NRL Weekly Watch: Previewing Round 9

Bunnies look to usher in improved era vs. defending champs

With Jason Demetriou no longer at the helm, South Sydney are at Accor Stadium on Thursday night for a meeting with the Panthers.

Taane Milne (suspension) is out for the hosts with Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson coming onto the wing, Davvy Moale starting up front, and Thomas Burgess reverting to the interchange.

Moses Leota (shoulder) and Sunia Turuva (rest) are back for the Panthers with Paul Alamoti and Liam Henry dropping out.

The Rabbitohs have won only one of their past six clashes against the Panthers who have won 10 of their past dozen at Homebush.

DCE in as Sea Eagles host Raiders

Ricky Stuart’s Raiders will look to bounce back from last week’s drubbing at home when they meet the Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park on Friday evening.

Daly Cherry-Evans will play after successfully fighting a dangerous tackle charge at the judiciary which would have handed him the first suspension of his NRL career.

Haumole Olakau’atu (suspension) is out however with Ethan Bullemor starting on the edge and Toafofoa Sipley (knee) coming onto the bench.

Chevy Stewart and James Schiller both drop out for the Raiders with Albert Hopoate the new fullback and Nick Čotrić coming onto the wing.

Elliott Whitehead (knee) also returns with Simi Sasagi dropping out whilst Pasami Saulo (back) is unavailable with Emre Guler coming onto the bench.

The Sea Eagles have won three of their past four against the Raiders whilst Stuart has won just two of his past nine at Brookvale.

Broncos, Roosters meet in heavyweight showdown

The Roosters make the trip to Suncorp Stadium on Friday night for an anticipated showdown against the Broncos.

Ezra Mam (finger) and Selwyn Cobbo (shoulder) are big ins for the hosts with Jock Madden and Corey Oates dropping out and Jesse Arthars shifting back to the flank.

Daniel Tupou’s (knee) return pushes Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i back into the centres for the Tricolours with Michael Jennings dropping out whilst Victor Radley (hamstring) has been named among the reserves.

The Broncos have won six in a row at Suncorp although the Roosters have won four of their past five against the Broncos.

Bulldogs face Wests Tigers in key clash

Fresh off a bye, the Bulldogs take on the Wests Tigers at Accor Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Kurt Mann (hand) returns at lock for the Dogs with Chris Patolo out and Josh Curran shifting to prop whilst Jacob Preston (jaw) has been named among the reserves.

Apisai Koroisau (back) has been named for the visitors who come into this one with the same 17 that went down to the Broncos at Campbelltown a week ago.

The Bulldogs have won three of their past games against Wests Tigers who have lost their past nine games at Accor.

Titans look to build on opening win vs. Storm

Fresh off their opening win of 2024, the Titans are back on the Gold Coast to face a surging Storm outfit on Saturday evening.

Moeaki Fotuaika (head knock), Aaron Schoupp, and Alofiana Khan-Pereira are out for the hosts with Phillip Sami and Harley Smith-Shields coming into the backline whilst Joe Stimson starts up front.

Xavier Coates (hamstring) is missing for the Storm with Tyran Wishart starting on the wing and Bronson Garlick coming onto the bench whilst Cameron Munster is set to appear in his 200th NRL game.

The Storm have won nine of their past 10 matches against the Titans.

Dolphins journey north for Cowboys face-off

The Cowboys and Dolphins will be looking to bounce back from poor losses when they face each other at Townsville’s QCB Stadium on Saturday night.

Heilum Luki (ankle) returns onto the bench at the expense of Jake Granville for the Cowboys whilst Tom Chester’s (hamstring) unavailability paves the way for Viliami Vailea to make his club debut in the centres.

Felise Kaufusi (hamstring) and Connelly Lemuelu (knee) are back for the Dolphins with Kenny Bromwich (head knock) and Oryn Keeley dropping out.

The Cowboys have scored 77 points in their past two games against the Dolphins who have won just one of their past four Queensland derbies.

Semi Final rematch as Knights host Warriors

The Warriors make the trip to the Hunter on Sunday to take on a Knights side that they knocked out of the postseason a year ago.

Newcastle go into this one with the same 17 that took down the Dolphins last round although Jacob Saifiti (leg) could be in some doubt.

Kurt Capewell (throat) and Bunty Afoa (hamstring) return for the Warriors with Jacob Laban reverting to the interchange and Zyin Maiu’u and Paul Roache dropping out.

The Knights have won eight of their past 10 at McDonald Jones Stadium with the Warriors having not won at the venue since 2019.

Local derby ignites in the Shire

The Sharks and Dragons – two sides coming off polar opposite results – face in the final game of the round at PointsBet Stadium on Sunday.

Toby Rudolf (quad) returns in the only change for the hosts with Tuku Hau Tapuha dropping out.

Mikaele Ravalawa (knee) returns onto the wing for the Red V with Zac Lomax shifting into the centres and Moses Suli (head knock) out.

Luciano Leilua (calf) has been named on the extended bench for the Red V whilst Jack Bird starts in the centres for his 150th game against his former club.

The Sharks have won their past seven games against the Dragons.

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