NRL Late Mail round 3 2021: Team changes and gossip

Hudson Young is out of Canberra’s clash with the Warriors, and Ricky Stuart has shuffled his starting side. FULL WACKO’S WHISPERS

The Raiders have made a shock positional switch after Hudson Young (knee) was ruled out for their clash with the Warriors.

Better known as a centre, Sebastian Kris has been called-up by coach Ricky Stuart from the reserves list to play in the back-row for Young.

Young’s knee issue isn’t considered serious and is expected to be fit for selection next weekend.

In a further change for the Raiders, Tom Starling will also return to first grade after originally being named in the reserves.

Starling will replace Dunamis Lui who has been relegated to reserve grade.

Meanwhile, Newcastle star Bradman Best has been ruled out of Sunday’s clash with Wests Tigers with an elbow injury.

The in-form centre was declared unfit for selection prior to the Knights’ captain’s run on Saturday.

His omission will cause a reshuffle to the Newcastle backline, with unheralded centre Gehamat Shibasaki called in to replace Best.

MORGAN MISSING FOR COWBOYS

There are fresh concerns regarding the playing future of Michael Morgan with the Cowboys skipper’s ongoing shoulder concern flaring up, ruling him out for North Queensland’s match against the Titans.

It will force a major reshuffle in the Cowboys squad for the Titans clash on Sunday afternoon, with Ben Hampton a possibility to come into the squad or a move for Scott Drinkwater into the halves.

There were fears during the off-season that Morgan’s career faced uncertainty as the condition of his shoulder deteriorated. Now it has again become an issue.

—Michael Carayannis & Matthew Elkerton

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The Cowboys have officially lost skipper Michael Morgan for their Titans Round 3 clash. Picture: Evan Morgan.

RAIDERS V WARRIORS

Sat 27th Mar, GIO Stadium, Canberra, 3pm

RAIDERS

1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Bailey Simonsson, 3 Jarrod Croker, 4 Curtis Scott, 5 Jordan Rapana, 6 Jack Wighton, 7 George Williams, 8 Josh Papalii, 9 Josh Hodgson, 16. Sia Soliola, 21. Sebastian Kris, 12 Elliott Whitehead, 13 Joseph Tapine

Bench: 14. Saliva Havili 15. Ryan Sutton, 17. Ryan James, 19. Tom Starling

Players cut: 10 Dunamis Lui, 18. Sam Williams, 11 Hudson Young, 20. Caleb Aekins

Late mail:

The Raiders have made a shock positional switch after Hudson Young (knee) was ruled out for their clash with the Warriors.

Better known as a centre, Sebastian Kris has been called-up by coach Ricky Stuart from the reserves list to play in the back-row for Young..

WARRIORS

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2. David Fusitu’a, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Peta Hiku, 5. Ken Maumalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Sean O’Sullivan, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Wade Egan, 10. Bunty Afoa, 11. Eliesa Katoa, 12. Bayley Sironen, 13. Tohu Harris

Bench: 14. Jazz Tevaga, 15. Ben Murdoch-Masila, 16. Leeson Ah Mau, 17. Jack Murchie

Reserves: 18. Tom Ale 19. Marcelo Montoya

Players cut: 20. Paul Turner 21. Kane Evans

Late mail: The Warriors have Bayley Sironen in doubt due to shoulder injury, he will need to pass a final fitness test on Friday but is expected to play. Addin Fonua-Blake (shin/calf) played limited minutes last week due to a knock but will play. Sean O’Sullivan replaces the injured Chanel Harris-Tavita on the left edge after Harris-Tavita suffered a foot injury last week which he has had surgery on ruling him out for 12 weeks. Jack Murchie returns on bench but may start if Sironen is ruled out after recovering from pec injury to play his first game of season. Also won’t surprise me if Leeson Ah Mau starts at prop with Bunty Afoa dropping back to the bench. Paul Turner and Kane Evans were cut from the squad 24 hours prior to kickoff.

