NRL Late Mail: Predicted team changes, injuries for Round 18

Wests Tigers will be without two of their main attacking weapons against Panthers, while Souths have made a call on Origin hooker Damien Cook.

Wests Tigers speedsters David Nofoaluma and James Roberts have been ruled out of the clash against the Panthers.

Junior Tupou and Asu Kepaoa move into the starting side, while captain James Tamau returns from a calf injury.

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David Nofoaluma will miss the Tigers’ clash against Penrith. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

KEY BULLDOG OUT WITH COVID

— Michael Carayannis

Bulldogs young gun Aaron Schoupp will miss the clash against South Sydney because of Covid.

He tested positive on Wednesday which will rule him out of Sunday’s clash.

Schoupp was named to start at centre.

Declan Casey is expected to start in place of Schoupp.

Aaron Schoupp is out due to Covid (Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

ROUND 18 TEAMS

TIGERS v PANTHERS

Sunday, 2pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Tigers

1. Daine Laurie, 5. Ken Maumalo, 3. Starford To’a, 21. Asu Kepaoa, 20. Junior Tupou, 6. Adam Doueihi, 7. Luke Brooks, 8. Joe Ofahengaue, 9. Fa’amanu Brown, 10. Zane Musgrove, 11. Justin Matamua, 12. Kelma Tuilagi, 13. Jackson Hastings

Bench: 14. Fonua Pole, 15. James Tamou, 16. Luke Garner, 17. Jake Simpkin

Reserves: 18. Austin Dias, 19. Jock Madden

Players cut: 2. David Nofoaluma, 4. James Roberts, 22. Alex Seyfarth

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Taylan May, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Robert Jennings, 5. Charlie Staines, 6. Kurt Falls, 7. Sean O’Sullivan, 8. Moses Leota, 9. Mitch Kenny, 10. James Fisher-Harris, 11. Viliame Kikau, 12. Chris Smith, 13. Matt Eisenhuth

Bench: 14. Soni Luke, 15. Scott Sorensen, 17. Jaeman Salmon, 20. Lindsay Smith

Reserves: 16. Spencer Leniu, 18. Sunia Turuva

Players cut: 19. J’maine Hopgood, 21. Thomas Jenkins, 22. Christian Crichton

Late Mail: No changes expected at Penrith with Ivan Cleary opting to rest his entire Origin contingent. Kurt Falls will kick goals in the absence of Nathan Cleary.

STORM v RAIDERS

Sunday, 4.05pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 2. Nick Meaney, 3. Marion Seve, 4. Justin Olam, 5. Dean Ieremia, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Harry Grant, 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenny Bromwich, 13. Josh King

Bench: 14. Tyran Wishart, 15. Tui Kamikamica, 16. Alec MacDonald, 17. Jordan Grant

Reserves: 19. Chris Lewis, 21. Young Tonumaipea

Players cut: 18. Jayden Nikorima, 20. Tom Eisenhuth, 22. Bronson Garlick

Late Mail: Harry Grant is in doubt for Melbourne having played 51 minutes for Queensland, while sustaining a cork late in the game. The club confirmed via social media he is available for selection this week despite the cork, so he’s likely to play with hooking alternative Brandon Smith suspended for three weeks. Cameron Munster will return to the team having missed the decider with Covid. Nick Meaney was the preferred goal-kicker against Cronulla, with Ryan Papenhuyzen battling a few niggling injuries. Winger Grant Anderson received good news on his elbow injury and he’ll only miss a few weeks.

Raiders

1. Xavier Savage, 5. Jordan Rapana, 3. Matthew Timoko, 4. Sebastian Kris, 15. James Schiller, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Josh Papali’i, 9. Zac Woolford, 10. Joseph Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 16. Adam Elliott, 13. Ryan Sutton

Bench: 14. Tom Starling, 20. Corey Harawira-Naera, 21. Emre Guler, 22. Albert Hopoate

Reserves: 18. Brad Schneider, 19. Ata Mariota

Players cut: 2. Nick Cotric, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 17. Corey Horsburgh

Late Mail: Josh Papali’i is expected to back up for Canberra having played 33 minutes for Queensland. They will suffer at least one blow though with Elliott Whitehead to be ruled out with a knee infection, which will see Corey Harawira-Naera earn a recall on the edge. Adam Elliot is also a potential starting edge candidate, but he has been preferred as a middle for Ricky Stuart this season. Nic Cotric is out with a leg issue. He has been replaced by James Schiller.

BULLDOGS v RABBITOHS

Sunday, 6.15pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

Bulldogs

1. Jake Averillo, 2. Jacob Kiraz, 4. Braidon Burns, 20. Declan Casey, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Matt Burton, 7. Kyle Flanagan, 8. Max King, 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Paul Vaughan, 11. Josh Jackson, 12. Corey Waddell, 13. Tevita Pangai Junior

Bench: 14. Zach Dockar-Clay, 15. Kurtis Morrin, 16. Joe Stimson, 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Reserves: 19. Matt Dufty, 23. Chris Patolo

Players cut: 3. Aaron Schoupp, 21. Bailey Biondi-Odo, 22. Jackson Topine

Late Mail: Matt Burton has been cleared of a facial fracture and is expected to be cleared to face the Rabbitohs on the four day turnaround from Origin. Aaron Schoupp will miss the game as he undergoes Covid protocols, with Declan Casey likely to replace him in the backline.

Rabbitohs

1. Latrell Mitchell, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Taane Milne, 4. Isaiah Tass, 5. Jaxson Paulo, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Lachlan Ilias, 8. Tevita Tatola, 16. Siliva Havili, 10. Mark Nicholls, 11. Keaon Koloamatangi, 12. Jai Arrow, 20. Davvy Moale

Bench: 14. Kodi Nikorima, 15. Jed Cartwright, 17. Tom Burgess, 18. Daniel Suluka-Fifita

Reserves: 22. Blake Taaffe, 23. Been Lovett

Players cut: 9. Damien Cook, 13. Cameron Murray, 19. Richard Kennar, 21. Shaquai Mitchell

Late Mail: Cameron Murray will be unavailable for selection following his failed HIA in the Origin decider. Davvy Moale will start at lock, while Siliva Havili steps in for Damien Cook at hooker. Jai Arrow played 35 minutes, seeing him firm to back up for South Sydney, however Jason Demetriou may opt to play him off the bench with Jed Cartwright starting on the edge. Alex Johnston is expected to be all clear for a return after missing last week with a quad issue.

Originally published as NRL Late Mail: Predicted team changes, injuries for Round 18