NRL Early Mail Round 22: All the latest team news and changes

EVERYONE cringed when replays showed Dragons prop Paul Vaughan’s leg folding backwards awkwardly during a tackle on the weekend. Now, St George Illawarra have confirmed the type and extent of the injury.

Coach Wayne Bennett watches over a Broncos training session. Picture: AAP

EVERYONE cringed when replays showed Dragons prop Paul Vaughan’s leg folding backwards awkwardly during a tackle on the weekend.

Now, St George Illawarra have confirmed the type and extent of the injury to the NSW Blues forward.

Club head of athletic performance Nathan Pickworth said Vaughan would be sidelined until the finals.

Paul Vaughan is helped from the field after injuring his leg against the Warriors. Picture: Getty

“Paul Vaughan suffered a syndemosis injury against the Warriors,” Pickworth said.

“The scans and follow up consultations with specialists has given us an estimated return to play around the four-week mark.”

In other big Round 22 news:

* Jordan Kahu will be axed and youngster Gehamat Shibasaki given a run that will see Darius Boyd return to fullback and Jamayne Isaako move to the right wing;

* Broncos prop Josh McGuire is out after copping a one-game suspension for pulling the hair of Canterbury’s Adam Elliott;

* Storm star Cameron Smith is expected to play after being cleared of a serious foot injury;

* Rabbitohs young gun Adam Doueihi’s season is over, with confirmation he injured his ACL;

* Also at South Sydney, Robert Jennings faces at least four weeks out with a hamstring injury;

* Wests Tigers winger Corey Thompson will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury.

COWBOYS v BRONCOS

7.50pm Thursday at 1300Smiles Stadium

Cowboys: Forward Shaun Fensom is unlikely to gain clearance after failing a concussion test against the Roosters. Corey Jensen and Francis Molo are the contenders to replace the former Raider.

Broncos: Wayne Bennett has wielded the selection axe. Jordan Kahu is set to be dropped, while Darius Boyd returns to fullback, Jamayne Isaako moves to the right wing and Gehamat Shibasaki makes his debut at left centre.

WARRIORS v KNIGHTS

6pm Friday at Mt Smart Stadium

Warriors: Coach Stephen Kearney is on the hunt for two bench forwards with Sam Lisone and Bunty Afoa suspended. Tohu Harris (knee) isn’t an option. He is not due back until round 23 or 24.

Knights: Newcastle cannot win a trick in the injury stakes but their misfortune could deliver a win for fans. A question mark hangs over Mitchell Pearce (cork) and should he be ruled out of their trip to Auckland to play the Warriors, there is a chance Kalyn Ponga may start in the halves.

Coach Nathan Brown refused to comment on what his back-up plan was should Pearce be ruled out, but said Brock Lamb was no certainty for a recall simply because of the position he plays.

“I’ve only seen half of reserve grade so I haven’t seen enough of that one to see if Brock’s earned the right to play first grade again and we’re not in the business of giving away first grade jumpers anymore at this club,” Brown said. “(Ponga at five-eighth) are things that can be discussed. Nick Meaney’s done well when he’s come up … his first grade game from one to two was a lot better. There’s a number of things we can look but we’ll wait to see how Mitch is over the next couple of days.”

ROOSTERS v RABBITOHS

7.50pm Friday at ANZ Stadium

Roosters: No changes following a strong run of form, with five-eighth Luke Keary (knee) still a few weeks away.

Rabbitohs: Utility Adam Doueihi’s season is over with confirmation he injured his ACL. Winger Robert Jennings is out for at least four weeks. Greg Inglis (thumb) is tracking well for a return, while Braidon Burns is an option to play on the wing.

TITANS v PANTHERS

3pm Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium

Titans: No changes expected.

Panthers: Five-eighth James Maloney (broken thumb), winger Josh Mansour (facial laceration) and prop James Tamou (corked calf) are all expected to play despite injuries.

SEA EAGLES v BULLDOGS

5.30pm Saturday at Lottoland

Sea Eagles: To come

Bulldogs: Prop David Klemmer returns after serving a one-game suspension.

EELS v DRAGONS

7.35pm Saturday at ANZ Stadium

Eels: No changes expected following the win over the Titans.

Dragons: Origin prop Paul Vaughan (knee) may not return until the finals following an injury against the Warriors. Blake Lawrie is set to come into the 17.

RAIDERS v TIGERS

2pm Sunday at GIO Stadium

Raiders: No injury concerns from Sunday’s loss to the Panthers.

Tigers: Winger Corey Thompson’s season is over following an ankle injury. With Mahe Fonua (arm) still a week away, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak looms as the likely replacement. Benji Marshall (calf) is in doubt.

STORM v SHARKS

4.10pm Sunday at AAMI Park

Storm: Hooker Cameron Smith is “expected” to play despite a foot complaint. Smith, 35, was due to have an ultrasound on his right foot on Monday after experiencing a “sharp pain” down the back of his heel last Friday night. But Smith pulled up “significantly well” over the weekend.

He met with the club’s physiotherapist who diagnosed the NRL record-breaker with “tendon irritation” to his toe. Storm football director Frank Ponissi said Smith is expected to play on Sunday after being cleared to resume full training. “He did not require scans because he pulled up so well,” Ponissi told the Herald Sun. “The injury is a tendon irritation to his toe.”

Read the full story from Gilbert Gardiner

Sharks: Prop Andrew Fifita (concussion) will need to pass protocol but has the advantage of a long turnaround.