Season-defining call: Cowboys switch up the halves after horror month as veteran playmaker earns Newcastle recall

News.com.au

5 hours ago

Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold has made a raft of changes in a bid to fire up his underperforming team, with Tom Trbojevic to play just his sixth club game at centre after he was moved from fullback for Friday's match against the Wests Tigers.
Lehi Hopoate will start in his preferred position at fullback, while Trbojevic moves to centre where he's starred for both NSW and Australia.
'I had a lot of input from the coaches, but we've got someone like Lehi there who's very good at fullback,' he said on Monday.
'I'm not unfamiliar with playing centre, I've done it before. It'll be a different challenge for me and one I'm excited for.'
Speedster Jason Saab drops out of the 17 which sees Reuben Garrick push out to right wing, while Jazz Tevaga replaces Lachlan Croker at hooker and Corey Waddell comes in for the injured Haumole Olakau'atu.
They face a Tigers side that has named Heath Mason at fullback in place of Jahream Bula (hamstring), with exciting youngster Latu Fainu set to partner Jarome Luai in the halves.
Veteran playmaker Jackson Hastings has been brought in for just his second game of the year in place of livewire five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe who could miss the rest of the season after he suffered a lacerated kidney in Perth.
It's a major loss for Newcastle given his speed around the ruck, with Hastings to get a rare chance after falling out of favour.
They do get Jacob Saifiti in the middle, while powerhouse winger Greg Marzhew could also return against a Raiders side missing Hudson Young who has been rested to manage an ongoing groin issue.
Nathan Cleary is a confirmed starter for Penrith after injuring his groin the day before Origin II, with the premiers welcoming back all their Blues stars against the Bulldogs who have again named Lachlan Galvin on the bench.
Souths have received a triple boost with Campbell Graham, Cody Walker and Peter Mamouzelos all returning to the 17 for the trip to Brisbane to take on the Dolphins who have gone with Junior Tupou on the wing to replace Jack Bostock (ACL).
The Jaxon Purdue experiment in the halves is over with the young gun returning to left centre which sees Jake Clifford return to the halves for a Cowboys side that has fallen apart defensively in recent weeks.
Origin stars Reece Robson and Reuben Cotter are back on deck against a Titans side that has named Tom Weaver to replace halfback Jayden Campbell (concussion protocols).
Kyle Flanagan has kept his spot at halfback for the Dragons who welcome back Jaydn Su'A and Christian Tuipulotu for their game against the Eels who get Dylan Brown back from suspension to partner Dean Hawkins in the halves.
Jordan Samrani starts at right centre and Joey Lussick keeps his spot at hooker with Will Penisini and Ryley Smith suspended.