After a shock loss to the Gold Coast in round four, Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire has sensationally dropped the experienced Benji Marshall as part of mass changes for Saturday’s NRL clash with Canberra.
And in another surprise, Josh Reynolds has been named to replace Marshall in the Tigers halves a day after failing a roadside drug test.
Former NSW star Reynolds returned a positive result to a random drug test after flying back to Sydney with the Tigers following the Titans upset in Brisbane. He was pulled over by police on Monday morning while driving home.
But the Tigers said another test at Sutherland Police Station came back negative before being sent for further analysis.
Maguire threatened to wield the axe after the Titans snapped a 14-game losing streak with the 28-23 boilover, saying he was “sick and tired” of his team’s inconsistency and questioning his players’ character.
But it was still a surprise to see Marshall relegated to an extended bench on Tuesday as part of six changes.
In what may be his final NRL season, the 35-year-old kicked what appeared to be a match-winning field goal against the Titans, only for the hosts to score a last-gasp try to seal the upset.
After not featuring in the Tigers’ 17 in the past fortnight, Reynolds returns to partner Luke Brooks in the halves.
Meanwhile, superstar fullback James Tedesco returns for Sydney Roosters’ Sunday clash with Canterbury after missing last round’s 59-0 rout of Brisbane with a virus.
Victor Radley has been named at lock for Roosters despite suffering an elbow injury.
Halfback Nathan Cleary has been welcomed back from suspension by Penrith for Friday’s battle with ladder leaders Parramatta, who also have lock Nathan Brown returning from a ban.
Cody Walker returns for South Sydney in Saturday’s showdown with Gold Coast after completing a two-game NRL ban for his involvement in a street fight last December.
Rabbitohs centre James Roberts has also been named after missing the past two matches following a stint in rehabilitation.
North Queensland will give lock Jason Taumalolo (knee) until Thursday’s training to prove his fitness for Friday’s clash with the Warriors.
“He hasn’t done a lot of full contact training yet so we’ll just see how he gets through the next two sessions,” Cowboys coach Paul Green said.
North Queensland hooker Jake Granville has been cut, replaced by Reece Robson.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has slotted Ryley Jacks into halfback for the injured Jahrome Hughes (hand) for Saturday’s clash with Newcastle at Gosford.
Meanwhile, besieged Brisbane have named recently signed rugby convert Ben Te’o on the bench for Thursday’s NRL clash with Manly.
It will be the former England rugby international’s first NRL appearance since the 2014 grand final, when he was part of South Sydney’s premiership-winning team.
Corey Oates shifts from the wing to the Broncos’ back-row.
