The Sydney Roosters' "passengers" have another chance after coach Ricky Stuart made minimal changes to his side to meet Manly on Saturday.

Former South Sydney captain Ashley Harrison was dropped to the bench for Shane Shackleton but the only player omitted from the 17 was interchange back Vince Mellars.

Dumped NSW State of Origin stars Craig Wing and Brett Finch were retained at centre and hooker respectively.

Wing said the side had been "upbeat" despite a horror run that included a 42-10 flogging by Canberra, an on-field spat between captain Craig Fitzgibbon and Finch being made public and Stuart labelling some in his side "passengers".

"There's only so much soul-searching you can do," Wing told AAP.

"I don't think there's too much more talking we can do as a team and amongst ourselves, we've just got to try and play well as individuals and as a team.

"After what he (Stuart) said to us after the game, he was pretty harsh but I think it was very deserved and it was spot on, it shook us up a little bit but I guess we needed it."

Fitzgibbon said Stuart's verbal barrage was taken out of context.

"I wouldn't say passengers, I just think maybe on the day when he said passengers we had a lot of poor performers," he said.

"I think that was probably taken out of context a bit.

"We're confident we've got the players in place and we're confident we can turn the corner.

"We're running out of time for this season, I think we've got to win seven from nine so the pressure's on in that respect but, in saying that, no-one expects us to do it so the pressure's off as well."

In other team news, Billy Slater was recalled to fullback in the Melbourne Storm's lineup for Friday night's top of the table clash with Brisbane at Olympic Park.

Slater, who has spent the last two weeks playing with the Storm's feeder teams after serving a second suspension this year, replaces Steve Turner (ribs).

With both Garret Crossman (shoulder) and Ian Donnelly (ankle) also missing through injury, Antonio Kaufusi and Brett White will be the starting front-rowers.

The Broncos named Queensland Origin representative Tonie Carroll in the centres for the match.

At Parramatta, Tim Smith's return to form last week has kept Jeremy Smith, available again after serving a suspension for pushing referee Sean Hampstead in round 13, out of the side to meet Newcastle on Saturday.

Another Smith, centre Ben, is likely to return from a serious knee injury in the Eels' Premier League side.

The scintillating form of Knights fullback Nathan Hinton has kept both Milton Thaiday and David Seage in Premier League for the Parramatta Stadium meeting.

Penrith named captain Tony Puletua (ribs) to make his comeback against Canberra at CUA Stadium on Saturday.

Bulldog Matt Utai's five-week suspension has meant another shift to the centres for Sonny Bill Williams for the game against the New Zealand Warriors at Telstra Stadium on Sunday.

Cameron Phelps moves to Utai's wing and Origin stars Mark O'Meley, Willie Mason and Nate Myles were named to back up.

Cronulla named 21-year-old Kiwi Toshio Laiseni at fullback in place of David Simmons, who will be sidelined with a knee injury for four to six weeks, for Sunday's Toyota Park clash.

Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens moved Robbie Farrar from halfback to hooker and rushed Daniel Fitzhenry back from a broken collarbone into five-eighth.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP