Following the completion of the eighth round of the 2025 NRL season, several teams will look to change up their team, while others will enter Round 9 with the exact same line-up.
Kayal Iro (Cronulla Sharks), Max Plath (The Dolphins), Brian To'o (Penrith Panthers), Josh Schuster (South Sydney Rabbitohs) and Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Melbourne Storm) are just a few players who are set to be available for selection heading into Round 9.
However, while some return, the likes of Matt Burton (Canterbury Bulldogs), Scott Sorensen (Penrith Panthers), Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Mawene Hiroti (Cronulla Sharks) and Josh Curran (Canterbury Bulldogs) have been ruled out for this week.
Gold Coast Titans vs Canterbury Bulldogs
The Gold Coast Titans will be forced into at least one change for this week, with forward Jaimin Jolliffe being hit with a two to three-game suspension by the Match Review Committee.
Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui and Klese Haas are potential options to replace him in the side.
Projected Round 9 Team: 1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Thomas Weaver 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Beau Fermor 12. David Fifita 13. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 14. Chris Randall 15. Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui 16. Brock Gray 17. Arama Hau
Cameron Ciraldo will be forced into at least three changes this week, with Matt Burton, Sitili Tupouniua and Josh Curran all facing suspension after being charged by the Match Review Committee (MRC) last week.
Their absences will see Bailey Hayward slot back into the halves with Toby Sexton while Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Kurtis Morrin and Blake Taaffe are set to find their way back into the first-grade side.
Samuel Hughes (ankle) is also a chance of returning, but has yet to play a match this season and is likely to return through the NSW Cup.
🚨 TEAM NEWS: Blake Taaffe, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Kurtis Morrin and Lipoi Hopoi NOT named in NSW Cup. Expect three of them to play with one being used as the 18th man. @zerotackle pic.twitter.com/iW5fnck9qW
— Ethan Lee Chalk (@EthanLeeChalk) April 29, 2025
Projected Round 9 Team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Bailey Hayward 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Harry Hayes 17. Blake Taaffe
