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NRL Round 7: Comprehensive Match Results, Injury Updates, and Team Changes

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Round 7 NRL Telstra Premiership: Key Results & Injury Updates

The seventh round of the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership featured several key results, including the Canberra Raiders ending the Melbourne Storm's losing streak, the Manly Sea Eagles defeating the North Queensland Cowboys, and the Canberra Raiders' win over the Storm. Multiple teams announced significant injury updates and player returns ahead of their matches.

Match Results and Key Events

Canberra Raiders 26 – Melbourne Storm 22

The Canberra Raiders defeated the Melbourne Storm 26-22 at GIO Stadium on Friday. The Storm have now lost five consecutive matches. The Raiders led 12-0 early before the Storm rallied to lead 16-12 at halftime. The Raiders scored 14 unanswered points in the second half, including tries to Matt Timoko and Ethan Strange, and two penalty goals from Ethan Sanders. Nick Meaney scored a late try for the Storm but the Raiders held on for the win.

Team Updates:

  • Raiders: Josh Papalii left the field in the 42nd minute with a calf injury. Matt Timoko returned to play for the first time since Round 2.
  • Storm: Shawn Blore entered the game in the 25th minute for his first NRL appearance of the season.

Manly Sea Eagles 38 – North Queensland Cowboys 6

The Manly Sea Eagles defeated the North Queensland Cowboys 38-6 in Townsville on Thursday night. Manly captain and fullback Tom Trbojevic left the game in the 13th minute with a left hamstring injury. Manly coach Kieran Foran stated that Trbojevic "is not looking too good at the moment" and will undergo a scan. This was Manly's third consecutive win under Foran, who took over as head coach mid-season.

Match Events:

  • Manly winger Lehi Hopoate scored two tries in the first 17 minutes.
  • Cowboys prop Coen Hess scored a try for North Queensland.
  • Manly's Ben Trbojevic, Brandon Wakeham, Taniela Paseka, and Luke Brooks also scored tries.
  • Manly lock Jake Trbojevic passed a category-two Head Injury Assessment (HIA) before halftime.

Context:

  • The win places Manly in fourth position on the NRL ladder.
  • Foran became the first coach to win his first three games after a mid-season appointment since Brad Fittler in 2007.
  • The loss ended a four-game winning streak for the North Queensland Cowboys.

Canberra Raiders 36 – South Sydney Rabbitohs 34

The Canberra Raiders defeated the South Sydney Rabbitohs 36-34 at Optus Stadium in Perth as part of a double-header. The Raiders ended a four-game losing streak with this victory. Canberra led 24-4 at halftime. The Rabbitohs scored 30 points in the second half but did not overcome the deficit.

Player Performances:

  • Raiders: Kaeo Weekes scored two tries and ran for 186 meters. Simi Sasagi recorded two try assists and 226 meters.
  • Rabbitohs: Cody Walker scored two tries. Jye Gray left the match in the 15th minute with an AC joint injury.

Team Records:

  • The Raiders' record improved to 2 wins and 4 losses.
  • The Rabbitohs' record is now 3 wins and 3 losses.

Gold Coast Titans 52 – Parramatta Eels 10

The Gold Coast Titans defeated the Parramatta Eels 52-10 at CommBank Stadium. This was the Titans' first win at this venue. The 42-point margin is the Eels' largest loss at CommBank Stadium.

Match Summary:

  • The Titans led 18-6 at halftime and scored nine tries to the Eels' one.
  • Titans try scorers included Arama Hau, AJ Brimson, Sialetili Faeamani (2), Jayden Campbell (2), Cooper Bai, and Phillip Sami (2).
  • Eels winger Josh Addo-Carr scored Parramatta's only try.

Team Updates:

  • Eels: Bailey Simonsson (ankle), Sean Russell (concussion), and Jonah Pezet (hamstring) were unavailable.
  • Titans: Adam Christensen made his NRL debut.

Key Injury and Player Updates

Round 7 Player Returns and Unavailability

The following players were reported as returning from injury or unavailable for Round 7 matches:

