NRL Late Mail round 15: Injury carnage continues with Kai Pearce-Paul ruled out, mass changes for Panthers

The injury hits just keep coming in Round 15, with a popular SuperCoach star ruled out for Newcastle, while the Panthers have made a host of changes. Full predicted team changes.

The injury hits just keep coming in Round 15, with a popular SuperCoach star ruled out for Newcastle, while the Panthers have made a host of changes.

Kai Pearce-Paul has been ruled out with a foot injury, with Dylan Lucas replacing him in the starting side, with Jack Hetherington the new face on the bench.

Meanwhile Fletcher Sharpe has won the Knights No.1 jersey, with David Armstrong cut from the reserves in the 24-hour team update.

At Penrith, Ivan Cleary has been forced to make a host of changes, while a State of Origin star has shaken off a foot injury and been cleared to play.

Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny has been ruled out with a quad injury, with Luke Sommerton replacing him at dummyhalf, five-eighth Jack Cole (quad) has dropped out of the squad with Brad Schneider into the starting side, while Luke Garner is the man to make way for Liam Martin, who makes his return from a foot injury. Dylan Edwards is expected to play after recovering from a quad injury.

—Wilson Smith

Mitch Kenny & Jack Cole ruled out this weekend with quad injuries picked up at training.

No clarification from the Panthers on severity at this stage - if minor strains both would be a good chance of being available after their Round 16 bye.

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 14, 2024

CARNAGE AS TITANS, ROOSTERS, EELS, TIGERS LOSE STARS

—Wilson Smith

Injury carnage has taken over Super Saturday, with some of the games biggest stars ruled out through injury.

The Titans have suffered a massive blow on the eve of their clash against the Wests Tigers, with David Fifita ruled out with an ankle injury.

Erin Clark joins the starting side in his place and Jacob Alick joins the bench.

Fifita’s absence is a massive blow for SuperCoaches, given he was the sixth most purchased player of the round, and second most popular captain choice before his withdrawal.

David Fifita has been ruled out for the Titans this week with a minor ankle injury - mostly a precautionary move & he is expected to be back in Round 16 next week.

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 14, 2024

The injuries continue at the Wests Tigers, with winger Alex Lobb and front rower Alex Twal have been ruled out after suffering head knocks at training. Solomona Faataape moves to centre, while Brent Naden shifts to the wing to replace Lobb. Fonua Pole moves to front row, Alex Seyfarth joins the starting side in the back row, with Heath Mason and Jordan Miller set to make their NRL debuts off the bench.

The carnage continues for the Parramatta Eels and Sydney Roosters, with J’Maine Hopgood (back) and Dominic Young (hamstring) ruled out.

J’maine Hopgood out for the Eels with a back issue - reported as nerve irritation that he picked up in Origin 1.

Played through it last week with Trent Barrett admitting he probably should’ve rested. Provided there’s no significant structural issue these usually settle quickly.

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 14, 2024

Joe Ofahengaue comes into the starting side at lock for Parramatta, with Ryan Matterson joining the bench.

Eels coach Trent Barrett has said Hopgood has a nerve problem in his back and shouldn’t have played last week.

His withdrawal is also a blow for the Maroons, who are due to announce their Origin squad for game two at the end of Round 15.

Young’s absence for the Roosters has forced a backline reshuffle, with Fetalaiga Pauga moving to the wing and Michael Jennings coming in at centre.

Dom Young has been ruled out of Round 15 for the Roostwrs with a minor hamstring strain suffered at training.

Hamstrings as always tough to get up & down to return within 7 days considering high re-injury risk - for Round 16 availability hope he suffered it earlier in the week!

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 14, 2024

MANLY RECRUIT SET FOR CLUB DEBUT

Jake Simpkin is expected to make his first grade debut for Manly this weekend as coach Anthony Seibold prepares to reward him with a late call-up for their game against St George Illawarra on Sunday afternoon at 4 Pines Park.

