Knights coach Adam O’Brien has explained his decision to bench Lachie Miller and move Kalyn Ponga back into the No.1 jersey. Newcaste’s marquee man was injected into the five-eighth role to start the 2023 season before an ugly head knock saw him sidelined for an extended period. Ponga returned in Round 8 and has been solid in his four games, but now O’Brien wants off-season recruit Tyson Gamble to see more game time. Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now > In one of his rawest interviews, Kieran Foran opens up about the darkest period of his career, the countless injury hurdles he’s had to overcome — and reveals there was a time where no club wanted him. Listen here >> The former Bronco was relegated to the bench upon Ponga’s return, and with Miller’s early season form falling away, O’Brien made the tough decision. “I felt I needed to get Tyson back out there and playing a lot more. We’ve played a lot more good footy when he has come onto the field. “He was only getting 20 minutes off the bench but against the Titans there was a real difference when he came on. He and Jackson Hastings are really connected in the halves. “He started the season on fire but over the last few weeks he is down on confidence and came up with a couple of errors. He is trying really hard but I want to alleviate some pressure on him,” O’Brien said. “The plan was for him to go to NSW Cup and work on a few things but having a look at him at training, we used him as a 14 and he looked really good.” Meanwhile, Nick Cotric could play a shock role for the Raiders after being named on the bench for their clash with the Rabbitohs. The Bunnies have been dealt a blow after star centre Campbell Graham was ruled out of Saturday’s game against the Raiders — although there is some good news too for South Sydney. Elsewhere, North Queensland has failed in its last-minute attempt to have playmaker Tom Dearden released from Origin duty. The Eels have confirmed star forward Ryan Matterson will be sidelined for an extended period after an injury last week. Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!! Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Bayley Sironen 15. Josh Curran 16. Demitric Sifakula 17. Tom Ale 20. Taine Tuaupiki 22. Kalani Going Late Mail: Luke Metcalf (hamstring) will finally debut for the Warriors at five-eighth, with Ronald Volkman named 18th man. Jackson Ford (head knock) starts in the second row, while Freddy Lussick comes in for hooker Wayde Egan (calf). Broncos team: 1. Tristan Sailor 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Keenan Palasia 9. Billy Walters 10. Corey Jensen 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Cory Paix 15. Xavier Willison 16. Brendan Piakura 17. Martin Taupau 18. Jock Madden 19. Tyson Smoothy 20. Delouise Hoeter Late Mail: Adam Reynolds (head knock) returns in a timely boost with five stars missing for Origin I. Tristan Sailor — who will make his club debut —and Deine Mariner come in for Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo who are on Origin duty. Keenan Palasia and Corey Jensen start at prop for Payne Haas (Blues) and Thomas Flegler (Maroons). Kobe Hetherington starts at lock for Pat Carrigan (Origin), with Xavier Willison and Brendan Piakura joining the bench. Rabbitohs team: 1. Blake Taaffe 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Hame Sele 11. Michael Chee Kam 12. Jacob Host 13. Liam Knight 14. Jed Cartwright 15. Tallis Duncan 16. Shaq Mitchell 17. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 18. Richard Kennar 19. Tyrone Munro 20. Peter Mamouzelos 21. Keaon Koloamatangi 22. Dean Hawkins Late Mail: Campbell Graham (sternum) is out after being withdrawn from the Blues squad, with Richard Kennar expected to come into the team. Graham was named as 18th man by the Blues before leaving the camp. It had initially been suggested that the Bunnies pulled him but the Daily Telegraph confirmed it was the Blues who made the decision given he would not have been able to train until at least the weekend. “He’s not quite right,” Souths coach Jason Demetriou said on Friday. “He’s been battling with it for 11 weeks so it’s a good opportunity for him to sit one out and get ready for next week. It’s got nothing to do with Origin, he just woke up Sunday and Monday sorer than he has in previous weeks. So he had a bit of fluid he needed to have drained. If we needed to we could push him and needle him but he’s been pushing himself pretty hard the last 11 weeks, so it’s good time for that week off.” Graham’s omission is not the only change though. Origin bolter Keaon Koloamatangi (ankle) returns after being initially named in the reserves. “It’s the most professional and committed I’ve seen Keaon,” Demetriou said of the returning forward’s recovery. Elsewhere, Liam Knight replaces Cameron Murray at lock, while Blake Taaffe comes in for Latrell Mitchell at fullback with the pair on Origin duty. Shaquai Mitchell and Tallis Duncan join the bench, although one will drop out to make way for Koloamatangi. Raiders team: 1. Sebastian Kris 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Pasami Saulo 11. Corey Harawira-Naera 12. Corey Horsburgh 13. Joseph Tapine 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Nick Cotric 17. Ata Mariota 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Danny Levi 20. Matt Frawley 21. Harley Smith-Shields 22. Peter Hola Late Mail: Nick Cotric will play off the bench after returning from a hamstring injury via NSW Cup last week, but is tipped to play a surprise role in the 17. With just two props on the bench, there’s a chance Cotric — a winger — could spend some time in the middle. “I know Nicky will come on and bring that energy that we need and do whatever he does best for the team,” Pasami Saulo told The Canberra Times. “Definitely (he could play in the middle). He’s pretty much built like a front-rower, runs like a front-rower. He’s just going to play his heart out.”Meanwhile, Hudson Young (Origin) and Elliott Whitehead (suspension) are out, with Corey Harawira-Naera coming into the second row, Joe Tapine shifting to lock and Saulo to prop. Zac Woolford (head knock) returns at hooker with Danny Levi shifting to the reserves. Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Jack Johns 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott 14. Lachlan Miller 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Enari Tuala 20. Brodie Jones 21. Adam Clune 22. Kurt Mann Late Mail: Kalyn Ponga switches to fullback, with Tyson Gamble at five-eighth and Lachie Miller named on the bench. Adam Elliott starts at lock, while Jack Johns replaces Tyson Frizell (Blues) in the second row. Sea Eagles team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Josh Schuster 7. Cooper Johns 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Sean Keppie 14. Christian Tuipulotu 15. Karl Lawton 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Ben Condon 18. Morgan Boyle 19. Jakob Arthur 20. Dean Matterson 21. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 22. Morgan Harper Late Mail: Kaeo Weekes replaces Tom Trbojevic (Blues) at fullback. Cooper Johns comes in for Daly Cherry-Evans (Maroons) at halfback with mid-week signing Jake Arthur named in the reserves. Toafofoa Sipley comes in at prop with Sean Keppie replacing Jake Trbojevic (calf) at lock. Samuela Fainu starts in the second row with Christian Tuipulotu joining the bench.
