to make it three wins in a row.
Brisbane Broncos vs Cronulla Sharks (Thursday, 10.50am, Watch NRL)
Dale Finucane returns to Cronulla starting line-up at loose forward after missing last week due to a head knock.
Brisbane: T M Martin; Oates, Staggs, Farnworth, Cobbo; Gamble, Reynolds; Jensen, Walters, Haas, Capewell, Riki, K Hetherington. Subs: Paix, R Kennedy, Flegler, Palasia.
Sharks: W Kennedy; S Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Mulitalo; Moylan, Hynes; Rudolf, Brailey, Tolman, Nikora, Wilton, Finucane. Subs: Williams, McInnes, R Hunt, A Fifita.
Gold Coast Titans vs Penrith Panthers (Friday, 9am, Sky Sports Arena & Watch NRL)
AJ Brimson moves from five-eighth to full-back for the Titans. Jamayne Isaako drops down to the extended bench. Powerhouse David Fifita is back in the second row while Will smith is the new man at stand-off.
Titans: Brimson; Sami, Kelly, Herbert, Marzhew; W Smith, Sexton; Fotuaika, Clark, Liu, D Fifita, Fermor, Fa’asuamaleaui. Subs: Boyd, Lisone, Ese’ese, Proctor.
Panthers: Edwards; Staines, Tago, S Crichton, May; Luai, Cleary; Eisenhuth, Koroisau, Fisher-Harris, Kikau, L Martin, Yeo. Subs: Luke, Sorensen, Leniu, Salmon.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Manly Sea Eagles (Friday, 10.55am, Sky Sports Arena & Watch NRL)
Ben Trbojevic, the brother of Jake and Tom, has been named to start on the bench for the Sea Eagles with Haumolo Olakau’atu missing out due to suspension.
Rabbitohs: Taaffe; Johnston, Tass, Graham, Mansour; C Walker, Ilias; Tatola, Cook, T Burgess, Koloamatangi, Arrow, Murray. Subs: Havili, Sele, Moale, Knight.
Sea Eagles: Garrick; Saab, Parker, Koula, Tuipulotu; Foran, Cherry-Evans; Keppie, Croker, Taupau, Lawton, Bullemor, J Trbojevic. Subs: D Walker, B Trbojevic, De Luis, Sipley.
New Zealand Warriors vs Canberra Raiders (Saturday, 6am, Watch NRL)
Canberra skipper Elliott Whitehead is back in the Raiders back-row after missing the loss to Penrith due to a facial laceration. After making his debut last week, Harry Rushton drops to the extended bench while veteran Jarrod Croker edges closer to a first appearance of the season.
Warriors: Walsh; Berry, Arthars, Pompey, Vailea; Harris-Tavita, Johnson; Fonua-Blake, Egan, Lodge, Aitken, Sironen, Tevaga. Subs: Otukolo, Afoa, E Katoa, Murchie.
Raiders: Rapana; Cotric, Timoko, Valemei, Savage; Wighton, Schneider; Papalii, Starling, Tapine, Young, Whitehead, Sutton. Subs: Nicoll-Klokstad, Harawira-Naera, Elliott, Horsburgh.
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Sydney Roosters (Saturday, 8.30am, Watch NRL)
Former Leeds forward Ava Seumanufagai is back on the Bulldogs bench after missing last week due to a COVID layoff. Luke Thompson again starts at prop for Canterbury.
Former St. Helens man Kevin Naiqama starts on the wing for the Roosters with Daniel Tupou missing out due to suspension.
Bulldogs: Dufty; Naden, Schoupp, Averillo, Addo-Carr; Burton, Flanagan; L Thompson, Marshall-King, Vaughan, Waddell, Pangai Jr, Jackson. Subs: Biondi-Odo, Stimson, M King, Seumanufagai
Roosters: Tedesco; Naiqama, Momirovski, Manu, Suaalii; S Walker, Keary; Waerea-Hargreaves, Verrills, Collins, A Crichton, Tupouniua, Radley. Subs: Hutchison, Baker, Butcher, Taukeiaho.
Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys (Saturday, 10.05am, Watch NRL)
Dylan Brown starts at centre again for Parramatta while Jake Arthur, son of Eels coach Brad, is back at five-eighth.
Eels: Gutherson; Perham, Penisini, D Brown, Simonsson; Arthur, Moses; Campbell-Gillard, Mahoney, Paulo, Lane, Papali’I, N Brown. Subs: Makatoa, Matterson, O Kaufusi, Cartwright.
Cowboys: Drinkwater; Feldt, Holmes, Hiku, Taulagi; Dearden, Townsend; McLean, Robson, Hess, Luki, Nanai, Taumalolo. Subs: Granville, Gilbert, Cotter, Neame.
Newcastle Knights vs Melbourne Storm (Sunday, 5am, Watch NRL)
Simi Sasagi replaces Dane Gagai at centre for Newcastle with the latter missing out because of a fractured cheekbone.
Knights: Ponga; Lee, Sasagi, Best, Tuala; Clifford, Clune; Klemmer, Randall, D Saifiti, Frizell, Jones, Mann. Subs: Crossland, J Saifiti, L Thompson, Sue.
Storm: Papenhuyzen; Meaney, R Smith, Olam, Coates; Munster, Hughes; J Bromwich, Grant, Asofa-Solomona, F Kaufusi, K Bromwich, J King. Subs: B Smith, Wishart, Loiero, Moeroa.
St. George Illawarra Dragons vs Wests Tigers (Sunday, 7.05am, Sky Sports Mix & Watch NRL)
After featuring mainly off the bench this season, George Burgess has been named in the starting front row for the Dragons.
After missing the last two rounds, Oliver Gildart is back at centre for the Tigers while Jackson Hastings retains his spot at half-back.
Dragons: Mbye; Feagai, Suli, Lomax, Ravalawa; Bird, B Hunt; Molo, McCullough, G Burgess, Sims, McGuire, De Belin. Subs: Amone, Lawrie, Woods, Fuimaono.
Tigers: To’a; Nofoaluma, Garner, Gildart, Maumalo; Brooks, Hastings; Tamou, Liddle, Musgrove, Tuilagi, Leilua, Ofahengaue. Subs: Madden, Twal, Mikaele, Seyfarth.
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