The battered Broncos have received a huge boost with star trio Xavier Willison, Gehamat Shibasaki and Deine Mariner set to return for Saturday night’s clash against the Sharks at Suncorp Stadium.
Willison was expected to be ruled out of the round 18 clash after suffering concussion in last week’s loss to the Roosters, but the Broncos are seeking a medical clearance from the NRL.
That would enable Willison to start in the No.13 jumper originally slated for Pat Carrigan before Brisbane’s first-choice lock was called up by Queensland coach Billy Slater for the Origin decider.
Brisbane coach Maguire said he was sweating on a prospective exemption for Willison as the Broncos look to keep their finals hopes alive against the Sharks.
— Peter Badel
TWAL BACK, LUAI OUT
Wests Tigers lock Alex Twal is expected to make a return this weekend after missing the last four weeks with an MCL injury.
Twal, one of the Tigers’ standouts, was pushing to return last week, with the club initially naming him to start at lock, before opting to leave him out of the clash against Newcastle.
Twal is on the team sheet this week and expected to play, although Jarome Luai (concussion) is out and Samuela Fainu (foot) fell just short in his comeback push.
-Tyson Jackson
SUPERCOACH WINNERS FROM TEAMS
* Xavier Willison – REVERSE TRADES! The most sold player after initial thoughts he’d miss two weeks, Willison is now free to play after receiving a medical concussion clearance.
* Tallis Duncan – Returns to the forwards due to the comeback of Jack Wighton from a broken arm. Duncan has won dual position (2RF/CTW) and is the most popular purchase of the week.
* Dylan Lucas – Missed NSW selection and now available for the Knights. Fifth most popular buy.
* Alex Twal – Named to return from a knee injury. Eighth most popular buy and only teammate Terrell May has averaged more in the forwards for SuperCoach 2026.
* Tony Sukkar – Star cheapie retains his starting spot despite coming from the field early against the Knights.
* Joey Walsh – The Manly young gun has emerged as a buy after winning the starting halves spot of Luke Brooks (ACL, season).
* Reuben Garrick – Popular CTW has been named to return from concussion.
* Tom Trbojevic – The former SuperCoach superstar has dipped to possibly his lowest price of all-time ($557,300) and is the second most popular purchase.
* Nicho Hynes – Made a successful return from a calf injury last match and is on the team sheet again. Second highest average of any player taking the field this week (92) and has a great run home.
FULL ANALYSIS OF TOP BUYS HERE
SUPERCOACH LOSERS FROM TEAMS
* Ativalu Lisati – Set to be ruled out long-term with an ankle injury and therefore the second most sold player.
* Jack Bostock – The form Dolphin’s Origin selection leaves over 50,000 SuperCoaches short for the big bye.
* Isaiah Papali’i – Out for the next two weeks due to concussion followed by the bye.
* Taylan May – Out for the season due to a third shoulder dislocation.
* Jarome Luai – Out for the big bye week due to concussion.
* Oliver Pascoe, Tom Chester, Jayden Campbell, Reece Walsh, Heilum Luki – All on the bye, all popular sells.
FULL ANALYSIS OF TOP SELLS AND HOLDS HERE
NRL ROUND 18 TEAM LISTS
PANTHERS V RABBITOHS
Friday, 8:00pm, CommBank Stadium
Panthers
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
Interchange: 14. Billy Scott 15. Kalani Going 16. Billy Phillips 17. Luron Patea 18. Jack Cole 19. Sione Fonua
Reserves: 20. Zakauri Clarke 21. Jaxen Edgar 22. Tom Ale
Rabbitohs
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
Interchange: 14. Jamie Humphreys 15. Euan Aitken 16. Liam Le Blanc 17. John Radel 18. Matt Dufty 19. Jayden Sullivan
Reserves: 20. Moala Graham-Taufa 21. Peter Mamouzelos 23. Thomas Fletcher
DRAGONS V TIGERS
Saturday, 5:30pm, Jubilee Stadium
Dragons
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
Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Luciano Leilua 16. Josh Kerr 17. Emre Guler 18. Jacob Halangahu 19. Lyhkan King-Togia
Reserves: 20. Hame Sele 21. Moses Suli 22. Christian Tuipulotu
Wests Tigers
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
Interchange: 14. Josese Lanyon 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Latu Fainu 18. Faaletino Tavana 19. Charlie Murray
Reserves: 20. Javon Andrews 21. Heath Mason 22. Mavrik Geyer
BRONCOS V SHARKS
Saturday, 7:35pm, Suncorp Stadium
Broncos
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
Interchange: 14. Blake Mozer 15. Ben Talty 16. Jaiyden Hunt 17. Jesse Arthars 18. Josh Rogers 21. Luke Gale
Reserves: 20. Joshua Coric 22. Kane Bradley 23. Tupou Francis
Sharks
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
Interchange: 14. Hohepa Puru 15. Oregon Kaufusi 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Tuku Hau Tapuha 18. Mawene Hiroti 19. Harrison Hassett
Reserves: 20. Niwhai Puru 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Liam Ison
EELS V SEA EAGLES
Sunday, 2:00pm, CommBank Stadium
Eels
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
Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Teancum Brown 17. Harrison Edwards 18. Joash Papalii 19. Charlie Guymer
Reserves:20. Apa Twidle 21. Ryley Smith 22. Toni Mataele
Sea Eagles
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
Interchange: 14. Josh Feledy 15. Nathan Brown 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Simione Laiafi 18. Aaron Scoupp 19. Zaidas Muagututia
Reserves: 20. Hugo Hart 21. Blake Wilson 22. Fletcher Baker
KNIGHTS V DOLPHINS
Sunday, 4:05pm, McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights
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
Interchange: 14. Harrison Graham 15. Tyson Frizell 16. Cody Hopwood 17. Thomas Cant 18. Lachlan Crouch 19. Francis Manuleleua
Reserves: 20. Kyle McCarthy 21. Tyson Gamble 22. Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
Dolphins
1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Avarillo 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
Interchange: 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Tom Gilbert 16. Ray Stone 17. Brian Pouniu 18. Sebastian Su’a 19. John Fineanganofo
Reserves: 20. Sam Elliot 21. LJ Nonu 22. Zac Garton