Ten Raiders rested as NRL prepares to witness a slew of debuts

Canberra will field a side missing 10 of their biggest stars after securing the minor premiership last weekend, with the once out-of-favour forward Corey Horsburgh given the honour of captaining the club for the last regular-season game.

With top spot and a home final already assured, coach Ricky Stuart has opted to rest Ethan Strange, Hudson Young, Jamal Fogarty, Jed Stuart, Joseph Tapine, Josh Papalii, Kaeo Weekes, Simi Sasagi, Tom Starling and Zac Hosking ahead of the finals.

That will provide an opportunity for rising Raiders Michael Asomua, Joe Roddy and Manaia Waitere to make the NRL debuts on Sunday against a Dolphins team that is vying for the final spot in the top eight.

The decision to hand Horsburgh the captaincy marks an incredible turnaround in his fortunes. The Maroons prop fell out with Stuart to such an extent that the pair didn’t speak for the best part of last year. However, they have since mended their relationship and now Horsburgh will lead the ladder leaders onto Kayo Stadium.

The NRL was bracing for the prospect of several teams, unable to materially improve their ladder position, resting a slew of their biggest stars. Yet with the exception of the Raiders, they have all named relatively strong teams, with only a handful of star players rested.

Storm forwards Stefano Utoikamanu and Shawn Blore, along with Panthers stars Brian To’o and Liam Martin, are the only other big names that have been given a spell.

There will be, however, some of the most anticipated NRL debuts of the season in round 27. Former Wallaby Carter Gordon and Wests Tigers whiz kid Heamasi Makasini could potentially mark up on each other on Saturday.

Gordon, Australia’s 2023 Rugby World Cup five-eighth, made a cross-code switch to the Gold Coast Titans during the preseason. However, a spinal issue - a cerebrospinal fluid leak that affects the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord - has sidelined Gordon for much of the season.

But after making a successful comeback in the Queensland Cup, Gordon will belatedly play his first first-grade game in what will be Des Hasler’s final game as coach. Gordon has been named in the centres, setting up a potential showdown against Makasini.

The Tigers young gun, a goal-kicking left centre who is still at school and only recently turned 18, is arguably the hottest schoolboy prospect since Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. The Newington College student was the only 17-year-old picked in the NSW under-19s State of Origin team and the Tigers signed him until the end of 2028 to keep rivals from circling.

There was no shortage of interest in Makasini and Gordon from both codes before they settled on their current teams.

“I had interest last year from Japan with the Panasonic Wild Knights, they tried to get me over and asked me to tour their facility, while I also met with the Waratahs,” Makasini said in June. “But the Tigers are home. I’m a local junior, I can see something brewing at the club, and I want to be a part of it.”

After crossing codes, Gordon will become the first Wallabies half to play top-flight league in 34 years. The last to do so was Brian Smith, who made six rugby Test appearances for Australia before switching to the Balmain Tigers in 1991. While Mat Rogers also left union to become a Titan in 2007, he grew up with, and began his professional career in, rugby league.

The transition for Gordon will be a big one given that he never played league until making his debut for the Titans’ feeder team Tweed Seagulls in the middle of last year. Cooper Bai, the son of Storm legend Marcus Bai, will make their NRL debuts in Des Hasler’s final game as Titans coach.

Another newbie of note is Joe Walsh at Manly. Earmarked as the long-term replacement for the departing Daly Cherry-Evans, the teenaged half will get his first run in first grade off the bench. Still only 19, Walsh attended school just across the road from 4 Pines Park at St Augustine’s College. The North Curl Curl Knights and Narraweena Hawks product has earned a promotion after scoring seven tries in 15 appearances in the NSW Cup.

Maroons star Gehemat Shibasaki has lost his starting spot in the Brisbane line-up after a “breach of team standards which has been dealt with internally.” He has been named in jersey No.22 as part of an extended squad.

Parramatta have opted to give the departing Dylan Brown one last game in the blue and gold jersey, when he takes on his future employers, Newcastle, on Sunday. The $13 million man will partner Mitchell Moses in the halves in what will be the last game for Adam O’Brien as Newcastle coach.

The Rabbitohs have been bolstered by the return of Cameron Murray for his first game of the season, although a back injury will prevent Latrell Mitchell from taking on arch rivals the Roosters.

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