NRL: Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart drops Blake Austin, names Ata Hingano

Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has dropped Blake Austin from his initial starting 17 as he looks for an answer to turn around the Green Machine's winless season.

Stuart has called new recruit Ata Hingano into the No. 14 jumper, with Aidan Sezer named at five-eighth despite nursing a back injury.

Blake Austin has been named in the No. 19 jersey.
Photo: Jamila Toderas

Stuart will give his injured troops in Sezer, prop forward Sia Soliola and back-rower Joe Tapine every chance to prove their fitness for a clash with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval on Saturday night.

The trio has been named in Stuart's 21-man squad to face Manly and will be assessed during the week as the 15th placed Raiders look to improve on an 0-3 start.

Sezer is nursing a back injury and his absence would force another complete halves reshuffle given Austin has been beaten to the No. 14 jersey by Hingano.

Sezer will likely deputise at hooker for first choice rake Siliva Havili when Hingano enters the fray.

Hingano has played 15 NRL games for the New Zealand Warriors and played five matches for Tonga at last year's World Cup.

The presence of forwards Soliola (ankle) and Tapine (thumb) looms as a massive boost should they be proven fit, with Canberra's forward depth being tested in the opening three rounds.

Young gun Jack Murchie and Liam Knight have been named on the extended bench.

Royce Hunt facing up to three weeks on the sidelines with medial ligament damage in his knee.

It creates a gaping hole in the squad with Charlie Gubb ruled out until at least round nine with a groin injury.

The Raiders are bracing for a Manly backlash after the Sea Eagles were slapped with a hefty fine and key club figures were rubbed out of rugby league for salary cap breaches.

NRL ROUND FOUR

Saturday: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles v Canberra Raiders at Brookvale Oval, 7.35pm. TV: Live on Fox League.

Raiders squad: 1. Jack Wighton, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (C), 4. Joey Leilua, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Aidan Sezer, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Sia Soliola, 9. Siliva Havili, 10. Shannon Boyd, 11. Josh Papalii, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Luke Bateman. Interchange: 14. Ata Hingano, 15. Junior Paulo, 16. Dunamis Lui, 17. Joe Tapine, 18. Liam Knight, 19. Blake Austin, 20. Michael Oldfield, 21. Jack Murchie