It is understood Simpkin, who was named on an extended bench, is likely to come into the Sea Eagles side as an interchange following his mid-season move from the Wests Tigers.

Simpkin joined Manly a fortnight ago and played strongly in NSW Cup last weekend, churning through 40 tackles and causing havoc out of dummy half.

That performance looks to be enough to convince Seibold to hand him a first grade club debut against the Dragons, who have impressed this season under the coaching of former Sea Eagles assistant Shane Flanagan.

—Brent Read

HORSBURGH RETURNS VIA NSW CUP

A forgotten force of the Raiders will finally make his comeback to the game with Corey Horsburgh to return in the NSW Cup on Saturday.

Almost 12-months after making his Queensland State of Origin debut in game three of the 2023 series, Horsburgh will play his first game in 10-weeks for the Raiders reserve grade side against South Sydney at Redfern Oval.

A frustrated Horsburgh has been sidelined with a troublesome groin injury that took longer than expected to recover from.

The front-rower suffered the injury in round seven against the Eels last April.

Horsburgh featured in 22-games for the Raiders last season and his return is never more timely following Canberra’s disappointing loss to the Cowboys last Friday night.

NRL ROUND FIFTEEN

SEA EAGLES v DRAGONS

Sunday, 2pm, 4 Pines Park, Sydney

Sea Eagles

1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Tommy Talau 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Karl Lawton 10. Nathan Brown 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley

Reserves: 22. Aaron Schoupp 20. Jake Simpkin

Players cut: 18. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega 19. Jaxson Paulo 21. Aitasi James

Late Mail: No changes in the 24-hour team update. Haumole Olakau’atu has been cleared of an injury to his calf and the Sea Eagles are hopeful he will play. Coach Anthony Seibold has floated the idea of moving Tom Trbojevic to centre when he returns in round 18, which could see Lehi Hopoate retain the fullback spot. Jake Simpkin is a chance to come onto the bench, with Gordon Chan Kum Tong the man likely to make way.

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Max Feagai 5. Mathew Feagai 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth

Interchange: 14. Blake Lawrie 15. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16. Ben Murdoch-Masila 17. Toby Couchman

Players cut: 18. Fa’amanu Brown 21. Ryan Couchman 22. Sione Finau

Reserves: 19. Michael Molo 20. Christian Tuipulotu

Late Mail: No changes in the 24-hour team update and no other changes expected.

KNIGHTS v PANTHERS

Sunday, 4:05pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Knights

1. Fletcher Sharpe 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jack Cogger 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 16. Dylan Lucas 11. Tyson Frizell 13. Adam Elliott

Interchange: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Daniel Saifiti 17. Brodie Jones 18. Jack Hetherington

Reserves: 19. Mathew Croker 21. Krystian Mapapalangi

Players cut: 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 20. Will Pryce 22. David Armstrong

Late Mail: Kai Pearce-Paul has been ruled out with a foot injury, with Dylan Lucas replacing him in the starting side, with Jack Hetherington the new face on the bench. Fletcher Sharpe has won the Knights No.1 jersey, with David Armstrong cut from the reserves in the 24-hour team update,

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To’o 21. Brad Schneider 7. Jarome Luai 8. Moses Leota 18. Luke Sommerton 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 20. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Bench: 14. Daine Laurie 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Matt Eisenhuth

Reserves: 19. Mavrik Geyer 23. Trent Toelau

Players cut: 6. Jack Cole 9. Mitch Kenny 12. Luke Garner 22. Jesse McLean

Late Mail: The Panthers have made a host of changes in the 24-hour team update, with hooker Mitch Kenny ruled out, Liam Martin cleared to play and five-eighth Jack Cole dropping out. Luke Sommerton replaces Kenny at hooker, while Luke Garner is the man to make way for Martin, and Brad Schneider elevated to the starting side at the expense of Cole. Dylan Edwards is expected to play after recovering from a quad injury.

Originally published as NRL Late Mail round 15: Injury carnage continues with Kai Pearce-Paul ruled out, mass changes for Panthers