NRL Early Mail Round 17: All the latest team news ahead of Tuesday’s team announcements
GET all the latest team news ahead of Tuesday’s team announcements in the Round 17 edition of NRL Early Mail.
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GET all the latest team news ahead of Tuesday’s team announcements in the Round 17 edition of NRL Early Mail.
In the biggest news so far:
• Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough will return from injury to tackle the Storm, despite no training today
• Mitchell Pearce is expected to return from a calf injury against the Bulldogs on Thursday night.
• Boyd Cordner is also thought to be a good chance of returning from the ankle injury that has kept him sidelined since Origin I
• Des Hasler faces a difficult decision with Josh Morris tipped to return from a groin injury.
• Craig Bellamy says he’s more hopeful than confident that Cameron Munster and Blake Green will be fit to play Brisbane on Friday. The Storm will definitely be without giant forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona, who will miss eight weeks with a knee injury.
* A calf tear suffered by Kane Linnett could see Javid Bowen recalled into North Queensland’s backline.
* Eels winger Semi Radradra spent Parramatta’s bye week in Fiji but the club is adamant he will available to play the Sharks on Saturday night.
ROOSTERS V BULLDOGS
7:50pm Thursday at Allianz Stadium
Roosters: Mitchell Pearce is set to return at halfback, pushing Jackson Hastings out of the side. Boyd Cordner could also return in a sooner-than-expected comeback from a foot injury suffered in State of Origin I. Mitchell Aubusson will likely drop back to the bench and Chris Smith out of the team.
Bulldogs: The fine return of Brett Morris and the looming return of Josh Morris means that Des Hasler has an embarresment of riches at his disposal in the backline. The twins and Will Hopoate are surely automatic picks, leaving Curtis Rona, Sam Perrett and Kerrod Holland to fight it out for the two remaining spots.
If Hasler is content to throw Brett Morris straight back to fullback, Will Hopoate will switch to right centre and Holland will go back to reserve grade, leaving Moses Mbye to kick goals.
However, if Hopoate stays at fullback and Morris stays on the wing it seems more likely that Perrett will be the man to miss out. Morris said Hasler had been keeping his cards close to his chest, as he is known to do, and had given little away about where even he would be playing.
“It’s up to the coach, it’s not up to us as players,” Morris said.
“As players, we go out there and do the job that’s required of us and try to do it to the best of our ability.”
BRONCOS V STORM
7:50pm Friday at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: Hooker Andrew McCullough did not train but will play Friday night against the Storm. Jordan Kahu is also expected to return from a pec injury but Alex Glenn (shoulder) is another week away from making his comeback. Greg Eden will miss six weeks with a knee injury.
Storm: Melbourne have now been without star fullback Cameron Munster for two weeks and five-eighth Blake Green for three and Craig Bellamy says he’s unsure if they’ll be right for Friday’s blockbuster against Brisbane.
“They’re probably not as good as we thought, or hoped they would be, and with a five-day turnaround, we’re probably more hopeful than confident, I’d say, but we’d love to have them back.”
Melbourne will be without bench forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona for the next eight weeks after he hurt his knee in the second half of the win over the Tigers.
WARRIORS V TITANS
3:00pm Saturday at Mt Smart Stadium
Warriors: Manu Vatuvei is scheduled to return from a knee injury this weekend and if fit will take his place on the left wing with Ken Maumalo a chance of switching to the right or dropping out of the side entirely.
Titans: Nathan Davis is done for 2016 after a shocking ankle injury and the Titans backline stocks are as low as can be. Konrad Hurrell is still a couple of weeks away from returning and Will Zillman is no certainty to play either. Promising utility back Brian Kelly could come into the frame for a first grade debut. David Shillington is scheduled to play but is no certainty.
TIGERS V PANTHERS
5:30pm Saturday at Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Tigers: Robbie Farah will be included at hooker, allowing Elijah Taylor to shift back to lock. Curtis Sironen will be available after recovering from a foot injury but is no certainty to be included and may need to earn his spot through NSW Cup.
Panthers: Sam McKendry will return from suspension and is expected to slot straight in at prop, allowing Leilani Latu to move to lock, Suaia Matagi to the bench and Sitaleki Akauola out of the team.
SHARKS V EELS
7:30pm Saturday at Southern Cross Stadium
Sharks: Winger Valentine Holmes missed most of the second half of the win over the Warriors due to a glute injury. Sosaia Feki is expected to return and would replace Holmes if the speedster is not fit. Should Holmes be available, Feki will replace Ricky Leutele in the starting line up.
Eels: Will Semi Radradra play? We’re not sure even Semi knows. The long-expected return of Tim Mannah at prop will give the blue and golds some stability in the middle of the field but Brad Takairangi is still a week or two away.
RAIDERS V KNIGHTS
2:00pm Sunday at GIO Stadium
Raiders: Ricky Stuart will name Josh Hodgson (concussion), Kurt Baptiste (concussion), Jack Wighton (sternum) and Sia Soliola (ribs) but it remains to be seen if they actually play. Former Knight Adam Clydesdale will cover the two dummy halves while Zac Santo and Shaun Fensom will be on standby for Wighton and Soliola. Edrick Lee is a chance of being a late inclusion and would replace his cousin Brenko on the left wing.
Knights: No returns from injury for the Knights but Nathan Brown could be tempted to spice things up a bit in an effort to get something new out of 16th placed Newcastle. Jack Cogger could be due a stint in the lower grades to build his confidence back up.
RABBITOHS V COWBOYS
4:00pm Sunday at Barlow Park, Cairns
Rabbitohs: Paul Carter will be available to return from suspension and Adam Reynolds is considered an outside chance of playing. Michael Oldfield could also be set for a first grade recall after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Cowboys: Centre Kane Linnett went off with a suspect calf tear against the Sea Eagles on Monday night. The extent of his injury is unknown. This opens up an opportunity for Javid Bowen to be called into the backline.
SEA EAGLES V DRAGONS
7:00pm Monday at Brookvale Oval
Sea Eagles: Brayden Williame suffered a concussion against the Cowboys and didn’t return to the field, he should be available for selection.
Dragons: The only expected changes for the Dragons are the return of Mike Cooper and Tariq Sims, who will replace Jacob Host and either Dunamis Lui or Jake Marketo.
Originally published as NRL Early Mail Round 17: All the latest team news ahead of Tuesday’s team announcements
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