BULLDOGS: Ben Barba, Steve Turner, Josh Morris, Jonathan Wright, Bryson Goodwin, Josh Reynolds, Kris Keating, Aiden Tolman, Michael Ennis (c), Sam Kasiano, Frank Pritchard, Dene Halatau, David Stagg. Interchange: James Graham, Greg Eastwood, Corey Payne, Joel Romelo. Talking point: The Bulldogs have named the same 17 that did the job against the Titans last week. Kris Keating holds on to the No.7 jersey with Trent Hodkinson out injured.



WESTS TIGERS v BRISBANE BRONCOS at Allianz Stadium 7.35pm

Referees: Ashley Klein and Steve Lyons. TIGERS: Tim Moltzen, Beau Ryan, Joel Reddy, Chris Lawrence, Lote Tuqiri, Benji Marshall, Tom Humble, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah (c), Keith Galloway, Adam Blair, Liam Fulton, Chris Heighington. Interchange: Matt Groat, Blake Ayshford, Matt Bell, Ben Murdoch-Masila. Talking point: Keith Galloway has been named to return from injury this Friday night, but will be given until kick-off to prove he’s overcome a foot injury. Liam Fulton will play in the second-row in the absence of Gareth Ellis, who could miss up to three months with a fractured left foot. Skipper Robbie Farah returns from suspension at hooker. Blake Ayshford will remain on the bench, with Joel Reddy hanging on to the centre position. BRONCOS: Josh Hoffman, Gerard Beale, Jack Reed, Justin Hoffman, Dale Copley, Corey Norman, Peter Wallace, Ben Hannant, Andrew McCullough, Petero Civoniceva, Alex Glenn, Sam Thaiday (c) Matt Gillett. Interchange: Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Ben Te’o, Scott Anderson.

Talking point: Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin hasn’t made any changes to the team that defeated St George Illawarra last Friday night. Matt Gillett retains his position in the starting line-up ahead of Ben Te’o, but Corey Parker trained with the team this morning and is a slight chance of making an early comeback from a broken thumb, but it’s unlikely he will be risked. SATURDAY GOLD COAST TITANS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS at Skilled Park, 5:30pm

Referees: Brett Suttor and Chris James. TITANS: William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Steve Michaels, Beau Champion, David Mead, Jordan Rankin, Scott Prince, Luke Bailey, Matt Srama, Luke Douglas, Nate Myles, Luke O’Dwyer, Ashley Harrison. Interchange (from): Brenton Lawrence, Jamal Idris, Mark Minichiello, Bodene Thompson, Michael Henderson Talking point: Greg Bird will miss an extended period after injuring his ankle in the loss last week, replaced at five-eighth by Jordan Rankin. Former Bulldog Jamal Idris will return from a hamstring injury but he’s been named on a five-man bench, which also includes Michael Henderson. David Mead replaces Dominique Peyroux on the wing. Kayne Lawton is also out with a hamstring injury. Bodene Thompson has escaped suspension, despite being charged with dangerous contact against Canterbury. Mark Minichiello has been named on the bench, despite injuring his ankle last Sunday afternoon.

ROOSTERS: Anthony Minichiello, Justin Carney, Joseph Leilua, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Sam Perrett, Braith Anasta (c), Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend, Martin Kennedy, Boyd Cordner, Mitchell Aubusson, Frank-Paul Nuuausala. Interchange: Tinirau Arona, Lama Tasi, Brad Takairangi, Anthony Mitchell. Talking point: Justin Carney shifts from the centres back on to the wing, with Joseph Leilua to partner Shaun Kenny Dowall in the centres. After being shuffled back to the bench against the Warriors, hooker Jake Friend and back-rower Boyd Cornder shift into the run-on side at the expense of Brad Takairangi and Anthony Mitchell, who are back on the bench. Rookie centre Tautau Moga is still in the club’s NSW Cup team. CRONULLA SHARKS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS at Toyota Stadium, 7:30pm

