The Raiders are anticipated to focus on Kalyn Ponga after it was revealed the celebrity fullback is returning forward of schedule from a shoulder damage.
The Sharks, in the meantime, might rush in William Kennedy with Connor Tracey racing the clock to be match for week one of many finals
Read on for all the newest staff news in our NRL Early Mail
Walsh brushes off Storm hoodoo speak | 01:12
FRIDAY
Brisbane Broncos vs Melbourne Storm, 7.50pm AEST at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos staff: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Brendan Piakura 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Corey Oates 19. Martin Taupau 20. Corey Jensen 21. Jock Madden 22. Tristan Sailor
Late Mail: Kevin Walters pulled a range shock by dropping veteran Corey Oates in favour of Jesse Arthurs. Gorden Tallis revealed that the “rumours” out of Brisbane was that Walters was prioritising pace in choosing Arthurs. The every day Telegraph’s David Riccio, nonetheless, mentioned it was a giant name leaving Oates out. “I’m keeping an eye on the Corey Oates decision. He’s a 200-gamer. So much experience he’s been there in big games,” The Daily Telegraph’s David Ricco mentioned on NRL 360.
Storm staff: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Marion Seve 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Ryan Papenhuyzen 18. Tyran Wishart 19. Tariq Sims 20. Tepai Moeroa 21. Reimis Smith 22. Grant Anderson
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Broncos welcome again 10 stars for Storm! | 01:50
SATURDAY
Penrith Panthers vs New Zealand Warriors, 4pm AEST at BlueBet Stadium
Panthers staff: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jack Cogger 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Zac Hosking 18. Jaeman Salmon 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Luke Sommerton 21. Luke Garner 22. Thomas Jenkins
Warriors staff: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jazz Tevaga 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Josh Curran 18. Freddy Lussick 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Bunty Afoa 22. Tom Ale 23. Edward Kosi
Cronulla Sharks vs Sydney Roosters, 7.50pm AEST at PointsBet Stadium
Sharks staff: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Royce Hunt 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Oregon Kaufusi 18. Kayal Iro 19. Daniel Atkinson 20. Jesse Colquhoun 21. William Kennedy 22. Matt Moylan
Late Mail: The Sharks are “sitting on the fence” over the health of Connor Tracey with the Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio revealing Will Kennedy could possibly be parachuted into the staff at fullback. Tracey has been named to begin in opposition to the Roosters however is battling a knee damage sustained in Round 27. Should Tracey be dominated out, it might imply a shock early return for Kennedy who was slated to make his comeback from a hamstring damage within the second week of finals, ought to the Sharks progress.
Roosters staff: 1. James Tedesco 2. Fetalaiga Pauga 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Fletcher Baker 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Siua Wong 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Sandon Smith 15. Egan Butcher 16. Terrell May 17. Angus Crichton 18. Drew Hutchison 19. Naufahu Whyte 20. Corey Allan 21. Jaxson Paulo 22. Dylan Napa
Ponga “won’t be at 100%” for finals | 01:40
SUNDAY
Newcastle Knights vs Canberra Raiders, 4.05pm AEST at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights staff: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott 14. Kurt Mann 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 18. Adam Clune 19. Lachlan Miller 20. Dylan Lucas 21. Enari Tuala 22. Brodie Jones
Late Mail: All eyes might be on Kalyn Ponga with the celebrity fullback battling a shoulder damage. It’s been revealed the Newcastle playmaker will come again from a excessive grade AC joint damage to face the Raiders every week forward of the common restoration interval. Ponga injured his shoulder in opposition to the Sharks in Round 26 and will probably be precisely 14 days when he returns for the membership’s first dwelling ultimate in 2006. “There is no doubt in the world he won’t be 100 per cent for this game. He will require pain killing injections, he’ll have strapping and padding on his shoulder,” Dave Riccio mentioned on NRL 360. “Similar injuries this year were Brent Naden and Jeremiah Nanai, both missed three matches. Kalyn is certainly coming back quicker than what others have… he won’t be at 100 per cent.” Paul Crawley mentioned he anticipated the Raiders to focus on Ponga. “I’ll be shocked if the Raiders don’t go out and go straight after him, bomb him and put as much kick pressure on as you can and just really try and rattle his cage,” he mentioned on NRL360.
Raiders staff: 1. Jordan Rapana 2. James Schiller 3. Jack Wighton 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Nick Cotric 6. Matt Frawley 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Ata Mariota 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Hohepa Puru 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Trey Mooney 18. Jarrod Croker 19. Albert Hopoate 20. Danny Levi 21. Ethan Strange 22. Xavier Savage
Source: www.foxsports.com.au