NRL Weekly Watch: Everything to keep an eye on in Round 8

Souths host Penrith in electric 2021 Grand Final rematch

South Sydney and Penrith will meet in the opening clash of Round 8 at Accor Stadium on Thursday night with both sides looking to gain some separation from a clogged mid-table.

Michael Chee-Kam returns into the second-row for Souths due to the loss of Keaon Koloamatangi (leg) whilst Izaac Thompson (ankle) returns to replace Taane Milne on the right wing.

For Penrith, Liam Martin’s reaggravated hamstring injury means that Scott Sorensen is back in the starting lineup with Lindsay Smith coming onto the bench.

Souths-Penrith has developed into one of the game’s most entertaining modern rivalries with the Panthers having ended each of the Bunnies’ past three seasons in the finals.

The Panthers are riding a five-game winning streak against South Sydney and have won 10 of their past 11 against them with the only loss coming in their qualifying final clash in Townsville in 2021.

It will remarkably be the ninth meeting between the two sides in a less than two-year period.

League in Darwin: Eels, Broncos head north for anticipated clash

Rugby league returns to the Northern Territory on Friday night with Parramatta taking a home game to Darwin’s TIO Stadium for the ninth time in 10 years; this time against the high-flying Broncos.

Josh Hodgson (illness) has been named to return for Parramatta after sitting out their last-start win over the Dogs with rookie Brendan Hands reverting to the interchange and Makahesi Makatoa out of the side.

Brisbane welcome back two big inclusions with Thomas Flegler (head knock) and Corey Oates (jaw) named in the starting lineup.

Keenan Palasia and Jesse Arthars drop out of the side with Corey Jensen named on the interchange.

Parramatta have won six of their eight outings in Darwin and have won six of their past seven against the Broncos.

Eels winger Maika Sivo has been in superb try-scoring form having scored four doubles from his past six games.

[adrotate group=”9″]

Can undermanned Dogs turn things around versus Cronulla?

An injury-riddled Dogs outfit will look to avoid a third-straight loss when they host the Sharks at Accor Stadium on Friday evening.

With Josh Addo-Carr, Viliame Kikau, Jacob Kiraz and Luke Thompson among the names unavailable, Cameron Ciraldo has been forced to add several less-established players to the team-sheet this week.

Declan Casey comes onto the wing for Kiraz (knee) with Braidon Burns named on the other wing pushing Jayden Okunbor back to the interchange and Jackson Topine dropping out.

Jake Averillo and Andrew Davey have both been named despite picking up injury complaints in their last-start loss to Parramatta.

Cronulla, meanwhile, have named the same side that took care of business against the Roosters last week.

The Sharks have won nine of their past 11 against Canterbury.

Knights Townsville-bound to face increasingly desperate Cowboys

Currently above only the winless Wests Tigers on the ladder, Todd Payten’s Cowboys need to start churning out wins if they are to qualify for back-to-back postseasons for the first time 2017 and they host the improved Knights on Saturday night.

The loss of Jason Taumalolo (knee) does little to help their chances, although, they will welcome Jordan McLean (hamstring) back into the starting front-row with Reuben Cotter shifting to lock and Jack Granville back to the interchange.

The Knights, meanwhile, welcome Kalyn Ponga back from a highly-publicised concussion layoff with the star playmaker slotting into the six jersey for his 100th NRL game and Tyson Gamble reverting to the interchange.

They will also welcome Jacob Saifiti back from suspension with the Origin big man joining the interchange and Brodie Jones (quadricep) dropping out whilst Kurt Mann has been named to start at lock with Mat Croker on the pine.

The Cowboys have won all three of their matchups against the Knights at Queensland Country Bank Stadium and have not lost to them in Townsville since 2015.

Another all-Queensland affair as Titans prepare for inaugural Dolphins meeting

Coming off a tough loss to South Sydney, the Dolphins will look to get one up over southeast Queensland rivals the Titans when they face off against each other on Sunday afternoon at Suncorp Stadium.