BRONCOS V BULLDOGS

Sat 27th Mar, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 5:30pm

BRONCOS

1 Jamayne Isaako, 2 Xavier Coates 3 Herbie Farnworth, 4 Tesi Niu, 5 David Mead, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Brodie Croft, 8 Tevita Pangai Jnr, 9 Jake Turpin 10 Tom Flegler 11 Alex Glenn 12. Jordan Riki 13 Pat Carrigan

Bench: 14. John Asiata 15. Rhys Kennedy 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Ben Te’o

Reserves: 18. Tom Dearden 21. Corey Oates

Players cut: 19. Richard Kennar 20. Cory Paix

Late mail: Jordan Riki, who is managing a wrist injury and copped a knock to it at training on Wednesday, is expected to play. Halves Brodie Croft and Anthony Milford will be given one more chance to get the Broncos attack into gear, but Tom Dearden is set to come on to the bench in place of John Asiata.. Croft and Milford will be switching sides with Milford back to preferred left side and Croft back to right side next to Riki.

BULLDOGS

1 Corey Allan, 2 Nick Meaney, 3 Will Hopoate, 4 Nick Cotric, 5 Tuipulotu Katoa, 6 Jake Averillo, 7 Kyle Flanagan, 8 Ofahiki Ogden, 9 Jeremy Marshall-King, 10 Jack Hetherington, 11 Adam Elliott, 12 Corey Waddell, 13 Josh Jackson

Bench: 14. Sione Katoa 15. Renouf Atoni 16. Joe Stimson 17. Dylan Napa

Reserves: 19. Chris Smith 20. Lachlan Lewis

Players cut: 18. Dean Britt 21. Ava Seumanufagai

Late mail: The Bulldogs also expected to be 1-17 with Tui Katoa makes his starting NRL debut after debuting from bench in the final round of the season in 2020. He will come onto the right wing outside William Hopoate. Renouf Atoni passed his game day HIA last week and is expected to play after being monitored this week.

EELS V SHARKS

Sat 27th Mar, Bankwest Stadium, Sydney, 7:35pm

EELS

1 Clint Gutherson, 2 Maika Sivo, 3 Tom Opacic, 4 Marata Niukore, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Dylan Brown, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 9 Reed Mahoney, 10 Junior Paulo, 11 Shaun Lane, 12 Isaiah Papali’i, 13 Nathan Brown

Bench: 14. Oregon Kaufusi 15. Keegan Hipgrave’ 16. Will Smith 17. Ray Stone

Reserves: 19. Haze Dunster, 21. Joey Lussick

Players cut: 18. Jordan Rankin, 20. David Hollis

Late mail: TheEels expected to be 1-17 with Nathan Brown, who had an issue with his hip flexor during the game last week which required running repairs on the sideline during the game clear to play. Ray Stone comes onto bench after suffering a knee injury in pre-season, Stone was meant to return last weekend in NSW cup but the game was cancelled due to weather. Marata Niukore continues at right centre after being a late replacement for the injured Waqa Blake last weekend. Isaiah Papli’I starts on the left edge replacing Ryan Matterson who misses the game due to concussion.

SHARKS

1 Will Kennedy, 2 Sione Katoa, 3 Josh Dugan, 4 Connor Traceyi, 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6 Matt Moylan, 7 Chad Townsend, 8 Braden Hamlin-Uele, 9 Blayke Brailey, 10 Aaron Woods, 11 Briton Nikora, 12 Wade Graham, 13 Toby Rudolf

Bench: 14. Teig Wilton, 15. Aiden Tolman, 16. Jack Williams, 17. Billy Magoulias

Reserves: 18. Mawene Hiroti, 20. Andrew Fifita

Players cut: 19. Nene Macdonald, 21. Braydon Trindall

Late mail: The Sharks have no injury concerns leading into the game and look set to be 1-17 with Connor Tracey replacing Mawene Hiroti at right centre after Hiroti had a game to forget on the weekend which sees Teig Wilton come onto the bench for the first time this season.

