NRL predicted team lists: Every side’s likely lineup for Round 2
The NRL season started with a bang last weekend – but many teams will be forced to make team changes as early as Round 2.
Melbourne’s injury woes continued and the competition’s heavyweights will now be without Cameron Munster and Xavier Coates for their clash with the Bulldogs.
Premier League contenders the Roosters and Rabbitohs were also hit by some heavy hitting in the opening round, with the likes of Jai Arrow and Matt Lodge standing on the sidelines.
After a bye in the first round, St. George Illawarra must now face the music after their well-documented horror off-season.
MORE: 2023 NRL injury list | Bennett delivers in the classic post-game press conference
Check out all of the early post ahead of Round 2 below.
PENRITH PANTHERS vs SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Thursday 9 March, BlueBet Stadium (8pm)
Panther’s predicted team:
1. Dylan Edwards
2. Sunia Turuva
3.Izack Tago
4. Stephen Crichton
5. Brian To’o
6. Jarome Luai
7. Nathan Cleary
8 Moses Leotha
9. Mitch Kenny
10. James Fisher-Harris
11. Luke Garner
12.Liam Martin
13. Isaah Yeo
14. Soni Luke
15.Scott Sorensen
16. Spencer Leniu
17. Jaeman Salmon
Panthers team news:
Scott Sorensen (Headknock) must pass concussion protocols to play. Zac Hosking is likely to take his place on the bench if he’s ruled out.
News from the Rabbitohs team:
1. Latrell Mitchell
2. Alex Johnston
3. Isaiah Tass
4. Campbell Graham
5. Izaac Thompson
6. Cody Walker
7. Lachlan Iliad
8. Tevita Tatola
9. Damian Koch
10.Tom Burgess
11. Keaon Koloamatangi
12. Michael Chee Kam
13.Cameron Murray
14. Blake Taaffe
15.Jed Cartwright
16. Davvy Moale
17. Shaq Mitchell
News from the Rabbitohs team:
Latrell Mitchell (knee) has to wait nervously as the Superstar full-back is scanned for a PCL issue.
Jai Arrow (hamstring) left the field in the first half against Cronulla and looks set to play on the touchline, with Jed Cartwright likely to come to the side.
Tevita Tatola (Headknock) must pass concussion protocols to play. If he’s ruled out, expect Daniel Suluka-Fifita to come on the bench.
Hame Sele (calf) and Jacob Host (calf) are both a week or two away from returning.
PARRAMATTA EELS vs. CRONULLA SHARKS
Friday, March 10, CommBank Stadium (6 p.m.)
Eel’s predicted team:
1.Clint Gutherson
2.Maika Sivo
3. Will penisini
4. Waqa Blake
5. Isaac Lumelume
6. Dylan Brown
7. MitchellMoses
8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
9.Josh Hodgson
10.Junior Paulo
11. Bryce Cartwright
12. Matt Doorey
13. J’maine Hopgood
14.Jira Momoisea
15. Jack Murchie
16. Wiremu Greig
17. Makahesi Makatoa
Eels Team News:
No changes are expected for the Eels at this point with star forwards Ryan Matterson (suspension) and Shaun Lane (jaw) both still sidelined.
Haze Dunster (knee) should be available but is unlikely to come in the side.
Expected team of the Sharks:
1. Will Kennedy
2. Sione Katoa
3.Jesse Ramien
4. Siosifa Talakai
5. Ronaldo Mulitalo
6. Matt Moylan
7. Braydon Trindall
8. Toby Rudolph
9. Blayke Brailey
10. Braden Hamlin-Uele
11. British Nikora
12. Dough Wilton
13. Dale Finucane
14.Cameron McInnes
15. Oregon Kaufusi
16.Jack Williams
17.Thomas Hazelton
News from the Sharks team:
Wade Graham faces 3-4 weeks on the touchline before a high tackle against Davvy Moale, with Thomas Hazelton likely to replace him on the bench.
BRISBANE BRONCOS v NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Friday, March 10, Suncorp Stadium (8:05 p.m.)
