NRL Early Mail round 17, 2018
THERE will be mass changes to the round 17 NRL teams following shock Origin inclusions and spate of recent injuries.
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NRL Early Mail heading into round 16.
In key news:
* Corey Oates, Tariq Sims and Tim Glasby are unavailable following Origin inclusions.
* Injured trio Viliame Kikau (knee), Tevita Pangai Jnr (rib cartilage) and Joseph Tapine (concussion) are expected to be named.
* Tohu Harris (knee) is set to miss out for the Warriors.
* Origin players are out with the Storm, Dragons and Panthers particularly hard hit.
* Eels, Sharks, Tigers, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Knights, Sea Eagles, Roosters are on the bye.
NRL CASUALTY WARD: All the round 16 injuries
STORM V DRAGONS
Thursday 5 July, AAMI Park, 7.50pm
Storm: Billy Slater, Josh Addo-Carr, Will Chambers, Cameron Munster and Felise Kaufusi are on Origin duty. Tim Glasby is also unavailable after being included in the Queensland 17, with Dylan Napa dropped to 18th man. Dale Finucane (hand) is a strong chance to return. Jahrome Hughes moves from halfback to fullback for Slater, freeing a halves spot for Ryley Jacks, who was a late omission against the Roosters.
With Munster also out, Jacks will be joined in the halves by Brodie Croft. Young Tonumapiea and Cheyse Blair are ready-made backline replacements for Addo-Carr and Chambers. Joe Stimson is again expected to start in the back row, with Kaufusi on Origin duty after resting up over the weekend due to an ankle issue.
Dragons: Paul Vaughan, Jack De Belin, Tyson Frizell and Ben Hunt are on Origin duty, while Tariq Sims is also a shock inclusion for the Blues.
Leeson Ah Mau returns after being rested following the Denver Test, likely at starting prop for Vaughan. Expect Jacob Host to again cover Frizell, who was rested following Origin due to a mild concussion. Blake Lawrie and Hame Sele are also expected to score spots in the pack.
Hunt is set to be replaced in the halves by Kurt Mann with Jason Nightingale coming onto the right wing. Jai Field is the other option at halfback.
PANTHERS V WARRIORS
Friday 6 July, Panthers Stadium, 7.55pm
Panthers: Nathan Cleary, James Maloney and Tyrone Peachey are on Origin duty. Expect Tyrone May to replace Maloney at five-eighth, although the other halves spot is up in the air. Corey Harawira-Naera (groin) is set to return, allowing Isaah Yeo to switch to centre for Peachey, although Waqa Blake (ankle) is getting close.
Viliame Kikau (knee) has been cleared of serious injury and expected to be named. “Hopefully it’s just a really bad cork on the top of the knee,” coach Anthony Griffin said of Kikau. “He caught a guy’s head as you would’ve seen on the vision. The doctors are pretty optimistic there’s no structural damage — he’s just got a really heavy bump. He’s in a bit of pain there, so we’ll have to assess him over the next couple of days.”
Warriors: The availability of Tohu Harris (knee) and Bunty Afoa (elbow) remains up in the air. The likes of Sam Lisone and Albert Vete are in contention to come into the 17.
BULLDOGS V RAIDERS
Saturday 7 July, Belmore Sports Ground, 7.35pm
Bulldogs: David Klemmer is on Origin duty. Expect Clay Priest or Asipeli Fine to come into the 17.
Raiders: Joseph Tapine (concussion) copped a heavy knock but is expected to be named. Brad Abbey will again be named at fullback in place of Jack Wighton (disciplinary). Josh Papalii is on Origin duty. Expect Sia Soliola to start at lock with Charlie Gubb added to the bench.
TITANS V BRONCOS
Sunday 8 July, Cbus Super Stadium, 4.10pm
Titans: Jarrod Wallace and Jai Arrow are on Origin duty. Morgan Boyle and Leilani Latu are set to join the 17. Ryan James is 18th man for the Blues. He will only play Origin if Boyd Cordner (concussion/calf) succumbs to injury. Cordner is expected to play, freeing James for Gold Coast duty.
Broncos: James Roberts, Andrew McCullough and Josh McGuire are on Origin duty, while Corey Oates is also unavailable after being called into the Queensland squad as a replacement for Greg Inglis (broken thumb). Tom Opacic is a straight swap for Roberts at centre. The likes of Sam Thaiday, Alex Glenn, Troy Dargan and Todd Murphy are in contention for the hooker spot of McCullough, who is right for Origin despite dislocating a finger on the weekend.
McGuire’s absence is offset by the return of Tevita Pangai Jnr (ribs). “Tevita was still not really comfortable with what can be a very painful injury,” Broncos’ medico Jeremy Hickmans said. “We would rather give it another week to heal than have the problem hang around for the rest of the season.”
Jonus Pearson is set to replace Oates on the wing. Anthony Milford is free to play for the Broncos after missing Origin selection (he was a contender for injured Kalyn Ponga’s bench spot). Joe Ofahengaue (virus) missed the Raiders clash but is right to go this week.
BYES: Eels, Sharks, Tigers, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Knights, Sea Eagles, Roosters
Originally published as NRL Early Mail round 17, 2018
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