Meanwhile, the Broncos have a massive Payne Haas-sized hole to replace in their forward pack \u2014 and that\u2019s not all.<\/p>\n
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Read on for NRL Team Tips for Round 8!<\/p>\n
THURSDAY 23RD APRIL <\/p>\n
Wests Tigers vs. Canberra Raiders @ Leichhardt Oval, 7.50pm<\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Taylan May 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Heamasi Makasini 6. Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Alex Twal 14. Jock Madden 15. Sione Fainu 16. Royce Hunt 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Latu Fainu 19. Luke Laulilii <\/p>\n
Team tips: There have been calls to give teen sensation Heamasi Makasini a week off after a poor showing against the Broncos given he\u2019s only 18 and has played every game this season. Tino Tavana remains sidelined with a hamstring injury and it remains to be seen when he will be fit to return to the side or whether he will displace Patrick Herbert or even Makasini. The Tigers centre came off in the loss to Brisbane with what Benji Marshall described as tightness, but it was also to accommodate playmaker Jock Madden, who Benji Marshall wanted to inject late to help ice the game. <\/p>\n
Last week\u2019s Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Sebastian Kris 3. Simi Sasagi 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jed Stuart 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 16. Ata Mariota 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 15. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh 8. Josh Papali\u2019i 12. Noah Martin 14. Jayden Brailey 17. Morgan Smithies 18. Daine Laurie 19. Joseph Roddy <\/p>\n
Team tips: Veteran enforcer Josh Papalii left the field with a calf injury in Round 7 and is unlikely to be fit to take the field against the Tigers, especially considering their Thursday night clash. Elsewhere, Hudson Young earned a ban for a high tackle on Sua Faalogo, meaning Noah Martin will likely join the starting side after dropping to the bench in his last two games. Matty Nicholson is still sidelined with a shoulder injury so Joe Roddy is likely to join the interchange rotation against the Tigers. Roddy has been on the extended bench the last two games but hasn\u2019t been called upon.<\/p>\n
MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n
TEAM TIPS: Dragons\u2019 cleanout on the cards after Flanno sacking; Bulldogs\u2019 huge boost <\/a><\/p>\n CONTENDERS: Why obvious choice isn\u2019t a lock for the job<\/a><\/p>\n TALKING POINTS: Why it\u2019s time for brutal $2.5m call; proof Latrell debate is \u2018over\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n CRAWLS: Brutal Dragons reality Flanno sacking can\u2019t mask<\/a><\/p>\n Broncos edge Tigers, but at what cost? | 02:29<\/p>\n FRIDAY 24TH APRIL<\/p>\n North Queensland Cowboys vs. Cronulla Sharks @ Queensland Country Bank Stadium, 6.00pm<\/p>\n Last week\u2019s Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Tomas Chester 5. Zac Laybutt 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Coen Hess 9. Soni Luke 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Kai O\u2019Donnell 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Griffin Neame 16. Thomas Mikaele 17. Matthew Lodge 18. Viliami Vailea 20. Harrison Edwards<\/p>\n Team tips:Reed Mahoney is due to return from a head knock and will displace Soni Luke, who will shuffle back to the bench. On the wing, Murray Taulagi also returns from a head knock which could see Zac Laybutt drop out of the side, or retain a spot on the six-man bench. Despite a horror loss to Manly, Todd Payten generally isn\u2019t one to rush into changes. Given they won four straight leading into the Sea Eagles game, Payten will likely roll with the same group outside of Luke and Laybutt, who will make way for Mahoney and Taulagi respectively. <\/p>\n Last week\u2019s Sharks team: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Mawene Hiroti 4. KL Iro 5. Sam Stonestreet 6. Braydon Trindal 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jesse Colquhoun 14. Briton Nikora 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Tom Hazelton 18. Jayden Berrell 19. Riley Jones<\/p>\n Team tips: Cronulla had the bye over the weekend. Their last start was a loss to the Roosters. Jesse Ramien is due back from a knee injury next week, meaning Mawene Hiroti will start alongside KL Iro in the centres. Forward Cam McInnes is set to return not long afterwards. <\/p>\n Brisbane Broncos vs. Canterbury Bulldogs @ Suncorp Stadium, 8.00pm<\/p>\n Last week\u2019s Broncos team: 1. Jesse Arthars 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Josh Rogers 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Xavier Willison 14. Thomas Duffy 15. Ben Talty 17. Jack Gosiewski 18. Va\u2019a Semu 19. Hayze Perham 20. Cameron Bukowski <\/p>\n Team tips: A huge loss for the Broncos, with Payne Haas set to miss six to eight weeks with a Grade 3 MCL injury. With the gun prop dropping out of the side, Ben Talty could join Xavier Willison in the run on team. Meanwhile, the Broncos will also have to replace fellow starting front rower Corey Jensen. He was sent for scans which has revealed a pulmonary embolism. Jensen remains in hospital and the recovery time is unclear, but he is expected to miss several weeks. In a further double blow, Kotoni Staggs has a plantar fascia strain and Jesse Arthars has sustained a tear to his interosseous membrane. Both Staggs and Arthars are working with the club\u2019s medical staff to determine their return to play timelines. It is unclear at this stage if Reece Walsh will be back this week, but he is expected to return to training in some capacity. Ben Hunt (knee) and Patrick Carrigan (suspension) will remain unavailable. In some welcome news, Cory Paix is due to return from a head knock, which could see a big reshuffle. Josh Rogers will likely be replaced, and with Tom Duffy and Cameron Bukowski on the pine, Rogers may drop out of the side altogether. With that said, Rogers was sound against the Tigers. He didn\u2019t run the ball but made 41 tackles in the middle. <\/p>\n Last