NRL NRL 2021 Season - Round 23

Thursday 19th August
Gold Coast vs Melbourne (Cbus Super Stadium - 19:50)

Friday 20th August
Canberra vs Manly-Warringah (Suncorp Stadium - 18:00)
Penrith vs South Sydney (Suncorp Stadium - 20:05)

Saturday 21st August
Wests Tigers vs Cronulla-Sutherland (Browne Park, Rockhampton - 15:00)
Canterbury-Bankstown vs Newcastle (Cbus Super Stadium - 17:30)
Parramatta vs North Queensland (Cbus Super Stadium - 19:35)

Sunday 22nd August
St.George-Illawarra vs Sydney Roosters (Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba - 14:00)
Brisbane vs New Zealand (Suncorp Stadium - 16:05)
 
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Titans: A blow for the Titans with fullback AJ Brimson sidelined by a hairline fracture of the jaw suffered against Souths.
“AJ has been to see a surgeon today and we are now waiting for further information," said Gold Coast high performance manager Klint Hoar on Monday.
Youngster Jayden Campbell has recovered from an ankle injury and has been named to take Brimson's place.
Skipper Jamal Fogarty has been recalled at halfback, taking over from youngster Toby Sexton.
Erin Clark is the new hooker with Mitch Rein dropped to the reserves list while Tino Fa'asuamaleaui moves from lock up to prop and Moeaki Fotuaika is out. Sam McIntyre is the new lock.
David Fifita has been named to start again but may revert to the bench as he has in recent weeks.
Phillip Sami has been named among the reserves as he works his way back from an ankle injury.
Storm: Ryan Papenhuyzen is back in the No.1 jersey after four games coming from the bench and Nicho Hynes shifts to halfback to fill in for Jahrome Hughes, who will be rested after he was on the end of a high shot from Raiders forward Corey Harawira-Naera.
Dale Finucane (head knock) is also being rested so Chris Lewis comes into the starting side and Tepai Moeroa joins the bench. Cooper Johns and Jordan Grant have also been added to the bench.
Harry Grant has been named to start a hooker with Brandon Smith getting a break ahead of the finals.
Winger George Jennings is back from a knee injury so Dean Ieremia goes out of the side. Centre Justin Olam is being rested and his place is taken by Marion Seve.
Still no sign of Nelson Asofa-Solomona as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Raiders: The Raiders will be without skipper Jarrod Croker (head knock) and hooker Tom Starling (broken jaw) but in a massive boost they get Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad back from a neck injury it was initially thought would sideline him for the rest of the season.
Nicoll-Klokstad has been named to make his return via the bench.
Seb Kris comes in at centre for Croker while Matt Frawley joins the bench to help cover for Starling's absence.
Forward Corey Harawira-Naera has been suspended for three weeks after taking an early guilty plea for his high shot on Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes.
Sea Eagles: Superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic (cheekbone) has been named to play in a huge boost for Des Hasler's men.
Centre Brad Parker suffered a concussion when he was hit high by Eels forward Ryan Matterson and he will be rested with Moses Suli coming into the starting side.
Toafofoa Sipley returns from suspension via the bench, pushing Kurt De Luis out of the 17.

Panthers: Hooker Api Koroisau's return from suspension sees Mitch Kenny revert to the bench.
Kurt Capewell (suspension) returns on the bench while James Fisher-Harris (Covid protocols) and Tevita Pangai jnr (personal leave) are both listed among the reserves.
Capewell's return pushes Izack Tago to the reserves.
Halves Nathan Cleary (dangerous contact) and Jarome Luai (careless high tackle) attracted fines but no suspensions out of last weekend's game against the Dragons so they are good to go in a mouth-watering halves battle with Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker.
Rabbitohs: Dane Gagai was a late withdrawal from the Titans game with a hamstring injury but the rep centre is back on deck along with tryscoring machine Alex Johnston (hamstring) and Campbell Graham (head knock).
Hame Sele is the new face on the interchange with Jaydn Su'A pushed back to the reserves.

Wests Tigers: The loss of Thomas Mikaele and Jacob Liddle to suspension will be offset by the return of experienced prop James Tamou from a foot injury.
Liddle's place at hooker is taken by Jake Simpkin.
James Roberts is back for his first game since round 16 and will come from the interchange.
Sharks: Winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has been named to play despite suffering a head knock against the Knights. Mawene Hiroti returns from a hand injury in the centres, pushing Siosifa Talakai back to the pack.
Toby Rudolf has been moved from lock up to prop and Braden Hamlin-Uele is on the interchange.
Bench prop Aiden Tolman has been suspended for one game for dangerous contact on Daniel Saifiti and fellow interchange forward Andrew Fifita remains in hospital after suffering a "significant laryngeal injury" after a knock to the throat in the loss to Newcastle on Sunday.
Teig Wilton has been added to the bench as he returns from a hamstring injury.
Matt Moylan is listed among the reserves as he looks to return from a long-term calf injury.

Bulldogs: Jake Averillo (suspected broken hand) and Nick Meaney (head knock) have been named despite doubts over their availability with the former shifting to five-eighth to accommodate the return of Kyle Flanagan and rookie Bailey Biondi-Odo dropping back to the bench.
Corey Allan, a late withdrawal due to illness on Sunday, is back with his replacement Jayden Okunbor retained and rookie Falakiko Manu the one to make way.
The return of Englishman Luke Thompson from suspension bolsters the pack, pushing Ava Seumanufagai to the interchange, while Jackson Topine gets a start at dummy-half in place of Jeremy Marshall-King who drops out of the 21-man squad.
Corey Waddell's return to the second row sees Matt Doorey downgraded to the extended bench where he is joined by Chris Patolo with Sione Katoa left out entirely.
Knights: Prop Daniel Saifiti, who suffered a high grade MCL injury to his left knee during the game against Cronulla and is expected to be out for 3-5 weeks, is replaced in the front row by veteran bench forward David Klemmer.
Second-rower Tyson Frizell has accepted a one-game ban for a high tackle on Sharks fullback Will Kennedy with Brodie Jones also stepping up from the interchange to start in his place.
With Nathanael Sasagi dropping to the reserves there are three new faces on the bench: Josh King, Jira Momoisea and Chris Randall.

