NRL Late Mail round 2: Sharks star Tom Hazelton to miss Cowboys clash

The Sharks have suffered a massive blow ahead of their clash against the Cowboys, with a key forward ruled out. See all the predicted Round 2 team changes.

The Sharks have suffered an injury blow ahead of their clash with the Cowboys with Tom Hazelton ruled out with a back issue.

The towering prop was aiming to tackle the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday fresh from inking a new contract at Cronulla until the end of 2028.

Hazleton’s withdrawal is likely to see either reserve forward Tuku Hau Tapua or Billy Burns join the Sharks final 17-man squad.

—David Riccio

Tom Hazelton is set to miss the Sharks vs Cowboys clash. Picture: Getty Images

NO INJURY WOES FOR WALSH

Brisbane have allayed injury fears for Reece Walsh with the superstar fullback cleared for Saturday night’s clash against Canberra.

Walsh took part in the Broncos’ captain’s run at Red Hill on Friday ahead of Brisbane’s second consecutive road trip to face the Raiders in Canberra.

There were fears for Walsh after he was seen limping in the wake of Brisbane’s 50-14 rout of the Roosters in the season opener last Thursday night in Sydney.

Broncos medicos diagnosed only a corked leg for Walsh, who will take his place at fullback as Brisbane chase a second straight win in the nation’s capital to start the 2025 premiership.

The Queensland Origin ace moved freely and completed the entire session without a problem, as did front-row spearhead Payne Haas.

Haas was given an early mark at Broncos training on Wednesday for religious reasons - he is observing Ramadan - but the Blues enforcer is primed for a rugged clash with Canberra’s pack.

Star centre Kotoni Staggs (quadriceps) remains injured and was seen doing light running away from the main group alongside fellow casualty Blake Mozer (shoulder).

—Travis Meyn

Payne Haas left Brisbane training early on Monday. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

BLOW FOR BULLDOGS’ ENGINE ROOM

—Fatima Kdouh

Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo has suffered an early season blow to his engine room with prop Sam Hughes set to be sidelined for at least six weeks.

Hughes missed last weekend’s Round 1 clash against St George Illawarra due to an ankle syndesmosis injury that he suffered in the final week of the trials.

Bulldogs medical staff had initially diagnosed Hughes with a grade one syndesmosis but further scans this week revealed the front rower required surgery.

“Sam was fighting to get ready for game one,” said Phil Gould. “He injured his ankle against the Broncos in the second trial, came back a grade one syndesmosis, which is usually two to three weeks,” Gould said on the Six Tackles podcast.

“We’ve had to rescan him this week. It’s a grade three. He’s been in and got surgery.

“So he’s out for six weeks, which is a big loss. I don’t think it was a misdiagnosis. I think it was just one of those ones … and unfortunately, it’s cost him six weeks.”

It comes after revelations star backrower Viliame Kikau was racing the clock to line up in last week’s season opener due to a back injury.

The forward has two bulging discs in his lumbar spine that will require ongoing pain management for the rest of the season but Kikau is hopeful of having to avoid surgery to repair the injury.

Samuel Hughes is set to be sidelined for six weeks. Picture: Getty Images

ROUND TWO LATE MAIL

DRAGONS VS RABBITOHS

3pm Saturday March 15 at WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Dragons

1. Clinton Gutherson 19. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 15. Blake Lawrie 9. Damien Cook 10. Emre Guler 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin

Interchange: 8. Toby Couchman 14. Jacob Liddle 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 17. Hamish Stewart

Reserves: 2. Mathew Feagai

Cut: 20. Lyhkan King-Togia 21. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga, 18. Dylan Egan

Late Mail: Tyrell Sloan replaces Mathew Feagai on the wing and Blake Lawrie has been promoted to the starting side with Toby Couchman dropping to the bench.

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Isaiah Tass 3. Fletcher Myers 4. Campbell Graham 5. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Davvy Moale 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner

Interchange: 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Siliva Havili 16. Tallis Duncan 17. Tevita Tatola

Reserves: 18. Liam Le Blanc

Cut: 19. Lewis Dodd 20. Jacob Host 21. Thomas Fletcher 22. Talanoa Penitani

Late Mail: No late changes at the Rabbitohs.

