Canberra Raiders co-captain Elliott Whitehead has been named to return to the NRL a week after suffering gruesome facial injuries that required plastic surgery.
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The hardy Englishman comes straight back into the side to face the New Zealand Warriors at Redcliffe on Saturday.
Whitehead's return to the second row means debutant Harry Rushton drops out of the 17.
Corey Harawira-Naera shifts to the bench as the only other change to the side that was soundly beaten by the Penrith Panthers on Sunday.
Jordan Rapana has remained at fullback, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad staying at 14th man.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has continued to resist the urge to bring co-captain Jarrod Croker back into the centres, with Semi Valemei and Matt Timoko again preferred.
The Raiders have lost their past four games to slump to 15th on the NRL ladder with only the Canterbury Bulldogs below them.
Whitehead clashed heads with Ata Mariota at training last Tuesday, which required surgery the following day.
While he was keen to play against the Panthers, Stuart opted to give him a week off.
It was just the sixth game Whitehead has missed in seven NRL seasons.
NRL ROUND EIGHT
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v New Zealand Warriors at Redcliffe, 3pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Jordan Rapana, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Matt Timoko, 4. Semi Valemei, 5. Xavier Savage, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Brad Schneider, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Joe Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead (c), 13. Ryan Sutton. Interchange: 14. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 15. Corey Harawira-Naera, 16. Adam Elliott, 17. Corey Horsburgh. Reserves: 18. Harry Rushton, 19. Matt Frawley, 20. Jarrod Croker, 21. Emre Guler, 22. Trey Mooney, 23. James Schiller, 24. Peter Hola.
Warriors squad: 1. Reece Walsh, 2. Rocco Berry, 3. Jesse Arthars, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Viliami Vailea, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Matt Lodge, 11. Euan Aitken, 12. Bayley Sironen, 13. Jazz Tevaga. Interchange: 14. Taniela Otukolo, 15. Bunty Afoa, 16. Eliesa Katoa, 17. Jack Murchie. Reserves: 18. Edward Kosi, 20. Ben Murdoch-Masila, 21. Daejarn Asi, 22. Pride Petterson-Robati, 23. Junior Ratuva, 24. Valingi Kepu, 25. Jackson Frei.
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David Polkinghorne
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
Covering the Raiders, Cavalry, cycling and racing, plus everything else that involves sport in the ACT, for The Canberra Times. Basically I love sport and watching it is a full-time job. Email: david.polkinghorne@canberratimes.com.au
