Nate Myles won't be thrust into Melbourne's side as a State of Origin reinforcement for the Storm's NRL clash with North Queensland.
The dumped Queensland prop was released on Tuesday by Manly to join the Storm, but an elbow injury has ruled him out of his new club's clash with the Cowboys on Saturday night at AAMI Park.
The Storm will be without Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Will Chambers and Tim Glasby, while the Cowboys have also been hit hard by Origin selection with Johnathan Thurston, Michael Morgan, Coen Hess and Gavin Cooper all on Maroons duty.
With Jordan McLean and Cheyse Blair also out injured, Melbourne made six changes to the team who scored an epic late win last week over Cronulla.
Young Tounumaipea has been named as Slater's replacement at fullback, while Slade Griffin is the starting hooker.
Cowboys rookie five-eighth Kyle Laybutt is set to debut this week after Thurston's late inclusion in last week's win over Parramatta forced him out of the side.
He will partner Ray Thompson in the halves, while centre Kane Linnett has been moved to the second row.
Cowboys coach Paul Green said the absence of starpower might have robbed Melbourne of a marquee fixture, but neither side would be using that as an excuse.
"From a club point of view, we're probably lucky in a way that we're playing Melbourne because they are (also) so affected by selections with Origin," Green said.
"We're up against a team that's probably in the same boat."
Gold Coast have also been forced to ring the changes with Jarryd Hayne, Nathan Peats and Jarrod Wallace all on Origin duty, while Kane Elgey, Karl Lawton and Tyrone Roberts are out injured.
Chris McQueen shifts to five-eighth with Kevin Proctor, Nathaniel Peteru and Pat Politoni joining the forwards.
The Titans face an unchanged South Sydney on Friday night at ANZ Stadium.
Valentine Holmes' Queensland call-up takes Cronulla's Origin tally to five, with Andrew Fifita, James Maloney, Jack Bird and Wade Graham also missing.
Fa'amanu Brown goes into the halves for the Sharks' match with Wests Tigers, while Edrick Lee comes onto the wing and Gerard Beale starts at fullback.
The Tigers will be without Blues Origin players Aaron Woods and James Tedesco, with Kevin Naiqama shifting to fullback and Tim Grant set to start at prop.
St George Illawarra lose Josh Dugan and Tyson Frizell to Origin for Sunday's clash with Parramatta, with Jason Nightingale set to start at fullback, Kalifa Faifai Loa on the wing and Tariq Sims in the back row.
Share
