NRL Late Mail Round 15: Updated team news and injuries

As if losing Kalyn Ponga wasn’t bad enough, Queensland are now set to be without another star No.1. And they aren’t the only ones who will suffer. FULL WACKO’S WHISPERS.

Queensland’s fullback crisis looks set to deepen with Titans No. 1 AJ Brimson in danger of missing next Sunday’s sudden-death Origin clash at Suncorp Stadium.

Brimson is expected to be ruled out of the Gold Coast’s match against Manly at Cbus Super Stadium on Sunday afternoon due to a lingering knee problem.

Brimson aggravated the bone bruising injury in the Titans’ Round 12 loss to Cronulla, but came off the bench for Queensland in Origin I despite the Gold Coast’s concerns.

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AJ Brimson looks likely to miss both club and Origin games.

He hasn’t played since and was named on an extended bench for the Manly game, with Jayden Campbell expected to start at fullback for the third week running.

With Knights No. 1 Kalyn Ponga (groin) already ruled out of Origin II, Brimson was in the mix for the Maroons fullback duties as coach Paul Green contemplates making changes following Queensland’s 50-6 Game One disaster.

But Brimson is unlikely to be up to the task of playing 80 minutes at fullback in the Origin arena in a week, opening the door for Warriors dynamo Reece Walsh to make a stunning Queensland debut.

Walsh, 18, could be thrust into an Origin baptism of fire if Green opts to shift incumbent Maroons No. 1 Valentine Holmes to the wing.

The other option for Walsh to debut is as a bench utility, the role Brimson played in Origin I.

Green is unlikely to carry injured players into the must-win game after Queensland’s botched preparation contributed to a record defeat in Townsville.

The struggling Titans will also miss Brimson when they come up against the Tom Trbojevic-inspired Sea Eagles.

Trbojevic made his first appearance of the season against the Titans in Round 6, inspiring Manly to a 36-0 thrashing of the Gold Coast in Mudgee.

The Manly No. 1 has been arguably the form player of the NRL since then and was in devastating touch for NSW in Game One last week.

Titans coach Justin Holbrook said his side had to be switched on when Trbojevic got the ball.

“It won’t be easy, we know that, he is a great player,” he said.

ROUND 15 LATE MAIL

STORM VS TIGERS

Saturday 19 June, 7:35pm, Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast

STORM

1. Nicho Hynes, 2. George Jennings, 3. Reimis Smith, 4. Justin Olam, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 9. Brandon Smith, 10. Christian Welch, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Tom Eisenhuth 13. Dale Finucane

Bench: 14. Harry Grant, 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Chris Lewis, 17. Aaron Pene

Reserves: 18. Jordan Grant, 21. Dean Ieremia

Players dropped: 19. Cooper Johns 20. Trent Loiero

Late mail: Storm have a number of players in doubt or who had a light week on training paddock, with Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster, Felise Kaufusi and Harry Grant not training but expected to play. Christian Welch failed a HIA in Origin and just needs to tick the final box of taking part in Captain’s run to be confirmed starter. Tom Eisenhuth passed his game day HIA last week but could be in some doubt, with Trent Loiero starting if ruled out. George Jennings was a late withdrawal due to injury last weekend but trained during the week and will return on right wing. Brandon Smith (knock), Tui Kamikamica (head knock) and Dale Finucane (head knock) all trained with the squad during the week and will play. Nelson Asofa-Solomona returns from suspension but could start from the bench with Kamikamica starting.

WESTS TIGERS

1. Daine Laurie, 2. David Nofoaluma, 3. Tommy Talau, 4. James Roberts 5. Ken Maumalo, 6. Moses Mbye, 7. Luke Brooks, 8. James Tamou, 9. Jacob Liddle, 10. Alex Twal, 11. Luke Garner, 12. Luciano Leilua, 13. Joe Ofahengaue

Bench: 14. Stefano Utoikamanu, 15. Shawn Blore, 16. Tom Amone, 17. Alex Seyfarth

Reserves: 18. Michael Chee Kam, 20. Fetalaiga Pauga

Players dropped: 19. Kelma Tuilagi, 21. Jake Simpkin

Late mail: Tigers have Moses Mbye in some doubt due to a knee injury suffered against the Panthers which saw him ruled out last week, but he is expected to play. Tommy Talau (shoulder), David Nofoaluma (knee), Luke Garner (leg), Joe Ofahengaue (groin) and Daine Laurie (head knock) are all in some doubt and will need to prove their fitness at the captain’s run to play with Fetalaiga Pauga on standby to make his NRL debut if either Nofoaluma or Talau are ruled out. Ken Maumalo comes onto the left wing to make his club debut and will be looking forward to playing the Storm, with six tries in his two games against them this season already.

EELS VS BULLDOGS

Sunday 20 June, 2:00pm, Bankwest Stadium, Sydney

EELS

1. Clint Gutherson, 2. Sean Russell, 3. Tom Opacic, 4. Waqa Blake, 5. Haze Dunster, 6. Dylan Brown, 7. Mitchell Moses, 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 9. Joey Lussick, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Ryan Matterson, 13. Nathan Brown

Bench: 14. Marata Niukore, 15. Shaun Lane, 16. Keegan Hipgrave, 17. Nathaniel Roache

Reserves: 18. Oregon Kaufusi, 19. Blake Ferguson, 20. Bryce Cartwright, 21. Jakob Arthur,

Players dropped:

Late mail: Eels are expected to be 1-17 with no changes. Marata Niukore is expected to play after he passed a game day HIA last weekend and trained with the squad during the week. Sean Russell comes onto left wing to make NRL debut replacing the suspended Maika Sivo.

BULLDOGS

1. Nick Meaney, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Will Hopoate, 4. Aaron Schoupp, 5. Tui Katoa, 6. Brandon Wakeham, 7. Jake Averillo, 8. Jack Hetherington, 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Luke Thompson, 11. Adam Elliott, 12. Matt Doorey, 13. Josh Jackson

Bench: 14. Sione Katoa, 15. Dylan Napa, 16. Ava Seumanufaga, 17. Corey Waddell

Reserves: 19. Kyle Flanagan, 20. Joe Stimson, 21. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 22. Jackson Topine

Players dropped:

Late mail: The Bulldogs have no injury concerns to come out of the Dragons game on Monday, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has played his last game for the Bulldogs after agreeing to join the Warriors.

TITANS VS SEA EAGLES

Sunday 20 June, 4:05pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

TITANS

1. Jayden Campbell, 2. Greg Marzhew, 3. Brian Kelly, 4. Patrick Herbert, 5. Phillip Sami, 6. Ash Taylor, 7. Jamal Fogarty, 8. Jarrod Wallace, 9. Erin Clark, 10. Moeaki Fotuaika, 11. Sam Stone, 12. David Fifita, 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui

Bench: 14. Tyrone Peachey, 15. Jaimin Jolliffe, 16. Sam McIntyre, 17. Jai Whitbread

Reserves: 18. Mitch Reine, 19. Joseph Vuna, 20. Anthony Don, 21. AJ Brimson

Players dropped:

Late mail: Titans will receive a massive boost with AJ Brimson set to return from knee injury at fullback, with Jayden Campbell the player to make way. Mitch Rein is a chance to play as he recovers from a shoulder injury, but would need to pass a fitness test at the captain’s run on Saturday. If fit he would replace Erin Clark at hooker, who would drop out of the 17. Anthony Don isn’t expected to play due to ongoing hip injury. David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui both passed game day HIA’s on weekend, and have been monitored during week, with both set to play. Ash Taylor copped a head knock in the same incident which saw Fifita go off for his HIA, however, Taylor played the game out and should be right to play.

SEA EAGLES

1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Jason Saab, 3. Brad Parker, 4. Morgan Harper, 5. Reuben Garrick, 6. Kieran Foran, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Taniela Paseka, 9. Lachlan Croker, 10. Martin Taupau, 11. Haumole Olakau’atu, 12. Karl Lawton, 13. Jake Trbojevic

Bench: 14. Dylan Walker, 15. Ben Trbojevic, 16. Sean Keppie, 17. Toafofoa Sipley

Reserves: 18. Moses Suli, 19. Tevita Funa, 20. Christian Tuipulotu 21. Kurt De Lewis

Players dropped:

Late mail: The Sea Eagles welcome back Tom Trbojevic after he was rested last week after Origin. Manly’s only concern leading into game is the fitness of Toa Sipley, who failed a HIA last week and is under concussion protocols at present. He does have a nine-day turnaround but will need medical clearance to play, but if he is ruled out Kurt De Luis would come onto bench to play his second. Taniela Paseka passed his game day HIA and trained during the week and will be fit to play.

Originally published as NRL Late Mail Round 15: Updated team news and injuries