Referees: Matt Cecchin and Adam Devcich. SHARKS: Nathan Gardner, Matthew Wright, Ben Pomeroy, Colin Best, John Williams, Todd Carney, Jeff Robson, Bryce Gibbs, John Morris, Ben Ross, Jeremy Smith, Jayson Bukuya, Paul Gallen (c). Interchange: Andrew Fifita, Wade Graham, Jon Green, Sam Tagataese, Mark Taufua. Talking point: Hooker Isaac De Gois will be missing until round eight with a knee injury. John Morris will start at No.9 in his absence. Winger Matthew Wright holds on to the wing position with Stewart Mills out injured. De Gois aside, Shane Flanagan has stuck with the same starting team that defeated the Panthers. The only changes are on the bench with Jon Green coming into the team, while Mark Taufua has also been included on a five-man bench.





DRAGONS: Brett Morris, Daniel Vidot, Kyle Stanley, Beau Scott, Jason Nightingale, Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby (c), Dan Hunt, Mitch Rein, Michael Weyman, Matt Prior, Ben Creagh, Dean Young. Interchange: Leeson Ah Mau, Jeremy Latimore, Trent Merrin, Jack De Belin. Talking point: Coach Steve Price has resisted changes to the team that went down in a grandstand finish to Brisbane last Friday night. Matt Cooper hasn’t been named but is an outside chance of returning to shift Beau Scott back into the second row. Dean Young has been named to start at lock but is likely to move back to the bench to make way for either Jack de Belin or Jeremy Latimore. SUNDAY CANBERRA RAIDERS v NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS at Canberra Stadium, 2pm

Referees: Shayne Hayne and Alan Shortall. RAIDERS: Reece Robinson, Blake Ferguson, Jarrod Croker, Shaun Berrigan, Jack Wighton, Terry Campese (c), Josh McCrone, Dane Tilse, Glen Buttriss, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Joe Picker, Bronson Harrison, Josh Papalii. Interchange: Travis Waddell, Jarrad Kennedy, Sam Mataora, Mark Nicholls.

Talking point: With Brett White gone for the season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, Dane Tilse moves into the run-on side alongside Tom Learoyd-Lahrs in the front row. Joe Picker gets his chance in the second row after Joel Thompson, who will miss 3-4 weeks, injured his ankle in the loss to the Cowboys last night. That has opened the door for two debutants, Jarrad Kennedy and Mark Nicholls to come off the bench.

WARRIORS: Glen Fisiiahi, Bill Tupou, Ben Henry, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Shaun Johnson, Sione Lousi, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering (c), Elijah Taylor.

Interchange: Russell Packer, Ukuma Ta’ai, Lewis Brown, Sam Rapira, Krisnan Inu. Talking point: Kevin Locke hasn’t recovered from his leg injury and is still in New Zealand, giving Glen Fisiiahi another shot at fullback. Coach Brian McClennan has stuck with the same starting line-up that went down to the Sydney Roosters last Saturday night at Allianz Stadium. Krisnan Inu has joined the squad at their camp in Kiama, added on to a five-man bench.



NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS v PARRAMATTA EELS at Hunter Stadium, 3pm

Referees: Tony Archer and Tony De Las Heras. KNIGHTS: Darius Boyd, James McManus, Junior Sa’u, Timana Tahu, Akuila Uate, Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden, Danny Buderus (c), Richie Fa’aoso, Chris Houston, Zeb Taia, Neville Costigan. Interchange (from): Matt Hilder, Joel Edwards, Adam Cuthbertson, Alex McKinnon, Zane Tetevano.

Talking point: Knights skipper Kurt Gidley underwent surgery yesterday to repair cartilage in his knee and will miss up to four weeks, ending his hopes of playing in the ANZAC Test on April 20. Tyrone Roberts comes into the team at halfback, with Jarrod Mullen slotting in at No.6in Gidley’s absence. The only other change coach Wayne Bennett has made is on the bench, calling Matt Hilder on to a five-man interchange. EELS: Jarryd Hayne, Ken Sio, Esi Tonga, Willie Tonga, Cheyse Blair, Ben Roberts, Chris Sandow, Tim Mannah, Matthew Keating, Mitchell Allgood, Nathan Hindmarsh (c), Taniela Lasalo, Reni Maitua.

