Ezra Mam has been rushed back into the starting side for Brisbane as the reigning premiers look to bounce back from their uninspiring 26-0 loss to Penrith last week.

Coach Michael Maguire pulled a late switch by starting veteran Ben Hunt and moving Mam to the bench against the Panthers, but he’s named his dynamic five-eighth and should start him there against the Eels.

They take on an Eels side that could get speedster Josh Addo-Carr back from a thumb injury after the veteran winger was named following just one week on the sidelines.

Brian Kelly drops to the reserves after a poor defensive display in Melbourne, while Jack Williams stars at prop and Kelma Tuilagi gets a crack in the back row with J’maine Hopgood out suspended.

The Panthers remain without rep forward Liam Martin (calf) in a big blow ahead of their return to Bathurst this weekend, with coach Ivan Cleary keeping Tom Jenkins on the wing which sees Izack Tago named on the interchange.

The Roosters have received a major boost with Maroons rookie Robert Toia cleared to return from a foot injury as he and the right edge look to stop Alex Johnston from breaking the try-scoring record.

But they’ll be without enforcer Spencer Leniu who suffered a hamstring injury in the warm-up last week, while the Bunnies have brought in Jayden Sullivan to replace halfback Ashton Ward (ankle).

Teen sensation Heamasi Makasini will start at centre for the Wests Tigers when they open their 2026 campaign at Leichhardt Oval against a Cowboys side that could be forced into a late change on the wing if Braidon Burns loses at the judiciary.

Jack Hetherington could make his Storm debut after he was named on the bench for the trip to Wollongong, while edge forward Shawn Blore could make a return after injury kept him out of their season opener.

Sandon Smith gets the nod at five-eighth with Fletcher Sharpe out injured for the Knights, while the Dolphins welcome back two key men with Max Plath and Ray Stone listed on the interchange bench.

Originally published as Team lists: Ezra Mam returns to the Broncos starting side as the Wests Tigers unleash teenage freak