  • Canterbury Bulldogs: Stephen Crichton was named in the reserves for the match against the Eels.
  • Wests Tigers: Jarome Luai was set to start at five-eighth against the Broncos, pending a fitness test. Taylan May was set to return from a shoulder injury.
  • Brisbane Broncos: Adam Reynolds was set to return from a groin injury. Cory Paix was ruled out following a head knock. Josh Rogers was set to play hooker.
  • North Queensland Cowboys: Reed Mahoney was ruled out with a head knock; Soni Luke started at hooker. Braidon Burns returned from an ankle injury. Scott Drinkwater played his 150th game for the club.
  • Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles: Jake Trbojevic played despite an eye injury. Siosiua Taukeiaho returned from a calf injury.
  • Canberra Raiders: Matthew Timoko returned from injury. Sebastian Kris moved to the wing.
  • Melbourne Storm: Manaia Waitere started on the wing.
  • Dolphins: Brad Schneider played off the bench after Kurt Donoghoe was ruled out. Jeremy Marshall-King remained sidelined.
  • Penrith Panthers: Izack Tago returned to the starting side. Liam Martin was ruled out with a knee injury; Luke Garner started in his place.
  • New Zealand Warriors: Mitchell Barnett and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad were listed as reserves, returning from injury. Kurt Capewell returned from a calf injury.
  • Gold Coast Titans: Klese Haas was pushing to return from a quad injury.
  • South Sydney Rabbitohs: Matt Dufty replaced the injured Jye Gray at fullback. David Fifita was out with a hamstring injury.
  • St. George Illawarra Dragons: Mat Feagai started in place of the injured Moses Suli.
  • Sydney Roosters: Billy Smith was pushing to return from a knee injury.
  • Newcastle Knights: Dylan Brown returned from a knee injury. Thomas Cant started in place of the injured Dylan Lucas.

Other Notable Injuries and Milestones

  • Raiders: Simi Sasagi was ruled out with a hamstring strain for the upcoming match against the Dolphins. Hudson Young was suspended for two games. Josh Papalii was sidelined 6-8 weeks with a calf injury.
  • Broncos: Payne Haas was expected to miss six to eight weeks with a Grade 3 MCL injury. Corey Jensen was hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism and expected to miss several weeks.
  • Panthers: Mitch Kenny was sidelined with a leg injury, expected to miss 10-12 weeks.
  • Penrith Panthers: Nathan Cleary played his 200th career game against the Bulldogs. Izack Tago made his 100th NRL appearance for the Panthers in their Round 7 match.
  • Cowboys: Tom Dearden sustained a syndesmosis ankle injury and will miss 6-8 weeks, ruling him out of State of Origin Game 1.

Team Changes for Round 8

Wests Tigers vs. Canberra Raiders (Thursday)

  • Wests Tigers: Heamasi Makasini was out with a foot injury. Starford To'a and Luke Laulilii came into the backline.
  • Raiders: Simi Sasagi was replaced by Savelio Tamale. Joe Roddy replaced Josh Papalii (calf). Noah Martin started due to Hudson Young's suspension.

North Queensland Cowboys vs. Cronulla Sharks (Friday)

  • Cowboys: Jeremiah Nanai returned from shoulder surgery. Reed Mahoney and Murray Taulagi returned from head knocks.
  • Sharks: Cameron McInnes returned from an ACL injury.

Brisbane Broncos vs. Canterbury Bulldogs (Friday)

  • Broncos: Ben Talty and Jack Gosiewski started as props. Cory Paix returned at hooker. VJ Semu was named for his NRL debut.
  • Bulldogs: Stephen Crichton returned from a shoulder injury. Jonathan Sua replaced Jacob Kiraz (knee).

St. George Illawarra Dragons vs. Sydney Roosters (Saturday)

  • Dragons: Kade Reed made his NRL debut at halfback. Moses Suli returned from an eye socket injury. Ryan Couchman returned from suspension.
  • Roosters: Billy Smith returned from a knee injury.

New Zealand Warriors vs. Dolphins (Saturday)

  • Warriors: Taine Tuaupiki returned to fullback. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was out with a neck injury. Adam Pompey returned from suspension.
  • Dolphins: Brad Schneider replaced the suspended Kodi Nikorima.

Melbourne Storm vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs (Saturday)

  • Rabbitohs: Brandon Smith moved to the back row, with Bronson Garlick starting at hooker. Euan Aitken returned from a leg injury.

Newcastle Knights vs. Penrith Panthers (Sunday)

  • Knights: James Schiller replaced the concussed Greg Marzhew.
  • Panthers: Casey McLean returned from suspension. Freddy Lussick replaced the injured Mitch Kenny at hooker.

Manly Sea Eagles vs. Parramatta Eels (Sunday)

  • Sea Eagles: Tolutau Koula replaced Tom Trbojevic at fullback.
  • Eels: Sean Russell returned to the team.

Disciplinary

  • Raiders: Hudson Young accepted a two-match suspension for a high tackle.
  • Dolphins: Kodi Nikorima received a two-week suspension for a hip drop tackle.
  • Dragons: Jaydn Su'A received a three-match suspension for a high tackle.