Interchange: Casey McGuire, Fuifui Moimoi, Justin Poore, Joseph Paulo. Talking point: After racking up their first win of the year, Parramatta will head into Sunday’s clash against the Knights with a team largely the same as the one that uspet reigning premiers Manly last Saturday. Esi Tonga, a late withdrawal last week, has again been named at centre, replacing Ryan Morgan. Fuifui Moimoi and Joseph Paulo have both been named on the bench despite a late promotion to the run-on team last week, a switch that saw Tim Mannah and Taniela Lasalo relegated to the interchange.



NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS v MELBOURNE STORM at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 7pm

Referees: Jared Maxwell and Gavin Reynolds. COWBOYS: Matthew Bowen, Ashley Graham, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston (c), Ray Thompson, Ashton Sims, Aaron Payne, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: James Segeyaro, Joel Riethmuller, Ricky Thorby, Tariq Sims

Talking point: Cowboys coach Neil Henry has picked the same 17 that did the job against the Raiders in the nation’s capital last night. NSW hopeful Tariq Sims has retained his place on the bench after returning from injury on Monday night. STORM: Billy Slater, Matt Duffie, Dane Nielsen, Will Chambers, Sisa Waqa, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith, Bryan Norrie, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Ryan Hoffman, Todd Lowrie

Interchange: Rory Kostjasyn, Kevin Proctor, Siosaia Vave, Jason Ryles, Maurice Blair, Jaiman Lowe Talking point: Maurice Blair is in line to play his first game since being charged with assaulting a woman on the Gold Coast after their round three win at Skilled Park, named on a six-man bench. Sisa Waqa comes into the team for suspended winger Anthony Quinn, who was charged with two separate high tackles on Newcastle’s Junior Sa’u last week. Hinchcliffe will play in the back-row for the injured Sika Manu, who will be sidelined for eight weeks with a high ankle sprain. Todd Lowrie has been named to start at lock, despite shifting back to the bench for Ryan Hinchcliffe last week. MONDAY MANLY SEA EAGLES v PENRITH PANTHERS at Brookvale Oval, 7pm

Referees: Gerard Sutton and Henry Perenara.

SEA EAGLES: Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Jamie Lyon (c), Steve Matai, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jason King (c), Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Anthony Watmough, Jamie Buhrer, Daniel Harrison. Interchange: Nick Skinner, Vic Mauro, Darcy Lussick, Joe Galuvao, Dean Whare. Talking point: Coach Geoff Toovey has named injured trio Brett Stewart (ribs), Jamie Lyon (elbow) and Kieran Foran (hamstring) for Monday night’s clash against the Panthers. Lyon and Stewart are considered certainties, but Dean Whare has been named on the bench and is on standby. Foran will be given until kick-off to prove he has overcome the injury suffered in the loss to the Eels. Joe Galuvao retains his position on a five-man bench. Jorge Taufua will start on the wing, keeping Michael Oldfield in the NSW Cup. Loading PANTHERS: Lachlan Coote, Etu Uaisele, Michael Jennings, Brad Tighe, David Simmons, Travis Burns, Luke Walsh, Sam McKendry, Kevin Kingston, Dayne Weston, Cameron Ciraldo, Clint Newton, Luke Lewis (c). Interchange: Danny Galea, Mitch Achurch, Blake Austin, Ryan Simpkins, Matt Robinson. Talking point: Still no Tim Grant for the Panthers, who have retained Dayne Weston in the front row alongside Sam McKendry. Ivan Cleary has made no changes to the team that lost to Cronulla by a point, including Matt Robinson on a five-man bench.



