NRL Late Mail: Team news and changes for Round 24

NEWCASTLE will give Kalyn Ponga every chance to play against the Sharks on Sunday, despite the youngster not training and being restricted to a moon boot.

KEEP up to date with all the team news and changes for Round 24 of the NRL.

* Knights fullback Kalyn Ponga will be given every chance to play, despite not training on Thursday and being restricted to a moon boot because of his ongoing ankle injury

* Melbourne will be forced to call on makeshift hooker Ryley Jacks for their NRL clash with Gold Coast if skipper Cameron Smith doesn’t pass final fitness tests on his injured back

* South Sydney utility Braidon Burns has been ruled out and been replaced by Tyrell Fuimaono.

* Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibold also confirmed skipper Greg Inglis would return from a broken hand, as well as backs Alex Johnston and Campbell Graham.

* Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has put a line through star halfback Aidan Sezer for the Raiders’ NRL clash with South Sydney.

* Peta Hiku returns to the Warriors starting line-up, replacing the injured Gerard Beale (hamstring)

* The Cowboys will be without Te Maire Martin (ankle) for Johnathan Thurston’s hometown farewell, with Ben Hampton his replacement at fullback

* Sydney Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is a strong chance of making an early return from a rib injury to face the Broncos

Kalyn Ponga is set to miss the final two games of the year.

PODCAST!!! It’s sudden death in SuperCoach finals. Tom Sangster and Tim Williams have the teams lowdown.

WARRIORS V PANTHERS

Friday 24 August, Mt Smart Stadium, 6pm

Warriors: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), 2 David Fusitu’a, 17 Peta Hiku, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Ken Maumalo, 6 Mason Lino, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 James Gavet, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Agnatius Paasi, 11 Isaiah Papali’i, 12 Adam Blair, 13 Simon Mannering

Interchange: 14 Jazz Tevaga, 15 Tohu Harris, 16 Bunty Afoa

Reserves: 18 Leivaha Pulu, 20 Anthony Gelling, 21 Chris Satae,

Players cut: 3 Gerard Beale, 22 Karl Lawton

Late mail: Peta Hiku slots back in at right centre with Gerard Beale (hamstring) out.

Tohu Harris (knee) is right to go after a long lay-off and may even force his way into the starting side.

Panthers: 1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 2. Josh Mansour, 3. Waqa Blake, 4. Dean Whare, 5. Christian Crichton, 6. Tyrone Peachey, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Trent Merrin, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 11. Viliame Kikau, 12. Isaah Yeo (c), 13. James Fisher-Harris

Interchange: 14. Tyrone May, 15. Moses Leota, 16. Corey Harawira-Naera, 17. James Tamou

Reserves: 18. Sione Katoa, 19. Kaide Ellis,

Players cut: 20. Adam Keighran, 21. Liam Martin

Late mail: To come

NRL CASUALTY WARD: Will Cameron Smith play?

WEEKEND RECAP: 10 things we learned round 23

COWBOYS V EELS

Friday 24 August, 1300SMILES Stadium, 7.55pm

Cowboys: 14 Ben Hampton, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Justin O’Neill, 4 Kane Linnett, 5 Gideon Gela-Mosby, 6 Jake Clifford, 7 Johnathan Thurston, 8 Matthew Scott, 9 Jake Granville, 10 Jordan McLean, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Coen Hess, 13 Jason Taumalolo

Interchange: 15 John Asiata 16 Francis Molo 17 Scott Bolton, 18 Ethan Lowe

Reserves: 19 Javid Bowen 20 Shaun Fensom

Players cut: 1 Te Maire Martin, 21 Corey Jensen

Late mail: Te Maire Martin (ankle) is out. Ben Hampton will replace him at fullback. Matt Scott (neck) is set to fight through injury for Johnathan Thurston’s final game in Townsville, despite needing surgery.

Eels: 1. Corey Norman, 2 Jarryd Hayne, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Clinton Gutherson, 5 George Jennings, 6 Jaeman Salmon, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Kane Evans, 9 Reed Mahoney, 10 Siosaia Vave, 11 Marata Niukore, 12 Tepai Moeroa, 13 Peni Terepo

Interchange: 14 Cameron King 15 Tim Mannah 16 David Gower 17 Brad Takairangi

Reserves: 19 Oregon Kaufusi, 21 Bevan French

Players cut: 18 Ray Stone, 20 Josh Hoffman

Late mail: Backline stars Jarryd Hayne and Corey Norman are managing “niggling” injuries and have only trained in no-contact vests. Bevan French is expected to travel to Townsville as cover. Tim Mannah (broken hand) and Kane Evans (calf) return.