Broncos predicted team:
1. Reece Walsh
2. Corey Oates
3. Kotoni Staggs
4. Herbie Farnworth
5. Selwyn Cobbo
6. Ezra Mam
7. Adam Reynolds
8. Corey Jensen
9.Billy Walters
10. Payne Haas
11. Kurt Capewell
12.Jordan Riki
13.Patrick Carrigan
14. Cory Paix
15 Keenan Palasia
16.Tom Flegler
17. Martin Taupau
Broncos Team News:
Reece Walsh (broken face) will be back on deck for the Broncos, taking on the role of full-back while Selwyn Cobbo moves to the wing.
Cowboy’s Predicted Team:
1.Scott Drinkwater
2. Kyle Feldt
3.Valentine Holmes
4. Peta Hiku
5.Murray Taulagi
6. Tom Dearden
7. Chad Townsend
8.Jordan McLean
9.Reece Robson
10. Ruben Cotter
11. Coen Hess
12. Jeremiah Nanai
13. Jason Taumalolo
14. Jake Granville
15. Griffin name
16. Jamayne Taunoa-Braun
17.James Tamou
Cowboys Team News:
No changes are expected for the Cowboys at this point following their Round 1 win over Canberra.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS vs. NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Saturday, March 11, Allianz Stadium (3 p.m.)
Rooster’s predicted team:
1. James Tedesco
2.Daniel Tupou
3. Joseph Swaaalii
4. Joseph Manu
5.Jaxson Paulo
6.Luke Keary
7. Sam Walker
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
9.BrandonSmith
10. LindsayCollins
11. Egan Butcher
12. Nat Butcher
13.Victor Radley
14. Drew Hutchison
15. Naufahu Whyte
16. Fletcher Baker
17 Terrell May
Roosters Team News:
Joseph Manu (broken face) will return to the center, pushing Drew Hutchison to the bench and Corey Allan from the side.
Matt Lodge (fractured face) will miss next month of football but his absence will be offset by the likely return of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (back) to the front row.
Victor Radley (Headknock) must pass concussion protocols to play.
Warrior’s predicted team:
1. Charnze Nicoll Klokstad
2. Marcelo Montoya
3. Brayden William
4. Adam Pompey
5. Edward Kosi
6. Te Maire Martin
7.Shaun Johnson
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9.Wayde Egan
10. Mitch Barnett
11. Jackson-Ford
12. Marata Niukore
13. Tohu Harris
14. Dylan Walker
15. Bunty Afoa
16. Josh Curran
17. Jazz Tevaga
News from the Warriors team:
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Wade) was retired before the Round 1 duel and there is no guarantee of a return.
Jazz Tevaga (chest) is likely to return to the bench.
DOLPHINS vs. CANBERRA RAIDERS
Saturday, March 11, Kayo Stadium (5:30 p.m.)
Dolphins predicted team:
1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
2.Jamayne Isaako
3. Euan Aitken
4. Brenko Lee
5.Tesi Niu
6. Isaiya Katoa
7. Sean O’Sullivan
8.Jesse Bromwich
9. Jeremy Marshall-King
10. Jarrod Wallace
11. Felise Kaufusi
12. Kenny Bromwich
13.Tom Gilbert
14. Mark Nicholls
15. Radiant Stone
16. Kurt Donoghoe
17. Connelly Lemuelu
Dolphin team news:
No changes to the Dolphins roster are expected after a shock Round 1 win over the Roosters.
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Raider’s Predicted Team:
1.Sebastian Kris
2. Nick Cotric
3. Matthew Timoko
4. Harley Smith shields
5. Albert Hopoate
6. Jack Wighton
7. Jamal Fogarty
8. Josh Papalii
9. Danny Levi
10. Joseph Tapine
11. Hudson Young
12. Elliot Whitehead
13. Corey Harawira-Naera
14. Tom Starling
15. Ata Mariota
16. Corey Horsburgh
17. Emre Guler
Raiders Team News:
Jordan Rapana is on the sidelines for a shoulder load three weeks ago, with Albert Hopoate likely to come in the side on the wing.
Josh Papalii (Wade) should be back on deck which will likely result in Emre Guler or Pasami Saulo getting off the 17.
MELBOURNE STORM vs. CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Saturday, March 11, AAMI Park (7:35 p.m.)
