Just 48 hours after the opening match of the 2026 State of Origin series, NRL clubs have locked in their Round 13 lineups, delivering a mixed bag of injury updates that have reshaped upcoming fixtures across the league. While most clubs are taking a cautious approach to their representative Origin players, naming them to extended benches for fitness assessments later in the week, multiple teams have landed welcome boosts with key stars cleared to return from long injury layoffs.
Cronulla Sharks have suffered an early setback ahead of their Friday night clash against the in-form Manly Sea Eagles, with star halfback and former Blues playmaker Nicho Hynes ruled out entirely. Scans conducted earlier this week confirmed a minor calf strain sustained during training, and the club confirmed further testing will be required to confirm the length of his stint on the sidelines. In Hynes’ absence, rookie Niwhai Puru has been named in the coveted number 7 jersey, pairing with Braydon Trindall in the halves for the Sharks. For Manly, the Sea Eagles have kept their own Blues representatives — Haumole Olakau’atu and Tolu Koula — on an extended bench, aligning with the league-wide cautious approach to monitoring Origin players post-series opener.
The biggest boost of the round goes to the Brisbane Broncos, who have secured the return of superstar prop Payne Haas, who has made a full recovery from a knee injury. The NSW Blues mainstay is now on track to rejoin the state’s pack for the second Origin game, and will take the field for Brisbane this weekend against the St George Illawarra Dragons. Fellow Bronco Brendan Piakura has also earned a spot in the starting back row, with all of the club’s Origin representatives named to back up this weekend. The Dragons, for their part, have welcomed experienced hooker Jacob Liddle back to the squad, naming him on the bench for the Sunday clash.
Wests Tigers have also earned a significant boost to their lineup ahead of their match against the Canterbury Bulldogs, with multiple key players cleared to return: representative fullback Jahream Bula, hooker Api Koroisau, and promising young centre Heamasi Makasini. Makasini will partner with winger Sunia Turuva in the centres for the Tigers, while Canterbury has retained Jacob Kiraz in the starting fullback role. Regular starting fullback Connor Tracey will join captain Stephen Crichton on the Bulldogs’ extended bench for this round.
The Parramatta Eels are facing mixed injury fortunes ahead of Round 13: star halfback Mitch Moses remains sidelined with the hamstring strain that already ruled him out of the Origin series opener, but the club has welcomed dynamic fullback Isaiah Iongi back from an extended injury layoff. Long-time Eels prop and club great Junior Paulo recently underwent an arthroscopic procedure to treat a chronic right knee injury he had been playing through for the preceding three weeks, and is expected to make his return to the side in Round 21.
Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco has been named in the starting fullback spot for the club’s away trip to face Melbourne Storm, with utility Cody Ramsey primed to shift into the role if the Blues star is rested for the round. The Storm will be without back-rower Shawn Blore, who was ruled out after suffering a head knock in training.
For NSW Blues and Penrith Panthers fans, there is excellent news ahead of Sunday’s top-billed clash against the New Zealand Warriors: star back-rower Liam Martin has been officially cleared to return from injury. All of Penrith’s Origin representatives have been named to an extended bench and will undergo final fitness assessments later in the week. For the Warriors, incoming Dragons playmaker Luke Metcalf has been named in the reserves as he pushes for a return to the active playing lineup. The official NRL shared full details of all Round 13 team lists via social media on May 26, 2026.