Full story by Fatima Kdouh

RAIDERS V RABBITOHS

Saturday 25 August, GIO Stadium, 3pm

Raiders: 1. Brad Abbey 2. Nick Cotric 3. Michael Oldfield 4. Joey Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Blake Austin 7. Sam Williams 8. Dunamis Lui 9. Josh Hodgson (C) 10. Shannon Boyd 11. Sia Soliola 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Josh Papalii

Interchange: 14. Emre Guler 15. Junior Paulo 16. Siliva Havili 17. Luke Bateman

Reserves: 18. Jack Murchie 19. Liam Knight 20. Makahesi Makatoa 21. Aidan Sezer

Players cut: To come

Late mail: Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has put a line through star halfback Aidan Sezer for the Raiders’ NRL clash with South Sydney. Sezer was named in an extended squad for Saturday’s match at GIO Stadium to give himself every chance to return from a hamstring injury. But Stuart says he is more likely to come back for Canberra’s final round trip to New Zealand to play the Warriors.

Rabbitohs: 1. Alex Johnston, 2. Campbell Graham, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Greg Inglis, 5. Hymel Hunt, 6. Cody Walker, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. Thomas Burgess, 9. Damien Cook, 10. George Burgess, 11. John Sutton, 12. Angus Crichton, 13. Sam Burgess (c)

Interchange: 14. Braidon Burns, 15. Cameron Murray, 16. Jason Clark, 17. Tevita Tatola

Reserves: 18. Richard Kennar, 19. Tyrell Fuimaono, 20. Dean Britt, 21. Mawene Hiroti

Players cut: To come

Late mail: South Sydney utility Braidon Burns has been ruled out due to a glute injury and has been replaced by Tyrell Fuimaono. Rabbitohs coach Anthony Seibold also confirmed skipper Greg Inglis would return from a broken hand, as well as backs Alex Johnston and Campbell Graham. “Our depth in the outside backs is certainly being tested at the moment. Burnsy looks like he probably won’t play off the bench so Tyrell Fuimaono will come in there,” Seibold said. .

TITANS V STORM

Saturday 25 August, Cbus Super Stadium, 5.30pm

Titans: 1. Alexander Brimson, 2. Anthony Don, 3. Konrad Hurrell, 4. Brenko Lee, 5. Phillip Sami, 6. Kane Elgey, 7. Ash 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. Jack Stockwell, 17. Will Matthews

Reserves: 18. Bryce Cartwright, 19. Brendan Elliot, 20. Jai Whitbread, 21. Leilani Latu

Players cut: To come

Late mail: To come

Storm: 1. Billy Slater, 2. Cheyse Blair, 3. Justin Olam, 4. Curtis Scott, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Brodie Croft, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Cameron Smith, 10. Tim Glasby, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Joe Stimson, 13. Dale Finucane

Interchange: 14. Tui Kamikamica, 15. Christian Welch, 16. Kenneath Bromwich, 17. Ryley Jacks

Reserves: 18. Scott Drinkwater, 19. Sam Kasiano, 20. Albert Vete, 21. Jahrome Hughes

Players cut: To come

Late mail: Melbourne will be forced to call on makeshift hooker Ryley Jacks for their NRL clash with Gold Coast if skipper Cameron Smith doesn’t pass final fitness tests on his injured back. Coach Craig Bellamy says halfback Jacks has only worn the No.9 jersey before at training but they have no fit hookers left at the club, with Brandon Smith, Harry Grant and Billy Walters also injured. Smith will travel on Friday to the Gold Coast, where the Storm will base themselves until midway through next week to freshen up with the finals looming.

He’s done limited training this week after suffering the injury in their win over Parramatta although Melbourne are still hopeful he will play as the club pushes to win successive minor premierships. “He’s impossible to replace just with what he brings to our team,” Bellamy said of Smith. “But we won’t take any unnecessary chances and we will put Ryley in there if we have to.”

ROOSTERS V BRONCOS

Saturday 25 August, Allianz Stadium, 7.35pm

Roosters: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 4 Joseph Manu, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Luke Keary, 7 Cooper Cronk 8 Dylan Napa, 9 Jake Friend, 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11 Boyd Cordner, 12 Isaac Liu, 13 Victor Radley

Interchange: 14 Nat Butcher 15 Zane Tetevano 16 Mitchell Aubusson 17 Ryan Matterson

Reserves: 18 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 19 Sean O’Sullivan 20 Paul Momirovski 21 Lindsay Collins

Players cut: To come

Late mail: Prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is a strong chance of making an early return from a rib injury, coach Trent Robinson says. Waerea-Hargreaves was initially ruled out for up to four weeks but will only have missed one game if he takes the field against Brisbane on Saturday. “It depends on how he pulls up from this session today. That’s the big thing. Obviously needles into the ribs will need to be had, I’d say. The big man’s ready and firing,” Robinson said on Friday.