week\u2019s Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 21. Josh Curran 4. Bronson Xerri 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Samuel Hughes 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Leo Thompson 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Harry Hayes 17. Jake Turpin 19. Jonathan Sua 20. Lipoi Hopoi<\/p>\n Team tips: Hard to gauge the Dogs. Thrash Penrith one week, lose to an undermanned Eels side the next. Coach Cameron Ciraldo will likely be forced into one change and that\u2019s Jacob Kiraz. The winger will go for scans after suffering a knee injury. Jonathan Sua was solid off the bench. He has the inside running to replace Kiraz this weekend. Enari Tuala was a late out, forcing Josh Curran to play 80 minutes out of position in the centres. That won\u2019t happen this week with Curran better suited in the middle. Thankfully for Bulldogs fans, Ciraldo revealed that Stephen Crichton is back on deck.<\/p>\n Stephen Crichton is due back next weekend.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n SATURDAY 25TH APRIL<\/p>\n St George Illawarra Dragons vs. Sydney Roosters @ Allianz Stadium, 4.00pm<\/p>\n Last week\u2019s Dragons team: 1. Tyrell Sloan 20. David Fale 3. Mathew Feagai 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Setu Tu 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 14. Jacob Liddle 10. Toby Couchman 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su\u2019A 17. Josh Kerr 9. Damien Cook 13. Hamish Stewart 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Jacob Halangahu 19. Kade Reed 21. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga<\/p>\n Team tips: With Shane Flanagan set to be axed, there could be sweeping changes. Jaydn Su\u2019A will miss at least three weeks after copping a suspension for a high shot. Hamish Stewart will likely start on an edge with Josh Kerr to retain a starting lock spot. The form of Val Holmes has come under a cloud<\/a> after Latrell Mitchell terrorised him on the weekend. He\u2019s a very real chance of being dropped to find some form. A welcome inclusion for the Dragons, with key forward Ryan Couchman set to return from suspension. He will take up his spot on the bench. Rising star Dylan Egan isn\u2019t far away from being available after a serious knee injury. Christian Tuipulotu is in some doubt with a knee issue. The winger could miss another week with bone bruising. Much was made about Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga\u2019s future at the team last week. He was decent off the bench in his first NRL appearance of the season (65, eight hit ups). He\u2019ll keep his position. With Flanagan gone, you\u2019d have to wonder whether Kade Reed will get a run in first grade and if Kyle Flanagan is at risk of being dropped. Meanwhile, Haele Finau, Cyrus Stanley-Traill, Nathan Lawson, Nicholas Quinn and Lykhan King-Togia all suffered concussions during their NSW Cup match against the Rabbitohs and will be inelegible for selection. <\/p>\n Last week\u2019s Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Hugo Savala 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Connor Watson 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Nat Butcher 17. Salesi Foketi 18. Cody Ramsey 19. Tommy Talau<\/p>\n Team tips: Roosters coach Trent Robinson faces a genuine selection headache with Billy Smith nearing a return from his knee injury. Smith was named in last week\u2019s squad before dropping out and while he wasn\u2019t quite ready against the Knights, he will be pushing to play this week. But will Robinson even pick him? Hugo Savala has been a revelation at centre, scoring two tries against the Knights and was heaped with praise from his coach after the win. \u201cI thought he was so good out there today at left centre. He\u2019s doing the role that he\u2019s been asked to do,\u201d Robinson said.<\/p>\n New Zealand Warriors vs. Dolphins @ Hnry Stadium, 6.05pm<\/p>\n Last week\u2019s Warriors team: 22. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 4. Ali Leiataua 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Leka Halasima 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Erin Clark 1. Taine Tuaupiki 14. Samuel Healey 15. Marata Niukore 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Jacob Laban 23. Mitchell Barnett<\/p>\n Team tips: Andrew Webster made a couple of late changes before the Titans win, including Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad returning at fullback and Mitch Barnett named to come off the pine. Both were outstanding. It means Taine Tuaupiki likely drops out of the side or remains on the six-man bench. Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored a double against his former side and will keep his spt on the flank. Adam Pompey returns from suspension but he\u2019s no certainty to be picked as Ali Leiataua and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck have been strong in the centres during the club\u2019s two-game winning streak. Te Maire Martin is nearing a comeback from a leg injury. <\/p>\n Last week\u2019s Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Tom Gilbert 9. Max Plath 17. Francis Molo 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles 10. Felise Kaufusi 14. Brad Schneider 15. Thomas Flegler 16. Ray Stone 18. Oryn Keeley 19. Trai Fuller <\/p>\n Team Tips: A loss is a loss, but it was a step in the right direction from Kristian Woolf\u2019s men, who pushed Penrith to golden point. Kodi Nikorima copped a two week ban for a hip drop tackle. He is set to be replaced by Brad Schneider in the halves. Jeremy Marshall-King is probably another week away from returning. Winger Jack Bostock is set to make his comeback in the next two to three weeks. <\/p>\n Warriors hold on to beat the Titans | 02:44<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n TEAM TIPS: Dragons\u2019 cleanout on the cards after Flanno sacking; Bulldogs\u2019 huge boost <\/a><\/p>\n CONTENDERS: Why obvious choice isn\u2019t a lock for the job<\/a><\/p>\n TALKING POINTS: Why it\u2019s time for brutal $2.5m call; proof Latrell debate is \u2018over\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n