Bulldogs trio suspended, Dolphins receive boost and Ilias axed: NRL Team Talk: Round 9

The round includes several blockbuster matches.

WRITER | April 29, 2025 - 1:45pm

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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.

Melbourne Storm vs Canberra Raiders

Melbourne Storm

The club confirmed on Saturday that Sua Fa'alogo showed no signs of concussion or other injury after the initial incident on Friday night that saw him leave the field but will be reviewed again on Monday.

In other injury news, hooker Harry Grant (hamstring) will be sidelined for another week.

Meanwhile, Nelson Asofoa-Solomona (concussion) and Will Warbrick (concussion) could potentially be available and make their returns.

Sua Fa’alogo was ruled out of the Storm’s Round 8 clash after failing a HIA secondary to this collision.

Will enter the NRL’s concussion protocol - is Fa’alogo’s 2nd concussion in the past 6 weeks meaning an 11 day stand down should be mandatory for him. Likely to miss Round 9. pic.twitter.com/UtPk5i8FOj

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) April 25, 2025