Storm predicted team:
1.Nick Meney
2. Will Warbrick
3. Reimis Smith
4. Young Tonumaipea
5.Grant Anderson
6. Tyran Wishart
7. Jarome Hughes
8. Nelson Asofa Solomona
9. Harry Grant
10. Christian Walch
11. Trento Loiero
12. Eliesa Katoa
13. Josh King
14. Bronson Garlic
15. Alec McDonald
16. Tariq Sims
17.Tom Eisenhuth
Storm Team News:
Massive blow for the storm with representative duo Cameron Munster (finger) and Xavier Coates (shoulder) joining a long injury list at the club.
Tyran Wishart is likely to fit in the halves, while Grant Anderson emerges as a likely replacement on the wing.
Tariq Sims (calf) and Tom Eisenhuth (back) are both scheduled to return and move to the bench.
Bulldog’s predicted team:
1.Hayze Perham
2. Jacob Kiraz
3.Jake Averillo
4.Paul Alamoti
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Matt Burton
7. Kyle Flanagan
8. Max King
9. Reed Mahoney
10.Ryan Sutton
11.Viliame Kikau
12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
13. Fa’amanu Brown
14 Jayden Tanner
15. Corey Waddell
16. Franklin Pele
17. Jacob Preston
Bulldogs Team News:
Despite a horrific Round 1 loss to Manly, no changes are expected from the injury-plagued Bulldogs at this point.
WEST TIGERS vs NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Sunday, March 12, Leichhardt Oval (4:05 p.m.)
Tiger’s predicted team:
1. Daine Laurie
2. David Nofoaluma
3. Brent Naden
4.Tommy Talau
5.Charlie Staines
6. Adam Doueihi
7. Luke Brooks
8. Stefano Utoikamanu
9. Api Koroisau
10.David Klemmer
11. Isaiah Papali’i
12.Shawn Blore
13.Joe Ofahengaue
14.Jake Simpkin
15. Alex Twal
16. Fonua Pole
17.John Bateman
News from the Tigers team:
Despite the loss to the Titans, no big changes are expected.
Star recruit John Bateman could be named on the bench as he settles into his new club.
Knight’s predicted team:
1. Lachlan Miller
2. Greg Marzhev
3. Dane Gagai
4. Bradman Best
5. Dom Young
6.Kalyn Ponga
7.Jackson Hastings
8. Daniel Saifiti
9.Jayden Brailey
10. Jacob Saifiti
11.Tyson Frizell
12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon
13. Kurt Mann
14.Phoenix Crossland
15. Adam Elliott
16. Jack Hetherington
17. Leo Thompson
News from the knight team:
Dane Gagai (hamstring) and Greg Marzhew (hip) are both due to return to the side, which will likely see Enari Tuala and Hymel Hunt sidelined.
No further changes are expected for the Knights at this time.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS vs GOLD COAST TITANS
Sunday, March 12, Kogarah Oval (6:15 p.m.)
Dragon’s predicted team:
1. Tyrell Sloan
2. Mat Feagai
Leviticus Suli
4. Zac Lomax
5. Mikaele Ravalawa
6.Jayden Sullivan
7. Ben Hunt
8.Blake Lawrie
9. Jacob Liddle
10. Jack de Belin
11. Ben Murdoch-Masila
12. Jaydn Su’A
13. Jack Bird
14. Moses Mbye
15.Michael Molo
16.Zane Musgrove
17.Tyrell Fuimaono
Dragons Team News:
After earning two points for the bye in Round 1, St. George Illawarra will now be forced to face the music after a truly awful off-season.
Jayden Sullivan is expected to line up alongside Ben Hunt at half-time with Junior Amone’s status still up in the air and a court case pending.
New signings Ben Murdoch-Masila and Jacob Liddle are both expected to start, while Zane Musgrove is likely to come off the bench.
Tyrell Sloan is expected to get the first jump at the No. 1 jumper due to the absence of Cody Ramsey.
Titan’s predicted team:
1. AJ Brimson
2. Alofiano Khan-Pereira
3.Aaron Schoupp
4. Philip Sami
5. Jojo Fifita
6.Jayden Campbell
7. Tanah Boyd
8. Jaimin Jolliffe
9. Sam Verrills
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
11. David Fifita
17.Joe Stimson
13. Isaac Liu
14. Erin Clark
15. Moeaki Fotuaika
16.Sam McIntyre
17. Klese Haas
Titans Team News:
Kieran Foran (knee) suffered a PCL injury in the opening round and is likely to miss the clash with the Dragons which could open the door for Jayden Campbell to join the starting XI.