The team lists for Round 6 have landed, and the biggest talking points are at the Dragons, Broncos and Panthers. The team lists show Shane Flanagan leaning into a new-look Dragons backline, while Michael Maguire has been forced into changes by injuries and suspensions. The action is set for Sunday evening in ET terms, with the Bulldogs facing the Panthers at Accor Stadium and the Dragons hosting Manly at WIN Stadium.
Dragons make a bold backline call
The Dragons team lists point to a significant reshuffle in the backline, with the return of a playmaker and the omission of the veteran fullback shaping the selection. The team lists also suggest Flanagan is backing a different structure as St George Illawarra prepare for Manly at 6. 00pm AEST, which is 4. 00pm ET.
That selection is the clearest sign yet that the Dragons want a different look in attack. The team lists at WIN Stadium place fresh pressure on the side to deliver, especially after a week defined by major changes rather than continuity.
Bulldogs and Panthers selections bring key return
Elsewhere in the team lists, Canterbury have brought Bronson Xerri back into the centres after a period of exile, with the gun centre filling the spot left by Stephen Crichton. Harry Hayes also returns on the bench after a head knock, while Jake Turpin is listed on a six-man bench.
The Bulldogs team lists for the 7. 50pm AEST clash with Penrith, or 5. 50pm ET, also underline the continued reshuffle in the spine. Matt Burton stays in the halves, Lachlan Galvin remains at No. 7, and Sean O’Sullivan is included among the reserves as cover.
For Penrith, the team lists are more settled. Mitch Kenny returns from suspension and goes straight back into the side, replacing Freddy Lussick, who drops to No. 19. The Panthers’ continuity remains a major feature of their selection picture, especially with Nathan Cleary again in the No. 7 jersey.
Broncos face injury-driven disruption
The Broncos team lists reflect a different kind of problem. Michael Maguire has named replacements for a wave of injured players, and one surprise inclusion has been placed in the No. 7 jersey. That is the most striking detail in a selection sheet that otherwise shows a side managing absences rather than choosing from full strength.
The team lists indicate how quickly the lineup has shifted under injury pressure. It is the kind of week where selection clarity matters, because changes at spine positions can alter both structure and game plan before kick-off. The team lists also make clear that these changes are not isolated, but part of a broader round of roster movement across the competition.
What the team lists mean next
For the Dragons, the team lists are a clear test of Flanagan’s confidence in a reshaped backline. For Canterbury, the team lists bring back a key centre while leaving the biggest debate around the spine and bench balance. For Penrith, the team lists restore a familiar hooker and preserve the stability that has defined their season so far.
The next step comes on the field, where these team lists will be judged against the pressure of Round 6. If the changes work, they will look bold; if they do not, the selection calls will be the first thing under the spotlight. For now, the team lists have already delivered a round full of questions before a ball is kicked.
