The return of an important trio of Canberra Raiders is a much-needed boost for the Green Machine after a terrible few days for the club.
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But one of them will have to get through a fitness test to make it to kick-off against the Gold Coast Titans at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart named Jordan Rapana (suspension), Brad Schneider (COVID-19) and Nick Cotric (quad) on Tuesday, although Cotric will have to prove his fitness on Wednesday after he was a late withdrawal on the weekend.
Canberra forward Corey Harawira-Naera said they would take a cautious approach with Cotric given how early it was in the season.
"I think they're doing some tests on him [on Tuesday] and then [on Wednesday] he's going to have to pass a fitness test," he said.
"It's early in the season. We don't really want to push any kind of injury early so if he's no good this week we'll get him back next week.
"I thought Seb [Kris] did a good job on the left wing as well. He was pretty busy in his work."
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Rapana's return to the wing for his first NRL game this season is a massive boost given all the hard work the New Zealand international provides coming out of yardage.
He'll also provide plenty of experience in a young group of outside backs.
Canberra centres Matt Timoko and Semi Valemei are still at the start of their NRL careers.
Raiders big bopper Josh Papalii said Rapana's return also brought his fun-loving character with it.
"Rapa's coming back. He brings a lot of experience and brings a lot of joy back in the team - takes that focus away from footy, being that jovial guy in the team," Papalii said.
The Raiders also missed young halfback Schneider last week when he was forced into a week's isolation.
He looked good in round one, filling the boots of first-choice halfback Jamal Fogarty (knee).
Schneider will likely take over the kicking duties from Harawira-Naera.
Papalii said there appeared to be no lingering effects from his enforced week off.
"He's fine. He ran today and ... we need him to be at his best and hopefully play well in round three," he said.
"He missed the second one due to other reasons. Looking forward to Schneids being back in the team."
Stuart named Matt Frawley as the utility on the bench to cover both the halves and hooker, dropping last week's debutant Adrian Trevilyan to an extended bench.
He also named Canberra co-captain Jarrod Croker in the centres in the NSW Cup after he had a cortisone injection for a bulging disc in his back.
The Titans have named recruit Jamayne Isaako as part of their 24-man squad, on the same day he switched to the club from the Brisbane Broncos.
NRL ROUND THREE
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Gold Coast Titans at Canberra Stadium, 7.35pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Matthew Timoko, 4. Semi Valemei, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Brad Schneider, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Joe Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Corey Harawira-Naera, 13. Elliott Whitehead. Interchange: 14. Matt Frawley, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Adam Elliott, 17. Corey Horsburgh. Reserves: 18. Xavier Savage, 19. Ryan Sutton, 20. Adrian Trevilyan, 21. Sebastian Kris, 22. Sam Williams, 23. Trey Mooney, 24. Harry Rushton.
Titans squad: 1. Jayden Campbell, 2. Phillip Sami, 3. Brian Kelly, 4. Patrick Herbert, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Alexander Brimson, 7. Toby Sexton, 8. Moeaki Fotuaika, 9. Erin Clark, 10. Isaac Liu, 11. David Fifita, 12. Beau Fermor, 13. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui. Interchange: 14. Will Smith, 15. Sam Lisone, 16. Jaimin Jolliffe, 17. Kevin Proctor. Reserves: 18. Herman Ese'ese, 19. Esan Marsters, 20. Jarrod Wallace, 21. Sam McIntyre, 22. Jamayne Isaako, 23. Paul Turner, 24. Sosefo Fifita.
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