Teams have been named for Round 8 of the NRL season and for several clubs, their hopes of figuring in the finals are already starting to look dim.

No side is even close to being out of the running for the playoffs as the eighth-placed Rabbitohs are only on six competition points with a 3-4 record but for teams like Gold Coast, Newcastle and Canberra, who were all given a strong chance of being finals teams in the pre-season predictions, their 2-5 records indicate they have been well below expectations.

Canterbury captain Josh Jackson will miss Saturday’s match-up with the Roosters at Accor Stadium after he tested positive for COVID. Jackson tested himself at home on a day off after feeling unwell. There are no other cases within the squad at this stage.

Jake Averillo, Brent Naden and Ava Seumanufagai have all been named after missing last week’s game, but will need to pass blood tests and on-field checks before returning.

Shaquille Mitchell, the older brother of injured star Latrell, is a chance to make his NRL debut off the bench for the Bunnies against Manly on Friday night. The forward, who revived his career after earning a train-and-trial contract in the off-season after overcoming weight issues, was named in the reserves but is set to be a late inclusion.

The Knights have suffered more bad news on the back of their 39-2 loss to Parramatta with centre Dane Gagai ruled out for a month with a fractured cheekbone.

Cronulla’s stocks continue to soar with Wade Graham likely to make his first appearance of the NRL season in Thursday night’s clash with Brisbane.

Already boosted by the return of new captain Dale Finucane, Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon says Graham is also poised for a comeback from an ankle injury suffered in the pre-season.

“He’s a good chance. He trained yesterday, trained really strongly. He’s got to get screened and assessed this morning and then get through the captain’s run,” Fitzgibbon said on Wednesday. “But he’s looking really good at the moment.

“I’ll keep that up my sleeve until an hour before [kick-off]. But at this stage I don’t want to over commit. He trained very strongly yesterday and I would say he’s a very good chance of playing.”

St George Illawarra have received a boost with five-eighth Jack Bird rated only an outside chance of playing Sunday’s stoush with the Tigers in Wollongong after there were fears on Anzac Day that he had broken his arm.

Junior Amone is on standby and set to start with Bird looking likely to be out.

“If he’s not healthy, I will definitely be ready to take it,” Amone said. “Whatever time I (have been able to) get on the field I just try and bring as much energy as I can and perform the best I can.”

Four players – Roosters winger Daniel Tupou, Warriors forward Aaron Pene, Souths centre Taane Milne and Manly second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu – have been banned this week after careless high tackle charges last weekend.

The Warriors have signed Cowboys playmaker Daejarn Asi for the rest of the season and rushed him straight into their squad to play Canberra with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (concussion), Kodi Nikorima (COVID) and Josh Curran (knee) joining Pene on the list of unavailable players.

Round 8 teams

Thursday

Broncos v Sharks at Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm

Broncos: Kevin Walters has kept the faith with the same side which beat the Bulldogs last Friday. Te Maire Martin has retained the No.1 jersey after his impressive return to the NRL after three years out.

1. Te Maire Martin 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Cory Paix 15. Rhys Kennedy 16. Thomas Flegler 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Brenko Lee 19. Jordan Pereira 20. TC Robati 21. Ezra Mam 22. Ethan Quai-Ward 23. Logan Bayliss-Brow 24. Ryan James

Sharks: Wade Graham has been named on the extended bench after missing the first seven rounds with an ankle injury. Dale Finucane has overcome his head knock and returns at lock with Cameron McInnes reverting to the bench and Braydon Trindall relegated to the reserves.

1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aiden Tolman 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane 14. Jack Williams 15. Cameron McInnes 16. Royce Hunt 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Braydon Trindall 19. Wade Graham 20. Matt Ikuvalu 21. Mawene Hiroti 22. Lachlan Miller 23. Luke Metcalf 24. Franklin Pele

Friday

Titans v Panthers at Cbus Super Stadium, 6pm

Titans: Jayden Campbell is a chance of returning from a rib injury after being named in the reserves although AJ Brimson has been switched to fullback with Will Smith at five-eighth.

David Fifita is back in the forwards after a centre experiment which means Kevin Proctor goes back to the bench. Prop Jaimin Jolliffe is out with a calf injury.

1. AJ Brimson 2. Phillip Sami 3. Brian Kelly 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Will Smith 7. Toby Sexton 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Erin Clark 10. Isaac Liu 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Tanah Boyd 15. Sam Lisone 16. Herman Ese’ese 17. Kevin Proctor 18. Jamayne Isaako 19. Jarrod Wallace 20. Sam McIntyre 21. Esan Marsters 22. Paul Turner 23. Corey Thompson 24. Jayden Campbell

Panthers: After an eye-catching debut, hooker Soni Luke has kept his place on the interchange while winger Brian To’o is still another week away from an injury return.

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Charlie Staines 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Taylan May 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Matt Eisenhuth 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Soni Luke 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Robert Jennings 19. Chris Smith 20. J’maine Hopgood 21. Lindsay Smith 22. Mitch Kenny 23. Christian Crichton 24. Sean O’Sullivan

Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles at Central Coast Stadium, 7.55pm

Rabbitohs: Taane Milne’s high tackle suspension means Isaiah Tass gets a call-up at centre. Siliva Havili replaces Jacob Host (shoulder) on the bench. Shaq Mitchell is a chance of making his debut.

1. Blake Taaffe 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Josh Mansour 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Siliva Havili 15. Hame Sele 16. Davvy Moale 17. Liam Knight 18. Trent Peoples 19. Jaxson Paulo 20. Richard Kennar 21. Dean Hawkins 22. Peter Mamouzelos 23. Josiah Karapani 24. Shaq Mitchell

Sea Eagles: Morgan Harper has been dropped after he was hooked during last week’s loss to Cronulla. Martin Taupau (COVID) and Sean Keppie (concussion) have returned to fill the gaps left in the pack by Andrew Davey (shoulder), Taniela Paseka (knee) and Haumole Olakau’atu (suspended). Ben Trbojevic also joins the game-day 17 on the bench.

1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Sean Keppie 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Martin Taupau 11. Karl Lawton 12. Ethan Bullemor 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Dylan Walker 15. Ben Trbojevic 16. Kurt De Luis 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Morgan Harper 19. Jorge Taufua 20. James Roumanos 21. Viliami Fifita 22. Josh Schuster 23. Kaeo Weekes 24. Jacob Sykes

Saturday

Warriors v Raiders at Moreton Daily Stadium, 3pm

Warriors: The Warriors have signed Cowboys playmaker Daejarn Asi for the rest of the season and rushed him straight into their squad to play Canberra with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (concussion), Kodi Nikorima (COVID) and Josh Curran (knee) joining forward Aaron Pene on the list of unavailable players after he was suspended for a high tackle on Reimis Smith.

Winger Edward Kosi has been dropped after his horror night in Melbourne during the 70-10 thrashing with Rocco Berry and Viliami Vailea replacing him and DWZ on the flanks.

1. Reece Walsh 2. Rocco Berry 3. Jesse Arthars 4. Adam Pompey 5. Viliami Vailea 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake (c) 9. Wayde Egan 10. Matt Lodge 11. Euan Aitken 12. Bayley Sironen 13. Jazz Tevaga.

Interchange: 14. Taniela Otukolo 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Eliesa Katoa 17. Jack Murchie 18. Edward Kosi 20. Ben Murdoch-Masila 21. Daejarn Asi 22. Pride Petterson-Robati 23. Junior Ratuva 24. Valingi Kepu 25. Jackson Frei