LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Latrell Mitchell has been named as the five-eighth for the Rabbitohs, Chad Townsend has been axed by the Roosters, and Blaize Talagi will finally have a chance to start at Penrith as the NRL sees a shake-up in the halves for round six.
Mitchell will partner Jayden Sullivan in South Sydney's halves due to hamstring injuries to Jamie Humphreys and Cody Walker.
This will be Mitchell's second week playing out of position, as he returned from injury to start in the centres last week.
Coach Wayne Bennett had limited options for this week's game, with new recruit Lewis Dodd serving a NSW Cup suspension and Josh Schuster still working his way back to fitness.
The Rabbitohs will also see the return of Alex Johnston and Euan Aitken from injury, with Johnston resuming his pursuit of the NRL's all-time try-scoring record.
Meanwhile, the struggling Panthers have decided to start Talagi in the halves alongside Nathan Cleary for their match against the Dolphins on Thursday.
This move is seen as an attempt to ignite their season and bring a much-needed change to their playing style.
The changes in the halves across the NRL reflect the ongoing challenges faced by teams as they navigate injuries, suspensions, and form issues.
While some players like Mitchell and Talagi are being given opportunities to shine in new positions, others like Townsend are feeling the pressure of being dropped from the lineup.
As teams search for the right combinations to achieve success on the field, these changes could have a significant impact on the outcomes of upcoming matches.