NRL Late Mail round 27: Herbie Farnworth set to play despite hamstring concern, Kai Pearce-Paul ruled out

The Dolphins have received a boost with a star set to play through an injury concern, while a Knights’ return has been scrapped. See all the Round 27 predicted team changes.

HERBIE SET TO PLAY

The Dolphins are confident star centre Herbie Farnworth will overcome a hamstring problem and be fit for Sunday’s sudden-death clash with Newcastle.

Farnworth has been restricted at training this week after reporting hamstring tightness.

He was spotted icing the affected leg on Tuesday and left training again early on Thursday.

Farnworth produced one of the best performances in his career in the Dolphins’ 40-6 thrashing of the Broncos last Saturday.

The England international bagged two tries, ran for 244m and busted 10 tackles in a devastating showing to end his former club’s season.

Dolphins skipper Jesse Bromwich said he was confident Farnworth would play, setting up a blockbuster centre showdown with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Knights rivals Dane Gagai and Bradman Best.

“I expect him to be good to go,” Bromwich said. “He had a huge performance on the weekend and we’ll be looking for him to replicate that. The centre battle is going to be pretty special.”

—Travis Meyn

Herbie Farnworth is set to play. Picture: Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images

ROUND 27 TEAM LISTS

SEA EAGLES VS SHARKS

Sunday 2pm, Brookvale Oval, Sydney

Sea Eagles

1. Tolutau Koula 2. Clayton Faulalo 3. Tommy Talau 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Karl Lawton 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown

Reserves: 18. Toafofoa Sipley 19. Jamie Humphreys

Cut: 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 21. Jaxson Paulo 22. Caleb Navale

Late Mail: No changes expected. Tom Trbojevic missed the squad this week but will play through a shoulder injury for the finals.

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 17. Thomas Hazelton

Reserves: 20. Jayden Berrell 19. Siosifa Talakai

Cut: 18. Braden Hamlin-Uele 21. Tuku Hau Tapuha 22. Samuel Stonestreet

Late Mail: A few moving parts here with Ronaldo Mulitalo a key inclusion following a knee injury.

Siosifa Talakai has been named on an extended bench as he aims to return from a calf issue but it’s unclear where he would fit into the 17.

KNIGHTS VS DOLPHINS

Sunday 4.05pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jack Cogger 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott

Interchange: 14. Will Pryce 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones

Reserves: 18. Thomas Cant 19. Will Pryce

Cut: 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Sebastian Su’a 22. Kai Pearce-Paul

Late Mail: Kai Pearce-Paul was originally named on the extended bench as he aims for a return from a serious leg laceration, but dropped out of the squad in the 24-hour team update.

Tyson Frizell (concussion) and Tyson Gamble (hand) are back.

Dolphins

1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Jake Averillo 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Max Plath 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Kenny Bromwich

Interchange: 14. Jeremy Marshall-King 15. Ray Stone 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Kodi Nikorima

Reserves: 19. Isaiya Katoa 20. Oryn Keeley

Cut: 18. Lachlan Hubner 21. Kurt Donoghoe 22. Tesi Niu

Late Mail: A number of big boosts here with Felise Kaufusi cleared at the judiciary and Jesse Bromwich and Kodi Nikorima back from concussions. Herbie Farnworth is expected to play despite a hamstring concern, especially since Tesi Niu dropped out of the squad in the 24-hour team update.

Originally published as NRL Late Mail round 27: Herbie Farnworth set to play despite hamstring concern, Kai Pearce-Paul ruled out