In a massive Tigers blow, Jarome Luai is out of this weekend’s must-win clash against the Dragons.

The Eels welcome back a high-profile recruit this weekend after a lengthy injury lay-off.

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Meanwhile, the Broncos need to win out to make the eight, but with a severely undermanned team against Cronulla, it’ll be a tall task to keep their season alive.

Read on for the Round 18 team lists!

FRIDAY JULY 3

Penrith Panthers vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs @ CommBank Stadium, 8pm

Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Jack Cogger 8. Moses Leota 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Liam Henry 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Luke Garner 13. Lindsay Smith 14. Billy Scott 15. Kalani Going 16. Billy Phillips 17. Luron Patea 18. Jack Cole 19. Sione Fonua 20. Zakauri Clarke 21. Jaxen Edgar 23. Tom Ale

Analysis: Penrith are missing four players from last week’s loss to North Queensland. Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin are on Origin duty while Isaiah Papali’i is out after suffering a head knock against the Cowboys. In a boost for the Panthers though, Brian To’o is on deck after being dropped by the Blues. Jack Cogger will start at seven in place of Cleary. Cogger has been decent in a pinch hitting role off the bench at times. He’s come in relief for Cleary plenty of times before so Ivan Cleary will have every confidence Cogger can help Penrith turn around their recent form. The Panthers are out to break a two-game slide after shock losses to the Titans and Cowboys. Lindsay Smith will start at lock in place of Yeo while the new-look second row consists of Liam Henry and Scott Sorensen.

Rabbitohs team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Dayne Jennings 3. Latrell Siegwalt 4. Jack Wighton 5. Edward Kosi 6. Cody Walker 7. Ashton Ward 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Brandon Smith 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Lachlan Hubner 14. Jamie Humphreys 15. Euan Aitken 16. Liam Le Blanc 17. John Radel 18. Matthew Dufty 19. Jayden Sullivan 20. Moala Graham-Taufa 21. Peter Mamouzelos 22. Thomas Fletcher

Analysis: The Bunnies welcome back Jack Wighton, who has been sidelined for nearly two months with an arm injury. The timing is right given the Rabbitohs are without Cam Murray (Origin) and the injured Latrell Mitchell. Wighton will line up in the centres, with Latrell Siegwalt the other centre. Wighton is nearing the end of his career but he has a lot to offer in attack and defence, and gives the Rabbitohs a major threat near the line. Tallis Duncan has been sensational in the centres but will move in one and start in the back row to accomodate Wighton. Expect the Bunnies to look for Wighton early and often. Dayne Jennings debuted last week off the bench but he’s been named to make his first NRL start on a flank. He replaces Alex Johnston, who is out for a couple of weeks with a calf injury. An interesting addition to the six-man bench is Matt Dufty, who was given an NRL lifeline by Souths this season. He probably won’t be utilised unless injury strikes one of the backs. Lachlan Hubner starts in the middle for Murray.

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SATURDAY JULY 4

St George Illawarra Dragons vs. Wests Tigers @ Jubilee Stadium, 5:30pm

Dragons team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Setu Tu 3. Mathew Feagai 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Tyrell Sloan 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 9. Damien Cook 10. Toby Couchman 11. Dylan Egan 12. Hamish Stewart 13. Ryan Couchman 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Luciano Leilua 16. Josh Kerr 17. Emre Guler 18. Jacob Halangahu 19. Lyhkan King-Togia 20. Hame Sele 21. Moses Suli 22. Christian Tuipulotu

Analysis: The only team not to make any changes this week is the Dragons, with Dean Young naming the same side who fought hard in Canberra. Moses Suli has missed the last two games with a hip injury and he has been named on an extended bench but he’s in some doubt to play. Another outside back named in the extended bench is Christian Tuipulotu.

Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Heamasi Makasini 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Jock Madden 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Tony Sukkar 12. Sione Fainu 13. Alex Twal 14. Josese Lanyon 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Latu Fainu 18. Faaletino Tavana 19. Charlie Murray 20. Javon Andrews 21. Heath Mason 22. Mavrik Geyer

Analysis: In a shock development, Jarome Luai won’t line up against the Dragons. In the days following the Tigers’ loss to Newcastle, Luai has been found to be dealing with delayed concussion symptoms. It’s a hige blow for a team fighting to save their season. Entering Round 18, the Tigers are two wins outside of the top eight. Jock Madden will line up alongside Adam Doueihi in the halves. Thankfully for the Tigers, the pair have worked well together this season. With Doueihi and Madden starting in the halves, the Tigers are 3-0. The club went on a three game run between Rounds 4 and 6, beating the Warriors, Eels and Knights during that span.

Brisbane Broncos vs. Cronulla Sharks @ Suncorp Stadium, 7:35pm

Broncos team: 1. Hayze Perham 2. Grant Anderson 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Thomas Duffy 7. Ben Hunt 8. Va’a Semu 9. Cory Paix 10. Preston Riki 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Xavier Willison 14. Blake Mozer 15. Ben Talty 16. Jaiyden Hunt 17. Jesse Arthars 18. Josh Rogers 19. Luke Gale 20. Joshua Coric 21. Kane Bradley 22. Tupou Francis

Analysis: Brisbane are facing a near impossible task to play finals footy, needing to win at least seven of their last eight games. Their task has only become tougher this weekend given they’re missing five players from the team that played against the Roosters last weekend. Reece Walsh and Payne Haas are in Origin camp while Jack Gosiewski, Josiah Karapani and Aublix Tawha also out. Gehamat Shibasaki is back on deck and will start in the centres. That means Grant Anderson will play on a wing. In a huge boost, Deine Mariner returns from a nasty leg injury. He was in terrific form until the setback. He’ll line outside Kotoni Staggs on the right side. There’s a chance that Michael Maguire hands out a debut jersey this weekend with forwards Luke Gale, Josh Coric and Tupou Francis named in the reserves. Gale and Coric have been impressing in the QLD Cup while Francis is a teen sensation who has been pegged for a huge future. The forward could come into the side given the uncertainty around Xavier Willison, who the club is hoping to receive an exemption from the 11-day concussion stand-down period. Hayze Perham will be the Broncos’ fullback this week with Walsh out.

Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Jayden Berrell 10. Jesse Colquhoun 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Hohepa Puru 15. Oregon Kaufusi 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Tuku Hau Tapuha 18. Mawene Hiroti 19. Harrison Hassett 20. Niwhai Puru 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Liam Ison

Analysis: Cronulla lose three players to Origin duty, those being Briton Nikora, Addin Fonua-Blake and Blayke Brailey. It means Jayden Berrell will start in the No. 9 jersey. Billy Burns is back in the starting side in place of Nikora. Burns enjoyed a strong run of form earlier in the season while tasked with a starting role when Nikora was sidelined because of injury. Meanwhile, Craig Fitzgibbon has gone with Tom Hazelton to start in the middle for Fonua-Blake.

Sharks’ season on the line | 00:48

SUNDAY JULY 5

Parramatta Eels vs. Manly Sea Eagles @ CommBank Stadium, 2pm

Eels team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Brian Kelly 3. Jordan Samrani 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Ronald Volkman 7. Jonah Pezet 8. Luca Moretti 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Jack Williams 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Jack de Belin 14. Dylan Walker 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Teancum Brown 17. Harrison Edwards 18. Joash Papali’i 19. Charlie Guymer 20. Apa Twidle 21. Ryley Smith 22. Toni Mataele

Analysis: Jonah Pezet impressed in NSW Cup last week as he returned from a hamstring setback and Jason Ryles clearly took notice, naming Pezet to return to the NRL for the first time since Round 5 to replace Mitchell Moses while he is on Origin duty. It is the only change for Parramatta from last week’s loss to South Sydney, which saw Ryles call the Eels players out post-game for not being good enough to even beat a park footy team. That would usually indicate major changes are on the way, but the extent of Parramatta’s injury crisis limited how much Ryles could actually do. The Pezet call-up is a big decision though considering he is leaving the club at the end of the year, so it would theoretically make more sense to see what the Eels have in Joash Papalii, who is off-contract beyond this season. But Ryles also needs to see results on the field in the short-term to get confidence in the playing group, so the hope may be that Pezet can help do that in the interim with Moses away in Origin camp.

Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Clayton Faulalo 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Joey Walsh 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Kobe Hetherington 11. Corey Waddell 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Josh Feledy 15. Nathan Brown 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Simione Laiafi 18. Aaron Schoupp 19. Zaidas Muagututia 20. Hugo Hart 21. Blake Wilson 22. Fletcher Baker

Analysis: Unfortunately Luke Brooks’ season is over, but it is a big opportunity for Joey Walsh to show what he is made of as the young playmaker steps in at five-eighth for the rest of the season. It comes after Walsh extended with the club last week, which initially cast doubt over when he would get a run in the NRL next. But as it turns out, the Sea Eagles will need him immediately, although Luke Keary believes there won’t be too much pressure on Walsh to produce right away. “I see him just playing a really similar role to Brooks. Jamal will control the game for him,” Keary told foxsports.com.au. In welcome news, Clayton Faulalo (hamstring) and Reuben Garrick (concussion) are both back this week and bolster a backline that is missing Origin representative Tolu Koula while Corey Waddell replaces Blues second rower Haumole Olakau’atu. Kobe Hetherington is also back after missing last week’s win over Melbourne while in concussion protocols and starts up front.

Newcastle Knights vs. Dolphins @ McDonald Jones Stadium, 4:05pm

Knights team: 1. Fletcher Sharpe 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Fletcher Hunt 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Sandon Smith 7. Dylan Brown 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Mathew Croker 14. Harrison Graham 15. Tyson Frizell 16. Cody Hopwood 17. Thomas Cant 18. Lachlan Crouch 19. Francis Manuleleua 20. Kyle McCarthy 21. Tyson Gamble 22. Elijah Leaumoana

Analysis: The Knights will be without their two Origin representatives in Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best. Dylan Lucas is available for selection after being left out by Laurie Daley, so he returns to the second row in a boost. As for how Newcastle will cover for the Origin omissions, Fletcher Sharpe goes to fullback as expected with Fletcher Hunt joining the starting side in the centres. Sandon Smith, meanwhile, partners Dylan Brown in the halves to cover for Sharpe’s move to fullback.

Dolphins team: 1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Tevita Naufahu 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Brad Schneider 8. Felise Kaufusi 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Francis Molo 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Tom Gilbert 16. Ray Stone 17. Brian Pouniu 18. Sebastian Su’a 19. John Fineanganofo 20. Sam Elliott 21. LJ Nonu 22. Zac Garton

Analysis: The Dolphins are also without a host of Origin stars, but the biggest name missing is halfback Isaiya Katoa, who is set for an extended stint on the sideline with a fractured wrist. Brad Schneider fills in for Katoa as expected, which will put more pressure on Kodi Nikorima to step up in his halves partner’s absence given Schneider is more limited as a playmaker. Given Nikorima is without a contract for next year, it gives him an opportunity to only rise his price tag. Elsewhere, Trai Fuller is also called upon to replace Hamsio Tabuai-Fidow at fullback while he is on Origin duty. Tevita Naufahu and Felise Kaufui also return to the starting side in place of Queensland representatives Selwyn Cobbo and Tom Flegler. There is some good news on the injury front, however, with Tom Gilbert (throat) back while Jake Averillo (hand) also returns in a welcome boost.