NRL 2025 Round 16
Watching Lachie Galvin put in great performances for the Bulldog must be a bitter pill for the Tigers to swallow, but we’ll move on. The Tigers come into this clash on a four-game losing streak and they really need a win. Getting the win over the Raiders isn’t going to be easy and all eyes will be on whether Jarome Luai, who got the late State of Origin call-up, can make the tight turnaround.
Fonua Pole and Alex Twal will be back for the Tigers and it’s not like they have been playing that poorly over the last two games, they just haven’t been able to get the W. The Raiders, on the other hand, are riding a four-game winning streak and sit in second place on the ladder. Savelio Tamale will be out for the Raiders and eyes will be on State of Origin rep Hudson Young if he backs up.
Wests Tigers - Jahream Bula, Sunia Turuva, Adam Doueihi, Starford To'a, Jeral Skelton, Heath Mason, Jarome Luai, Terrell May, Api Koroisau, Fonua Pole, Samuela Fainu, Alex Seyfarth, Alex Twal, Latu Fainu, Jack Bird, Tony Sukkar & Sione Fainu
Canberra Raiders - Kaeo Weekes, Jed Stuart, Matthew Timoko, Seb Kris, Xavier Savage, Ethan Strange, Jamal Fogarty, Corey Horsburgh, Tom Starling, Joe Tapine, Hudson Young, Zac Hosking, Morgan Smithies, Owen Pattie, Simi Sasagi, Josh Papalii & Ata Mariota
Beware the underestimated Panthers. It seems as though whenever they come into a game as the underdogs, they put in a winning performance (and the opposite happens when they are the favourites). The Panthers do face a difficult task in Round 16 though, travelling across the ditch to face the third-placed Warriors. They will be without all their Origin reps as the turnaround and travel to New Zealand is just too short.
This means Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o, Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo will all be missing this game. For the Warriors, they look set to welcome back Rocco Berry to the lineup. Both teams have won their last two games and the Warriors have won four of their last five. Considering this is in New Zealand and the Panthers are missing a good portion of their squad, expect the Warriors to get a good win.
New Zealand Warriors - Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Adam Pompey, Rocco Berry, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Luke Metcalf, James Fisher-Harris, Wayde Egan, Jackson Ford, Leka Halasima, Marata Niukore, Erin Clark, Sam Healey, Jacob Laban, Demitric Vaimauga & Tanner Stowers-Smith
Penrith Panthers - Daine Laurie, Thomas Jenkins, Izack Tago, Casey McLean, Paul Alamoti, Blaize Talagi, Brad Schneider, Moses Leota, Mitch Kenny, Liam Henry, Scott Sorensen, Luke Garner, Matthew Eisenhuth, Luke Sommerton, Preston Riki, Isaiah Papalii & Luron Patea
The middle game on Saturday sees the Dolphins face off against the Knights in Perth. These two teams have played five times and the Knights have won on four occasions. All eyes will be on Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to see if he backs up from Origin. Felise Kaufusi is looking down the barrel of a two-match suspension and will miss this game. The Dolphins' forward pack has been ripped to shreds with Daniel Saifiti, Tom Flegler and Max Plath all injured.
After having a hand in helping the Roosters beat the Knights most brutally, Dom Young makes the mid-season switch and re-joins the Knights! Kalyn Ponga should return to the team after Origin duties, as long as he gets through the game unscathed. Tyson Frizell and Jacob Saifiti could also return. The Dolphins are on a three-game winning streak and the Knights have lost three of their last five games.
Dolphins - Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jamayne Isaako, Jake Averillo, Herbie Farnworth, Jack Bostock, Kodi Nikorima, Isaiya Katoa, Francis Molo, Jeremy Marshall-King, Mark Nicholls, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Oryn Keeley, Kurt Donoghoe, Ray Stone, Connelly Lemuelu, Josh Kerr & James Walsh
Newcastle Knights - Kalyn Ponga, Dom Young, Dane Gagai, Bradman Best, Greg Marzhew, Fletcher Sharpe, Jack Cogger, Tyson Frizell, Jayden Brailey, Jacob Saifiti, Dylan Lucas, Kai Pearce-Paul, Phoenix Crossland, Thomas Cant, Mat Croker, Brodie Jones & Jermaine McEwen
The Storm have absolutely dominated this matchup in the past, winning 35 of the 42 clashes between the teams. The Bunnies have a stack of injuries with the likes of Jye Gray, Jayden Sullivan and Keaon Koloamatangi all joining Campbell Graham, Cody Walker and Peter Mamouzelos in the casualty ward. In terms of Origin, the Rabbitohs will be desperate to get Latrell Mitchell back.
For the Storm, Xavier Coates, Cameron Munster, Stefano Utoikamanu, Harry Grant and Trent Loiero should return to play for their club if they make it through Origin and can back up. The two teams have already played this season, with the Storm getting a 24-16 victory. The Rabbitohs have lost the last three games in a row and with all the players missing, it’s difficult to see them getting a win here.
