NRL Weekly Watch: Previewing Round 16

Dolphins host Storm at Suncorp under Friday night lights

A shortened Round 16 opens at Suncorp Stadium with the Dolphins doing battle with the Storm on Friday night.

Origin stars Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Felise Kaufusi are unavailable for the hosts whilst Kurt Donoghoe also drops out.

Jesse Bromwich (ribs) returns whilst Trai Fuller starts at the back and Tevita Pangai Jr. makes his Dolphins debut off the pine.

Xavier Coates and Harry Grant are both in Origin camp, but Ryan Papenhuyzen (ankle) and Will Warbrick (hip) return for Melbourne.

Sualauvi Fa’alogo shifts to the wing, Grant Anderson moves into the centres, and Dean Ieremia drops out whilst Bronson Garlick starts at No.9.

Wayne Bennett has lost 11 games in a row to the Storm who have lost just one of the 10 games that Jahrome Hughes has appeared in this season.

Warriors make Saturday afternoon trip to Gold Coast

The Titans and Warriors will face-off on Saturday afternoon at Cbus Super Stadium.

Moeaki Fotuaika (Origin) and Klese Haas (heel) drop out for the hosts but David Fifita (ankle) returns after sitting out the side’s last-start loss to the Wests Tigers.

Keenan Palasia starts up front with Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui and Joe Stimson coming onto the bench.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (suspension), Rocco Berry (shoulder), Mitchell Barnett (Origin) and Kurt Capewell (Origin) are all out for the Warriors.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) returns into the centres however with Ed Kosi coming onto the wing and Jacob Laban and Tom Ale joining the interchange.

The Titans have won four of their past five against the Warriors but just one of six on the Gold Coast this year.

Gosford the scene as Roosters take on Bulldogs

The Roosters meet a Bulldogs side fresh off a bye at Gosford’s Industree Group Stadium on Saturday evening.

Spencer Leniu, Connor Watson, Lindsay Collins and Angus Crichton are all out for the Chooks due to Origin.

Dom Young (hamstring) and Brandon Smith return with Junior Pauga shifting into the centres and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Terrell May starting up front.

Blake Steep, Sitili Tupouniua, and Siua Wong come onto the interchange for Trent Robinson.

Stephen Crichton (Origin), Jacob Preston (foot), and Kurt Mann (suspension) are out for the Dogs.

Jeral Skelton earns his first start of the year on the wing whilst Poasa Fa’amausili comes onto the bench and Josh Curran starts in the second row.

Viliame Kikau (finger) has been named among the reserves as he eyes a return to the side.

The Roosters have won nine of their past 11 against the Bulldogs and four in a row at Gosford.

Rabbitohs look to keep good times rolling vs. undermanned Sea Eagles

The Rabbitohs will be eyeing a fourth straight win on Saturday night when they face an understrength Manly side at Accor Stadium.

Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray will miss the clash due to Origin with Jye Gray (ankle) coming back into the side at fullback and 19-year-old debutant Liam Le Blanc joining the interchange.

A Norths Devils junior, the former Australian Schoolboys rep linked up with the Bunnies pathways system last year and made the leap up to NSW Cup earlier this season.

Reuben Garrick (head knock) and Taniela Paseka (finger) join Origin stars Daly Cherry-Evans, Haumole Olakau’atu, and Jake Trbojevic on the sideline this weekend.

Aaron Schoupp comes into the centres for his Sea Eagles debut, Karl Lawton starts at halfback, and Ethan Bullemor and Corey Waddell come into the run-on side.

Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Ben Condon, Aitasi James and debutant Caleb Navale join the interchange.

A Fijian international, Navale has been a key member of Manly’s Jersey Flegg squad over the past three seasons and this year made the jump up to NSW Cup.

The Rabbitohs have won seven of their past eight against the Sea Eagles.

Wests Tigers back at Campbelltown for Raiders clash

The Wests Tigers will be looking to make it two wins on the trot when they face the Raiders at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

It will be the only match of the round unaffected by Origin with hopefuls Hudson Young, Apisai Koroisau, and Stefano Utoikamanu all overlooked.

Lachlan Galvin (hand) returns at five-eighth whilst Kit Laulili’i comes onto the bench with last week’s debutants Heath Mason and Jordan Miller back to the reserves.

Koroisau is back at hooker with Tallyn Da Silva reverting to the bench whilst Adam Doueihi has been named among the reserves after making his comeback from a long-term knee injury in NSW Cup last week.

Tom Starling (head knock) is replaced on the bench by Zac Woolford in the only change for the Raiders.

The Raiders have won their past eight against the Wests Tigers who are 0-10 in their past 10 starts at Campbelltown.

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