COWBOYS VS SHARKS

5:30pm Saturday March 15 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Sam McIntyre 11. John Bateman 12. Kai O’Donnell 13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange: 14. Karl Lawton 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess

Reserves: 21. Jaxson Paulo 20. Thomas Mikaele

Cut: 18. Jake Clifford 19. Jeremiah Nanai 22. Jason Taumalolo

Late Mail: No late changes expected. Jason Taumalolo is set to make his return from a foot injury through Queensland Cup. He’ll be joined by Test and Origin star Jeremiah Nanai, who was dropped on Tuesday.

“Jeremiah is an elite attacking player and he needs to improve some defensive parts of his game,” coach Todd Payten said. “He’s going to get some time in the Q Cup to do that. It wasn’t an easy decision but I just felt it was important for the group that if we want to improve as a team, defence is first and foremost.”

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha

Reserves: 20. Billy Burns 19. Mawene Hiroti

Cut: 17. Thomas Hazelton 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Hohepa Puru

Late Mail: Tom Hazelton has been ruled out with a back injury, with Tuku Hau Tapuha the new face on the bench. No other changes expected at this stage. Young fullback Liam Ison ruptured his ACL in reserve grade last week.

RAIDERS VS BRONCOS

7:35pm Saturday March 15 at GIO Stadium, Canberra

Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Albert Hopoate 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Corey Horsburgh 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies

Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Matt Nicholson 17. Ata Mariota

Reserves: 19. Trey Mooney 18. Danny Levi

Cut: 20. Chevy Stewart 21. Michael Asomua 22. Ethan Sanders

Late Mail: No changes expected. Xavier Savage and Joe Tapine are out suspended. Englishman Matt Nicholson makes his NRL debut.

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Deine Mariner 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington

Interchange: 14. Billy Walters, 15. Corey Jensen, 16. Xavier Willison, 17. Brendan Piakura

Reserves: 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Delouise Hoeter

Cut: 20. Martin Taupau 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Jock Madden

Late Mail: No changes expected after a big win in round 1. Payne Haas was granted permission to leave training early on Wednesday as he rests up over Ramadan.

EELS VS TIGERS

4:05pm Sunday March 16 at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta

Eels

1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Will Penisini 4. Zac Lomax 5. Jordan Samrani 6. Dylan Brown 7. Ronald Volkman 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Jack Williams 13. J’maine Hopgood

Interchange: 14. Ryley Smith 15. Matt Dooery 16. Kitione Kautoga 17. Sam Tuivaiti

Reserves: 18. Dan Kier 19. Joash Papalii 20. Toni Mataele 21. 22. Joey Lussick

Late Mail: Shaun Lane is right to go after a pre-season knee injury. Jordan Samrani will make his NRL debut on the wing. He replaces Jake Tago, who is out for 1-2 weeks with a shoulder injury.

Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal

Interchange: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu

Reserves: 18. Charlie Staines 19. Latu Fainu 20. Tristan Hope 21. Tony Sukkar 22. Solomona Faataape

Late Mail: Fullback Jahream Bula (appendix), hooker Api Koroisau (suspension) and centre Starford To’a all return from injury.

Viliame Kikau has required injections into his spine recently to address pain from a bulging disc (via @SMHsport).

Is an ongoing issue he has dealt with for years (intermittent aggravations) & will need to continue to manage - at this stage he is hoping to avoid surgery. pic.twitter.com/hi1RrxTODM

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 12, 2025

BULLDOGS VS TITANS

6:15pm Sunday March 16 at Belmore Sports Ground, Belmore

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Kurt Mann

Interchange: 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Josh Curran 17. Jaeman Salmon

Reserves: 19. Harry Hayes 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Blake Taaffe 22. Luke Smith 23. Jonathan Sua

Late Mail: Viliame Kikau is in some doubt due to two bulging discs in his back. He’ll likely have to manage the injury all season. Sam Hughes is set to miss up to six weeks after undergoing surgery for an ankle injury. Josh Curran returns from suspension.

Titans

1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui

Interchange: 14. Chris Randall 15. David Fifita 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Brock Gray

Reserves: 18. Jaylan De Groot 19. Arama Hau 20. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 21. Tom Weaver 22. Tony Francis

Late Mail: Reagan Campbell-Gillard missed the trials due to a shoulder injury but will take the field against the Bulldogs. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui returns to the NRL following an ACL injury.

Originally published as NRL Late Mail round 2: Sharks star Tom Hazelton to miss Cowboys clash