An abbreviated five-match schedule awaits ahead of the second State of Origin encounter – and a host of clubs are navigating big-name absentees as they scramble for crucial NRL competition points.
The Broncos’ Thursday night assignment against Souths will be made significantly tougher, while the Roosters and Dolphins are both missing a stack of stars on Friday, and there’s marquee men absent from the engine room as the Warriors and Sharks square off on Saturday.
Navigating injury problems and a losing streak themselves, Souths will look to take advantage of a significantly depleted Brisbane outfit to get Round 15 underway.
FORM: The 6-6 Rabbitohs are winless in more than month, going down to the Dolphins (32-10), Cowboys (30-18) and Sea Eagles (28-14) in their past three – though there was some improvement in the latter defeat. But Latrell Mitchell’s absence has been telling in all-too-familiar fashion.
The Broncos have slumped to a 5-9 record, finding new ways to lose on their current five-match slide. They were embarrassed by Manly and the Warriors, became the first team lose to the Dragons in 2026, and were run down by the struggling Titans in the dying minutes last Saturday.
INS AND OUTS: Campbell Graham is sidelined again for Souths, which pushes Tallis Ducan back to the centres and brings Euan Aitken into the second-row. Lachlan Hubner replaces Cam Murray, who is on Origin duty.
Hayze Perham and Antonio Verhoeven replace Origin duo Reece Walsh and Kotoni Staggs in the Broncos’ backline, while Jack Gosiewkski starts at prop for Payne Haas. Ezra Mam remains on the bench with Tom Duffy retaining the No.6, while Jordan Riki is back on deck.
KEY MATCH-UP: Perham has big shoes to fill but was superb deputising in the Broncos’ most recent win against Canterbury. Jye Gray needs to be the game-breaker in a injury-hit Rabbitohs backline.
HISTORY: The teams have split their last 10 encounters. Last season’s series was split: Souths won 22-14 at home in Round 10, while Brisbane romped to a 60-14 victory in Round 22 at Suncorp Stadium.
KEY STAT: None of the clubs’ last seven clashes at Accor Stadium have produced more than 44 points.
Alex Johnston has scored just two tries in his last seven games against the Broncos
VERDICT: This grudge match comes at a vital juncture, with Souths teetering on the edge of the Top 8 and Brisbane sliding towards bottom-four territory. With stacks of million-dollar cattle unavailable for both sides, this is tough one to get a handle on.
The defending premiers look a little skinny up front, but if anything their backline looks more dangerous than their similarly depleted counterparts.
Without the enigmatic Walsh, the Broncos will look to keep things a bit simpler – which could help turn things around…as long there’s a shift in the defensive attitude that has seen them leak 28-plus in five straight games.
SGM: BRONCOS WIN / UNDER 50.5 TOTAL POINTS / GRANT ANDERSON ANYTIME TRYSCORER / EUAN AITKEN ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $67.60
No match-up has been impacted by Origin as much as this one, where the Dolphins are aiming to leapfrog the Roosters into the top four.
FORM: The Dolphins have emerged from their 2-5 start to win five in a row, most recently disposing of the Cowboys 40-14 in Townsville with their attacking might coming to the fore.
The 8-4 Roosters bounced back from flat losses to the Cowboys and Storm with a 26-0 shutout of the Raiders in the capital, with Mark Nawaqanitawase marking his return with a hat-trick.
INS AND OUTS: Fullback Trai Fuller, winger Tevita Naufahu, prop Felise Kaufusi, back-rower Oryn Keeley and utility Brad Schneider replace Dolphins Origin reps Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo, Thomas Flegler, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki and Max Plath. Isaiya Katoa should be release from NSW camp.
Roosters stars James Tedesco, Lindsay Collins, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Reece Robson, Robert Toia, Sam Walker and Victor Radley are on Origin duty.
Cody Ramsey slots in at fullback, Reece Foley, Egan Butcher and Tommy Talau come into the three-quarters, Hugo Savala moves to the halves, Salesi Foketi comes in at lock and Benaiah Ioelu, Taylor Losalu, Rex Bassingthwaite and De La Salle Va’a join the bench.
