NRL teams Round 27: Mass restings at Sharks and Roosters for final regular-season matches
The Sharks and Roosters have decided to rest a host of stars for the final regular-season round – with Nicho Hynes, James Tedesco and Blayke Brailey among those left out.
Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has chosen to rest his biggest names for the final round of the regular season in readiness for week one of the NRL finals.
Nicho Hynes, Blayke Brailey, KL Iro and Teig Wilton are among the Cronulla players chosen to sit out against the Storm at Ocean Protect Stadium on Saturday night.
Cronulla is locked into fifth spot and home final hosting rights on the NRL ladder.
They cannot finish any higher than fifth and boast a 70-point for-and-against advantage over sixth-placed South Sydney.
Braydon Trindall (shoulder), Mawene Hiroti (ribs) and Tom Hazelton (suspension) are also unavailable.
Fitzgibbon’s changes will prompt the debut of three of the club’s rising stars including halfback Riley Pollard and centre duo Riley Jones and Michael Gabrael.
A member of the 2023 Australian Schoolboys team, Pollard joined the Sharks in 2023 from the Panthers pathways system.
He will partner Niwhai Puru in the Sharks’ halves against the Storm.
Jones joined the Sharks from Newcastle last season while Gabrael is a former NSW under-19s centre who has scored 27-tries in 32-games in NSW Cup.
ROOSTERS REST 1000 GAMES OF NRL EXPERIENCE
- Brent Read
The Sydney Roosters have prioritised their premiership aspirations over a grudge match against bitter rivals South Sydney after wrapping nine of their biggest names in cotton wool heading into Friday night’s final match of the regular season.
The Roosters, who already have a place in the top four in their keeping, will head into the game at Allianz Stadium as heavy outsiders - they drifted to $5 with one bookmaker - after making wholesale changes to the side that succumbed to the Dolphins last week.
Captain James Tedesco, halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, front row enforcer Naufahu Whyte and State of Origin stars Reece Robson, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Robert Toia were among those omitted by coach Trent Robinson.
Centre Billy Smith, five-eighth Hugo Savala and back rower Siua Wong were also left out of the side while Victor Radley remains on the sidelines as he recovers from a concussion.
More than 1000 games of first grade experience will watch from the comfort of the stands as the Roosters take a cautious approach heading into round 27 and a game which will be remembered as the 100th of Jai Arrow’s career South Sydney career.
Souths were already expected to be fired up given the occasion and the chance to secure a home final with a victory.
For once, the Roosters have done them a favour given the Rabbitohs have named a full strength side which includes the return of Latrell Mitchell to the centres - the Souths star came off the bench on his return at the Gold Coast last week.
Contrast that with the approach of the Roosters. Only a handful of regular first graders will run out at Allianz Stadium, the most notable being winger Daniel Tupou as he makes his comeback from a shoulder problem on the wing.
Spencer Leniu, Lindsay Collins, Salesi Foketi, Connor Watson and Egan Butcher have also been named while Nat Butcher is part of the extended squad.
The Roosters head into Friday night’s game off the back of consecutive defeats but Robinson doesn’t seem overly concerned by the prospect of starting the finals on the back of three successive defeats given the side he has elected to run out against Souths.
Halves Reece Foley and Toby Rodwell are highly regarded, but the pair have two games between them. Souths star Cody Walker has 245 first grade games to his name. It’s a similar theme across the entire backline.
Aston Warwick, Hayden Barton and Lui Lee have all been named to make their first grade debuts for the Roosters.
Robinson’s approach brought back memories of last year when Penrith coach Ivan Cleary rested 16 players in the penultimate round of the regular season, sending betting markets into meltdown.
Bookies reacted quickly when the sides were named on Tuesday afternoon amid fears of mass resting.
The Roosters’ approach prompted the most dramatic reassessment of the landscape as Souths’ odd were dramatically slashed.
SUPERCOACH WINNERS FROM TEAMS
* Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards, Thomas Jenkins and the Panthers – Yeo returns from a pectoral injury on the extended bench, with the Panthers resisting the urge for resting.
* Herbie Farnworth, Jamayne Isaako, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and the Dolphins – Have also resisted the urge for resting. Although Selwyn Cobbo is out through injury (more below).
* Latrell Mitchell – Named to start after his bench cameo last week. Third most popular buy.
* Simi Sasagi – Named for the Raiders despite talk he’d be sent for shoulder surgery.
* Te Maire Martin – Back from a hamstring injury after a false start last week.
* Jacob Kiraz – Named despite managing a calf injury for weeks.
SUPERCOACH LOSERS FROM TEAMS
* James Tedesco, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Robert Toia – Among mass restings at Roosters.
* Nicho Hynes, Blayke Brailey, KL Iro – Among a host of big names rested by the Sharks, who can’t move from fifth spot.
* Selwyn Cobbo – This week’s 10th most popular buy will miss the final round due to an ankle injury.
* Oliver Pascoe – Popular hooker misses the final round due to a shoulder injury. With Brailey also out, plenty of SuperCoaches are without a hooker.
* Tony Sukkar and Alex Twal – Both Tigers are out through concussion.
* Sam Walker – Unlikely to play again this season unless the Roosters make it deep into the finals.
* Kalyn Ponga, Fletcher Sharpe, Francis Manuleleua, Trey Mooney, Dom Young, Greg Marzhew – Among host of popular Knights on the bye
ROUND 27 TEAM LISTS
Originally published as NRL teams Round 27: Mass restings at Sharks and Roosters for final regular-season matches