NRL 2026: Finals Week 2 team news and injury updates, suspension, Sam Walker, Dylan Lucas

The Sydney Roosters have provided a cryptic hint on the status of superstar halfback Sam Walker as he looks to return to the field.

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Meanwhile, an injured Origin star is on the brink of breaking records as he firms to play this weekend.

Read for the latest team news ahead of Finals Week 2!

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19

Sydney Roosters v Cronulla Sharks @ Allianz Stadium, 7:50pm AEST

Last Week’s Roosters Team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Hugo Savala 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 10. Lindsay Collins 20. Egan Butcher 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 11. Salesi Foketi 14. Connor Watson 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Nat Butcher 18. Cody Ramsey 19. Tommy Talau

Team Tips: The Sydney Roosters will be forced into at least one change for their blockbuster match against the Sharks with Egan Butcher (concussion) ruled out after failing his HIA on the weekend. Butcher’s omission opens up the door for former Brad Fittler Medalist Angus Crichton (foot) to come into the side as he looks to make his long-awaited return from injury. However, coach Trent Robinson wasn’t confident he will be available. “I don’t know about Gussy,” Robinson said. Surprisingly, Robinson refused to put a line through the status of star halfback SamWalker (ankle) after he was sighted running a couple of days ago at training. “Never say never,” Robinson added. Meanwhile, Salesi Foketi is set to be back to full fitness after having the flu through the entirety of last week. “I didn’t see him until lunchtime today. He had the flu all week,” Robinson revealed. “There was a good chance he wasn’t going to play.”

Last Week’s Sharks Team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Riley Jones 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Jesse Colquhoun 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Billy Burns 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Thomas Hazelton 19. Toby Rudolf 20. Niwhai Puru

Team Tips: After eliminating the Cowboys, the Cronulla Sharks are expected to remain unchanged for Saturday night’s match. However, coach Craig Fitzgibbon may opt to recall Mawene Hiroti (ribs) for Riley Jones after he was named on the reserves last week. In other team news, winger Sione Katoa (head knock) undertook a HIA in the opening stages of last week’s match but made a successful return to the field. Meanwhile, five-eighth Braydon Trindall (dislocated shoulder) got through the match unscathed. “It was a little burner but I pulled up all right,” he told media post-match, revealing he didn’t have a needle before the game. “I’m feeling good. It’s good to be back. It’s pretty tough sitting on the sidelines for a couple of weeks. There was plenty of strapping and I was wearing a brace too, so it was a bit hard to move at times, but I got through OK. It was good to get a bit of rust out there tonight. There were a few opportunities I could have iced but I’ll go look at the video and get ready for next week.”

Meanwhile, Ronaldo Mulitalo (hand) was sporting his own bandage on his right hand but declared he was in no doubt for the rest of the finals, with the Kiwis star joking that coach Craig Fitzgibbon was unlikely to give him any time off for such an injury. “I ripped the ligament and some bone off the thumb, so that sucked,” he said. “The ligament ripped off and it took some bone with it. I did it last week, but it happens. Everyone is carrying injuries at this time of year. I’m sure there are guys with worse injuries than me. Craig wouldn’t like that (missing training). Craig doesn’t like people sitting out with finger injuries, especially if you’re a winger because you do nothing anyway.”

– with Martin Gabor (NCA NewsWire)

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20

New Zealand Warriors v Newcastle Knights @ Eden Park, 4:05pm AEST

Last Week’s Warriors Team: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 3. Ali Leiataua 20. Adam Pompey 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Te Maire Martin 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark 14. Samuel Healey 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Jackson Ford 18. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 21. Jett Cleary

Team Tips: The Warriors’ hopes of claiming their maiden premiership took a huge hit last week when they were defeated by the Dolphins. To make matters worse, star front-rower Jackson Ford (ankle) suffered an injury in his first match back after being sidelined with a pec injury. Awaiting scan results, he is considered long odds to play this weekend and there are fears it could be a multi-week injury which would see his season come to a premature end. The Warriors are also set to be without Leka Halasima (hamstring) after suffering an injury in the warm-up to last week’s match. Also awaiting scan results, the eight-day turnaround will make it hard for him to return directly to the field. CODE Sports is reporting Jacob Laban (knee) is also in some doubt after seen in pain and struggling for much of the contest against the Dolphins. Despite injuries to the key trio, winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (broken collarbone) is expected to return and will slot straight into the starting line-up. This would see Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad moving into the centres with either Ali Leiataua or Adam Pompey dropping to the extended six-man interchange bench.

Last Week’s Knights Team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Sandon Smith 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Cody Hopwood 11. Jermaine McEwen 12. Francis Manuleleua 13. Mathew Croker 14. Harrison Graham 15. Lachlan Crouch 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Thomas Cant 18. Fletcher Hunt 19. Toby Winter

Team Tips: Failing to play since Round 21 where he exited the field on a stretcher, NSW Blues back-rower Dylan Lucas (ankle) is eyeing a miracle return to the field as he looks to take part in this year’s finals series. Initially viewed as a season-ending injury, both club legend Andrew Johns and The Newcastle Herald’s Barry Toohey have revealed he is a “big chance” of being named in the squad to face the Warriors. If he is able to prove his fitness, it would mark the quickest recovery time from an ankle fracture dislocation – eight weeks. The previous record was Aidan Guerra in 2019 who returned to the field after ten weeks. However, it may not be all good news for the Knights with TysonFrizell (hamstring tightness) seen with ice on his lower leg after last week’s match. It is understood he is expected to play and so will Jermaine McEwen (cramps) who failed to finish the match against the Rabbitohs.