Key Players Return for Round Seven
With several clubs facing injury challenges, a number of teams have managed to welcome back crucial players for round seven. This has brought a significant boost to the squads, with some notable names making their return to the field.
Leo Thompson, the Bulldogs’ off-season signing, has been named at prop in a major positive development after sustaining an injury during pre-season. His return is a big morale booster for the team. Similarly, Dylan Brown, who was signed by Newcastle for $13 million, is also back from injury, adding depth and experience to the squad. Meanwhile, Adam Reynolds has made his way back into the No.7 position for the Broncos, providing stability in the halfback role.
Michael Maguire has opted not to include promising young talent Cameron Bukowski at hooker, instead choosing Josh Rogers for the No.9 jersey. This decision highlights the importance of experience and consistency in key positions.
Match Fixtures and Team Line-ups
Thursday
North Queensland Cowboys vs Manly Sea Eagles
- Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater, 2. Braidon Burns, 3. Jaxon Purdue, 4. Tomas Chester, 5. Zac Laybutt, 6. Jake Clifford, 7. Tom Dearden, 8. Coen Hess, 9. Soni Luke, 10. Jason Taumalolo, 11. Heilum Luki, 12. Kai O’Donnell, 13. Reuben Cotter, 14. Sam McIntyre, 15. Griffin Neame, 16. Thomas Mikaele, 17. Matthew Lodge, 18. Viliami Vailea, 19. Mason Barber, 20. Harrison Edwards, 21. Kaiden Lahrs, 22. Robert Derby
- Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Jason Saab, 3. Tolutau Koula, 4. Reuben Garrick, 5. Lehi Hopoate, 6. Luke Brooks, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Taniela Paseka, 9. Brandon Wakeham, 10. Kobe Hetherington, 11. Haumole Olakau’atu, 12. Ben Trbojevic, 13. Jake Trbojevic, 14. Jake Simpkin, 15. Corey Waddell, 16. Ethan Bullemor, 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 18. Nathan Brown, 19. Clayton Faulalo, 20. Jackson Shereb, 21. Joey Walsh, 22. Simione Laiafi
The match will take place at QCB Stadium starting at 7:50pm. Fans can watch the 2026 NRL season live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Friday
Canberra Raiders vs Melbourne Storm
- Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes, 2. Sebastian Kris, 3. Simi Sasagi, 4. Matthew Timoko, 5. Jed Stuart, 6. Ethan Strange, 7. Ethan Sanders, 8. Josh Papali’i, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Joseph Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Noah Martin, 13. Corey Horsburgh, 14. Jayden Brailey, 15. Zac Hosking, 16. Ata Mariota, 17. Morgan Smithies, 18. Daine Laurie, 19. Joseph Roddy, 20. Owen Pattie, 21. Savelio Tamale, 22. Chevy Stewart
- Storm team: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo, 2. William Warbrick, 3. Jack Howarth, 4. Nick Meaney, 5. Manaia Waitere, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Stefano Utoikamanu, 9. Harry Grant, 10. Josh King, 11. Joe Chan, 12. Cooper Clarke, 13. Trent Loiero, 14. Tyran Wishart, 15. Alec MacDonald, 16. Jack Hetherington, 17. Davvy Moale, 18. Shawn Blore, 19. Hugo Peel, 20. Lazarus Vaalepu, 21. Moses Leo, 22. Trent Toelau
The game will be held at GIO Stadium starting at 6pm.
Dolphins vs Penrith Panthers
- Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Jake Averillo, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Selwyn Cobbo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Isaiya Katoa, 8. Tom Gilbert, 9. Max Plath, 10. Felise Kaufusi, 11. Connelly Lemuelu, 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 13. Morgan Knowles, 14. Brad Schneider, 15. Thomas Flegler, 16. Ray Stone, 17. Francis Molo, 18. Oryn Keeley, 19. Trai Fuller, 20. Brian Pouniu, 21. Tevita Naufahu, 22. Lewis Symonds
- Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Thomas Jenkins, 3. Paul Alamoti, 4. Izack Tago, 5. Brian To’o, 6. Blaize Talagi, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Moses Leota, 9. Mitch Kenny, 10. Lindsay Smith, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Luke Garner, 13. Isaah Yeo, 14. Jack Cogger, 15. Scott Sorensen, 16. Kalani Going, 17. Billy Phillips, 18. Sione Fonua, 19. Freddy Lussick, 20. Luron Patea, 21. Jack Cole, 22. Jesse McLean
This match will be played at TIO Stadium Darwin starting at 8pm.
