Bronson Xerri has officially been dumped to the NSW Cup following a tumultuous few days where his future at the Bulldogs has come under the spotlight, but he’s not the only star centre to fall out of favour with a Kangaroos bolter dropped to the bench.
Xerri wasn’t named in Canterbury’s squad for Thursday night’s game in Canberra, with the speedster set for a stint in reserve grade after reports he wanted a release from his contract.
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Those fears have been allayed for now, with Panthers coach Ivan Cleary shutting down a potential player swap with Izack Tago by calling the rumour “porky pies”.
Enari Tuala will start at right centre for the Bulldogs, while the Green Machine welcome back veteran prop Josh Papalii.
The Broncos named skipper Adam Reynolds to start in the grand final rematch against the Storm after the 35-year-old suffered rib cartilage damage last week against the Eels.
But just hours after teams were officially named, Triple M’s Ben Dobbo reported that Reynolds has been “ruled out” of the clash against the Storm.
Ben Hunt would play at halfback in Reynolds’ absence and Blake Mozer would come onto the bench from the extended squad.
Strike centre Gehamat Shibasaki has been dropped to the bench after a couple of poor defensive displays just months after he represented Australia.
The brutal decision means Deine Mariner shifts to centre with Grant Anderson to make his club debut against his former side the Storm who welcome back Trent Loiero from suspension on the bench.
The Roosters have received a huge boost with NSW hooker Reece Robson named to return from a thumb injury against a Panthers side that features his Blues teammate Liam Martin for the first time this season.
Sandon Smith will be the man to lead Newcastle’s attack at halfback this weekend with superstars Kalyn Ponga (hamstring) and Dylan Brown (knee) both missing long term.
There is good news with Fletcher Sharpe cleared to return from his own knee injury, while Fletcher Hunt gets a crack at fullback after a strong performance off the bench against Manly.
There are changes galore at the Warriors with a couple of big names on the extended bench where Mitchell Barnett could make an early return from a serious knee injury, while Jett Cleary has been picked in jersey No.22.
Chanel Harris-Tavita and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad are huge outs for the Warriors, with Taine Tuaupiki named at fullback and Luke Hanson to get a shot in the halves.
Veteran recruit Jack de Belin has dropped to the interchange for Parramatta’s clash against the Dragons who get dynamic dummy-half Jacob Liddle back from a hamstring injury.
Jamie Humphreys is back from suspension to play halfback for the Bunnies, while star half Jayden Campbell has been named in jersey No.19 for the Titans but is expected to start in the halves after overcoming a hamstring injury.
NRL ROUND THREE TEAMS
RAIDERS v BULLDOGS
Thursday March 19, 8pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra
Raiders
1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Simi Sasagi 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Morgan Smithies 9. Tom Starling 10. Joe Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Noah Martin 13. Corey Horsburgh.
Interchange: 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Zac Hosking 16. Ata Mariota 17. Morgan Smithies 18. Daine Laurie 19. Matthew Timoko
Reserves: 20. Owen Pattie 21. Joe Roddy 22. Jed Stuart
Bulldogs
1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Enari Tuala 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon
Interchange: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Harry Hayes 17. Josh Curran 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Jake Turpin
Reserves: 21. Jonathan Sua 22. Lipoe Hopoi 23. Fletcher Baker
ROOSTERS V PANTHERS
Friday March 20, 6pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Roosters
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Fetalaiga Pauga 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Egan Butcher
Interchange: 14. Connor Watson 15. Blake Steep 16. Nat Butcher 17. Salesi Foketi 18. Cody Ramsey 19. Benaiah Ioelu
Reserves: 20. Toby Rodwell 21. Tom Rodwell 22. Taylor Losalu
Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Paul Alamoti 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo
Interchange: 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Billy Phillips 16. Scott Sorensen 17. Luke Garner 18. Izack Tago 19. Kalani Going
Reserves::20. Tom Ale 21. Jack Cole 22. Jesse McLean
STORM V BRONCOS
Friday March 20, 8pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne
Storm
1. Sua Fa’alogo 2. Will Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Moses Leo 5. Nick Meaney 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Joe Chan 12. Ativalu Lisati 13. Tui Kamikamica
Interchange: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Trent Loiero 16. Davvy Moale 17. Cooper Clarke 18. Alec MacDonald 19. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown
Reserves: 20. Jack Hetherington 21. Preston Conn 22. Trent Toelau
Broncos
1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Grant Anderson 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Xavier Willison 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan.
