NRL 2026 Round 8 Discussion

[Big Pete]

Wests Tigers vs. Canberra Raiders
Leichardt Oval, Thursday 23 April 2026
Kick Off: 7:50pm

WESTS TIGERS

1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Taylan May 4. Starford To'a 5. Luke Laulilii 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. Patrick Herbert 19. Tristan Hope

20. Latu Fainu 21 Jeral Skelton 22. Tony Sukkar

CANBERRA RAIDERS

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Sebastian Kris 3. Simi Sasagi 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jed Stuart 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Ata Mariota 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Zac Hosking 12. Noah Martin 13. Corey Horsburgh

14. Jayden Brailey 15. Daine Laurie 16. Joseph Roddy 17. Morgan Smithies 18. Chevy Stewart 19. Savelio Tamale

20. Owen Pattie 21. Jordan Uta 22. Jake Clydesdale

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Cronulla Sharks
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Friday 24 April 2026
Kick Off: 6:00pm

NORTH QLD COWBOYS

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Tomas Chester 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Coen Hess 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

14. Soni Luke 15. Sam McIntyre 16. Thomas Mikaele 17. Griffin Neame 18. Matthew Lodge 19. Kai O'Donnell

20. Zac Laybutt 21. Kaiden Lahrs 22. Robert Derby

CRONULLA SHARKS

1. William Kennedy 2. Mawene Hiroti 3. Siosifa Talakai 4. KL Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet 6. Braydon Trindall 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. Cameron McInnes 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha

20. Riley Jones 21. Riley Pollard 22. Sione Katoa

Brisbane Broncos vs. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Suncorp Stadium, Friday 24 April 2026
Kick Off: 8:00pm

BRISBANE BRONCOS

1. Jesse Arthars 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Ben Talty 9. Cory Paix 10. Jack Gosiewski 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Xavier Willison

14. Josh Rogers 15. Jaiyden Hunt 16. Preston Riki 17. Va'a Semu 18. Hayze Perham 19. Antonio Verhoeven

20. Thomas Duffy 21. Cameron Bukowski

CANTERBURY BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS

1. Connor Tracey 2. Jonathan Sua 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 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. Josh Curran 20. Lipoi Hopoi

21. Jethro Rinakama 22. Alekolasimi Jones 23. Alex Conti

St George Illawarra Dragons vs. Sydney Roosters
Allianz Stadium, Saturday 25 April 2026
Kick Off: 4:00pm

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Setu Tu 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Mathew Feagai 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Kade Reed 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. Toby Couchman 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Ryan Couchman 13. Hamish Stewart

14. Josh Kerr 15. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 16. Blake Lawrie 17. Jacob Halangahu 18. Kyle Flanagan 19. Christian Tuipulotu

20. Hayden Buchanan 21. Hame Sele 22. Ryan Hutchinson

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

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. Billy Smith

20. Benaiah Ioelu 21. Egan Butcher 22. Tommy Talau

Warriors vs. Dolphins
Hnry Stadium (Wellington), Saturday 25 April 2026
Kick Off: 6:05pm

NZ WARRIORS

1. Taine Tuaupiki 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

14. Samuel Healey 15. Mitchell Barnett 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Jacob Laban 18. Marata Niukore 20. Luke Hanson

21. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 22. Adam Pompey 23. Makaia Tafua

THE DOLPHINS

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Brad Schneider 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Tom Gilbert 9. Max Plath 10. Francis Molo 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles

14. Ray Stone 15. Thomas Flegler 16. Felise Kaufusi 17. Trai Fuller 18. Lewis Symonds 19. Tevita Naufahu

20. Brian Pouniu 21. Oryn Keeley 22. John Fineanganofo

Melbourne Storm vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs
AAMI Park, Saturday 25 April 2026
Kick Off: 8:10pm

MELBOURNE STORM

1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Manaia Waitere 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Joe Chan 12. Cooper Clarke 13. Trent Loiero

14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Shawn Blore 17. Davvy Moale 18. Jack Hetherington 19. Hugo Peel

20. Trent Toelau 21. Josiah Pahulu 22. Moses Leo

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

1. Matthew Dufty 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Jack Wighton 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Sean Keppie 11. Brandon Smith 12. CONEHEAD Duncan 13. Cameron Murray

14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Lachlan Hubner 16. Jayden Sullivan 17. Keaon Koloamatangi 18. Euan Aitken 19. Liam Le Blanc

20. Latrell Siegwalt 21. Thomas Fletcher 22. Edward Kosi

Newcastle Knights vs. Penrith Panthers
McDonald Jones Stadium, Sunday 26 April 2026
Kick Off: 2:00pm

