Following the completion of the opening round of the 2025 NRL season, several teams will look to change up their team, while others will enter Round 2 with the exact same line-up.
Adam Elliott (Newcastle Knights), Apisai Koroisau (Wests Tigers), Brian To'o (Penrith Panthers), Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys), Tommy Talau (Manly Sea Eagles) and Jahream Bula (Wests Tigers) are just a few players that are set to be available for selection after missing Round 1.
However, while some return, the Dragons will be without a young forward after he sustained an ACL injury, the Rabbitohs are facing a back-line crisis and the Sydney Roosters are set to line-up with an inexperienced forward pack.
St George Illawarra Dragons vs South Sydney Rabbitohs
The Dragons will be forced to make at least one change this week after Ryan Couchman suffered a suspected ACL injury.
"Looks like he has done his ACL so it's not real good," Flanagan said after their Round 1 match.
"Young kid, just at the start of his NRL career, such a competitor, it's not a great thing."
Veteran forward Blake Lawrie is set to make his return from the injury list but if he isn't available Shane Flanagan can call upon the likes of Loko Pasifiki Tonga or Michael Molo.
Projected Round 2 Team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. Emre Guler 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su'A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 17. Hamish Stewart
The Rabbitohs will be forced into at least two changes in their back-line after Tyrone Munro (collarbone) sustained an injury last week and Jack Wighton faces a suspension.
Zero Tackle understands that Fletcher Myers will join the team for Munro, while the club may need to ask the NRL for dispensation to use one of their train-and-trial or NSW Cup players to replace Wighton.
During the club's training session on Monday, Bayleigh Bentley-Hape was seen training in the back-line and is likely to be called upon to replace Wighton in the centres.
Lewis Dodd is available to play in his first NRL match after returning from suspension, but Jamie Humphreys played out of his skin against The Dolphins, and it's hard to see Wayne Bennett going against choosing him for this weekend.
Projected Round 2 Team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Isaiah Tass 3. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 4. Campbell Graham 5. Fletcher Myers 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Davvy Moale 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Siliva Havili 16. Tallis Duncan 17. Tevita Tatola