South Sydney Rabbitohs - Latrell Mitchell, Alex Johnston, Jack Wighton, Isaiah Tass, Tyrone Munro, Lewis Dodd, Jamie Humphreys, Jai Arrow, Siliva Havili, Tevita Tatola, Euan Aitken, Tallis Duncan, Lachlan Hubner, Davvy Moale, Sean Keppie, Liam Le Blanc & Ryan Gray
Melbourne Storm - Ryan Papenhuyzen, Sua Fa'alogo, Jack Howarth, Nick Meaney, Grant Anderson, Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes, Stefano Utoikamanu, Bronson Garlick, Josh King, Shawn Blore, Eli Katoa, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Harry Grant, Tyran Wishart, Trent Loiero & Tui Kamikamica
For the first game on Sunday, we see the Broncos welcome the Sharks to Suncorp Stadium. The Broncos were able to finally put it all together last time out with a dominant win over the Titans, 44-14, for what was Adam Reynolds’ 300th game. The Sharks were able to notch up a win themselves, getting the better of the Dragons, 30-18. Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan should be back on board for the Broncos if they get through Origin.
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see what Michael Maguire opts to do with Selwyn Cobbo, who was dropped for the Broncos last game. Ben Hunt is also set to return from injury, which is a massive boost. For the Sharks, Mawene Hiroti is set to join Sam Stonestreet, KL Iro and Tom Hazelton in the casualty ward. Both teams haven’t been the most consistent this year so it’s hard to pick, but I think the Sharks will keep it close.
Brisbane Broncos - Reece Walsh, Josiah Karapani, Kotoni Staggs, Gehamat Shibasaki, Jesse Arthars, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds, Corey Jensen, Ben Hunt, Payne Haas, Brendan Piakura, Jordan Riki, Patrick Carrigan, Cory Paix, Kobe Hetherington, Xavier Willison & Jack Gosiewski
Cronulla Sharks - Will Kennedy, Sione Katoa, Jesse Ramien, Sifa Talakai, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Braydon Trindall, Nicho Hynes, Addin Fonua-Blake, Blayke Brailey, Oregon Kaufusi, Briton Nikora, Teig Wilton, Cameron McInnes, Daniel Atkinson, Jesse Colquhoun, Braden Hamlin-Uele & Toby Rudolf
Despite missing a host of players, the Roosters ground out a win last time out over the Knights, 12-8. Now, they look set to welcome back the likes of Robert Toia, Lindsay Collins, Spencer Leniu, Connor Watson and Angus Crichton (as long as they can back up from Origin). The Cowboys, on the other hand, were on the business end of a shellacking from the Dolphins, 4-58.
Egan Butcher and Victor Radley are out due to a head knock/ concussion. The Cowboys could be welcoming back the likes of Tom Dearden, Reece Robson, Jeremiah Nanai and Reuben Cotter if they all make it through Origin. Viliami Vailea and John Bateman have served their suspensions and will be back as well. This will definitely be a stronger Cowboys team, but the Roosters have more confidence.
Sydney Roosters - James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou, Billy Smith, Robert Toia, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Sandon Smith, Hugo Savala, Naufahu Whyte, Connor Watson, Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton, Siua Wong, Salesi Foketi, Benaiah Ioelu, Zach Dockar-Clay, Blake Steep & Spencer Leniu
North Queensland Cowboys - Scott Drinkwater, Robert Derby, Zac Laybutt, Viliami Vailea, Murray Taulagi, Jaxon Purdue, Tom Dearden, Jordan McLean, Reece Robson, Sam McIntyre, John Bateman, Jeremiah Nanai, Reuben Cotter, Harrison Edwards, Griffin Neame, Coen Hess & Kai O'Donnell
Two teams right at the bottom of the ladder round out Round 16 when we see the 16th-placed Eels welcome the 17th-plated Titans. These two teams have played 26 times, with each team winning on 13 occasions. However, the Titans have a poor record at CommBank Stadium, winning just 29% of their games. After back-to-back wins, the Eels have now lost their last two games against the Panthers and Bulldogs.
Meanwhile, the Titans got a much-needed and much-surprising win over the Sea Eagles last time out. Zac Lomax is the Eels’ only Origin star after Mitch Moses suffered an injury. Plus Dylan Brown is out for the Eels due to suspension. The Titans could welcome back Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Mo Fotuaika from Origin. The Titans are the favourites and even though Brown and Moses are out for the Eels and the Titans got a good win last week, I’m tipping the upset.
Parramatta Eels - Isaiah Iongi, Zac Lomax, Will Penisini, Sean Russell, Josh Addo-Carr, Dylan Walker, Dean Hawkins, Jack Williams, Ryley Smith, Junior Paulo, Kelma Tuilagi, Kitione Kautoga, J'maine Hopgood, Joash Papalii, Jordan Samrani, Matt Doorey & Ryan Matterson
Gold Coast Titans - AJ Brimson, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Brian Kelly, Jojo Fifita, Allan Fitzgibbon, Kieran Foran, Jayden Campbell, Mo Fotuaika, Sam Verrills, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Chris Randall, Beau Fermor, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Jacob Alick-Wiencke, Klese Haas, Jaimin Jolliffe & Tukimihia Simpkins
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