LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
NRL 2024: Shock waves as Damien Cook axed by South Sydney in bold move while Eels shake up lineup for round six
Struggling coaches have made some tough calls ahead of round six, with high-profile players feeling the brunt of their team's poor performances.
In a bold move, Eels coach Brad Arthur has wielded the selection axe after a heavy defeat in Canberra.
Young gun Blaize Talagi, try-scoring sensation Maika Sivo, and forward Wiremu Greig have all been dropped from the squad.
The experiment of Talagi at five-eighth has come to an end after just two games, with Daejarn Asi stepping in to face the Cowboys.
Star halfback Mitch Moses remains sidelined for at least six weeks, adding to the team's woes.
Sivo, despite scoring twice in the capital, failed to deliver his best performance, leading to Bailey Simonsson and Morgan Harper being named in the backline.
On a positive note, Bryce Cartwright returns from injury to boost the team.
Over at South Sydney, coach Jason Demetriou has made some major changes, including dropping representative hooker Damien Cook in a bold shake-up.
Cook will start as the 18th man, with Peter Mamouzelos taking his place against the Sharks in what could be a make-or-break game for Demetriou.
Newcomer Jye Gray will make his NRL debut at fullback in the absence of the suspended Latrell Mitchell, while speedster Tyrone Munro returns from injury to add pace on the left wing.
These moves signal a pivotal moment in the season for both teams, as they look to turn things around and climb up the ladder in the fiercely competitive NRL.