NRL Late Mail round 22: Team changes and gossip

THE Penrith Panthers have made a last-minute switch to their forward pack and will be without Matt Moylan.

Ben Hunt has been benched by the Broncos. Picture: Peter Wallis

ALL team changes for round 22.

Panthers v Tigers

Sunday, 4:00pm, Pepper Stadium

Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Josh Mansour 3. Tyrone Peachey 4. Waqa Blake 5. Dallin Watene Zelezniak 6. Tyrone May 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou 9. Peter Wallace 16. Tim Browne 11. Corey Harawira-Naera 12. Isaah Yeo 13. Moses Leota. Interchange: 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 14. Sione Katoa 15. Bryce Cartwright 17. James Fisher-Harris

Players cut: Matt Moylan, Sitaleki Akauola, Dean Whare, Viliame Kikau

Late mail: Tim Browne starts at prop with Reagan Campbell-Gillard dropping back to the bench in Penrith’s only change. Matt Moylan (hamstring) was ruled out in the lead-up.

Tigers: 1. James Tedesco 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Esan Marsters 4. Kevin Naiqama 5. Malaki Watene-Zelezniak 6. Tuimoala Lolohea 7. Luke Brooks 8. Aaron Woods 9. Matt McIlwrick 10. Tim Grant 11. Chris Lawrence 12. Elijah Taylor 13. Matthew Eisenhuth. Interchange: 14. Alex Twal 15. Sauaso Sue 16. Michael Chee-Kam 17. Jack Littlejohn

Players cut: JJ Felise, Ava Seumanufagai, Josh Aloiai, Joel Edwards

Late mail: No changes, with Elijah Taylor cleared of injury.

COMPLETED MATCHES

Bulldogs v Eels

Thursday, 7:50pm, ANZ Stadium

Bulldogs: 1. Will Hopoate 2. Brett Morris 3. Josh Morris 23. Brenko Lee 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Josh Reynolds 4. Chase Stanley 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Moses Mbye 10. James Graham 11. Josh Jackson 12. Adam Elliott 13. David Klemmer. Interchange: 7. Matt Frawley 14. Sam Kasiano 15. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16. Danny Fualalo

Players cut: Michael Lichaa, Francis Tualau, Kerrod Holland, Asipeli Fine

Late mail: Des Hasler has pulled a host of surprises. Chase Stanley shifts to the halves alongside Josh Reynolds, with Brenko Lee filling Stanley’s right centre position. Matt Frawley drops back to the bench and Michael Lichaa is out. Sam Kasiano (sternum) and Adam Elliott (knock) have been cleared.

Eels: 1. Bevan French 2. Semi Radradra 3. Michael Jennings 4. Brad Takairangi 5. Kirisome Auva’a 6. Corey Norman 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Sosaia Vave 9. Cameron King 10. Tim Mannah 11. Manu Ma’u 15. Kenny Edwards 13. Nathan Brown. Interchange: 14. Daniel Alvaro 16. Suaia Matagi 17. Peni Terepo 20. Frank Pritchard

Players cut: Tepai Moeroa, Josh Hoffman, David Gower, Will Smith

Late mail: Tepai Moeroa is out through injury. Kenny Edwards starts in the back row with David Gower joining the bench.

Dragons v Rabbitohs

Friday, 6:00pm, SCG

Dragons: 1. Matthew Dufty 2. Nene Macdonald 3. Josh Dugan 4. Timoteo Lafai 5. Jason Nightingale 6. Gareth Widdop 7. Josh McCrone 8. Leeson Ah Mau 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Paul Vaughan 15. Jacob Host 12. Joel Thompson 13. Jack de Belin. Interchange: 11. Tyson Frizell 14. Tariq Sims 17. Kurt Mann 20. Jake Marketo

Players cut: Hame Sele, Taane Milne, Russell Packer, Luciano Leilua

Late mail: Prop Russell Packer (knee) has been ruled out and is likely to return in a fortnight. Tyson Frizell (ankle) has been cleared but starts on the bench, with Jacob Host replacing him. Jake Marketo gets the final bench spot.

Rabbitohs: 1. Alex Johnston 2. Bryson Goodwin 3. Hymel Hunt 4. Tyrell Fuimaono 22. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Burgess 9. Damien Cook 10. Zane Musgrove 11. John Sutton 12. Angus Crichton 13. Sam Burgess. Interchange: 14. Robbie Farah 15. George Burgess 16. Kyle Turner 17. Cameron Murray

Players cut: Robert Jennings, Jack Gosiewski, Anthony Cherrington, David Tyrrell

Late mail: Sam Burgess (rib cartilage), Adam Reynolds (concussion/jaw) and Angus Crichton (foot) all start. Campbell Graham comes on to the wing for Robert Jennings, who has been ruled out. The Rabbitohs sought and were granted an exemption by the NRL to include Graham in the final 17.

Cowboys v Storm

Friday, 7.50pm, 1300Smiles Stadium

Cowboys: 1. Lachlan Coote 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O’Neill 4. Kane Linnett 5. Antonio Winterstein 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Michael Morgan 8. John Asiata 9. Jake Granville 10. Scott Bolton 11. Gavin Cooper (c) 12. Ethan Lowe 13. Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: 15. Coen Hess 16. Shaun Fensom 17. Corey Jensen 20. Sam Hoare

Players cut: Ben Hampton, Braden Uele, Kalyn Ponga, Javid Bowen

Late mail: Shaun Fensom (ribs) returns and starts, with John Asiata dropping back to the bench. Sam Hoare comes in for utility Ben Hampton.

