NRL Weekly Watch: Everything to keep an eye on in Round 14

Wests Tigers open round on Friday vs. Croker-less Raiders at Campbelltown

The round opens with a Friday night clash between the Wests Tigers and Canberra Raiders at Campbelltown Stadium.

Fonua Pole will start at lock in place of Joe Ofahengaue who has made a midseason switch to Parramatta with Alex Seyfarth coming onto the interchange.

Brent Naden (shoulder) has been named among the reserves as he eyes a return from a five-week injury layoff.

Apisai Koroisau has been named to start at hooker just 48 hours after playing all 80 minutes in the Blues’ Origin I loss in Adelaide, however, Jake Simpkin has been named in the #14 jersey and could start should the club opt to rest Koroisau.

For Canberra, Jarrod Croker will sit out with Ricky Stuart wanting the popular veteran to celebrate his 300th NRL game in the nation’s capital.

Nick Čotrić will start on the wing with Albert Hopoate shifting into the centres whilst Hudson Young has been named to back up from his Origin debut in place of Corey Harawira-Naera who suffered a frightening seizure against the Rabbitohs.

Playmaker Matt Frawley will come onto the interchange.

Canberra have dominated the matchup in recent years having won nine of their past 10 against the Wests Tigers and their past two at Campbelltown by a combined margin of 44.

Warriors back in Auckland for inaugural Dolphins matchup

The Dolphins will make their first trans-Tasman trip as a club to take on the Warriors on Saturday at Auckland’s newly-named Go Media Stadium (previously known as Mount Smart).

Wayde Egan (calf) returns for the hosts to replace Freddy Lussick (head knock) at hooker whilst Dylan Walker (toe) and Mitch Barnett (neck) replace Tom Ale and Demitric Sifakula on the interchange.

Wayne Bennett has named the same 17 that finished atop St George Illawarra last week at Redcliffe with Tom Gilbert (shoulder) and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (rest) both being given the week off following Origin.

Jamayne Isaako has scored back-to-back doubles for the Dolphins and has proven a revelation under Bennett in 2023 after spending much of last year playing QCup.

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Mitchell missing as Titans host Rabbitohs on Saturday

South Sydney will be without Latrell Mitchell when they make the journey to the Gold Coast for a Saturday evening clash versus the Titans.

The Titans will be without playmaker Kieran Foran (foot) with Jayden Campbell switching to the six jersey and rookie Keano Kini named at fullback.

Sam Verrills (collarbone) has been named to make his first NRL appearance in 12 weeks off the bench with Kruise Leeming dropping out whilst Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira returns to replace Brian Kelly with Phillip Sami pushing into the centres.

Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui will come onto the bench for Joseph Vuna whilst Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita have both been named to back-up from Origin.

For the Rabbits, Latrell Mitchell (calf) is missing with Blake Taaffe retaining his spot at fullback whilst Campbell Graham (sternum) returns to replace Jed Cartwright in the centres and Richie Kennar comes onto the wing for Taane Milne.

Cameron Murray and Jai Arrow have both been named to back-up from Origin with Liam Knight and Tallis Duncan dropping out.

South Sydney have won 13 of their past 15 against the Titans including seven in a row and have lost to them just once on the Gold Coast – their first ever clash at the venue in in Round 8, 2009.

Sharks back in the Shire for top four clash vs. Broncos

The Sharks and Broncos will do battle in the Shire on Saturday night in a second-versus-third showdown that could prove vital come finals time.

Nicho Hynes looks set to back-up from his Origin debut after being used sparingly in NSW’s defeat whilst the return of Siosifa Talakai (neck) sees Connor Tracey drop out of the side.

For Brisbane, all five of their Origin stars have been named to back-up; Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, Thomas Flegler, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan are set to return into the starting lineup with Tristan Sailor, Deine Mariner, Xavier Willison, Keenan Palasia and Brendan Piakura dropping out.

Corey Jensen and Kobe Hetherington will revert back to the interchange to make way for the Queensland representatives.

Corey Oates (knee) has been named among the reserves as he looks to make his return from a six-week injury layoff.

Brisbane have beaten Cronulla in eight of their past 10 meetings including six of their past seven at PointsBet Stadium.

Roosters looking to steady ship against Bulldogs in Gosford

With just two wins from their past seven and zero from their past three, the Roosters will be desperate to steady the ship when they face Canterbury at Industree Group Stadium in Gosford on Sunday afternoon.

Joseph Manu (ankle) and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (pec) will both return for the Roosters whilst Daniel Tupou (hamstring) has been named among the reserves.

Brandon Smith (thumb) and Victor Radley (suspension) both find themselves sidelined.

Sitili Tupouniua will start at lock with Nat Butcher in the second row whilst Drew Hutchison and Matt Lodge revert to the interchange.

Junior Pauga – who, in his past five KOE NSW Cup games, has scored 15 tries, broken 43 tackles, and averaged 232 run metres – makes his club debut for the Roosters on the wing with Jaxson Paulo missing out.

James Tedesco and Lindsay Collins have both been named to back-up from Origin.

For the Dogs, Josh Addo-Carr and Tevita Pangai Jr. have both been named among the reserves with rookie Blake Wilson named to start on one wing and Ryan Sutton up front.

Corey Waddell will start at lock with Jayden Okunbor in the second row and Sam Hughes on the bench whilst Josh Reynolds come back into the side in the #14 jumper.

The Roosters have won eight of their past nine against the Bulldogs and have won four of their past five in Gosford.

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Cowboys, Storm to clash in Townsville

2017 Grand Finalists Melbourne and North Queensland will do battle in Townsville on Sunday afternoon with several Origin stars aiming to back-up.

Origin stars Valentine Holmes, Reuben Cotter, and Murray Taulagi have been named among the reserves for the hosts alongside Jason Taumalolo (knee) who is looking to return from a seven-week absence.

Tom Dearden returns into the halves in place of Ben Hampton whilst Jeremiah Nanai (suspension) has been named on the interchange with Kulikefu Finefeuiaki dropping out.

Semi Valemei makes his club debut after a midseason switch from Canberra to replace debutant Robert Derby on the wing.

Melbourne have named the same 17 from their Round 12 win over the Dolphins, however, Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been named to start with Tui Kamikamica on the interchange.

Harry Grant and Cameron Munster have both been named to back-up from Origin.

North Queensland snapped a 12-game losing streak against the Storm last season.

First vs. last as Dragons journey to foot of the mountains

The Dragons will make their first trip to Penrith in almost four years to face the defending premiers on Sunday afternoon in a first-versus-last showdown.

NSW stars Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Liam Martin, Stephen Crichton, Isaah Yeo and Brian To’o have all been named to back-up from Origin for the Panthers whilst Spencer Leniu (groin) and Izack Tago (pec) have been named among the reserves.

The Dragons have named skipper Ben Hunt to back-up at halfback with Jayden Sullivan back to the bench and Moses Mbye out of the side.

Jaydn Su’A (hamstring) and Billy Burns make up a new second row pairing with Ben Murdoch-Masila on the interchange and Jack Bird (knee) and Toby Couchman out.

Penrith have won five in a row against the Dragons and have not lost to them at BlueBet Stadium since 2017.

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