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Jasper Bruce

Manu named at fullback for Roosters' clash with Storm

Joey Manu will play at fullback for the Sydney Roosters' NRL clash with the Melbourne Storm. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Joey Manu has beaten teammate Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in the race to replace James Tedesco at fullback for the Sydney Roosters' NRL clash with Melbourne on Thursday.

The Roosters' first-choice centres, Manu and Suaalii are both handy fullbacks in their own right, playing there for New Zealand and Samoa respectively at the 2022 World Cup.

Suaalii switched to fullback when a head knock forced Tedesco from the field against Parramatta last week, as Manu watched on because of suspension.

Suaalii has yet to run out at fullback in his young NRL career, something Manu has done on 10 previous occasions when Tedesco has been unavailable.

Utility Drew Hutchison keeps his spot in the centres to accommodate Manu's move.

The Storm welcome Jahrome Hughes back from suspension for the game, pushing promising rookie Jonah Pezet to the reserves.

Injury-plagued Canberra veteran Jarrod Croker has been named to play his first game since May in a boost to his bid to reach 300 NRL games.

Croker will assume the Raiders captaincy against Brisbane, marking game 293 for the centre.

Parramatta's reigning player of the year Shaun Lane has recovered from a jaw injury and will play his first game of the season against the Wests Tigers, who have moved Adam Doueihi back to five-eighth in place of Brandon Wakeham.

Charlie Staines will start at fullback for the Tigers - the only side winless in 2023. The decision keeps Daine Laurie in the reserves for at least another week.

The Eels welcome winger Haze Dunster back from the horror knee injury he suffered in last year's pre-season trials. Bailey Simonsson drops out through suspension.

Manly's new five-eighth Josh Schuster returns from the quad injury that kept him out of the draw with Newcastle, while winger Jason Saab is back from an ACL injury earlier than expected.

Schuster and Saab face a Penrith side that loses James Fisher-Harris to a knee injury but welcomes Soni Luke back from concussion.

State of Origin back-rower Liam Martin is still at least another week away with a hamstring injury, while Scott Sorensen keeps his spot in the second row ahead of Luke Garner.

North Queensland fullback Scott Drinkwater returns from suspension to face intrastate rivals the Dolphins, but there is still space for his understudy Tom Chester on the bench.

State of Origin prop Reuben Cotter is also back for the Cowboys, replacing the injured Jordan McLean.

South Sydney's Taane Milne will play his first game since being sent off for a shocking high tackle on Spencer Leniu in last year's preliminary final.

Milne counted the World Cup towards his six-match ban, but it has taken a concussion to veteran Alex Johnston for him to break back into the side.

Prop Max King has been cleared of a serious eye injury and will line up for Canterbury, who lose Jayden Okunbor (suspension), Franklin Pele (arm injury) and Raymond Faitala-Mariner (concussion) for the clash with Souths.

The Rabbitohs welcome their player of the year Junior Tatola back from a knee injury.

Tohu Harris and Te Maire Martin have been named to return for the Warriors against Newcastle.

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