KEY MATCH-UP: Livewire fullback replacements Fuller and Ramsey have make-or-break roles to play in this one.
HISTORY: Since stunning the Roosters in the club’s NRL debut in 2023, the Dolphins have lost all four of their matches against the Roosters – conceding 42.5 points per game in the process. Last season the Roosters won 36-26 in Magic Round and 64-12 in Round 23.
KEY STAT: Mark Nawaqanitawase scored five tries across last season’s two encounters with the Dolphins.
VERDICT: With a whopping 12 Origin players unavailable, this shapes as something of a lottery – though the Dolphins’ depth looks set to come to the fore here. Their backline remains stacked, the halves combination is intact and an in-form pack has very sound cover.
The Roosters’ back-five could be in a for a torrid night with unfamiliar combinations trying to combat Farnworth, Bostock and co. The Dolphins have considerable momentum and are 4-2 at Suncorp Stadium this season.
The high-flying Warriors return to their Mount Smart fortress after a two-month absence, hosting an up-and-down Cronulla side chasing four straight wins.
FORM: The 9-3 Warriors are coming off the bye, while they lost few admirers after going down 20-18 to the Panthers in a barnburner that ended their six-match losing streak.
The 7-5 Sharks have dug their way out of a small trough, winning their last three against the Bulldogs (38-16), the depleted Sea Eagles (28-22) and the last-placed Dragons (34-12) – after trailing the Saints at halftime.
INS AND OUTS: With Mitch Barnett and Kurt Capewell out for Origin, the Warriors’ pack has been further depleted by injuries to James Fisher-Harris and Leka Halasima.
Tanner Stowers-Smith and Marata Niukore come into the starting side, while Makaia Tafua is set for a debut with Sam Healey injured. Edde Ieremia-Toeava and another debutant, Kayliss Fatialofa, join the bench.
The Sharks are missing NSW prop Addin Fonua-Blake and Queensland second-rower Briton Nikora, while Nicho Hynes and Blayke Brailey remain injured. Jesse Colqhoun and Billy Burns come into the starting pack, and Jesse Ramien returns in the centres.
KEY MATCH-UP: KL Iro gave Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad an absolute bath earlier this season, so Ali Leiataua – who has made a couple of bad defensive missteps in recent weeks – will be on high alert.
HISTORY: After winning four of the teams’ previous five clashes, the Warriors were overwhelmed 36-22 at Cronulla in Round 5 – with the scoreline flattering the visitors as Will Kennedy running riot.
KEY STAT: The Sharks have won four of their last five games in Auckland. KL Iro has scored in the club’s last three games; Ronaldo Mulitalo has crossed for nine tries in his last nine games against the Warriors; and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored 12 tries in his last eight games against the Sharks.
VERDICT: The Warriors have emphatically proven themselves as the second-best team in the NRL since an unflattering showing against the Sharks – who have been comparatively inconsistent – 10 weeks ago.
The hosts’ forward depth is being severely tested, but there’s still ample talent, grunt and experience on show. The halves combination of Martin and Harris-Tavita have kept the Warriors machine running smoothly and Taine Tauapiki is growing in confidence by the week.
Will Kennedy and Braydon Trindall at their best can make things uncomfortable for the Warriors, but getting a game in Auckland for the first time in two months should have them keyed up. That said, the line looks too big here for a Sharks side (albeit a bit depleted) with decent form on the board.
SGM: WARRIORS WIN / UNDER 49.5 TOTAL POINTS / ALOFIANA KHAN-PEREIRA TO SCORE 2 OR MORE TRIES @ $50.05
Plucky Parramatta and crumbling Canberra are both desperate for a momentum-turning victory on Saturday night.
FORM: The 4-9 Eels have won just one of their last six, but there’s been a fair bit to like about the injury-hit side’s losses to Newcastle (28-22) and Canterbury (14-12) in recent weeks – showing defensive resolve that has been absent for most of the year.
The 5-8 Raiders are teetering, losing three of their last four. A heartening 26-12 win over the Cowboys in Round 13 gave way to a dismal 26-0 home loss to the Roosters last Friday.
