NRL: Oliver Gildart starts, Burgess on bench & Whitehead back-row return

Former Wigan star Oliver Gildart will start his third consecutive match for Wests Tigers in the NRL this weekend.

St George Illawarra Dragons v Cronulla Sharks (Thursday, 9:05am, Watch NRL)

Dragons’ prop George Burgess drops to the extended bench while Moses Mbye replaces Andrew McCullough (elbow) at hooker.

No Ronaldo Mulitalo (head knock) for Cronulla so Matt Ikuvalu replaces him on the wing.

Dragons: Sloan; Ramsey, Suli, Lomax, Ravalawa; Amone, Hunt; Molo, Mbye, Lawrie, Bird, Su’A, Sims. Subs: De Belin, Kerr, Ford, Gosiewski.

Sharks: Kennedy; S Katoa, Ramien, Tracey, Ikuvalu; Moylan, Hynes; Rudolf, Brailey, Hamlin-Uele, Nikora, Talakai, Finucane. Subs: Tolman, McInnes, Trindall, A Fifita.

GEORGE BURGESS: St George Illawarra Dragons issue statement on England star

Wests Tigers v New Zealand Warriors: Oliver Gildart starts (Friday, 7am, Watch NRL)

Oliver Gildart retains his place at centre while Hastings had been named to start but he will now miss the next three matches after being suspended for a tackle on Newcastle’s Tex Hoy last week.

Kodi Nikorima is back at scrum-half for the Warriors after being named as 18th man last week.

Tigers: Laurie; Nofoaluma, Roberts, Oliver Gildart, Maumalo; Hastings, Brooks; Tamou, Liddle, Utoikamanu, Garner, Leilua, Ofahengaue. Subs: Peachey, Twal, Musgrove, Simpkins.

Warriors: Walsh; Pompey, Arthars, Berry, Montoya; Harris-Tavita, Nikorima; Fonua-Blake, Egan, Lodge, Aitken, E Katoa, Curran. Subs: Tevaga, Afoa, Pene, Sironen.

SUSPENSION: Wests Tigers star Jackson Hastings handed three-match ban

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Sydney Roosters (Friday, 9:05am, Sky Sports Arena or Watch NRL)

Despite suffering a knock last week, the Roosters’ Joey Manu is expected to play. England international Tom Burgess will start on the bench for the Rabbitohs.

Former Leigh half-back Drew Hutchison is on the bench for the Roosters.

Rabbitohs: Mitchell; Johnston, Milne, Graham, Paulo; C Walker, Ilias; Tatola, Cook, Nicholls, Koloamatangi, Arrow, Murray. Subs: Host, Havili, T Burgess, Knight.

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

Penrith Panthers v Newcastle Knights (Saturday, 4am, Watch NRL)

Star half-back Nathan Cleary nears a return from a shoulder injury as he has been named on the Panthers’ extended bench.

After missing the win over the Tigers due to a knee injury, Kalyn Ponga is back on deck at full-back for Newcastle while Daniel Saifiti is also expected to return at prop. After scoring two tries in two matches, Dom Young is again on the wing for the Knights.

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

Knights: Ponga; Young, Gagai, Best, Tuala; Clifford, Clune; J Saifiti, Randall, D Saifiti, Frizell, Barnett, Mann. Subs: Crossland, Momoisea, Thompson, Croker.

Melbourne Storm v Parramatta Eels (Saturday, 6:30am, Watch NRL)

Harry Grant has been named at hooker for Melbourne but will now miss the round three fixture due to testing positive for COVID with his replacement to be named later in the week.

Parramatta’s Nathan Brown is back in the starting side at loose forward with Oregon Kaufusi named on the bench.

Storm: Papenhuyzen; Ieremia, R Smith, Olam, Coates; Munster, Hughes; J Bromwich, Grant, Asofa-Solomona, F Kaufusi, K Bromwich, J King. Subs: Wishart, MacDonald, Loiero, Moeroa.

Eels: Gutherson; Blake, Penisini, Opacic, Simonsson; Brown, Moses; Campbell-Gillard, Mahoney, Paulo, Lane, Papali’i, Brown. Subs: Makatoa, Greig, Stone, O Kaufusi.

Canberra Raiders v Gold Coast Titans (Saturday, 8:35am, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Arena or Watch NRL)

A big boost for Canberra as Nic Cotric and Jordan Rapana make their returns on the wings.

New Gold Coast signing Jamayne Isaako has been named amongst the extended bench after his immediate switch from Brisbane.

Raiders: Nicoll-Klokstad; Cotric, Timoko, Valemei, Rapana; Wighton, Schneider; Papalii, Starling, Tapine, Young, Harawira-Naera, Whitehead. Subs: Frawley, Guler, Elliott, Horsburgh.

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

BLOW: Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson suffers season-ending ACL injury

Brisbane Broncos v North Queensland Cowboys (Sunday, 6:05am, Sky Sports Arena or Watch NRL)

After a great performance last week, Herbie Farnworth is back at centre for the Broncos as they take on their Queensland rivals.

Broncos: Niu; Oates, Staggs, Farnworth, Cobbo; Kelly, Reynolds; Palasia, Turpin, Haas, Capewell, Riki, Carrigan. Subs: James, K Hetherington, Robati, Walters.

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

Manly Sea Eagles v Canterbury Bulldogs (Sunday, 8:15am, Watch NRL)

Luke Thompson has been named to start at prop after coming off the interchange in last week’s loss to Brisbane. Former Leeds prop Ava Seumanufagai has also been named on the Canterbury bench.

Sea Eagles: T Trbojevic; Saab, Parker, Harper, Garrick; Foran, Cherry-Evans; Keppie, Croker, Taupau, Olakau’atu, Bullemor, J Trbojevic. Subs: D Walker, Lawton, Davey, Paseka.

Bulldogs: Dufty; Okunbor, Burns, Naden, Addo-Carr; Burton, Averillo; Thompson, Marshall-King, Vaughan, J Hetherington, Pangai Jr, Jackson. Subs: Biondi-Odo, Waddell, M King, Seumanufagai.

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