NRL 2024: Round 18 late mail

Stars have come flooding back in this week, with bonafide headliners like Kalyn Ponga, Tom Trbojevic, and Ryan Papenhuyzen all named to play after each returned from various injuries.

The most interesting thing is while Ponga and Pappy are slotting straight back into their number-one roles, Manly coach Anthony Seibold has actually decided to plug Turbo into the centres.

Elsewhere in teams this week, Kotoni Staggs has been left out of the Broncos squad due to personal reasons, the Eels are preparing to play two debutants as they fight to avoid the wooden spoon, and a whole host of State of Origin stars are back, from Dylan Edwards and Latrell Mitchell to Reece Walsh and Payne Haas.

Here’s all of the team news ahead of Round 18.

NRL Late Mail Round 18

Saturday

Canterbury-Bankstown Vs New Zealand, 3pm AEST at Accor Stadium

Roger Tuivsasa-Sheck looking likely to be swapped to the wing. “Nothing is out of the question… the wingers actually get more ball these days than the centres,” Webster has said. “That’s part of my responsibility, to give him more opportunities to show what he can do.”

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Blake Wilson 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 13. Bailey Hayward 15. Josh Curran 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Lipoi Hopoi 19. Jeral Skelton 22. Harry Hayes

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Te Maire Martin 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Marata Niukore 12. Kurt Capewell 15. Dylan Walker 14. Freddy Lussick 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Jackson Ford 23. Leka Halasima 20. Taine Tuaupiki

Wests Vs Melbourne, 5:30pm AEST at Leichhardt Oval

Justin Olam is all set to return from his knee injury. On the other side of the park, Craig Bellamy said he’s “optimistic” that Ryan Papenhuyzen be ready to play. If he’s not, Sualauvi Faalogo will swap to starting fullback.

Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 3. Solomona Faataape 4. Adam Doueihi 22. Justin Olam 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. John Bateman 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Justin Matamua 14. Heath Mason 15. Sione Fainu 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. David Klemmer 18. Reuben Porter 20. Solomon Alaimalo

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Grant Anderson 4. Jack Howarth 5. Kane Bradley 6. Tyran Wishart 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Sualauvi Faalogo 15. Christian Welch 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Joe Chan 19. Alec MacDonald 20. Dean Ieremia

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North Queensland Vs Manly, 7:35pm AEST at Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Griffin Neame 18. Jake Granville 19. Braidon Burns 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Jake Clifford 22. Jaxon Purdue

Sea Eagles

1. Tolutau Koula 2. Jason Saab 3. Tom Trbojevic 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Tommy Talau 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Lehi Hopoate 15. Karl Lawton 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Aaron Schoupp 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 21. Caleb Navale 22. Aitasi James

Sunday

Sydney Vs St George Illawarra, 2pm AEST at Allianz Stadium

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Michael Jennings 4. Sitili Tupouniua 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Victor Radley 13. Connor Watson 14. Naufahu Whyte 15. Terrell May 16. Nat Butcher 17. Spencer Leniu 18. Ethan King 19. Siua Wong 20. Sandon Smith 21. Blake Steep 22. Salesi Foketi

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Max Feagai 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth 14. Blake Lawrie 15. Ben Murdoch-Masila 16. Toby Couchman 17. Luciano Leilua 18. Michael Molo 19. Fa’amanu Brown 20. Ryan Couchman 21. Savelio Tamale 22. Jack Bird

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Canberra Vs Newcastle, 4pm AEST at GIO Stadium

Kalyn Ponga may actually not be playing on Sunday afternoon, though no one seems to be able to confirm either way. Reports suggest he’s out, Knights claiming he’s playing.

Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jordan Rapana 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Albert Hopoate 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Adam Cook 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Danny Levi 15. Ata Mariota 16. Trey Mooney 17. Simi Sasagi 18. Sebastian Kris 19. Zac Woolford 20. Emre Guler 21. James Schiller 22. Hohepa Puru

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Will Pryce 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott 14. Fletcher Sharpe 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Brodie Jones 17. Dylan Lucas 18. Mathew Croker 19. Jack Hetherington 20. Jack Cogger 21. Krystian Mapapalangi 22. Thomas Cant