NRL teams lists Round 7: Ryan Papenhuyzen out, Canberra Raiders swing the axe
Injuries and suspensions have forced a host of changes, while Ricky Stuart has swung the selection axe on his side. SEE ALL TEAMS AND ANALYSIS.
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Melbourne Storm has suffered a big blow ahead of its Anzac Day blockbuster with superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen to miss with a shoulder injury.
Storm will be without its gun fullback for the Warriors showdown at AAMI Park, and he could also miss the following game against Cronulla on Friday week with the club ruling him out for up to two weeks.
Nicho Hynes has been named in the No. 1 for Anzac Day to replace the Clive Churchill Medallist at the back.
The goalkicking duties are set to fall to playmaker Cameron Munster, who said he needed to work on his craft after spraying a penalty kick against the Roosters last Friday night.
Papenhuyzen – the NRL’s leading point scorer this season – admitted earlier on Monday he was facing an uphill battle to be fit to face the Warriors in what is Melbourne’s biggest home game of the season.
The man who’s currently outright second in the race for the Dally M said he needed painkillers to get through the Roosters’ game.
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“It (the shoulder) is a bit hot and cold at the moment,” Papenhuyzen said on SEN.
“I’ll be touch and go for the weekend I reckon.
“It’s a little AC joint injury, I had a few jabs to get me through the game on the weekend.
“So I’ll see how I’ll go.”
Co-captain Dale Finucane has recovered from a calf injury and will play his first game of the season on Anzac Day after being named on the bench.
Kiwi international Brandon Smith has again been named in the No. 9 with fellow hooker Harry Grant selected on the bench.
Coach Craig Bellamy is likely to keep the Warriors guessing until game time about which of the two will start at hooker.
Their one-two combination at dummy-half worked a treat in the second half of last Friday night’s 20-4 win over the Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park.
Luckless centre Brenko Lee’s frustrating season to date has continued, with the 2020 premiership player suffering a calf injury in his long-awaited return via the Queensland Cup last weekend.
In his first game for the year after recovering from a hamstring injury, the Queensland Origin winner hurt his calf and will now miss up to a month.
—Nick Smart
TOUGH LOVE FOR RICKY’S RAIDERS
—Dean Ritchie
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart has sent a brutal message to his underachieving side – either perform or perish.
Following successive losses, Stuart has sliced and diced his starting side for Saturday night’s important match against North Queensland in Townsville.
Stuart has made ten team and positional changes through form, injury and promotion. Adding to Stuart’s discontent are injuries to hooker Josh Hodgson (calf) and winger Bailey Simonsson (concussion).
The changes are:
Joe Tapine. Gone.
Sia Soliola. Gone.
Josh Papalii. Benched.
Ryan Sutton. Moved.
Ryan James. Promoted.
Corey Harawira-Naera. Promoted.
Corey Horsburgh. Promoted.
Tom Starling. Promoted.
Emre Guler. Promoted.
Sebastian Kris. Promoted.
Those benched, injured or dumped have prompted Stuart to inject four new players – James, Kris, Harawira-Naera and Horsburgh.
Sutton will shift to lock for Tapine with James, Starling and Guler the new front row. With Canberra having a bye in the NSW Cup, Tapine and Soliola won’t play this weekend.
Stuart’s blunt reaction has sent shockwaves through Canberra’s playing roster.
Canberra lost 35-10 to Parramatta last weekend and 30-10 to Penrith the previous week. That’s 65-20 in two games.
There was an external suggestion some Canberra players simply “weren’t putting in.”
The Raiders sit in ninth spot on the NRL competition table with the TAB easing the club’s premiership betting odds to $12 behind the Sydney Roosters ($10), Parramatta ($9), Melbourne ($5) Souths ($4.50) and Penrith ($3.50).
Canberra fans have hammered their side via social media throughout the week, many demanding changes.
What stung Canberra management most last weekend was the lacklustre performance in front of 20,000 home fans at GIO Stadium. Hodgson will be out injured for two to three weeks.
ROUND 7 TEAMS
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
PANTHERS: Api Koroisau and Dylan Edwards were both slated to return next week but in a sign that the schedule could be expedited both have been named in the reserves for Thursday night. Paul Momirovski failed to have his dangerous contact charge downgraded at the judiciary on Tuesday night and has been rubbed out for three weeks. The Panthers have a range of options to cover Momirovski the two most likely being Tyrone May slotting straight into centre or Kurt Capewell pushing one slot wider to centre with Liam Martin starting in the second-row.
KNIGHTS: Brodie Jones was superb filling in at centre for the Knights and there was speculation he might hold his spot for the clash against the table-topping Panthers but it is not to be. Hymel Hunt (hamstring) is out replaced on the wing by Starford To’a. Kalyn Ponga is a popular SuperCoach buy but the Knights have a tough trio of matches ahead so beware.
