Sports Australia

State of Origin again takes precedence with both squads named overnight, however before we get to the third and final match of the 2009 series there is another round of the National Rugby League to get through.

Manly and the Bulldogs last night played in what many have described as the best game to date this season.

The Sea Eagles prevailed with a come-from-behind victory but the standard of both teams deserves an encore – possibly in the finals with Manly back in the top eight again.

Whether we get that will depend on how both teams go in round 18 and beyond Origin III in the run home.

Speaking of round 18, there are just five matches this weekend with South Sydney and Penrith the lone Friday night match.

The Rabbitohs welcome back Beau Champion in the centres and Ben Lowe as a second-row forward. Luke Stuart has been elevated to the front row with Beau Falloon, Scott Geddes and debutant David Tyrrell named on a five-man interchange bench.

Shannon McDonnell joins Cory Paterson and Scott Dureau in an extended 19-man squad for Newcastle in the lead up to its clash with Canberra on Saturday night.

McDonnell is poised to fill in for inspirational skipper Kurt Gidley, who is away on Origin duty with New South Wales. Paterson and Dureau form a six-man interchange bench.

Buoyed by victory over the Titans on Sunday, the Raiders have made three changes for the Newcastle trip with youngster Daniel Vidot replacing Justin Carney on the wing and forwards Scott Logan and Joe Picker for representative duo David Shillington and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs.

The Bulldogs have been forced to make several changes after Brett Kimmorley, Michael Ennis and Josh Morris were all called up for NSW Origin duty.

Head coach Kevin Moore described it as a good test for the club as they travel over to Auckland for a clash with the Warriors on Sunday.

Earning a recall are Matt Utai, Chris Armit and Michael Sullivan, while Greg Eastwood and Bryson Goodwin wait for further news regarding judiciary pleas.

After surviving last night’s thriller, Manly heads into round 18 and a showdown with ladder leading St George-Illawarra with a depleted line-up due to injury and origin duty.

Manly are already set to miss a quartet of key players, along with Jamie Lyon (ankle injury), but could also be without reserve forward Heath L’Estrange for up to four weeks on a grade two dangerous throw charge.

Gold Coast has named Luke Bailey, Mark Minichiello and Mat Rogers for the Monday night clash with Parramatta despite fitness tests for all three scheduled for later in the week.

Parramatta has made two changes to the side beaten by Penrith on the weekend. The backline has been shuffled slightly with Jarryd Hayne in the NSW camp.

Luke Burt moves back to fullback with Krisnan Inu filling in on the wing.

The Eels have also granted forward Josh Cordoba a release which will enable him to see out the year for English Super League club Hull FC.

The Broncos head a list of six clubs with the bye this weekend, all of whom will be glad to see it as they refresh ahead of the run to the finals.

Below are all the team line-ups that were announced today, along with Radio and Television coverage details.

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Penrith Panthers
Friday night, July 10 @ ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 7:35pm (AEST).

Rabbitohs: 1 Nathan Merritt, 2 Jamie Simpson, 3 Colin Best, 4 Beau Champion, 5 Fetuli Talanoa, 6 John Sutton, 7 Chris Sandow; 8 Luke Stuart, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Roy Asotasi (c), 11 Ben Lowe, 12 Eddy Pettybourne, 13 David Fa’alogo. Interchange: 14 Beau Falloon, 15 Shannan McPherson, 16 David Tyrrell, 17 Scott Geddes, 18 Garret Crossman. *One to be omitted*

Panthers: 1 Jarrod Sammut, 2 Ben McFadgean, 3 Geoff Daniela, 4 Brad Tighe, 5 Junior Tia Kilifi, 6 Wade Graham, 7 Luke Walsh; 8 Tim Grant, 9 Paul Aiton, 10 Frank Puletua, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Joseph Paulo, 13 Nathan Smith. Interchange: 14 Maurice Blair, 15 Adam Woolnough, 16 Matthew Bell, 17 Joel Romelo, 18 Sam McKendry, 19 Andrew Emelio. *Two to be omitted*

Live coverage on Channel 9 and Radio 2GB from 7:30pm (AEST). Fox Sports late night replay from 10:30pm (AEST). Check local guides for more information.

Newcastle Knights vs Canberra Raiders
Saturday night, July 11 @ Energy Australia Stadium, Newcastle
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST).

