The Manly Sea Eagles and North Queensland Cowboys are set to welcome back their captains for Round 15 after they have both spent a long stint on the sidelines. Meanwhile, each team will be sweating on the availability of their State of Origin representatives, who may be rested due to the short turnaround.
Round 16 is shaping up to be a crucial one for several teams, with key players returning from injury and others facing the prospect of being rested due to the Origin series.
The Newcastle Knights and St George Illawarra Dragons will be without Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Lucas, respectively, due to a two-day turnaround from State of Origin. The Knights' team tips suggest that Ponga and Lucas may not play, with the Dragons' Jaydn Su'A also facing a potential minimum 12-week absence due to surgery.
The Wests Tigers and Dolphins will be without Benji Marshall's star halfback Adam Doueihi, who is unlikely to return in Round 16. The Tigers' team tips also mention fears over Kai Pearce-Paul's long-term injury, while the Dolphins' Origin representatives, including Selwyn Cobbo and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, will be closely monitored for their availability.
The Gold Coast Titans and Penrith Panthers will have key players returning from injury and Origin duty. The Titans' Chris Randall is set to return after a head knock, while the Panthers' Brian To'o, Isaah Yeo, and Nathan Cleary will be rested after the State of Origin series-opener.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Manly Sea Eagles will be without Stephen Crichton and Tom Trbojevic, respectively, due to injury and Origin duty. The Bulldogs' Kurt Mann is set to return from an ear injury, while the Sea Eagles' Kieran Foran will be cautious with Tom Trbojevic's return from a hamstring injury.
The Warriors and North Queensland Cowboys will be without key players due to injury and Origin duty. The Warriors' Alofiana Khan-Pereira is set to return after a cork injury, while the Cowboys' Tom Dearden is expected to return from an ankle injury.
The Melbourne Storm and Canberra Raiders will have several players returning from injury and Origin duty. The Storm's Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, and Trent Loiero are expected to back up, while the Raiders' Ethan Strange and Hudson Young will return after representing the NSW Blues.
The Sydney Roosters and Cronulla Sharks will have key players returning from injury and Origin duty. The Roosters' Mark Nawaqanitawase, James Tedesco, and others will be monitored for their availability, while the Sharks' Nicho Hynes is unlikely to return until Round 18 due to a calf injury.