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

1. Fletcher Sharpe 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Fletcher Hunt 5. James Schiller 6. Sandon Smith 7. Dylan Brown 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Francis Manuleleua 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Mathew Croker

14. Harrison Graham 15. Pasami Saulo 16. Cody Hopwood 17. Elijah Leaumoana 18. Asu Kepaoa 19. Kyle McCarthy

20. Peter Hola 21. Lachlan Crouch 22. Wilson De Courcey

PENRITH PANTHERS

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Paul Alamoti 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To'o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Isaiah Papali'i 12. Luke Garner 13. Isaah Yeo

14. Jack Cogger 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Kalani Going 17. Billy Phillips 18. Izack Tago 19. Jack Cole

20. Luron Patea 21. Billy Scott 22. Sione Fonua

Manly Sea Eagles vs. Parramatta Eels
4 Pines Park, Sunday 26 April 2026
Kick Off: 4:05pm

MANLY SEA EAGLES

1. Tolutau Koula 2. Jason Saab 3. Clayton Faulalo 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Brandon Wakeham 10. Kobe Hetherington 11. Haumole Olakau'atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic

14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho 18. Simione Laiafi 19. Josh Feledy

20. Nathan Brown 21. Joey Walsh 22. Jackson Shereb

PARRAMATTA EELS

1. Joash Papali'i 2. Brian Kelly 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Ronald Volkman 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Luca Moretti 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Charlie Guymer 12. Jack Williams 13. Dylan Walker

14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Saxon Pryke 16. Toni Mataele 17. Jack de Belin 18. Kelma Tuilagi 19. Lorenzo Talataina

20. Araz Nanva 21. Jezaiah Funa-Luta 22. Teancum Brown

 

[Foordy]

Kyle Flanagan immediately dropped as soon as his father was sacked

Marshall dropping Makasini is an interesting call.

 

[ivanhungryjak]

Kyle Flanagan immediately dropped as soon as his father was sacked

Marshall dropping Makasini is an interesting call.

I bet Ilias and Braith are having a "well, well, well" moment.

 

[BroncsFan]

Marshall dropping Makasini is an interesting call.

Makasini looks like he's been struggling this whole year... I've had him in SVRL and he's been doing **** all.

Physicality of the game is completely different in the NRL proper compared to the trials when he was running over people.

 

[Foordy]

how are the Storm Favourites over the Rabbitohs, lol

pretty decent favourites as well.

$1.64 to $2.27

 

[Big Pete]

Form centre Simi Sasagi has been ruled out of tonight's game against the Wests Tigers with a hamstring injury. Savelio Tamale has been named in his place.

With Hudson Young and Josh Papalii ruled out, the scales are certainly in the Tigers favour. The only concerning thing is they should have beaten Brisbane last week but let the opportunity slip. Makasini has been dropped but his replacement, Laulilii, has had his own struggles.

Last week the Tigers simply didn't score enough points.

Three tries - one was a regulation attacking kick where they out-competed the Broncos, the other was off a backline shift where they got around a hobbled Payne Haas with the final try to Koroisau being a simple flat ball play for the offload and reap the benefits.

Luai needs to play more up tempo. Everyone is onto his jink and dummy, it's time to take on Strange and Timoko. Then in the second half, push up through the middle with Koroisau with Bula.

 

[BroncsFan]

Luai needs to play more up tempo. Everyone is onto his jink and dummy, it's time to take on Strange and Timoko. Then in the second half, push up through the middle with Koroisau with Bula.

Luai is a handbrake on that left hand side.

Anytime it goes out there he gets shutdown by any sort of linespeed and starts heading back infield.

Puts a lot of the attack on Douiehi's shoulders.

Bula is also more of a running fullback, so he's not always creating through ballplaying outside of finishing 3v2's.

If they didn't have Douiehi their attack would be really struggling

 

[Foordy]

Reports that Woolf is considering bringing Trai Fuller into the side this weekend. Brad Schneider has been named at six, but according to Code Sports, Fuller could start in the backline, either at fullback or centre with Jake Averillo a chance of moving to five-eighth.

 

[Brocko]

A late tackle set restart against the Tigers in set 1. So ill disciplined as usual!

 

[Brocko]

Thats a fortunate bounce.

 

[Brocko]

Ethan Strange off... of course

 

[Brocko]

Absolute milk fest. Nothing wrong with that tackle

 

[Fozz]

Nice run from hot tamale there, shame the Raiders couldn’t take advantage

 

[Brocko]

Not Martin going off as well...

 

[Brocko]

Well.. guess the Raiders have a chance now

 

[Fozz]

Well if Kodi was a bin, so was that

 

[Brocko]

and they take advantage of the extra man instantly. Timoko through the middle.

 

[Fozz]

Now that’s how you take advantage of a bin