Lomax, RTS set for positional switches as stars rise to Challenge

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is set to make his long awaited return for the Warriors at centre, Dragons star Zac Lomax has been shifted to the wing and Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen has overcome fears about his future.

The selection of the star trio were among the biggest storylines when the teams were announced on Tuesday for the first round of the NRL Pre-season Challenge, with a host of off-season recruits to make their first appearances in new colours.

Among them are England winger Dom Young (Roosters) and centre Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Queensland Origin prop Thomas Flegler (Dolphins) and the Bulldogs trio of Blake Taaffe, Drew Hutchison and Jaeman Salmon.

Former Sharks centre Bronson Xerri has also been named in the Bulldogs side to host the Storm on Thursday night after serving a four-year doping ban, while Chanel Harris-Tavita is back for the Warriors after taking a year away from the game.

Roosters utility Connor Watson and Sharks fullback Kade Dykes return after missing the 2023 season due to injury, while Dolphins prop Tom Gilbert and Cronulla second-rower Teig Wilton will play after long lay-offs.

Papenhuyzen has been named at fullback for the Storm after recovering from a horrific leg injury in last year's finals loss to Brisbane, in which he suffered a dislocated ankle, broken fibula, ruptured deltoid and ruptured syndesmosis.

The star fullback, who had previously been sidelined for 14 months after fracturing his knee cap in 2022, will play against a Bulldogs side, which includes Taaffe at fullback, Xerri in the centres, Hutchison at halfback and Salmon in the backrow.

Tuivasa-Sheck, the 2018 Dally M medallist, will play his first NRL match since 2021 after switching codes in a bid to play for the All Blacks at last year's Rugby World Cup.

The former Warriors captain will line-up against Wests Tigers in Sunday's match at centre, despite playing most of his NRL career at fullback.

Harris-Tavita has been named at five-eighth in his first match since the World Cup final at Old Trafford in November 2022 and he will be partnered in the halves by Luke Metcalf, who returns after a hamstring injury cut short his 2023 campaign. 

Lomax is another star destined for a positional move after being named on the wing for Saturday night's Charity Shield clash with South Sydney, which will be St George Illawarra's first match under new coach Shane Flanagan.

Jack Bird shifts from backcrow to his preferred position of centre, with Flangan having indicated he wants Lomax and fullback Tyrell Sloan to alternate positions during matches.

The Rabbitohs have named former Manly prop Sean Keppie to start against the Dragons in a side missing injured stars Cody Walker, Isaiah Tass and Tyrone Munro, as well as All Stars representatives Latrell and Shaquai Mitchell.