KNIGHTS V TIGERS

Sun 28th Mar, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, 4:05pm

KNIGHTS

1 Tex Hoy, 2 Starford To’a, 3 Enari Tuala, 4 Bradman Best, 5 Hymel Hunt, 6 Kurt Mann 7 Mitchell Pearce, 8 David Klemmer, 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Daniel Saifiti, 11 Tyson Frizell, 12 Mitch Barnett, 13 Connor Watson

Bench: 14. Sauaso Sue 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Josh King 17. Brodie Jones

Reserves: 18. Gehamat Shibasaki, 19. Pasami Saulo, 20. Dominic Young, 21. Simi Sasagi

Players cut:

Late mail: Young gun Bradman Best (elbow) is outand will be replaced by Gehamat Shibasaki. Kurt Mann is expected to return after missing last week’s game after suffering a knee clash with Kyle Flanagan in Round one and I expected to see the same switch-a-roo as we have had in the opening two rounds with Sauaso Sue starting at lock and Connor Watson dropping back to the bench. Jacob Saifiti copped a knock late in the Warriors game but is expected to play. The Knights will be looking for a good performance to celebrate Mitchell Pearce’s 300th NRL game.

TIGERS

1 Daine Laurie, 2 David Nofoaluma, 3 Tommy Talau, 4. James Roberts, 5 Asu Kepaoa, 6 Adam Doueihi, 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Zane Musgrove, 9 Jacob Liddle, 10 James Tamou, 11 Luke Garner, 12 Luciano Leilua, 13 Alex Twal

Bench: 14. Joe Ofahengaue, 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Stefano Utoikamanu 17. Moses Mbye

Reserves: 18. Michael Chee Kam, 19. Joseph Leilua, 20. Russell Packer, 21. Alex Seyfarth

Players cut:

Late mail: The Tigers will welcome back James Roberts after he missed the game last week due to a shoulder injury, he returns replacing Joey Leilua who had shocker last week. This will see Tommy Talau, who played right centre last week, move to left centre to allow Roberts to play his preferred right side. Zane Musgrove starts at prop after missing the opening two rounds after a suspension from the All-Stars game.

COWBOYS V TITANS

Sun 28th Mar, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville, 6:15pm

COWBOYS

5 Valentine Holmes, 2 Murray Taulagi, 3 Esan Marsters, 18 Justin O’Neill, 4 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 1 Scott Drinkwater, 7 Jake Clifford, 8 Francis Molo, 9 Reece Robson, 10 Jordan McLean, 11 Mitchell Dunn, 12 Coen Hess, 13 Reuben Cotter

Bench: 14. Jake Granville 15. Josh McGuire 16. Corey Jensen 17. Lachlan Burr

Reserves: 19. Shane Wright, 20. Peter Hola, 21. Ben Hampton

Players cut:

Late mail: TheCowboys have lost Michael Morgan due to shoulder injury after he pulled up sore after Dragons game. This will force Todd Payten to move Valentine Holmes to fullback, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to wing, Justin O’Neill to left centre and Scott Drinkwater into the halves. Coen Hess in doubt after he suffered a shoulder injury late in the Dragons game last weekend. Hess didn’t train with the squad earlier in the weekend and will need to prove his fitness at the captain’s run and if ruled out Shane Wright would come into the starting team. Reuben Cotter continues at lock after Jason Taumalolo (hand) was a withdrawal last week. Taumalolo could be back as early as next week but more than likely in round five against the Tigers. Esan Marsters replaces the suspended Kyle Feldt.

TITANS

1 AJ Brimson, 2 Anthony Don, 3 Phillip Sami, 4 Patrick Herbert, 5 Corey Thompson, 6 Tanah Boyd, 7 Jamal Fogarty, 8 Jarrod Wallace, 9 Mitch Rein, 10 Moeiki Fotuaika, 11 Kevin Proctor, 12 David Fifita, 13 Tino Fa’asuamaleui

Bench: 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Sam Lisone, 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Erin Clark

Reserves: 18. Beau Fermor, 19. Herman Ese’ese, 20. Sam McIntyre, 21. Sam Stone

Players cut:

Late mail: The Titans look set to be 1-17 with Tanah Boyd replacing Ash Taylor who is out with a wrist injury suffered in the game last week. Philip Sami continues his role at left centre for the injured Brian Kelly.

Originally published as NRL Late Mail round 3 2021: Team changes and gossip