Eels: Ryan Matterson won't play again before the finals after accepting a three-match ban for the high shot on Brad Parker that saw him sent off on Saturday. He is replaced in the second row by Marata Niukore with Oregon Kaufusi returning from concussion to fill the hole on the interchange.
Centre Tom Opacic and veteran Michael Oldfield have paid the price for Parramatta's porous edge defence, dumped from the squad with Will Penisini and Haze Dunster promoted from the extended bench to take their places.
Cowboys: Winger Kyle Feldt (jaw) and forward Coen Hess (head knock) have been named despite being in some doubt for the Eels game while youngster Griffin Neame is a definite out after he copped a one-game ban for a crusher tackle on Ken Maumalo.
Reuben Cotter (foot) returns to claim Neame's spot on the bench while Hess and Mitch Dunn, who started in place of Hess in a late swap last week, have again been named in the No.13 and No.16 jumpers respectively.
Gun forward Jason Taumalolo (hand) has been named on the extended bench and is a chance to play but Lachlan Burr (concussion) and Murray Taulagi (concussion) will have to wait at least another week to play.

Dragons: Veteran hooker Andrew McCullough (ankle), who will miss the rest of the season, has been replaced at dummy-half by prop Josh McGuire with Jack de Belin moving from lock to fill his place and Tariq Sims returning from suspension to don the No.13 jumper.
Kaide Ellis has been promoted from the interchange to complete a new-look front row, taking over for prop Blake Lawrie who will see specialists later this week to see if he can return this season after breaking his hand against Penrith, while second-rower Billy Burns failed a HIA and will need to pass protocols in order to play,
Matt Dufty, who will join the Bulldogs in 2022, gets another chance at fullback with skipper Jack Bird moving to centre and veteran Gerard Beale dropping out of the 21.
Finally, Adam Clune has been demoted to the extended bench with Corey Norman shifting to halfback and Talatau Amone bumped up from the interchange to take over at five-eighth. Jayden Sullivan and Daniel Alvaro are the new faces on the bench.
Roosters: Forward leader Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is a welcome addition after being rested in round 22, with Isaac Liu sliding back to lock to fill the hole left by Victor Radley who has accepted a three-match ban for diving into Albert Kelly's legs while the Broncos halfback was attempting a field goal.
The only other change to the 17 sees Ben Thomas named on the interchange in a swap with Naufahu Whyte who drops back to the extended bench.
Second-rower Sitili Tupounia will be monitored after suffering a head knock against Brisbane.

Broncos: Anthony Milford has been promoted after playing 23 minutes off the bench last weekend to replace halfback Tyson Gamble, who has accepted a two-match ban for a crusher tackle on Roosters forward Nat Butcher.
Albert Kelly (knee soreness) takes over at No.7 after being cleared by scans while hooker Danny Levi (head knock) will be monitored.
Herbie Farnworth (illness/leg injury) has been named after failing to finish training last Thursday and missing the Roosters clash, with his replacement David Mead dropping to the extended bench, while Ethan Bullemor returns to the interchange after making way for Milford last week.
Bullemor takes the place of youngster Xavier Willison who has a badly damaged ACL which will require surgery.
Warriors: Winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak returns after serving a one-game ban and will chalk up his 150th career game.
Edward Kosi drops to the extended bench to make way for DWZ while Reece Walsh has been fined for contrary conduct after rushing in to a melee against the Bulldogs and is thus free to continue his stellar debut season.
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown is promoted from the interchange to take the place of rookie prop Jackson Frei, who drops to the extended bench, while the return of Bayley Sironen pushes Jazz Tevaga to the bench.
 
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Have the storm got injuries aker key persons out? disjointed
Rested two players, another couple missed because of concussion and injury.

Hughes BSmith NAS Olam Finucane
 
Jul 12, 2011
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Storm played crap and still got the W. The commentators never say stuff like "this Storm team could be the goat" even though may have the most wins in a row of all time and highest point differential i believe. The nsw qld media people always seem so butt.hurt about Storm smashing everyone
 

sosos

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Storm played crap and still got the W. The commentators never say stuff like "this Storm team could be the goat" even though may have the most wins in a row of all time and highest point differential i believe. The nsw qld media people always seem so butt.hurt about Storm smashing everyone
Were you watching on Kayo. Sounded like they were praising them to me.
 

moto748

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They are just so good, the way they move defenders around, create their own gaps. A pleasure to watch when they click into gear.
 
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moto748

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Can't argue with that, no defender inconvenienced, I think it ought to be a try, but that's not the way it's been reffed this season. ATEOTD, though, Penrith were still the better side, and deserved the win. Rapana has been way better at full-back for Canberra than I ever thought he would be, but Canberra are just not very good, really.
 
I think I’m watching the most inept game of football I’ve ever seen. NQ are terrible but Parramatta are embarrassing.

And someone needs to take Lane out, he has cost us about 12 points in the first 20 minutes.
 

Greenstar5

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The win for Parramatta just hides the issues. Can't see them winning the final 2 games. Probably out of finals 1st or 2nd week.

Brisbane are starting to look good, but I hope the Warriors win today, would set up a nice little finish to the finals as they play Canberra and Gold Coast in the final 2 rounds.
 
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