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Jamayne Isaako has been dropped to the bench for Brisbane's NRL clash with Gold Coast Titans after Tesi Niu trained at fullback on Tuesday.
Jamayne Isaako has been dropped for Brisbane's crunch NRL clash with Gold Coast after coach Anthony Seibold named a raft of changes to the side.
Isaako has been named on the interchange bench with teenage sensation Tesi Niu named at fullback after he trained with the side on Tuesday.
Livewire Cory Paix will also miss Saturday's match against Gold Coast after leaving Broncos training early on Tuesday with a pectoral strain.
Seibold appears to be rolling the dice and thrusting 18-year-old Niu into the No.1 jersey as he looks at ways to snap their worrying four-game losing streak in Saturday's Suncorp Stadium derby.
"I think Tesi will bring a lot to the side," winger Xavier Coates said on Tuesday.
"He's quite quick and evasive. So he will be just running through the middle, play off the quick play-the-balls, look for holes, look for tired defenders.
"I think Tesi will have a big impact on the game and help out the team a fair bit."
Isaako is an unlucky omission after amassing 143m from a team-high 18 runs against Newcastle last weekend.
The loss of Paix leaves 33-year-old Issac Luke as their sole rake after the club released veteran No.9 Andrew McCullough last month.
Under-fire playmaker Anthony Milford has retained his spot in the halves alongside Brodie Croft, with youngster Tom Dearden named in reserves.
Joe Ofahengaue has moved into the starting side for Pat Carrigan, who is serving a suspension - along with Tom Flegler - for dangerous contact last week.
South Sydney centre James Roberts is also a chance to play his first game back from a stint in a rehab facility after he was named on the extended bench to play Penrith on Thursday.
Roberts has been working towards a return to the NRL since seeking support for his mental health during the COVID-19 shut down.
Elsewhere, Sydney Roosters have named star fullback James Tedesco to play St George Illawarra on Friday night just six days after he suffered a concussion against Parramatta.
Tedesco will need to pass all concussion protocols to be cleared to play.
The Dragons have called up rookie Jason Saab for his first game of the season after winger Jordan Pereira was suspended for two matches.
Prop James Graham has not been named in the side ahead of his imminent release to St Helens, with Jackson Ford to take his place on the bench as replacement.
Wests Tigers veteran Benji Marshall has been left out of the 17 for the third week in a row, named on an extended bench to face the Bulldogs on Sunday.
