NRL Late Mail round 19: Predicted team changes, Brendan Piakura injury

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters has played it coy when pushed on whether the injury suffered by Brendan Piakura will see rookie Va’a Semu make his NRL debut. Full predicted team changes here

Monster Brisbane rookie Va’a Semu is on standby for a stunning NRL debut as the Broncos sweat on the fitness of back-rower Brendan Piakura for Saturday night’s clash against the Dragons.

Brisbane coach Kevin Walters was seen talking to Semu at the captain’s run on Friday, prompting the 20-year-old Ormeau Shearers product to rub his hands in delight, suggesting he is on the cusp of an NRL baptism.

Piakura suffered an ankle scare training with the Queensland Origin team in an opposed session on Thursday.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters with Va'a Semu. Credit: Supplied.

The 110kg Semu only made his debut in the Queensland Cup this year but Brisbane are running out of troops amid their injury crisis.

“We will make the decision (on game day) but they are both getting ready to play,” Walters said.

“I am pretty confident Brendan will be right. We just have to see how he is in the morning.

“Semu is very capable. He’s only had a short career but I would have no hesitation in playing him.

“We have seen him this year at Souths and we like what we see.”

Of his chat with Semu, Walters said: “I was just making sure that he is preparing to play as such.

“He seems to be a relaxed fella anyway so I am sure he will be fine if he does get the call that he is playing.”

Brendan Piakura’s right ankle is heavily strapped.

MYSTERY SURROUNDS BRIMSON RETURN

AJ Brimson will be “given every opportunity” to prove his fitness for the Titans but mystery surrounds where he will play.

The former Queensland Origin player has been named 18th man as he aims to return from a groin injury.

This year Brimson has played four games at centre, three at fullback and two at five-eighth.

Beau Fermor, Keano Kini and Jayden Campbell are currently named in those spots this week.

Fermor is more of a makeshift centre and Kini has been impressive at fullback. Campbell is back from a hand injury and has been in fine form in the No. 6.

“I started the year in the centres but Des Hasler told me after that he didn’t want to play me in the centres anymore,” Brimson said on the Matty Johns Show.

“I play my best footy at fullback and I am a fullback but I’m happy to play six as well.”

AJ Brimson is aiming to return from a groin injury. Picture: Hyde/Getty Images

NRL LATE MAIL ROUND 19

SHARKS v TIGERS

Friday, 8pm, Pointsbet Stadium, Sydney

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Braydon Trindall 8. Royce Hunt 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. Jesse Colquhoun 15. Thomas Hazelton 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Chris Veaila 20. Billy Burns 21. Niwhai Puru 22. Jayden Berrell

Late Mail: No major changes expected with Sione Katoa to return from concussion. Nicho Hynes is confirmed out for two months with a leg fracture and syndesmosis injury.

Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. Alexander Lobb 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Solomona Faataape 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. John Bateman 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Fonua Pole

Interchange: 14. Heath Mason 15. Sione Fainu 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Reuben Porter

Reserves: 18. Justin Matamua 19. Tallyn Da Silva 20. Starford To’a 21. Josh Feledy 22. Jordan Miller

Late Mail: No changes expected. Justin Olam is out for “a couple of weeks” with a knee issue but will play more footy in 2024, according to Benji Marshall.

TITANS v EELS

Saturday, 5:30pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Titans

1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Beau Fermor 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Kieran Foran 8. Josiah Pahulu 9. Sam Verrills 10. Erin Clark 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Chris Randall

Interchange: 14. Isaac Liu 15. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 16. Keenan Palasia 17. Phillip Sami

Reserves: 18. AJ Brimson 19. Joe Stimson 20. Tanah Boyd 21. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 22. Jaylan De Groot

Late Mail: The Titans have four players attempting to return from injury in AJ Brimson (groin), Jayden Campbell (hand), Klese Haas (foot) and Phillip Sami (calf).

Eels

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Jake Tago 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Blaize Talagi 5. Lorenzo Mulitalo 6. Dylan Brown 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Joe Ofahengaue 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Matt Doorey 13. Charlie Guymer

Interchange: 14. Matthew Arthur 15. Shaun Lane 16. Luca Moretti 17. Bryce Cartwright

Reserves: 18. Makahesi Makatoa 19. Isaac Lumelume 20. Joey Lussick 21. Morgan Harper 22. Wiremu Greig

Late Mail: No major changes expected with Daejarn Asi taking over at halfback from Blues’ No.7 Mitch Moses.

BRONCOS v DRAGONS

Saturday, 7:35pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Broncos

1. Tristan Sailor 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Joshua Rogers 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Xavier Willison 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Tyson Smoothy

Interchange: 14. Blake Mozer 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Josiah Karapani 17. Martin Taupau

Reserves: 18. Vaa Semu 19. Cory Paix 20. Israel Leota

Late Mail: Brendan Piakura is in doubt after an injury in Maroons camp. Corey Oates has been cleared of a knee niggle and will play.

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Moses Suli 4. Max Feagai 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Jesse Marschke 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth

Interchange: 14. Hame Sele 15. Luciano Leilua 16. Toby Couchman 17. Ben Murdoch-Masila

Reserves: 18. Jack Bird 19. Savelio Tamale 20. Fa’amanu Brown 21. Ryan Couchman 22. Michael Molo

Late Mail: Raymond Faitala-Mariner should be right to go after being a late scratching last week due to back spasms. Jack Bird has been lurking on the extended bench for a number of weeks now. He returned in NSW Cup last week at fullback.

SEA EAGLES v KNIGHTS

Sunday, 4:05pm, 4 Pines Park, Sydney

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tommy Talau 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Karl Lawton 13. Nathan Brown

Interchange: 14. Clayton Faulalo 15. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Corey Waddell

Reserves: 18. Caleb Navale 19. Aaron Schoupp 20. Dean Matterson 21. Ben Condon 22. Aitasi James

Late Mail: Expected to be unchanged with Tom Trbojevic returning to the fullback role.

Knights

1. Fletcher Sharpe 2. Krystian Mapapalangi 3. Dylan Lucas 4. Thomas Cant 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Will Pryce 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott

Interchange: 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Brodie Jones 17. Mathew Croker

Reserves: 18. Jack Hetherington 19. Jack Cogger 20. Kyle McCarthy 21. Riley Jones 22. Thomas Jenkins

Late Mail: No changes at this stage. It’s a new-look team with Kalyn Ponga, Dane Gagai and Bradman Best all on Origin duty.

Originally published as NRL Late Mail round 19: Predicted team changes, Brendan Piakura injury