NRL: Latrell Mitchell returns & George Burgess set for Dragons debut

Zach Holland
George Burgess

George Burgess in action for Wigan in 2020

Former Wigan prop George Burgess is set to make his NRL return by making his St George Illawarra Dragons debut this weekend.

Melbourne Storm v South Sydney Rabbitohs (Thursday, 9:05am, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Arena or Watch NRL)

Cameron Munster and Harry Grant make their returns to the Melbourne sides after serving suspensions.

Storm: Papenhuzen; Ieremia, Smith, Olam, Coates; Munster, Hughes; J Bromwich, Grant, Asofa-Solomona, Kaufusi, K Bromwich, King. Subs: Wishart, MacDonald, Loiero, Moeroa.

Rabbitohs: Mitchell; Johnston, Paulo, Graham, Milne; Walker, Ilias; Tatola, Cook, Nicholls, Koloamatangi, Arrow, Murray. Subs: Host, Havili, T Burgess, Chee Kam.

St George Illawarra Dragons v Penrith Panthers (Friday, 7am, Watch NRL)

George Burgess starts off the bench for the Dragons after playing in the NSW Cup last week.

Dragons: Sloan; Ramsey, Suli, Lomax, Ravalawa; Amone, Hunt; Molo, McCullough, Lawrie, Bird, Su’A, De Belin. Subs: Mbye, Kerr, Gosiewski, George Burgess.

Panthers: Edwards; Staines, Tago, Crichton, To’o; Luai, O’Sullivan; Leniu, Koroisau, Fisher-Harris, Kikau, Martin, Yeo. Subs: Kenny, Sorensen, Eisenhuth, Salmon.

Sydney Roosters v Manly Sea Eagles (Friday, 9:05am, Watch NRL)

Victor Radley has been named for the Roosters despite suffering a head knock last week and will be monitored throughout the week. Former Leigh half-back Drew Hutchison is set to come off the bench for the Roosters.

Roosters: Tedesco; Tupou, Smith, Manu, Momirovski; Walker, Keary; Waerea-Hargreaves, Watson, Collins, Crichton, Tupouniua, Radley. Subs: Hutchison, Baker, Butcher, Taukeiaho.

Sea Eagles: T Trbojevic; Saab, Parker, Harper, Garrick; Foran, Cherry-Evans; Sipley, Croker, Taupau, Olakau’atu, Bullemor, J Trbojevic. Subs: Walker, Lawton, Keppie, Paseka.


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Gold Coast Titans v New Zealand Warriors (Saturday, 4am, Watch NRL)

AJ Brimson is back in the Titans’ starting line-up after missing round one, slotting in at stand-off.

Injuries to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Shaun Johnson force the Warriors into a reshuffle with Adam Pompey coming onto the wing and Ash Taylor filling in at half-back.

Reece Walsh is also back in the squad at fullback after missing the season opener meaning Chanel Harris-Tavita moves to stand-off while Kodi Nikorima drops out. Former Warrington and Salford man Ben Murdoch-Masila moves to extended bench.

Titans: Campbell; Sami, Kelly, Herbert, Marzhew; Brimson, Sexton; Fotuaika, Clark, Liu, Fifita, Fermor, Fa’asuamaleaui. Subs: Smith, Lisone, Jolliffe, Proctor.

Warriors: Walsh; Pompey, Arthars, Berry, Montoya; Harris-Tavita, Taylor; Fonua-Blake, Egan, Lodge, Aitken, Katoa, Curran. Subs: Tevaga, Afoa, Pene, Sironen.

Cronulla Sharks v Parramatta Eels (Saturday, 6:30am, Watch NRL)

Cameron McInnes (knee) and Connor Tracey (quad) near returns and are included amongst the extended bench.

Oregon Kaufusi is the new man at 13 for Parramatta as Ryan Matterson (hamstring) sits out.

Sharks: Kennedy; Katoa, Ramien, Mulitalo, Ikuvalu; Moylan, Hynes; Rudolf, Brailey, Hamlin-Uele, Nikora, Wilton, Finucane. Subs: Tolman, Talakai, Hunt, Fifita.

Eels: Gutherson; Blake, Penisini, Opacic, Simonsson; Brown, Moses; Campbell-Gillard, Mahoney, Paulo, Lane, Papali’I, Kaufusi. Subs: Makatoa, Cartwright, Stone, Brown.

North Queensland Cowboys v Canberra Raiders (Saturday, 8:35am, Sky Sports Arena or Watch NRL)

Tom Starling takes over the dummy half role for Canberra as Josh Hodgson is set to miss around three weeks with a knee injury.

Cowboys: Tabuai-Fidow; Feldt, Holmes, Hiku, Taulagi; Dearden, Townsend; McLean, Robson, Hess, Gilbert, Nanai, Taumalolo. Subs: Granville, Luki, Dunn, Neame.

Raiders: Nicoll-Klokstad; Cotric, Timoko, Valemei, Schiller; Wighton, Frawley; Papalii, Starling, Tapine, Young, Harawira-Naera, Whitehead. Subs: Trevilyan, Guler, Elliott, Horsburgh.

Newcastle Knights v Wests Tigers (Sunday, 5:05am, Watch NRL)

Jackson Hastings Wests Tigers PA
Jackson Hastings in action for Wests Tigers

After scoring in week one Dominic Young gets given the nod to start on the wing once again for the Knights.

Knights: Ponga; Young, Gagai, Best, Tuala; Clifford, Clune; Klemmer, Randall, J Saifiti, Frizell, Fitzgibbon, Mann. Subs: Crossland, Barnett, Thompson, Momoisea.

Tigers: Laurie; Nofoaluma, Roberts, Gildart, Maumalo; Hastings, Brooks; Tamou, Simpkin, Utoikamanu, Tuilagi, Leilua, Ofahengaue. Subs: Peachey, Twal, Musgrove, Seyfarth.

Canterbury Bulldogs v Brisbane Broncos (Sunday, 7:15am, Watch NRL)

Pangai Jr will mark his first start for the Bulldogs after missing last week with a hamstring issue.

Adam Reynolds will make his debut for Brisbane and starts at half-back with former Hull FC and Hull KR man Albert Kelly shifting to five-eighth.

Bulldogs: Dufty; Okunbor, Burns, Naden, Addo-Carr; Burton, Averillo; Thompson, Marhsall-King, Vaughan, J Hetherington, Pangai Jr, Jackson. Subs: Biondi-Odo, Waddell, King, Seumanufagai.

Broncos: Niu; Oates, Staggs, Farnworth, Cobbo; Kelly, Reynolds; Palasia, Turpin, Haas, Capewell, Riki, Carrigan. Subs: James, K Hetherington, Robati, Walters.

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