Saturday
New Zealand Warriors vs Gold Coast Titans
- Warriors team: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 4. Ali Leiataua, 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Kurt Capewell, 13. Erin Clark, 14. Samuel Healey, 15. Marata Niukore, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Jacob Laban, 18. Luke Hanson, 20. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 21. Morgan Gannon, 22. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 23. Mitchell Barnett
- Titans team: 1. Keano Kini, 2. Sialetili Faeamani, 3. Jojo Fifita, 4. AJ Brimson, 5. Phillip Sami, 6. Lachlan Ilias, 7. Jayden Campbell, 8. Kurtis Morrin, 9. Sam Verrills, 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 11. Arama Hau, 12. Beau Fermor, 13. Chris Randall, 14. Oliver Pascoe, 15. Cooper Bai, 16. Moeaki Fotuaika, 17. Adam Christensen, 18. Jaylan De Groot, 19. Zane Harrison, 20. Klese Haas, 21. Josh Patston, 22. Jenson Taumoepeau
The game will take place at Go Media Stadium starting at 3pm.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs St George Illawarra Dragons
- Rabbitohs team: 1. Matthew Dufty, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Latrell Mitchell, 4. Jack Wighton, 5. Campbell Graham, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Jamie Humphreys, 8. Tevita Tatola, 9. Brandon Smith, 10. Keaon Koloamatangi, 11. Lachlan Hubner, 12. Tallis Duncan, 13. Cameron Murray, 14. Peter Mamouzelos, 15. Bronson Garlick, 16. Sean Keppie, 17. Jayden Sullivan, 18. Edward Kosi, 19. Thomas Fletcher, 20. Salesi Ataata, 21. Moala Graham-Taufa, 22. Liam Le Blanc
- Dragons team: 1. Tyrell Sloan, 2. Christian Tuipulotu, 3. Mathew Feagai, 4. Valentine Holmes, 5. Setu Tu, 6. Daniel Atkinson, 7. Kyle Flanagan, 8. Emre Guler, 9. Damien Cook, 10. Toby Couchman, 11. Luciano Leilua, 12. Jaydn Su’A, 13. Hamish Stewart, 14. Jacob Liddle, 15. Blake Lawrie, 16. Jacob Halangahu, 17. Josh Kerr, 18. Hame Sele, 19. Kade Reed, 20. David Fale, 21. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga, 22. Lyhkan King-Togia
This match will be held at Accor Stadium starting at 5:30pm.
Wests Tigers vs Brisbane Broncos
- Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula, 2. Sunia Turuva, 3. Taylan May, 4. Patrick Herbert, 5. Heamasi Makasini, 6. Jarome Luai, 7. Adam Doueihi, 8. Terrell May, 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. Fonua Pole, 11. Samuela Fainu, 12. Kai Pearce-Paul, 13. Alex Twal, 14. Jock Madden, 15. Sione Fainu, 16. Royce Hunt, 17. Alex Seyfarth, 18. Latu Fainu, 19. Luke Laulilii, 20. Bunty Afoa, 21. Tony Sukkar, 22. Tristan Hope
- Broncos team: 1. Jesse Arthars, 2. Josiah Karapani, 3. Kotoni Staggs, 4. Gehamat Shibasaki, 5. Deine Mariner, 6. Ezra Mam, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. Corey Jensen, 9. Josh Rogers, 10. Payne Haas, 11. Brendan Piakura, 12. Jordan Riki, 13. Xavier Willison, 14. Thomas Duffy, 15. Ben Talty, 16. Jaiyden Hunt, 17. Jack Gosiewski, 18. Va’a Semu, 19. Hayze Perham, 20. Cameron Bukowski, 21. Cory Paix, 22. Antonio Verhoeven
The game will be held at Campbelltown Sports Stadium starting at 7:35pm.
Sunday
Sydney Roosters vs Newcastle Knights
- Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Hugo Savala, 4. Robert Toia, 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6. Daly Cherry-Evans, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Naufahu Whyte, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Angus Crichton, 12. Siua Wong, 13. Victor Radley, 14. Connor Watson, 15. Spencer Leniu, 16. Nat Butcher, 17. Salesi Foketi, 18. Cody Ramsey, 19. Tommy Talau, 20. Benaiah Ioelu, 21. Egan Butcher, 22. Billy Smith
- Knights team: 1. Fletcher Sharpe, 2. Dominic Young, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Fletcher Hunt, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Sandon Smith, 7. Dylan Brown, 8. Jacob Saifiti, 9. Phoenix Crossland, 10. Trey Mooney, 11. Thomas Cant, 12. Jermaine McEwen, 13. Mathew Croker, 14. Harrison Graham, 15. Pasami Saulo, 16. Cody Hopwood, 17. Francis Manuleleua, 18. Kyle McCarthy, 19. Peter Hola, 20. Tyson Gamble, 21. Elijah Leaumoana, 22. James Schiller
This match will be played at Allianz Stadium starting at 2pm.
Parramatta Eels vs Canterbury Bulldogs
- Eels team: 1. Joash Papali’i, 2. Brian Kelly, 3. Viliami Penisini, 4. Sean Russell, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Ronald Volkman, 7. Mitchell Moses, 8. Luca Moretti, 9. Ryley Smith, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Charlie Guymer, 12. Jack Williams, 13. Dylan Walker, 14. Tallyn Da Silva, 15. Saxon Pryke, 16. Jack de Belin, 17. Toni Mataele, 18. Teancum Brown, 19. Araz Nanva, 20. Lorenzo Talataina, 21. Jezaiah Funa-Luta, 22. Mohamed Alameddine
- Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey, 2. Jacob Kiraz, 3. Enari Tuala, 4. Bronson Xerri, 5. Marcelo Montoya, 6. Matt Burton, 7. Lachlan Galvin, 8. Samuel Hughes, 9. Bailey Hayward, 10. Leo Thompson, 11. Viliame Kikau, 12. Jacob Preston, 13. Jaeman Salmon, 14. Kurt Mann, 15. Sitili Tupouniua, 16. Harry Hayes, 17. Jake Turpin, 19. Jonathan Sua, 20. Lipoi Hopoi, 21. Josh Curran, 22. Alekolasimi Jones, 23. Stephen Crichton
The game will be held at CommBank Stadium starting at 4:05pm.