INS AND OUTS: The Eels are unchanged with Mitch Moses in NSW camp, while the Raiders bring Seb Kris back in the centres which allows Daine Laurie to revert to five-eighth for the Blues’ Ethan Strange.
Jed Stuart replaces a concussed Savelio Tamale and Ata Mariota starts for NSW second-rower Hudson Young.
KEY MATCH-UP: Ronald Volkman has been impressive in the Parramatta halves and will steer the team again in the No.7. Opposite number Ethan Sanders has been solid in a patchy Canberra outfit and will be eager to shine against his former club.
HISTORY: The Raiders are on a four-match winning streak against the Eels, including big wins in Darwin (50-12) and Canberra (40-16) last season.
KEY STAT: The Eels have won just two of their last 14 at GIO Stadium.
VERDICT: The Raiders were awful in a scoreless outing against the Roosters and it’s hard to see them playing finals footy at this stage – despite the firepower in their arsenal and the big names in their pack.
The Eels have no right to be pushing teams given their recent personnel setbacks, but their young spine is showing real moxie and the NRL’s worst defensive team have actually improved in that department as their casualty ward has swelled.
Leaving Canberra for the first time since Round 9, this is tough spot for the $1.70 favourite Raiders.
SGM: EITHER TEAM BY UNDER 12.5 POINTS / OVER 49.5 TOTAL POINTS / JORDAN SAMRANI ANYTIME TRYSCORER / ETHAN SANDERS ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $34.40
The once-hopeful Tigers are coming off a record loss, while the languishing Titans are buoyed by a stirring derby victory – setting up an intriguing showdown at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
FORM: The Tigers are well and truly on the ropes, with their 5-2 start a distant memory. They have lost four of five since, following up an encouraging 22-16 win over the Bulldogs with a horrific 68-0 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
The Titans snapped a five-match losing streak – and four straight games of scoring 12 points or less – to stun the Broncos 28-23 and snatch their third win of the season via a sensational late Keano Kini match-winner.
INS AND OUTS: Taylan May and Starford To’a return in the Tigers’ centres, with Sunia Turuva and Heamasi Makasini moving to the wings. Latu Fainu comes in at hooker for NSW selection Api Koroisau, Sione Fainu returns at lock and Royce Hunt has been ruled out with a long-term pec injury.
Queensland pair Jojo Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui are replace in the Titans’ line-up by Jaylan De Groot and Klese Haas. Chris Randall (concussion) is out.
KEY MATCH-UP: Jarome Luai is copping plenty of heat for the Tigers’ spiral – he needs to lead the team out of the mire. He’ll line up against Jayden Campbell, whose second-half double sparked the Titans’ stirring upset of the Broncos.
HISTORY: The Titans have won six of their last eight against the Tigers. Last season’s two encounters were split – 21-20 to the Tigers in Round 20 at Leichhardt via an Adam Doueihi field goal, and 36-28 to the Titans on the Gold Coast in the final round.
KEY STAT: The Tigers went 5-3 with a +40 points different with Adam Doueihi in the team. They are 1-4 with a -118 for-and-against since he’s been out injured.
VERDICT: There’s always the prospect of a resounding bounce-back after a slaughter of the magnitude the Tigers were subjected to last week. But the defeat to Penrith was symptomatic of a medium-term drop-off that has seen the one-time finals hopefuls concede 44-plus in four of their last five games.
The Titans uncharacteristic recent bugbear had been struggling to score points – posting 12 or less in their previous four games – but the likes of Campbell, Brimson, Kini and Sami found their attacking mojo again as they rolled the Broncos.
The Leichhardt factor may be enough for the Tigers, who have won five of their last six (including both games in 2026) at their spiritual home. But on last week’s evidence the Titans are a very tempting underdog in this Sunday afternoon clash.
Meanwhile, the over has hit in just one of their last six encounters.
SGM: TITANS +5.5 / JAYDEN CAMPBELL ANYTIME TRYSCORER / PHIL SAMI ANYTIME TRYSCORER / TAYLAN MAY ANYTIME TRYSCORER @ $13.87