The Sharks and Panthers are surging into the NRL preliminary finals with winning form and settled lineups.
But it’s very different tale for their opponents, as both the Storm and Broncos enter the penultimate weekend of the NRL season with overhauled halves combinations.
Between them, the two host sides have named three new playmakers—and all represent a considerable rolling of the dice for their respective coaches.
Question is, will they pay off?
MORE: NRL team lists: Every side’s confirmed lineup for the preliminary finals
Jahrome Hughes: The Record Break-er
Selected: Number Seven (Storm)
Last Played: Round 27 (vs Broncos)
Injury: Dislocated shoulder, followed by fractured forearm
The back end of the 2025 season has been an injury nightmare for the reigning Dally M medalist. No sooner had Hughes returned from a shoulder dislocation suffered in Round 21, he broke his forearm in the final round of the regular season, requiring surgery.
If Hughes actually plays (which is no guarantee despite being named by Craig Bellamy) it would be the fastest ever return from such an injury in the NRL. Pain is guaranteed, however lasting the 80 minutes is not. One hit to the wrong spot and his season could quickly be over.
On the upside, should his latest comeback fail, the Storm has become accustomed to playing without the Kiwi international, so his teammates know the score—specifically Tyran Wishart and/or Jonah Pezet.
Adam Reynolds: The Combinations Conundrum
Selected: Number Seven (Broncos)
Last Played: Round 23 (vs Storm)
Injury: Hamstring strain
Of all this week’s halves changes, the one that seemed inevitable was the return of veteran Broncos captain Adam Reynolds, especially following the season-ending ACL injury to Billy Walters.
With Reynolds slotting straight back into the Brisbane number seven jersey, Ben Hunt gets pushed out to six, thus delivering a complete halves overhaul ahead of facing the biggest challenge in the NRL, the Penrith Panthers.
It’s a calculated yet significant risk from Michael Maguire, not so such much from a fitness perspective but in terms of combinations—most notably those involving dynamic fullback Reece Walsh. Reynolds has said he’ll do whatever it takes to unlock Walsh and deliver a Broncos victory. Can he actually do it?
Ezra Mam: The Weekend Wildcard
Selected: Interchange bench (Broncos)
Last Played: Round 23 (vs Storm)
Injury: Hamstring strain
Injured in the same Round 23 game as Adam Reynolds, Mam’s return via the Broncos bench looms as the biggest wildcard of the preliminary finals weekend—and potentially the entire 2025 premiership race.
The 22-year-old’s exact role will ultimately be determined by the flow of the match and the fitness of Reynolds. But if the Broncos are able to use Mam as hoped, he could be injected against a tiring Panthers defence with devastating effect. Then again, he could also re-tear the hamstring that hasn’t been match tested since the start of August.
Such are the all-or-nothing stakes as we enter the final stages of the NRL season. No second chances, no half measures.