NRL: Luke Thompson starts, Whitehead at loose & Seumanufagai on bench

England international prop Luke Thompson has been named to start for Canterbury Bulldogs against Melbourne Storm this weekend. 

Gold Coast Titans v Wests Tigers (Thursday, 10:05am, Watch NRL)

Jamayne Isaako is set to make his debut for the Titans at full-back and replaces the injured Jayden Campbell. Meanwhile, former Widnes winger Corey Thompson returns from a hand injury.

Tigers duo James Roberts and Ken Maumalo are back in the side at centre and wing respectively. England international Oliver Gildart starts again following an impressive performance in round three.

Titans: Isaako; C Thompson, B Kelly, Herbert, Marzhew; Brimson, Sexton; Fotuaika, Clark, Liu, D Fifita, Fermor, Fa’asuamaleaui. Subs: W Smith, Lisone, Jolliffe, Proctor.

Tigers: Laurie; Nofoaluma, Roberts, Gildart, Maumalo; Madden, Brooks; Tamou, Liddle, Musgrove, Tuilagi, Leilua, Ofahengaue. Subs: Peachey, Twal, Garner, Seyfarth.

Cronulla Sharks v Newcastle Knights (Friday, 8am, Watch NRL)

Aiden Tolman is set to come off the bench for Cronulla in his 300th NRL game.

Star full-back Kalyn Ponga is again named to return from a knee injury for the Knights.

Sharks: Kennedy; S Katoa, Ramien, Talakai, Mulitalo; Moylan, Hynes; Rudolf, Brailey, Hamlin-Uele, Nikora, Wilton, Finucane. Subs: Tolman, McInnes, Trindall, A Fifita.

Knights: Ponga; Young, Gagai, Best, Tuala; Clifford, Clune; J Saifiti, Randall, D Saifiti, Frizell, Jones, Mann. Subs: Crossland, Momoisea, L Thompson, Sue.

Penrith Panthers v South Sydney Rabbitohs (Friday, 10:05am, Sky Sports Arena or Watch NRL)

A big return for Penrith as talisman Nathan Cleary is back in the starting side after recovering from shoulder surgery.

England international Tom Burgess will come off the bench for the Rabbitohs.

Panthers: Edwards; Staines, Tago, S Crichton, May; Luai, Cleary; Eisenhuth, Koroisau, Leniu, Kikau, Sorensen, Yeo. Subs: Kenny, Hopgood, L Smith, Salmon.

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

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New Zealand Warriors v Brisbane Broncos (Saturday, 5am, Watch NRL)

Shaun Johnson nears a return for the Warriors after being named on the extended bench.

England World Cup hopeful Herbie Farnworth is named at centre, with ex-Super League star Albert Kelly featuring in the halves.

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

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

Manly Sea Eagles v Canberra Raiders (Saturday, 7:30am, Watch NRL)

Nic Cotric has been named to start on the wing after missing the last two weeks with a quad issue.

England international Elliott Whitehead will start for the Raiders at loose-forward. Former Huddersfield half-back Matt Frawley is on the bench for Ricky Stuart’s side.

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

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

North Queensland Cowboys v Sydney Roosters (Saturday, 9:35am, Sky Sports Arena or Watch NRL)

Former Leigh half-back Drew Hutchison again comes off the bench for the Roosters. Leeds-born half-back Sam Walker, son of ex-Rhino Ben Walker, starts for the Roosters.

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

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

Melbourne Storm v Canterbury Bulldogs (Sunday 7:05am, Watch NRL)

Harry Grant (COVID) and Xavier Coates (hamstring) are both back in the Melbourne starting 13.

Luke Thompson has been selected to start at prop with Corey Waddell moving to the back row to fill in for the injured Jack Hetherington. Former Leeds prop Ava Seumanufagai is named on the bench for the Bulldogs.

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

Bulldogs: Dufty; Burns, Schoupp, Naden, Addo-Carr; Burton, Wakeham; Luke Thompson, Marshall-King, Vaughan, Waddell, Pangai Jr, Jackson. Subs: Biondi-Odo, Patolo, M King, Seumanufagai.

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Parramatta Eels v St George Illawarra Dragons (Sunday, 9:15am, Sky Sports Arena or Watch NRL)

Samoa powerhouse Junior Paulo will start at prop for the Eels, with Italy international Nathan Brown at loose-forward.

Fiji winger Mikaele Ravalawa will start for the Dragons.

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

Dragons: Sloan; Feagai, Suli, Lomax, Ravalawa; Amone, Hunt; Molo, Mbye, Lawrie, Bird, Gosiewski, Sims. Subs: De Belin, Kerr, Ford, Woods.

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