NRL Weekly Watch: Everything to keep an eye on in Magic Round

Bulldogs, Raiders both look to keep good times rolling in Magic Round opener

Magic Round kicks off with a showdown between the Bulldogs and Raiders on Friday evening with both teams fresh off nail-biting wins.

The Dogs will be without Braidon Burns (MCL) but welcome Jacob Kiraz (MCL) back from injury whilst Max King (ribs) also returns into the front-row.

Franklin Pele’s (arm) return pushes Harrison Edwards back to the reserves whilst Karl Oloapu remains on the bench after making his debut versus the Dragons last weekend in Wollongong.

For the Raiders, Xavier Savage (jaw) has been named to make his first NRL appearance of the season on the wing with Albert Hopoate making way whilst Ata Mariota (hand) replaces Corey Harawira-Naera on the interchange.

The Raiders have won six in-a-row versus the Bulldogs and beat them in Magic Round two years ago.

Tom in, Jake out as Manly ‘host’ Broncos

The Sea Eagles will play host to Broncos in the second clash of Magic Round on Friday night with both teams looking to bounce back from poor Round 9 defeats.

Manly welcome Tom Trbojevic (groin) back into the lineup after the star fullback missed their last-start loss to the Gold Coast with Kaeo Weekes dropping out of the side.

Toluta’u Koula (knee) and Brad Parker (knee) both return into the centres for Anthony Seibold’s side with Reuben Garrick shifting back to the wing and Morgan Harper and Christian Tu’ipulotu making way.

Jake Trbojevic (calf) and Toafofoa Sipley (suspension) will also miss this one with Sean Keppie coming into the starting side and Ben Trbojevic and Aaron Woods joining the interchange.

Payne Haas and Ezra Mam both return from suspension for Kevin Walters with Keenan Palasia dropping back to the bench and Jock Madden and Kobe Hetherington omitted.

The two sides have been difficult to split in recent years, however, the Broncos have won seven of their past nine against the Sea Eagles at Suncorp.

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Can Penrith bounce back from stunning Wests Tigers defeat?

The Panthers will do battle with the Warriors a week on from a stunning loss to the previously winless Wests Tigers in the first part of Saturday’s triple-header.

Skipper Tohu Harris (knee) and fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (head knock) have both been named to return for the Warriors as they look to snap their two-game skid.

Josh Curran drops back to the interchange with Freddy Lussick and Viliami Vailea dropping out of the side.

Otahuhu junior Demitric Sifakula retains his spot in the 17 after debuting against the Roosters last week.

For Penrith, star prop James Fisher-Harris (knee) returns for the defending champs after a five-week layoff with Matthew Eisenhuth (shoulder) dropping out.

Spencer Leniu (calf) has been named among the reserves after missing their Round 9 clash.

Penrith have won their past six against the Warriors and 16 of their past 20 against them.

Wayne’s 900th: Dolphins face red-hot Sharks in historic milestone

The surging Sharks will face off against the Dolphins in their inaugural Magic Round outing to celebrate Wayne Bennett becoming the first coach in Australian rugby league history to coach 900 first-grade games.

Dale Finucane (suspension) returns in a big boost for the Sharks with Braden Hamlin-Uele (knee) unavailable.

Finucane slots in at lock with Cameron McInnes dropping back to the interchange whilst Royce Hunt starts up front in place of Hamlin-Uele.

For the Dolphins, Tesi Niu (knee) returns to replace Robert Jennings on the wing whilst Mason Teague replaces Ray Stone (head knock) on the interchange.

Anthony Milford (hamstring) also comes onto the bench in place of Kurt Donoghoe.

Brenko Lee has been named in the centres but may be a late scratching due to a hamstring injury paving the way for Kiwi rugby union convert Valynce Te Whare to make his NRL debut.

Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has scored nine tries in his past seven games.

Storm and Rabbitohs meet in prime-time, heavyweight battle

In the third of three Saturday matchups, Melbourne and South Sydney will go head-to-head in perhaps the game of the round.

Fresh off a bye, Tom Eisenhuth (hip) comes onto Melbourne’s bench in place of Tyran Wishart whilst Eliesa Katoa has been named but will have to prove his fitness after a heavy head knock in their ANZAC Day win over the Warriors.

For Souths, Liam Knight (ACL) comes onto the interchange for his first NRL game since May last year replacing Davvy Moale whilst Tevita Tatola and Hame Sele have been named to start in the front-row with Jai Arrow on the pine.

South Sydney’s Storm hoodoo has been well-documented; the Rabbits have won just six of their 38 meetings against the Victorian-based outfit and were beaten by them in Round 5 this year.

Campbell Graham has scored an absurd nine tries over his past five games as calls for the 24-year-old to make his Origin debut grow louder with each passing week.

Can Wests Tigers spark winning streak against under-fire Dragons?

A major weight was taken off the Wests Tigers’ shoulders after their upset win over the Panthers in Bathurst and they will look to make it two in-a-row when they face an under-pressure Dragons unit on Sunday.

Brent Naden (suspension) is out for the Wests Tigers with Tommy Talau promoted into the starting lineup whilst Asu Kepaoa (illness) comes back onto the interchange.

Anthony Griffin has wielded the axe this week after their fourth-consecutive loss with Zac Lomax, Jacob Liddle, and Toby Couchman all omitted.

Max Feagai shifts into the centres with Mikaele Ravalawa (hamstring) returning onto the wing whilst Michael Molo reverts to the interchange with Jack de Belin pushed up front and Jack Bird moving from the edge to the middle.

Jaydn Su’A’s (shoulder) returns pushes Jaiyden Hunt out of the side whilst Billy Burns starts in the second-row for the first time season with Jayden Sullivan called up onto the interchange.

There are whispers that skipper Ben Hunt could make the move to hooker with Sullivan coming into the halves as Griffin looks to ignite the Dragons’ season.

The Wests Tigers and Dragons have been difficult to split in recent years, however, Griffin’s men won both matchups in 2022.

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Hapless Cowboys take on up-and-down Roosters

With four losses from their past five, the Cowboys will be desperate to turn the tide when they take on the Roosters on Sunday afternoon.

Drew Hutchison comes into the centres for the Roosters with Paul Momirovski (shoulder) unavailable whilst Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (rest) returns pushing Matt Lodge back to the bench and Fletcher Baker to the reserves.

Brandon Smith has been named to start despite picking up a frightening, neck injury in Auckland last weekend.

Jeremiah Nanai (suspension) and Tom Chester (ACL) are unavailable for Todd Payten with Heilum Luki (hamstring) back in the second-row and Redbank Plains junior Kulikefu Finefeuiaki named to make his NRL debut off the pine.

The Roosters have won five in-a-row against the Cowboys and have scored 28 or more in all five games.

Titans, Eels close Magic Round in Sunday evening showdown

The Titans and Eels will take each other on in the final matchup of Magic Round with both sides coming off big wins.

Jayden Campbell starts at fullback and Kruise Leeming comes onto the interchange for the Titans with AJ Brimson (hamstring) ruled out.

Kieran Foran has been named despite battling knee and toe issues but schoolboys star Keano Kini remains on standby should the veteran playmaker fail to prove his fitness.

Andrew Davey – who re-joined the Eels during the week after starting the season with the Dogs – has been named to start in the second-row with Bryce Cartwright reverting to the interchange.

Ryan Matterson (illness) returns onto the bench with Ofahiki Ogden and Matt Doorey dropping out whilst Bailey Simonsson (head knock) replaces Sean Russell in the centres.

Parramatta are riding a seven-game winning streak versus the Gold Coast and have scored 26 or more in all seven outings.

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