The Dolphins will welcome Felise Kaufusi back from a four-week suspension with the veteran second-rower replacing Kenny Bromwich (suspension) in the starting lineup.

Jarrod Wallace (head knock) also returns into the side for JJ Collins.

Jojo Fifita’s (knee) return pushes Phillip Sami into the centres and Aaron Schoupp out of the side whilst Thomas Mikaele and Klese Haas replace Jo Vuna and Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui on the interchange.

AJ Brimson has been named in jersey #21 as he eyes a return from a hamstring issue.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Jamayne Isaako have both remarkably notched eight tries through their first seven games as Dolphins.

Can the Wests Tigers get a win on the board against Manly at Campbelltown?

The Wests Tigers are the only team without a win in 2023 but will look to put their run of bad luck behind them when they host Manly at Campbelltown on Sunday afternoon.

Runaway Bay Seagulls junior Jahream Bula has been named by head coach Tim Sheens in the fullback jersey for his NRL debut – becoming the fourth player in eight weeks to start at fullback for the Wests Tigers – pushing Charlie Staines onto the wing and Asu Kepaoa into the centres to cover the loss of Brent Naden (collarbone).

Brandon Wakeham has been recalled at five-eighth with Adam Doueihi ruled out for the remainder of the season with an ACL tear whilst Tommy Talau and Daine Laurie replace Shawn Blore and Jake Simpkin on the bench.

David Nofoaluma has been named among the reserves as he nears a return from a foot problem.

The Sea Eagles welcome Josh Schuster (quadriceps) back into the halves and Reuben Garrick (head knock) onto the wing with Cooper Johns and Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega dropping out.

Kelma Tuilagi (head knock) is replaced on the left edge by Ethan Bullemor whilst Sean Keppie comes onto the bench.

19-year-old Samuela Fainu has been named in the #14 jumper for his NRL debut replacing Kaeo Weekes.

A Guildford Owls junior, Fainu is the third of the four Fainu brothers and has started five games in the second-row for Blacktown Workers in NSW Cup this season.

Manly have won four in-a-row against the Wests Tigers.

[adrotate group=”9″]

Next chapter to be written in famous Dragons-Roosters ANZAC rivalry

The Roosters and Dragons will face-off in their 22nd annual ANZAC Day clash on Tuesday afternoon at the newly-refurbished Allianz Stadium.

Roosters half Sam Walker has been sensationally omitted by head coach Trent Robinson with Joseph Manu shifting into the halves and Paul Momirovski making his first NRL appearance of the season in the centres.

The Roosters will also be without Nat Butcher (suspension) but welcome Angus Crichton (personal reasons) and Sitili Tupouniua (ACL) back into the 17 after extended layoffs.

Crichton starts in place of Butcher whilst Tupouniua replaces Naufahu Whyte on the interchange.

For the Dragons, Ben Murdoch-Masila returns to replace Jaydn Su’A (shoulder) after the Sāmoan international failed to finish their last-start loss to the Raiders.

Since St. George Illawarra defeated the Roosters in the 2010 Grand Final, the Roosters have won 17 of the 23 meetings between the sides, however, all six of the Dragons’ wins have come on ANZAC Day, including a 14-12 win last year.

Warriors look to defy history in annual ANZAC clash in Melbourne

The Warriors have been one of the premiership’s surprise packets seven rounds in – they are currently one of only two teams with at least five wins – and will look to break their Melbourne hoodoo when they play the Storm on ANZAC Day.

The return of Nick Meaney (head knock) pushes Cameron Munster back into the halves whilst Nelson Asofa-Solomona (knee) makes his awaited return in place of Tui Kamikamica (suspended).

For the Warriors, Marata Niukore (suspension) returns pushing Josh Curran back to the interchange and Taine Tuaupiki out of the 17.

The Warriors’ recent history with the Storm has made for some ugly viewing; they have lost their past 13 matchups against them and have conceded 40-plus points in six of those outings, including a 70-10 loss on ANZAC Day last year, and have not won in Melbourne since 2015.

Fill In The Form To Get Our NRL News Straight To Your Email For FREE!