Knights: 1 Shannon McDonnell, 2 Keith Lulia, 3 Junior Sau, 4 Adam MacDougall, 5 Akulia Uate, 6 Ben Rogers, 7 Jarrod Mullen; 8 Mark Taufua, 9 Isaac DeGois, 10 Chris Houston, 11 Steve Simpson (c), 12 Zeb Taia, 13 Matt Hilder. Interchange: 14 Wes Naiqama, 15 Marvin Karawana, 16 Richie Fa’aoso, 17 Danny Wicks, 18 Cory Paterson, 19 Scott Dureau. *Two to be omitted*

Raiders: 1 Josh Dugan, 2 Daniel Vidot, 3 Jarrod Croker, 4 Joel Monaghan, 5 Phil Graham, 6 Terry Campese, 7 Marc Herbert, 8 Dane Tilse, 9 Glen Buttriss, 10 Troy Thompson, 11 Joe Picker, 12 Bronson Harrison, 13 Alan Tongue (c). Interchange: 14 Joel Thompson, 15 Nigel Plum, 16 Josh Miller, 17 Scott Logan, 18 Glen Turner. *One to be omitted*

Live coverage on Fox Sports Two from 7:00pm (AEST).

New Zealand Warriors vs Bulldogs
Sunday afternoon, July 12 @ Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Kick-off: 4:00pm (local/NZ); 2:00pm (AEST).

Warriors: 1 Wade McKinnon, 2 Kevin Locke, 3 Jerome Ropati, 4 Joel Moon, 5 Manu Vatuvei, 6 Lance Hohaia, 7 Stacey Jones; 8 Russell Packer, 9 Ian Henderson, 10 Sam Rapira, 11 Simon Mannering, 12 Lewis Brown, 13 Micheal Luck (c). Interchange: 14 Aaron Heremaia, 15 Jesse Royal, 16 Ben Matulino, 17 Jacob Lillyman, 18 Ukuma Ta’ai. *TOne to be omitted*

Bulldogs: 1 Luke Patten, 2 Hazem El Masri, 3 Daryl Millard, 4 Matt Utai, 5 Bryson Goodwin, 6 Ben Roberts, 7 Daniel Holdsworth; 8 Jarrad Hickey, 9 Michael Sullivan, 10 Michael Hodgson, 11 Gary Warburton, 12 Andrew Ryan (c), 13 David Stagg. Interchange: 14 Brad Morrin, 15 Chris Armit, 16 Yileen Gordon, 17 Greg Eastwood.

Live coverage on Fox Sports Two from 1:30pm (AEST).

St George-Illawarra Dragons vs Manly Sea Eagles
Sunday afternoon, July 12 @ WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Kick-off: 3:00pm (AEST).

Dragons: 1 Jason Nightingale, 2 Brett Morris, 3 Chase Stanley, 4 Matt Cooper, 5 Wendell Sailor, 6 Jamie Soward, 7 Ben Hornby (c); 8 Dan Hunt, 9 Luke Priddis, 10 Jon Green, 11 Jarrod Saffy, 12 Beau Scott, 13 Dean Young. Interchange: 14 Trent Merrin, 15 Nick Emmett, 16 Michael Lett, 17 Nathan Fien, 18 Mathew Head. *One to be omitted*

Sea Eagles: 1 Michael Robertson, 21 Andrew Suniula, 3 Ben Farrar, 4 Steve Matai, 5 Tony Williams, 6 Chris Bailey, 7 Matt Orford (c); 8 Jason King, 9 Matt Ballin, 10 Brent Kite, 11 Shane Rodney, 12 Adam Cuthbertson, 13 Glenn Hall. Interchange: 14 Heath L’Estrange, 15 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 16 George Rose, 17 Vic Mauro, 19 Kieran Foran. *One to be omitted*

Live call on Radio 2GB from 3:00pm. Replay on Channel 9 from 4:00pm, check local guides for more information. Replay on Fox Sports Two from 7:00pm (all times AEST).

Gold Coast Titans vs Parramatta Eels
Monday night, July 13 @ Skilled Park, Gold Coast
Kick-off: 7:00pm (AEST).

Titans: 1 Preston Campbell, 2 Kevin Gordon, 3 Esi Tonga, 4 Brett Delaney, 5 Chris Walker, 6 Mat Rogers, 7 Scott Prince (c); 8 Luke Bailey, 9 Nathan Friend, 10 Michael Henderson, 11 Anthony Laffranchi, 12 Mark Minichiello, 13 Brad Meyers. Interchange: 14 Matthew White, 15 Will Matthews, 16 Daniel Conn, 17 William Zillman, 18 David Mead, 19 Josh Graham. *Two to be omitted*

Eels: 1 Luke Burt, 2 Krisnan Inu, 3 Joel Reddy, 4 Ben Smith, 5 Eric Grothe, 6 Daniel Mortimer, 7 Jeff Robson; 8 Nathan Cayless (c), 9 Matthew Keating, 10 Fuifui Moimoi, 11 Nathan Hindmarsh, 12 Joe Galuvao, 13 Todd Lowrie. Interchange: 14 Kevin Kingston, 15 Broderick Wright, 17 Tim Mannah, 19 Jeremy Latimore. *One to be omitted*

Live coverage on Fox Sports Two from 6:00pm (AEST). Check local guides for more information.

Byes – Brisbane Broncos, Cronulla Sharks, Melbourne Storm, North Queensland Cowboys, Sydney Roosters & Wests Tigers