With just six regular-season matches remaining before the 2024 NRL finals kick off, premiership favourites Penrith Panthers have delivered one of the most shocking selection moves of the year, dropping young five-eighth Blaize Talagi to NSW Cup just seven weeks out from the title decider.
The move comes after opposition teams have increasingly targeted Penrith’s left defensive edge, a strategy that paid major dividends for the Parramatta Eels in their match against the Panthers last round. Talagi, who missed seven tackles in the Eels clash, became the casualty of ongoing defensive struggles on that side of the field, with Cleary choosing veteran Jack Cogger to step into the starting role to partner playmaker Nathan Cleary for this weekend’s match against the Canberra Raiders.
Speaking after last week’s loss to the Eels, Panthers head coach Ivan Cleary acknowledged the left edge has become a persistent problem for his squad, even as the club retains its status as the best defensive outfit in the NRL. “If they’ve been targeted for two years, we still remain the best defensive team. There were definitely some worries tonight, but on the balance, they can do better than that,” Cleary told reporters. While the call to drop a young player so close to the finals is a high-stakes gamble for the premiership hopefuls, it also gives Cleary enough time to test whether the reshuffled starting 13 is the combination that can carry the club to another premiership title.
In other selection news across the league, Wests Tigers head coach Benji Marshall has made the surprising call to reinstate star halfback Adam Doueihi straight back into the starting side just one week after the playmaker was dropped from the squad amid internal club unrest. Despite growing calls from fans and pundits to send Doueihi to reserve grade, the halfback will partner former Panthers playmaker Jarome Luai in the halves for the upcoming round, with rookie Javon Andrews named on the reserves. His return is a much-needed boost for a Tigers side that has suffered a dramatic form slump in recent months, with young forward Heamasi Makasini also returning to the starting line-up in the centres.
The Sydney Roosters have been hit with a double injury blow, with winger Billy Smith joining star outside back Daniel Tupou on the injury sidelines. The club has named Tommy Talau to step into the starting side, forming an all-new left edge combination for the upcoming round.
For the Dolphins, young playmaker Isaiya Katoa has been named on the extended bench as he continues his recovery from a wrist injury, though the club has confirmed there is no guarantee he will make an early return to the field this weekend.
There is major positive injury news for the Newcastle Knights, with star fullback Kalyn Ponga named to return this week just after the club confirmed playmaker Dylan Brown will miss the remainder of the season. Ponga’s return comes at a critical time for the Knights, who are also without back Dylan Brown for the rest of the campaign. The club has named a new halves combination of Fletcher Sharpe and Sandon Smith for their road trip to Brisbane, with Deine Mariner shifting into the centres to replace the injured Gehamat Shibasaki.
South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Brandon Moore has been named to start at hooker despite managing ongoing calf issues, while young forward Tallis Duncan is in line for an earlier-than-expected return from injury in Sunday’s clash against the Cronulla Sharks. The New Zealand Warriors have brought Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad into the starting side to replace the injured Taine Tuaupiki, who is sidelined with a foot injury, while the Gold Coast Titans have welcomed back playmaker AJ Brimson and forward Kurtis Morrin from injury layoffs.
Melbourne Storm have named young utility Trent Toelau to replace injured captain and hooker Harry Grant at dummy-half this round, with rookie Hayden Watson set to make his NRL debut after being named on the bench. Young centre Jack Howarth will miss the clash against the Canterbury Bulldogs, with Manaia Waitere recalled to the starting side in his place.