Broncos: 1 Darius Boyd, 2 Corey Oates, 3 James Roberts, 4 Jordan Kahu, 5 Jamayne Isaako, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Kodi Nikorima, 8 Matthew Lodge, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Sam Thaiday, 11 Alex Glenn, 12 Tevita Pangai Junior, 13 Josh McGuire

Interchange: 14 Kotoni Staggs 15 Joe Ofahengaue 16 Korbin Sims 17 David Fifita

Reserves: 18 Patrick Mago 19 Troy Dargan 20 Gehamat Shibasaki 21 Sam Tagataese

Players cut: To come

Late mail: Broncos skipper Darius Boyd is confident star five-eighth Anthony Milford will play in Saturday night’s blockbuster against the Sydney Roosters despite being floored by a virus. Brisbane’s preparations for the finals-style clash at Allianz Stadium suffered a setback with Milford failing to train on Wednesday at Red Hill as Broncos medicos take a cautious approach with the playmaker. Josh McGuire failed to train early in the week due to niggles but will travel and play.

Full story by Peter Badel

SHARKS V KNIGHTS

Sunday 26 August, Southern Cross Group Stadium, 2pm

Sharks: 1 Valentine Holmes, 2 Sosaia Feki, 3 Josh Dugan, 4 Kurt Capewell, 5 Edrick Lee, 6 Matt Moylan, 7 Chad Townsend, 8 Andrew Fifita, 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Matt Prior, 11 Luke Lewis, 12 Wade Graham, 13 Paul Gallen

Interchange: 14 Scott Sorensen, 15 James Segeyaro 16 Aaron Woods 17 Jayson Bukuya

Reserves: 18 Joseph Paulo 19 Ava Seumanufagai 20 Sione Katoa 21 Kyle Flanagan

Players cut: To come

Late mail: To come

Knights: 1. Nick Meaney, 2. Ken Sio, 3. Sione Mata’utia, 4. Cory Dennis, 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6. Kalyn Ponga, 7. Mitchell Pearce © 8. Herman Ese’ese, 9. Danny Levi, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Mitchell Barnett, 13. Aidan Guerra

Interchange: 14. Jamie Buhrer 15. Chris Heighington 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Josh King

Reserves: 18. Jacob Lillyman 19. JJ Felise 20. Connor Watson 21. Luke Yates

Players cut: To come

Late mail: Fullback Kalyn Ponga will be given every chance to play, despite not training on Thursday and being restricted to a moon boot because of his ongoing ankle injury.

Coach Nathan Brown said it was inevitable that the injury would catch up to his star player who has battled the problem since returning from a hamstring injury after Origin.

Brown said Ponga would have until Saturday to prove his fitness.

“He’s in a boot at the moment and we’ll give him every bit possible until Saturday but I’d be lying if I said he isn’t doubtful,” he said.

Read more from Fiona Bollen’s report on Kalyn Ponga

DRAGONS V BULLDOGS

Sunday 26 August, Jubilee Oval, 4.10pm

Dragons: 1 Matt Dufty, 2 Nene McDonald, 3 Euan Aitken, 4 Tim Lafai, 5 Jason Nightingale, 6 Kurt Mann, 7 Ben Hunt, 8 James Graham, 9 Cameron McInnes, 10 Leeson Ah Mau, 11 Tyson Frizell, 12 Tariq Sims, 13 Jack de Belin

Interchange: 14 Jeremy Latimore, 15 Jordan Pereira, 16 Blake Lawrie, 17 Luciano Leilua

Reserves: 18 Zach Lomax, 19 Jai Field, 21 Jacob Host

Players cut: 20 Paul Vaughan

Late mail: No changes expected. Paul Vaughan was named on the extended bench and originally considered a chance, but he injured his foot at training and is out for the season.

Bulldogs: 1. Will Hopoate 2. Brett Morris 3. Josh Morris 4. Kerrod Holland 5. Reimis Smith 6. Lachlan Lewis 7. Matt Frawley 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Michael Lichaa 10. David Klemmer 11. Josh Jackson 12. Rhyse Martin 13. Adam Elliott

Interchange: 14. Jeremy Marshall-King 15. Danny Fualalo 16. Ofahiki Ogden 17. Greg Eastwood

Reserves: 19. Francis Tualau 20. Fa’amanu Brown 21. Renouf To’omaga 23. John Olive

Players cut: To come

Late mail: No changes expected.

Originally published as NRL Late Mail: Team news and changes for Round 24