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
TITANS: Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (suspended) will miss the next two matches, Mo Fotuaika is a ready made replacement at prop and has been promoted from the interchange bench. Sam McIntyre comes on to the bench in place of Fotuaika. Anthony Don is back and he replaces Jonus Pearson on the wing.
RABBITOHS: The Rabbitohs have suspension issues of their own with fullback Latrell Mitchell out which sees Alex Johnston start at fullback. There’s more changes to the backline with Josh Mansour (hamstring) out for up to a month which pushes Dane Gagai to the wing and Steven Marsters (centre) get his first game of 2021. Changes in the forwards too with Jacob Host dropped and Kaeon Koloamatangi promoted to the starting second row.
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
EELS: Still no Ryan Matterson – though he has been named in the reserves as he bids to return from his lingering concussion injury. Five-eighth Dylan Brown is back from suspension and Will Smith drops right out of the squad. Boom rookie Will Penisini has been named to make his debut off the interchange replacing Keegan Hipgrave.
BRONCOS: There’s a new face for the Broncos with coach Kevin Walters wasting no time in giving his new signing Danny Levi a run in the team naming Levi on the interchange. Herbie Farnworth (shoulder) returns after missing the last two games and he slots in at centre in place of Richie Kennar.
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
SHARKS: Shaun Johnson (Achilles) is back – sort of! The superstar half has been named on the interchange bench where he’ll be joined by Jack Williams who has been demoted after starting last week. Josh Dugan returns which sees Teig Wilton move from centre to second-row as cover for Wade Graham (concussion), Graham is expected back next week. Aiden Tolman (suspended) is out.
BULLDOGS: Jack Hetherington (suspended for 5 weeks) is out which sees Luke Thompson shift from lock to prop. Corey Waddell takes Thompson’s 13 jersey and Chris Smith moves to the second row. Renouf Atoni slides from the starting 13 to the bench where he’ll be joined by fresh faces Brad Deitz, Ava Seumanufagai and Matt Doorey. Ofahiki Ogden and Jackson Topine have been dropped.
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
COWBOYS: Same 17. Ben Hampton (ribs) and Connelly Lemuelu (shoulder) both suffered minor injuries during the Bulldogs game but have been named. Jason Taumalolo (hand) will be sidelined for at least another week.
RAIDERS: Big changes. Coach Ricky Stuart has swung the axe in the pack, benching Origin forward Josh Papali’i and dumping Joseph Tapine and Sia Soliola out of the 17. Ryan James (rested) returns at prop, forming a new-look front row with Emre Guler. Ryan Sutton moves from prop to lock, while Corey Harawira-Naera and Corey Horsburgh come onto the bench for their first games of the season. Skipper Josh Hodgson (calf) is out injured and replaced by young gun Tom Starling at hooker. Bailey Simonsson (concussion) is out, replaced by Sebastian Kris on the wing.
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
TIGERS: Asu Kepaoa (ACL) is out for the season, replaced at centre by Michael Chee Kam. Joey Leilua (head knock) has been added to the extended bench as he eyes a comeback. Alex Seyfarth moves from the reserves to the interchange in a swap with Thomas Mikaele. Jake Simpkin had a good game on debut and has been named at hooker despite Jacob Liddle having an outstanding game in NSW Cup.
SEA EAGLES: Same 17 after a strong win over the Titans. Josh Aloiai suffered a heavy knock last week but was able to play on. Curtis Sironen (knee) remains sidelined and is aiming for next week.
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
ROOSTERS: Two huge inclusions with Brett Morris (calf) and Sam Verrills (knee) returning. Morris replaces Matt Ikuvalu on the wing. Verrills pushes Ben Marschke to the bench and Adam Keighran out of the squad. Victor Radley will play after a successful appeal at the judiciary on Tuesday night. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (shoulder) and Siosiua Taukeiaho (ribs) have been named but will be checked.
DRAGONS: Blake Lawrie (cork) returns after missing last week with Trent Merrin dropping out of the 17. The Dragons could welcome back Ben Hunt (broken leg) with the skipper named on an extended bench. He returned to running last week and will need to pass a fitness test. Five-eighth Corey Norman (shoulder) has been named despite an injury in Sunday’s game.
SUPERCOACH COMMENT
STORM: Huge news with Ryan Papenhuyzen (shoulder) to miss 1-2 weeks with an AC joint injury. Nicho Hynes is promoted from the bench to fullback with Dale Finucane (calf) coming onto the interchange after a significant lay-off. Both Harry Grant and Kenny Bromwich left the field due to concussion and will be monitored.
WARRIORS: Peta Hiku (shoulder), Adam Pompey (knee) and Paul Turner (shoulder) are all out injured. David Fusitu’a (hamstring) returns on the wing with Marcelo Montoya moving to the centres. Jack Murchie takes the other centre spot. Bayley Sironen (shoulder) returns on the bench for Turner. Boom Warriors signing Reece Walsh is on the verge of being handed a fast-tracked debut as New Zealand’s injury toll adds up, although he’s missed the 17 for now and instead included on an extended bench.
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