Injury-hit Manly have been boosted by the return of Steve Matai to the side that will face Canberra in Albury on Saturday.
The Kiwi centre missed last Saturday’s loss to St George Illawarra with a shoulder problem but has been named for what’s shaping up as a must-win game for two teams who are sitting at 1-3 after the first four games of the season.
Veteran prop Willie Mason is expected to play despite a virus that kept him out of training on Tuesday but skipper Jamie Lyon (groin), Feleti Mateo (knee and ankle) and Josh Starling (knee) all miss out.
Ligi Sao and Justin Horo will replace Mateo and Starling with Jorge Taufua (knee), Brenton Lawrence (back), Clinton Gutherson (knee), Tony Satini (shoulder) and Blake Leary (back) all sidelined indefintely.
Former representative winger David Williams hasn’t been named but is widely tipped to face the Raiders for the first game since round 10 last year following his suspension by the NRL last July for betting on matches.
Despite the long injury list Daly Cherry-Evans insists that’s no excuse for the team’s worst start to a season since 2009.
“The injuries don’t really affect the mood in the side, it is more the losses, so if we can just keep training hard and have each other’s back out on the field I’m sure things will change,” Cherry-Evans said.
Shaun Kenny-Dowall will play in the centres against Cronulla on Easter Sunday and replace the injured Blake Ferguson, who is out for four months – Nene MacDonald will start of the wing for the Roosters.
Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan has named young Jack Bird at five-eighth for the first time due to Ben Barba’s suspension with Valentine Holmes to start at fullback and Michael Gordon switching to the wing for the winless Sharks.
Injured Brisbane duo Justin Hodges and Adam Blair are out of the south-east Queensland derby against the Gold Coast with Dale Copley and Sam Thaiday coming in as their replacements.
Beau Falloon’s suspension sees Titans hooker Kierran Moseley return to Neil Henry’s side.
Despite the red-hot form of Moses Mbye, Canterbury coach Des Hasler has recalled NSW five-eighth Josh Reynolds for the Good Friday blockbuster against South Sydney at ANZ Stadium.
Ladder-leading Newcastle will hand a long-awaited debut to Tariq Sims against St George Illawarra on Saturday after the powerful back-rower completed a long suspension for a dangerous tackle during his North Queensland days.
Powerful winger Bureta Faraimo, who tips the scales at 107kg, will make his third NRL appearance for Parramatta against Wests Tigers in the Easter Monday showdown at ANZ Stadium.
Faraimo scored twice on debut last year against Cronulla and replaces the injured Brad Takairangi with John Folau switching to centre.
The Tigers are boosted by the return of Pat Richards, Dene Halatau and Aaron Woods.
Penrith, looking to get back to winning ways after two straight losses, have axed Brent Kite and Lewis Brown for the clash with North Queensland on Monday.
Coach Ivan Cleary has named James Segeyaro in his side following the hooker’s recovery from a lacerated lip with Nigel Plum and Isaac John also back from injury.
