The Wests Tigers have recalled star five-eighth Lachie Galvin for the clash against the Sharks, after his one-game appearance in the NSW Cup.
The 19-year-old returns after the club’s 38-22 loss to Parramatta on Easter Monday, following coach Benji Marshall’s decision to drop Galvin. He played in the lower grades for Western Suburbs in a 22-10 loss, after the rising star announced his decision to depart the club at the end of 2026.
Since then, reports surfaced of discontent with Marshall’s coaching and his teammates turning on him on social media, which has resulted in a legal letter from the player’s management to the club over his treatment.
Parramatta forward Kelma Tuilagi will miss three games on the sidelines after pleading guilty to a grade-two shoulder charge on the Tigers’ Terrell May on the first tackle of the game. The hit wasn’t even penalised on the field, with the incident only placed on report minutes later. The second-rower was facing four weeks if he contested it and lost.
Lachlan Galvin of the Wests Tigers (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh has suffered PCL damage, which will rule him out for at least a month as coach Michael Maguire considers further changes to the side’s spine.
Walsh was injured in the opening minutes of Saturday’s loss to the Warriors and had his right knee strapped by the trainer.
He bravely played on despite the injury, but is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, which will all but rule him out of contention for State of Origin Game 1 selection in a major blow for Queensland.
Five-eighth Ben Hunt made four errors in his worst display of the year and was shifted to hooker in the second half, with Billy Walters switching to No.6 and but Maguire has resisted making the switch again ahead of their Bulldogs clash on Thursday night.
The Dolphins will be without key forwards Felise Kaufusi and Jeremy Marshall-King for the away trip to Canberra.
There was better news on versatile forward Max Plath, who has been named after suffering a foot ligament injury in the 42-22 win over Melbourne on Friday night.
(Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
Kaufusi, who sustained a medial ligament strain against the Storm, may only miss one week. Marshall-King has not scrubbed up after a nasty gash to his thigh in the round-six win over Penrith got infected.
“We really want to make sure Jeremy’s cut heals properly before he does anything, so the best way to look after him is to give him another week’s break,” Dolphins performance chief Jeremy Hickmans said.
“Felise is in a brace at this point but if all goes according to plan he could play against the Roosters (in round nine).
“Plath has a foot ligament injury, but with some luck and the long turnaround into the game, he could take the field against the Raiders.”
The injury to Kaufusi has opened the door for former St George Illawarra prop Frank Molo to make his club debut.
Molo has been playing for CQ Capras in the Queensland Cup but will play in his first NRL match of the season.
Good news for Manly with star fullback Tom Trbojevic to return in Round 8 after injuries and suspension threatened to rip apart their team.
Front-rower Tof Sipley was referred directly to the judiciary for a hip-drop tackle on St George Illawarra winger Mat Feagai and was banned four games.
The incident, which drew a dangerous contact charge, took place in the 53rd minute of the Sea Eagles’ disappointing 20-18 loss at 4 Pines Park on Thursday night.
Manly had their misery compounded during the match with injuries to Nathan Brown (shoulder), Jake Trbojevic (concussion) and Tommy Talau (leg) – but out of the three, only Jake Trbojevic has been left out of the 17 to take on Penrith.
Coach Anthony Seibold also confirmed the side would be without hooker Lachlan Croker for a month after knee surgery.
Penrith hooker Mitch Kenny copped a two-game ban after he was charged for a hip-drop tackle on Nat Butcher.
The Roosters’ chances of defeating the Dragons on Anzac Day have taken a hit with Butcher ruled out for a month due to the knee injury he suffered from the Kenny tackle in the loss to Penrith although second-rower Angus Crichton (groin) has been named to make a return and centre Billy Smith is back from a one-week ban for a high shot.
In a backline reshuffle, coach Trent Robinson has chosen to drop English winger Dom Young to the reserves.
Round 8 teams
All times AEST
Broncos vs Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium: 7.50pm, Thursday April 24
Broncos: 1. Selwyn Cobbo 2. Deine Mariner 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Xavier Willison 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Cory Paix 15. Corey Jensen 16. Brendan Piakura 17. Jaiyden Hunt 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Martin Taupau 20. Jock Madden 21. Josiah Karapani 22. Ben Te Kura
Reece Walsh is likely to miss 4-6 weeks with a serious knee injury, placing his Origin campaign in jeopardy. He is replaced at fullback by Selwyn Cobbo, and Deine Mariner comes in on the wing.