Interchange: 14. Ben Hunt 15. Ben Talty 16. Aublix Tawha 17. Gehamat Shibasaki 18. Brendan Piakura 19. Jaiyden Hunt
Reserves: 20. Blake Mozer 21. Jesse Arthars 22. Thomas Duffy
KNIGHTS V WARRIORS
Saturday March 21, 3pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Knights
1. Fletcher Hunt 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Tyson Frizell
Interchange: 14. Thomas Cant 15. Mathew Croker 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Francis Manuleleua 18. Tyson Gamble 19. Harrison Graham
Reserves: 20. Elijah Leaumoana 21. Cody Hopwood 22. James Schiller
Warriors
1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Luke Hanson 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Leka Halasima 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Samuel Healey 15. Demitric Vaimauga 16. Tanner Stowers-Smith 17. Marata Niukore 18. Morgan Gannon 20. Alofiana Khan-Pereira
Reserves: 21. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 22. Jett Cleary 23. Mitchell Barnett
SHARKS V DOLPHINS
Saturday March 21, 5:30pm, Ocean Protect Stadium, Sydney
Sharks
1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Sam Stonestreet 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Tom Hazelton 11. Briton Nikora 12. Billy Burns 13. Jesse Colquhoun.
Interchange: 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Toby Rudolf 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Braden Uele 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Chris Vea’ila
Reserves: 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Mawene Hiroti 22. Teig Wilton
Dolphins
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Tom Gilbert 9. Max Plath 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles
Interchange: 14. Brad Schneider 15. Oryn Keeley 16. Felise Kaufusi 17. Ray Stone 18. Trai Fuller 19. Sebastian Su’a
Reserves: 20. Lewis Symonds 21. Tevita Naufahu 22. Brian Pouniu
RABBITOHS V WESTS TIGERS
Saturday March 21, 7:35pm, Polytec Stadium, Gosford
Rabbitohs
1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Jack Wighton 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Cameron Murray
Interchange: 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Euan Aitken 16. Sean Keppie 17. Jayden Sullivan 18. Lachlan Hubner 19. Moala Graham-Taufa
Reserves: 20. Thomas Fletcher 21. Latrell Siegwalt 22. Liam Le Blanc
Wests Tigers
1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Jeral Skelton 4. Heamasi Makasini 5. Luke Laulilii 6. Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Alex Twal
Interchange: 14. Jock Madden 15. Sione Fainu 16. Royce Hunt 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Tristan Hope 19. Patrick Herbert
Reserves: 20. Bunty Afoa 21. Faaletino Tavana 22. Tony Sukkar
EELS V DRAGONS
Sunday March 22, 4:05pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Eels
1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Jordan Samrani 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Mitchell Moses 8. J’maine Hopgood 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Jack Williams
Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Matt Doorey 17. Tallyn Da Silva 18. Jack de Belin 19. Joash Papalii
Reserves: 20. Charlie Guymer 21. Brian Kelly 22. Luca Moretti
Dragons
1. Clint Gutherson 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Setu Tu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Daniel Atkinson 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. Toby Couchman 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Hamish Stewart
Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Josh Kerr 16. Blake Lawrie 17. Ryan Couchman 18. Hame Sele 19. Matthew Fegai
Reserves: 20. Jyhkan King-Tongia 21. Loko Pasifiki Tonga 22. Tyrell Sloan
COWBOYS v TITANS
Sunday March 22, 6:15pm, Queensland COuntry Bank Stadium, Townsville
Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Tomas Chester 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Coen Hess 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Sam McIntyre 13. Reuben Cotter
Interchange: 14. Soni Luke 15. Kai O’Donnell 16. Griffin Neame 17. Harrison Edwards 18. Zac Laybutt 19. Liam Sutton
Reserves: 20. Kaiden Lahrs 21. Matthew Lodge 22. Ethan King
Titans
1. Keano Kini 2. Sialetili Faeamani 3. Jojo Fifita 4. Max Feagai 5. Phillip Sami 6. AJ Brimson 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Arama Hau 12. Beau Fermor 13. Chris Randall
Interchange: 14. Kurtis Morrin 15. Tukimihia Simpkins 16. Klese Haas 17. Cooper Bai 18. Oliver Pascoe 19. Jayden Campbell
Reserves: 20. Jaylan de Groot 21. Jett Liu 22. Josh Patston
