Canberra Raiders name Josh Hodgson to start against Wests
The Canberra Raiders have received a much-needed boost with hooker Josh Hodgson named to make his return against the West Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium on Sunday.
It marks the first game for the England hooker after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at the World Cup last November.
Hodgson required a full knee reconstruction but will return two weeks ahead of schedule as the Raiders look to get their season back on track against the Tigers.
Hodgson has not played reserve grade and comes straight back into the Raiders starting side in place of Siliva Havili who moves to the bench.
Centre Joey Leilua, who played just two minutes last week before he left the game with a head knock, was named coach Ricky Stuart's 21-man squad on Tuesday but must pass concussion protocols to play.
Josh Papalii moves back into the middle at lock as Dunamis Lui shifts back to the interchange bench alongside Havili, Luke Bateman and Liam Knight. Ata Hingano drops out of the squad.
Suspended second-rower Joe Tapine returns to the side to replace prop Charlie Gubb who copped a one-week ban for a late tackle on Penrith half Nathan Cleary.
Havili was confident Tapine would slot back in seamlessly as Sia Soliola moves to the front row.
"It's an easy one for Taps to come straight back in. He's an 80-minute backrower that we can be a bit more versatile with our middles and our changes around there," Tapine said.
"Sia will probably come back to the middle, but with Taps coming back he brings a lot of confidence to the team."
Tapine will pack down alongside Elliot Whitehead who was named in England's squad to face New Zealand in Denver on Saturday week.
NRL ROUND 15
Sunday: Wests Tigers v Canberra Raiders at Campbelltown Stadium, 4:10pm.
Raiders: 1. Jack Wighton 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker (C) 4. Joey Leilua 5. Michael Oldfield 6. Blake Austin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Sia Soliola 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Shannon Boyd 11. Joe Tapine 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Josh Papalii 14. Siliva Havili 15. Luke Bateman 16. Dunamis Lui 17. Liam Knight 18. Emre Guler 19. Brad Abbey 20. Jack Murchie 21. Craig Garvey