Luckless superstar cleared for NRL return
The most magnificent mullet in Melbourne is back, with the Storm naming Ryan Papenhuyzen to make his return from a small fracture in his fibula that has kept him sidelined for more than month.
In a round where most teams are ravaged by State of Origin, Papenhuyzen is one of several superstars back on deck, with the Storm fullback cleared to return for the heavyweight showdown with the Dolphins.
His return is a huge boost with Cameron Munster still out injured and Harry Grant and Xavier Coates on Origin duty, with excitement machine Sua Fa’alogo shifting to the wing for the trip to Queensland.
Luckless superstar cleared for NRL return
They face a Dolphins side that has the luxury of picking livewire fullback Trai Fuller in place of speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow who scored the try of the year in Cronulla last week, while Tevita Pangai Junior has won a spot on the bench after returning from a failed stint in boxing.
The Roosters have shown faith in Brandon Smith, with the international hooker brought straight back in after he was stood down last week for missing a team meeting.
They’ll be without their Origin quartet but have still named a formidable squad to face a Bulldogs side that has named hulking winger Jeral Skelton but will be without Jacob Preston (foot).
There are a couple of key inclusions on the Gold Coast with the hosts naming David Fifita after he missed last week’s ugly loss to the Wests Tigers, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck returns at centre for the Warriors after recovering from a hamstring injury.
There are changes galore at Manly with the Sea Eagles missing their Origin trio as well as Reuben Garrick (head knock) and Taniela Paseka (thumb) for the game against the resurgent Rabbitohs.
Karl Lawton has been named at halfback to face a Souths side that gets pint-sized fullback Jye Gray back from injury at the perfect time with Latrell Mitchell in Blues camp.
And the Tigers get young gun Lachlan Galvin back from a hand injury which pushes Api Koroisau back to hooker, while the Raiders have lost Tom Starling (concussion) but get Hudson Young back after he was left out of the NSW side for game two.