Brisbane Broncos’ mid-year recruit Ben Talty has been dropped for this Sunday’s NRL grand final in Sydney, making way for the returning Pat Carrigan.
Talty joined the club from the North Sydney Bears on a train-and-trial deal from the NSW Cup. But he impressed so much, he ended up playing in 10 NRL matches this season.
After coming off the bench in Brisbane’s comeback preliminary final win over the Penrith Panthers, the 26-year-old has been listed on an extended bench for Sunday’s grand final against the Melbourne Storm.
Carrigan missed the preliminary final after being suspended for a high tackle during Brisbane’s epic qualifying final win over the Canberra Raiders.
Meanwhile, Brisbane coach Michael Maguire has elected to keep Ben Hunt in the halves and start Ezra Mam off the bench.
Mam — who scored a hat-trick as five-eighth in Brisbane’s last grand final appearance in 2023 — returned from a hamstring injury in the preliminary final and made an impact off the bench.
Maguire has elected not to select a third different starting halves combination in this finals series, after using Hunt and the now-injured Billy Walters for the win over the Raiders in Canberra on September 14.
The Melbourne Storm has named an unchanged line-up from the side that defeated the Cronulla Sharks in last Friday’s preliminary final.
| Melbourne Storm | Brisbane Broncos | |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Papenhuyzen | 1. Fullback | Reece Walsh |
| Will Warbrick | 2. Winger | Josiah Karapani |
| Jack Howarth | 3. Centre | Kotoni Staggs |
| Nick Meaney | 4. Centre | Gehamat Shibasaki |
| Xavier Coates | 5. Winger | Deine Mariner |
| Cameron Munster | 6. Five-eighth | Ben Hunt |
| Jahrome Hughes | 7. Halfback | Adam Reynolds |
| Stefano Utoikamanu | 8. Prop | Corey Jensen |
| Harry Grant | 9. Hooker | Cory Paix |
| Josh King | 10. Prop | Payne Haas |
| Shawn Blore | 11. Second row | Bendan Piakura |
| Eliesa Katoa | 12. Second row | Jordan Riki |
| Trent Loiero | 13. Lock | Pat Carrigan |
| Tyran Wishart | 14. Interchange | Erza Mam |
| Ativalu Lisati | 15. Interchange | Kobe Hetherington |
| Tui Kamikamica | 16. Interchange | Xavier Willison |
| Alec MacDonald | 17. Interchange | Tyson Smoothy |
| Grant Anderson | 18. Reserve | Jesse Arthars |
| Bronson Garlick | 19. Reserve | Jack Gosiewski |
| Joe Chan | 20. Reserve | Ben Talty |
| Jonah Pezet | 21. Reserve | Selwyn Cobbo |
| Sualauvi Faalogo | 22. Reserve | Jock Madden |
Kiwi Fern in doubt for Roosters in NRLW decider
Sydney Roosters second rower Amber Hall is in doubt for Sunday’s NRLW grand final against the Broncos due to a calf injury.
The New Zealand international managed just 10 minutes of play during Sydney’s one-point preliminary final win over the Cronulla Sharks last Saturday.
Hall has been named as a reserve and is racing against the clock to be fit for the decider at Stadium Australia.
Meanwhile, the Brisbane Broncos have named an unchanged side for the grand final.
Coach Scott Prince has stuck with the same group of women who defeated the Newcastle Knights by 24 points in last Sunday’s preliminary final at Lang Park.
| Sydney Roosters | Brisbane Broncos | |
|---|---|---|
| Brydie Parker | 1. Fullback | Tamika Upton |
| Taina Naividi | 2. Winger | Kerri Johnson |
| Jessica Sergis | 3. Centre | Mele Hufanga |
| Isabelle Kelly | 4. Centre | Julia Robinson |
| Jayme Fressard | 5. Winger | Hayley Maddick |
| Corban Baxter | 6. Five-eighth | Gayle Broughton |
| Jocelyn Kelleher | 7. Halfback | Ali Brigginshaw |
| Otesa Pule | 8. Prop | Annetta-Claudia Nu’uausala |
| Keeley Davis | 9. Hooker | Jada Ferguson |
| Rima Butler | 10. Prop | Brianna Clark |
| Aliyah Nasio | 11. Second row | Lauren Dam |
| Jasmin Strange | 12. Second row | Romy Teitzel |
| Olivia Kernick | 13. Lock | Keilee Joseph |
| Shawden Burton | 14. Interchange | Destiny Brill |
| Macie Carlile | 15. Interchange | Chelsea Lenarduzzi |
| Mia Wood | 16. Interchange | Shenae Ciesiolka |
| Eliza Lopamaua | 17. Interchange | Shalom Sauaso |
| Jayde Herdegen | 18. Reserve | Reegan Hicks |
| Amber Hall | 19. Reserve | Azalleyah Maaka |
| Taneisha Gray | 20. Reserve | Bree Spreadborough |
| Imogen Hei | 21. Reserve | Tafito Lafaele |
| Tavarna Papalii | 22. Reserve | Skyla Adams |
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