NRL Round 19: Brisbane Broncos Strengthened by Veteran Utility Ben Hunt’s Return; Panthers Choose to Rest Origin Stars

Ben Hunt is set to make his return to the starting side for the Broncos for the first time in nearly two months, providing a significant lift to the club’s hopes of clinching the premiership.

The 35-year-old halfback has been recovering from a hamstring injury sustained towards the end of the Broncos’ round 10 clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Hunt’s comeback means coach Michael Maguire will finally have his preferred starting spine on the field, with Adam Reynolds, Ezra Mam, and Reece Walsh all set to start alongside him.

With Hunt wearing the No. 9 jersey against the Titans, Cory Paix has been relegated to the extended reserves, while Billy Walters has been included in the matchday 17.

In other news, Bulldogs head coach Cameron Ciraldo has decided to maintain Matt Burton and Toby Sexton as their starting halves combination.

All State of Origin stars from the Panthers have been included in the extended squad.

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All times in AEST

FRIDAY

Cronulla Sharks v Dolphins at Sharks Stadium, 8pm

Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 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. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Billy Burns 19. Hohepa Puru 20. Niwhai Puru 21. Michael Gabrael 22. Jayden Berrell

Dolphins: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Max Feagai 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jake Averillo 6. Sean O’Sullivan 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe 14. Aublix Tawha 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Ray Stone 17. Josh Kerr 18. Harrison Graham 19. Trai Fuller 20. Tevita Naufahu 21. LJ Nonu 22. Peter Hola

SATURDAY

Newcastle Knights v Melbourne Storm at McDonald Jones Stadium, 3pm

Knights: 1. Fletcher Hunt 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jermaine McEwen 17. Brodie Jones 18. Thomas Cant 19. James Schiller 20. Tyson Gamble 21. Jack Hetherington 22. Kyle McCarthy

Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Grant Anderson 3. Joe Chan 4. Nick Meaney 5. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown 6. Tyran Wishart 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 14. Jonah Pezet 15. Stefano Utoikamanu 16. Lazarus Vaalepu 17. Ativalu Lisati 18. Jack Howarth 19. Trent Loiero 20. Cameron Munster 21. Harry Grant 22. Kane Bradley 23. Moses Leo 24. Keagan Russell-Smith

St George Illawarra Dragons v Sydney Roosters at Jubilee Stadium, 5.30pm

Dragons: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Sione Finau 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Hamish Stewart 16. Blake Lawrie 17. Michael Molo 18. Corey Allan 19. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 20. Lachlan Ilias 21. Viliami Fifita 22. Nicholas Tsougranis

Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Hugo Savala 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Salesi Foketi 13. Victor Radley 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Blake Steep 16. Egan Butcher 17. Spencer Leniu 18. Ethan King 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Sandon Smith 21. Benaiah Ioelu 22. Max McCathie 23. Tom Rodwell 24. Makahesi Makatoa

North Queensland Cowboys v Canterbury Bulldogs at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, 7.35pm

Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Braidon Burns 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. Reuben Cotter 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Harrison Edwards 14. Karl Lawton 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Kai O’Donnell 17. Coen Hess 18. Ryan Rivett 19. Temple Kalepo 20. Kaiden Lahrs 21. Dane Aukafolau 22. Murray Taulagi 23. Marly Bitungane 24. Jaxson Paulo

Bulldogs: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Enari Tuala 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Bailey Hayward 14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Josh Curran 17. Lachlan Galvin 19. Jake Turpin 20. Jaeman Salmon 21. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 22. Kurtis Morrin 23. Blake Wilson 24. Jethro Rinakama 25. Jack Todd

SUNDAY

Warriors v Wests Tigers at Go Media Stadium, 2pm

Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Rocco Berry 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Leka Halasima 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Jacob Laban 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith 18. Eddie Ieremia 20. Samuel Healey 21. Bunty Afoa 22. Edward Kosi 23. Kurt Capewell

Tigers: 1. Sunia Turuva 2. Charlie Staines 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Jarome Luai 7. Latu Fainu 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Tony Sukkar 13. Alex Twal 14. Tristan Hope 15. Alex Seyfarth 16. Sione Fainu 17. Jack Bird 18. Heath Mason 19. Charlie Murray 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Brent Naden 22. Luke Laulilii

Parramatta Eels v Penrith Panthers at CommBank Stadium, 4.05pm

Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Jordan Samrani 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Jack Williams 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Charlie Guymer 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Dylan Walker 16. Matt Doorey 17. Sam Tuivaiti 18. Dan Keir 19. Toni Mataele 20. Ronald Volkman 21. Bailey Simonsson 22. Joash Papali’i

Panthers: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Paul Alamoti 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Brad Schneider 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Luke Garner 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Matt Eisenhuth 14. Jack Cole 15. Liam Henry 16. Luron Patea 17. Mavrik Geyer 18. Luke Sommerton 19. Nathan Cleary 20. Dylan Edwards 21. Brian To’o 22. Liam Martin 23. Isaah Yeo 24. Preston Riki

Gold Coast Titans v Brisbane Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium, 6.15pm

Titans: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Jaylan De Groot 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 15. Jaimin Jolliffe 16. David Fifita 17. Klese Haas 18. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 19. Arama Hau 20. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 21. Sean Mullany 22. Tom Weaver

Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Xavier Willison 9. Ben Hunt 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Billy Walters 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Jack Gosiewski 17. Tyson Smoothy 18. Selwyn Cobbo 19. Ben Talty 20. Cory Paix 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Delouise Hoeter 23. Benjamin Te Kura 24. Jesse Arthars

Bye: Rabbitohs, Raiders, Sea Eagles