Brendan Piakura returns to the bench after his high-tackle ban.
Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Josh Curran 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Harry Hayes 17. Bailey Hayward 19. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 20. Blake Wilson 21. Blake Taaffe 22. Lipoi Hopoi 23. Luke Smith
Young forward Jack Todd is out for two months with a broken arm, with Harry Hayes returning to join the bench.
Roosters vs Dragons at Allianz Stadium: 4pm, Friday April 25
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Blake Steep 17. Nat Butcher 18. Ethan King 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Chad Townsend 21. Dominic Young 22. Makahesi Makatoa
Trent Robinson has sprung a backline shuffle with Billy Smith returning from suspension, resulting in Mark Nawaqanitawase shifting to the wing and Dom Young dropping out to the extended reserves.
Experienced forward Nat Butcher will be missing for a few weeks due to a knee injury from the loss to Penrith. Spencer Leniu comes in as replacement in the front row, while Angus Crichton’s return from a groin problem pushes Salesi Foketi to the bench.
Dragons: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Sione Finau 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Emre Guler 17. Dylan Egan 18. Lyhkan King-Togia 19. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 20. Finau Latu 21. Corey Allan 22. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
Mathew Feagai (ankle) is missing after he copped a hip-drop tackle in the win over Manly, with Sione Finau replacing him on the wing, with Christian Tuipulotu (hamstring) still unavailable.
Front-rower Emre Guler is back from his three-game hip-drop suspension and will start on the bench.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is tackled. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Warriors vs Knights at Go Media Stadium: 6.05pm, Friday April 25
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Rocco Berry 4. Ali Leiataua 5. Adam Pompey 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. Jackson Ford 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 14. Leka Halasima 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Jacob Laban 18. Te Maire Martin 20. Tanah Boyd 21. Tanner Stowers-Smith 22. Samuel Healey 23. Edward Kosi
Rocco Berry (suspension) will return, pushing Kurt Capwell back into the forward pack.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (concussion) also returns to fullback with Taine Tuaupiki moving to the wing and Ed Kosi dropping to the reserves. Te Maire Martin is 18th man.
James Fisher-Harris (pectoral), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (arm) and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) are still out.
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Tyson Gamble 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Mathew Croker 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Tyrone Thompson 16. Thomas Cant 17. Brodie Jones 18. Kyle McCarthy 19. Paul Bryan 20. Jack Cogger 21. Matthew Arthur 22. Logan Aoake
Dylan Lucas (hamstring) has been named in the starting side to make his return, so Thomas Cant moves to the bench.
Front-rower Jacob Saifiti (calf) is still unavailable, but Jack Cogger (finger) is still pushing to be fit and is named on an extended reserves list.
Storm vs Rabbitohs at AAMI Park: 8.10pm, Friday April 25
Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Kane Bradley 3. Grant Anderson 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Joe Chan 17. Lazarus Vaalepu 18. Ativalu Lisati 19. Sua Faalogo 20. Keagan Russell-Smith 21. Coby Williamson 22. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Jack Howarth’s season could be over after he dislocated his shoulder in the loss to the Dolphins, while Fijian prop Tui Kamikamica (ankle) is also out.
Harry Grant won’t play for a month after suffering a torn hamstring, with Bronson Garlick named at hooker.
Kiwi forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been named among the reserves as he looks to return after recent concussion layoffs.
Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 3. Jack Wighton 4. Campbell Graham 5. Isaiah Tass 6. Cody Walker 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Junior Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Euan Aitken 13. Jai Arrow 14. Jye Gray 15. Siliva Havili 16. Davvy Moale 17. Tallis Duncan 18. Liam Le Blanc 19. Lewis Dodd 20. Thomas Fletcher 21. Salesi Ataata 22. Declan Casey
Latrell Mitchell is back to fullback with Jayden Sullivan back on deck. This means Jye Gray drops back to the bench with Lewis Dodd back to the reserves.
Bayley Bentleigh-Hape comes in on the wing, shifting Campbell Graham to centre and Euan Aitken to the back row, and Jai Arrow slides to lock.
Cowboys vs Titans at QCB Stadium: 5.30pm, Saturday April 26
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Kai O’Donnell 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Harrison Edwards 19. Zac Laybutt 20. Thomas Duffy 21. Karl Lawton 22. Thomas Mikaele
Fresh off the bye, coach Todd Payten has John Bateman (infection) back, while Jeremiah Nanai also moves into the starting side.
Titans: 1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Tom Weaver 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. David Fifita 15. Jaimin Jolliffe 16. Brock Gray 17. Arama Hau 18. Tony Francis 19. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 20. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 21. Allan Fitzgibbon 22. Josiah Pahulu
Second-rower David Fifita has been named to come off the bench, despite fears he’d miss a month after missing the trip to Canberra with a hamstring strain.
Try-scoring machine Alofiana Khan-Pereira is also back on the wing after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Jayden Campbell (ankle) is set to miss several weeks after he was ruled out of the Round 7 clash with the Raiders amid reports he has suffered syndesmosis damage, while young forward Brock Gray will start on the bench after serving a ban for a careless high tackle.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Panthers vs Sea Eagles at CommBank Stadium: 7.35pm, Saturday April 26
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Paul Alamoti 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Thomas Jenkins 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Liam Henry 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Brad Schneider 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Lindsay Smith 17. Mavrik Geyer 18. Daine Laurie 19. Luron Patea 20. Asu Kepaoa 21. Matt Eisenhuth 22. Jack Cole
Mitch Kenny has been suspended for two weeks for a hip drop tackle, with Luke Sommerton coming in at hooker.
Izack Tago is also back in the centres in place of Luke Garner, who is out with concussion. Mavrik Geyer comes onto the bench.
Isaiah Papali’i avoided a ban for a high tackle in the win over the Roosters, while winger Brian To’o (hamstring) is still unable to make his return.
Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jazz Tevaga 14. Tommy Talau 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown 18. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 19. Clayton Faulalo 20. Jakob Arthur 21. Michael Chee Kam 22. Caleb Navale
Tom Trbojevic (knee) has been named to make his return after a month out while Corey Waddell has served his two-game ban for a high shot and will come off the bench. Lehi Hopoate moves back to the wing, Tommy Talau goes to the bench.
Jake Trbojevic (concussion) has already been ruled out of Round 8 with Jazz Tevaga moving to lock and Jake Simpkin to hooker.
Tof Sipley copped a four-game after he was referred directly to the judiciary for a hip-drop tackle on St George Illawarra speedster Mat Feagai. Josh Aloiai returns in the front row.
Raiders vs Dolphins at GIO Stadium: 2pm, Sunday April 27
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Zac Hosking 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota 18. Simi Sasagi 19. Jed Stuart 20. Pasami Saulo 21. Trey Mooney 22. Danny Levi
Ricky Stuart has stuck with the same 17 after Sunday’s 30-20 win over Gold Coast, with Hudson Young and Joseph Tapine avoiding charges for high tackles.
Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Max Plath 10. Francis Molo 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Tom Gilbert 13. Mark Nicholls 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Ray Stone 16. Connelly Lemuelu 17. Josh Kerr 18. Kenny Bromwich 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Tevita Naufahu 22. Junior Tupou
Felise Kaufusi (knee) and Jeremy Marshall-King (thigh) have been ruled out, but Max Plath (foot) has been named to play despite failing to finish the win over the Storm.
Francis Molo makes his club debut in the front row, and Mark Nicholls moves to lock.
Tigers vs Sharks at Leichhardt Oval: 4.05pm, Sunday April 27
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To’a 5. Brent Naden 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu 18. Tony Sukkar 19. Heath Mason 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Solomona Faataape 22. Tristan Hope
Lachie Galvin has been recalled after he was dropped by Benji Marshall to NSW Cup after telling the club he would be leaving at the end of next year.
Adam Doueihi goes back to the centres, and Brent Naden pushes to the wing. However, winger Jeral Skelton (hamstring) remains out.
The forward pack has been boosted as Royce Hunt returns on the bench.
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Mawene Hiroti 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Tuku Hau Tapuha 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Jayden Berrell 19. Braden Hamlin-Uele 20. Billy Burns 21. Hohepa Puru 22. Jesse Colquhoun
Just the one change from the team that dominated in Newcastle, with prop Toby Rudolf out with an ankle injury, replaced by Tukupa-Ke Hau Tapuha on the bench.
Cook Islands centre Kayal Iro is closing in on a return from his hamstring tear, but wasn’t named this week.
Bye – Eels
with AAP
