NRL Weekly Watch: Everything to keep an eye on in Round 21

Dragons, Wests Tigers clash in pivotal Round 21 opener

The 17th-place Wests Tigers make the trip to Wollongong on Thursday night to face the 16th-place Dragons in a clash with major spoon ramifications.

The Dragons welcome Ben Hunt (Origin), Tyrell Sloan (calf), and Jack Bird (knee) back into the side with Jayden Sullivan (hamstring), Paul Turner, and Ben Murdoch-Masila (knee) dropping out.

Dan Russell starts in the second row after a strong debut against the Raiders a fortnight ago.

David Nofoaluma (shoulder) returns for the visitors along with Daine Laurie and Tallyn Da Silva with Asu Kepaoa, Will Smith, and Jake Simpkin dropping out of the side.

The Wests Tigers have beaten the Dragons in five of their past seven and have won three of their past four in Wollongong.

Battle for top four heats up in Auckland

Both having won five of their past six, the 5th-place Warriors and 4th-place Raiders face off in Auckland in a Friday evening mouth-waterer that could determine how the top four shakes up come season’s end.

Bunty Afoa (head knock) and Marata Niukore (suspension) are back in the run-on side for Andrew Webster with Tom Ale and Mitchell Barnett reverting to the pine and Josh Curran and Bayley Sironen listed among the reserves.

Josh Papali’i (hamstring), Corey Horsburgh (Origin), and Pasami Saulo (head knock) all return in a big boost for the Green Machine with Matt Frawley, Trey Mooney, and Peter Hola dropping out.

The two sides have split the past six total clashes but the Warriors have won 10 of the past 14 meetings in Auckland.

Rabbitohs, Broncos meet in Sunshine Coast blockbuster

With just two wins from their past seven, South Sydney will look to get their season back on track on Friday night when they host Brisbane on the Sunshine Coast.

The cavalry comes in for Jason Demetriou’s men with Origin stars Cameron Murray, Damien Cook, Keaon Koloamatangi and Cody Walker all returning along with Latrell Mitchell (calf), Campbell Graham (sternum), Jai Arrow (ankle) and Jacob Host (suspension).

Richie Kennar, Tyrone Munro, Dean Hawkins, Ben Lovett, Shaquai Mitchell, Peter Mamouzelos, Tallis Duncan, Davvy Moale and Liam Knight are the names dropping out with Blake Taaffe, Thomas Burgess, and Siliva Havili all reverting to the interchange.

Brisbane, meanwhile, are boosted by the return of Payne Haas (ankle), Reece Walsh (suspension), and Patrick Carrigan (Origin) with Tristan Sailor, Deine Mariner, and Xavier Willison dropping out and Corey Jensen and Kobe Hetherington shifting back to the pine.

Brisbane have won 10 of their past 16 against the Rabbitohs.

Titans host Roosters on Gold Coast

The Roosters head up to the Gold Coast for a Saturday afternoon matchup against the Titans with both teams in desperate need of a win to keep their postseason chances alive.

AJ Brimson (Origin) and Joe Stimson (head knock) return for the Gold Coast with Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (suspension) and Aaron Schoupp dropping out.

Jayden Campbell and Chris Randall drop back to the bench with Erin Clark starting at lock.

James Tedesco (Origin) is back for the Roosters pushing Joseph Manu into the centres, Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i to the wing, and Junior Pauga to the reserves whilst Naufahu Whyte (knee) has been ruled out with Terrell May coming onto the pine.

The Roosters are currently riding a nine-game winning streak against the Titans having not lost to them since Round 10, 2016.

Storm make trip to Newcastle for Saturday evening showdown

The Knights will host the Storm at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday evening with the hosts looking to put an end to an 11-game losing streak to Craig Bellamy’s men.

Dane Gagai (foot) returns for the Knights with Enari Tuala making way.

Bellamy is sticking with the same 17 that handled business against the Tricolours a week ago at the SCG.

The last time the Knights beat the Storm was in Round 24, 2015 when Kurt Gidley, Tyrone Roberts, and Tariq Sims were on the try-scorers’ list for interim coach Danny Buderus.

Melbourne have won 11 in a row against Newcastle and 18 of the past 21 clashes.

Eels journey north for decisive Cowboys clash

The 7th-place Eels make the trip to Townsville for a Saturday night matchup against the 9th-place Cowboys who are in possession of the premiership’s longest current unbeaten streak at four.

The Cowboys have named the same 17 that got the job done against Manly last round although Reuben Cotter has been named to start with Jake Granville coming off the bench.

Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Maika Sivo are both missing via suspension for the Eels with Ofahiki Ogden coming in along with either Haze Dunster or Waqa Blake.

The Eels have won four of their past five against the Cowboys including last year’s nail-biting preliminary final.

Cleary returns as Bulldogs head west for Panthers meeting

The Panthers will welcome the Bulldogs to the foot of the mountains on Sunday afternoon and will be boosted by the return of several stars including Nathan Cleary.

Cleary (hamstring) returns at halfback alongside Origin stars Isaah Yeo, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o and Liam Martin whilst Luke Garner comes onto the interchange.

Tyrone Peachey, Thomas Jenkins, Jack Cogger, Zac Hosking, Matt Eisenhuth and Jaeman Salmon are the men to drop out.

Toby Sexton (head knock) and Braidon Burns (abdomen) are missing for Canterbury with Kyle Flanagan being promoted to seven and Paul Alamoti earning a recall in the centres whilst Harrison Edwards joins the bench.

Viliame Kikau (pec) and Josh Addo-Carr (hamstring) have both been listed among the reserves.

Penrith have won nine of their past 11 against the Bulldogs and four in a row at BlueBet Stadium.

Rejigged Sharks back in Shire to take on Sea Eagles

A restructured Sharks unit will look to bounce back from a disappointing effort against the Warriors a week ago when they host the Sea Eagles on Sunday afternoon.

Craig Fitzgibbon has opted to omit Matt Moylan, rest Wade Graham, and demote Siosifa Talakai to the interchange whilst Teig Wilton (knee) is also missing.

Dale Finucane (suspension) returns at lock with Cameron McInnes reverting to the bench whilst Connor Tracey comes into the centres, Jesse Colquhoun starts on an edge, and Braydon Trindall wears the six.

Matt Lodge makes his Sea Eagles debut off the bench alongside Sean Keppie with Ethan Bullemor and Toafofoa Sipley making way.

The Sharks have beaten Manly in four of their past five but have won just three of their past 13 against them at PointsBet Stadium.

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