NRL Late Mail: Team news and changes for Round 18
WITH State of Origin set to cause havoc again, keep up to date with all the latest team news and changes for Round 18 — including a host of stars set to earn rests.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
STATE of Origin began causing havoc to NRL teams before the first ball was even kicked in Round 18.
The high-flying teams in the competition have the opportunity to rest their Origin stars, while teams battling to improve their position on the ladder may be forced to play their representatives from Wednesday night’s Game III.
Keep up to date with all the latest team news and changes for Round 18 of the NRL.
In the biggest news so far:
* Origin stars Billy Slater, Josh Addo-Carr, Will Chambers and Cameron Munster will all miss Melbourne’s clash with Manly
* Boyd Cordner will not be picked for the Roosters with a decision still to be made on James Tedesco and Latrell Mitchell
* Still at the Roosters, Victor Radley (suspension) is out, with Ryan Matterson a chance to replace him in the starting team.
* Raiders’ Joe Tapine failed to beat a charge at the judiciary and will miss two weeks.
* Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans is in some doubt to face the Storm and Dylan Walker is likely to be ruled out with injury with Trent Hodkinson to start at five-eighth
* Kerrod Holland is in doubt for the Bulldogs and could be replaced by John Olive
* Angus Chricton and Damien Cook have both been named by the Rabbitohs but are not certain to play
* Paul McGregor will monitor Tyson Frizell but all five Origin players from the Dragons are expected to play
* Gavin Cooper may be rested by Cowboys coach Paul Green
* James Tedesco and Latrell Mitchell will be rested by Trent Robinson.
SuperCoach NRL Perfect 8: Round 18 jackpot hits $305,000 — play for free
Broncos v Warriors
2pm Sunday at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: 1 Darius Boyd (c), 2 Corey Oates, 12. Jaydn Su’A, 4 Jordan Kahu, 5 Jamayne Isaako, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Kodi Nikorima, 8 Matthew Lodge, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Sam Thaiday, 11 Alex Glenn, 20. David Fifita, 13 Josh McGuire
Interchange: 14 Kotoni Staggs, 15 Joe Ofahengaue, 16 Korbin Sims
Reserves: 18 Jonus Pearson, 19 Patrick Mago, 21 Sam Tagataese, 22 Jake Turpin,
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: Tevita Pangai Junior and James Roberts are out with injury. Jaydn Su’A will shift to the centres and David Fifita will start. Tom Opacic played reserve grade on Saturday and Kotoni Staggs can’t play because of salary cap reasons.
Warriors: 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2 David Fusitu’a, 3 Peta Hiku, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Gerard Beale, 6 Blake Green, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 James Gavet, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Agnatius Paasi, 11 Isaiah Papali’i, 12 Simon Mannering, 13 Adam Blair
Interchange: 14 Jazz Tevaga, 15 Tevita Satae, 16 Joseph Vuna, 17 Anthony Gelling
Reserves: 18 Ligi Sao, 19 Karl Lawton, 20 Blake Ayshford, 21 Mason Lino
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: Expected to be 1-17.
Dragons v Tigers
4.10pm Sunday at Jubilee Oval
Dragons: 1 Matt Dufty, 2 Nene Macdonald, 3 Euan Aitken, 4 Tim Lafai, 5 Jason Nightingale, 6 Gareth Widdop (c), 7 Ben Hunt, 8 James Graham, 9 Cameron McInnes, 10 Paul Vaughan, 11 Tyson Frizell, 12 Tariq Sims, 13 Jack de Belin
Interchange: 14 Jeremy Latimore, 15 Kurt Mann, 16 Leeson Ah Mau, 17 Luciano Leilua
Reserves: 18 Patrick Herbert, 19 Hame Sele, 20 Blake Lawrie, 21 Reece Robson, 22 Jai Field, 23 Darren Nicholls
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: The Dragons’ five Origin players — Ben Hunt, Jack de Belin, Paul Vaughan, Tyson Frizell and Tariq Sims — got through the game unscathed. It is expected they will play although Frizell will be monitored by coach Paul McGregor.
Tigers: 1 Moses Mbye, 2 David Nofoaluma, 3 Esan Marsters, 4 Kevin Naiqama, 5 Corey Thompson, 6 Benji Marshall, 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Russell Packer (c), 9 Robbie Farah, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Chris Lawrence, 12 Josh Aloiai, 13 Elijah Taylor
Interchange: 14 Alex Twal, 15 Suaso Sue, 16 Michael Chee Kam, 17 Matt Eisenhuth
Reserves: 18 Jacob Liddle, 19 Luke Garner, 20 Tim Grant, 21 Malakai Watene-Zelezniak
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: Expected to be 1-17.
Titans v Roosters
6.30pm Sunday at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: 1 Michael Gordon, 2 Anthony Don, 3 Konrad Hurrell, 4 Brenko Lee, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 AJ Brimson, 7 Ashley Taylor, 8 Jarrod Wallace, 9 Nathan Peats, 10 Ryan James (c), 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 Keegan Hipgrave, 13 Jai Arrow
Interchange: 14 Mitch Rein, 15 Moeaki Fotuaika, 16 Will Matthews, 17 Jack Stockwell
Reserves: 18 Morgan Boyle, 19 Leilani Latu, 20 Kane Elgey, 21 Brendan Elliot, 22 Jai Whitbread
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: Jai Arrow and Jarrod Wallace are expected to back up from Origin.
Roosters: 18 Matthew Ikuvalu, 2 Daniel Tupou, 16 Mitchell Aubusson, 4 Joseph Manu, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Luke Keary, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11 Nat Butcher, 20 Ryan Matterson, 13 Isaac Liu
Interchange: 14 Zane Tetevano, 15 Lindsay Collins, 17 Kurt Baptiste, 23 Poasa Faamausili
Reserves: 19 Sitili Tupouniua, 21 Sean O’Sullivan, 22 Paul Momirovski,
Players cut: To come
Late Mail: Matthew Ikuvalua will switch to fullback in relief of James Tedesco while Mitchell Aubusson will deputise for Latrell Mitchell at centre with both men being rested. Victor Radley has been suspended and Ryan Matterson will slot in at second row.
Watch every game of every round of the 2018 NRL Telstra Premiership on FOX SPORTS. SIGN UP NOW >
Originally published as NRL Late Mail: Team news and changes for Round 18
Addo-Carr’s Bulldogs career is as good as over
The Canterbury Bulldogs have reportedly made a massive move to terminate the contract star winger Josh Addo-Carr.
Expansion bombshell as NRL rejects eight hopeful bids
The Jets’ hopes of a top-flight rugby league return have been crushed, after the NRL rejected not just Newtown’s bid, but all eight expansion hopefuls.