Storm: 1. Billy Slater 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Will Chambers 4. Curtis Scott 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Ryley Jacks 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith (c) 14. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Joe Stimson 13. Dale Finucane. Interchange: 10. Tim Glasby 15. Kenny Bromwich 16. Jordan McLean 17. Slade Griffin

Players cut: Nate Myles, Jahrome Hughes, Brodie Croft, Robbie Rochow

Late mail: Billy Slater (concussion) returns. Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been promoted to the starting side, with Tim Glasby dropping back to the bench. Ryley Jacks starts at five-eighth for the injured Cameron Munster (ankle), who is expected to miss one week.

Knights v Warriors

Saturday, 3pm, McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights: 1. Nathan Ross 2. Ken Sio 3. Dane Gagai 4. Peter Mata’utia 21. Chanel Mata’utia 6. Brock Lamb 7. Trent Hodkinson 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jamie Buhrer 10. Josh King 11. Sione Mata’utia 16. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Mitchell Barnett. Interchange: 14. Danny Levi 15. Luke Yates 17. Jacob Saifiti 19. Sam Stone

Players cut: Joe Wardle, Brendan Elliot, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Jack Cogger

Late mail: Shaun Kenny-Dowall (hamstring) has been ruled out, with Chanel Mata’utia replacing him on the wing.

Warriors: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c) 2. David Fusitua 3. Blake Ayshford 4. Solomone Kata 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Kieran Foran 7. Mason Lino 8. Jacob Lillyman 9. Issac Luke 15. Sam Lisone 13. Simon Mannering 12. Bunty Afoa 18. Jazz Tevaga. Interchange: 10. Ben Matulino 11. Isaiah Papalii 17. James Bell 21. Nathaniel Roache

Players cut: Ata Hingano, Ligi Sao, Tevita Satae, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Late mail: To come

Titans v Broncos

Saturday, 5:30pm, Cbus Super Stadium

Titans: 1. Jarryd Hayne 2. Anthony Don 3. Dale Copley 4. John Olive 5. William Zillman 6. Kane Elgey 7. Ashley Taylor 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Nathan Peats 10. Ryan James 15. Morgan Boyle 12. Joe Greenwood 13. Max King. Interchange: 14. Tyrone Roberts 16. Leivaha Pulu 17. Agnatius Paasi 18. Nathaniel Peteru

Players cut: Kevin Proctor, Phillip Sami, Pat Politoni, Paterika Vaivai

Late mail: To come

Broncos: 1. Darius Boyd 18. Corey Oates 3. James Roberts 4. Tautau Moga 5. Jordan Kahu 6. Anthony Milford 7. Kodi Nikorima 8. Korbin Sims 11. Alex Glenn 10. Adam Blair 14. Sam Thaiday 12. Matt Gillett 13. Josh McGuire. Interchange: 9. Ben Hunt 15. Tevita Pangai Junior 16. Joe Ofahengaue 20. Herman Ese’ese

Players cut: David Mead, Benji Marshall, Tom Opacic, Jamayne Isaako

Late mail: Corey Oates will play for the first time since June 24, after recovering from a staph infection that hospitalised him.

Sharks v Raiders

Saturday, 7:30pm, Southern Cross Group Stadium

Sharks: 1. Valentine Holmes 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Jack Bird 4. Ricky Leutele 5. Gerard Beale 6. Fa’amanu Brown 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. James Segeyaro 10. Matt Prior 11. Luke Lewis 12. Wade Graham 13. Paul Gallen. Interchange: 14. Jayson Bukuya 15. Chris Heighington 16. Jeremy Latimore 17. Kurt Capewell

Players cut: Adam Clydsdale, Joseph Paulo, Sam Tagtaese, Edrick Lee

Late mail: Cronulla have cleared five-eighth Nu Brown to take on Canberra in the NRL on Saturday, despite him suffering a heavy concussion just eight days prior.

Fa'amanu Brown is set to play despite a concussion last week.

Raiders: 1. Jack Wighton 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Joseph Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Blake Austin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Junior Paulo 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Shannon Boyd 11. Josh Papalii 12. Elliot Whitehead 13. Luke Bateman. Interchange: 14. Kurt Baptiste 15. Clay Priest 16. Dave Taylor 17. Joseph Tapine

Players cut: Michael Oldfield, Jeff Lima, Royce Hunt, Erin Clark

Late mail: To come

Sea Eagles v Roosters

Sunday, 2:00pm, Lottoland

Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Matthew Wright 3. Dylan Walker 15 Brad Parker 5. Akuila Uate 6. Blake Green 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Brenton Lawrence 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Martin Taupau 11. Frank Winterstein 12. Shaun Lane 13. Jake Trbojevic. Interchange: 14. Lewis Brown 16. Darcy Lussick 17. Lloyd Perrett 21. Kelepi Tanginoa

Players cut: Jarrad Kennedy, Jonathan Wright, Brian Kelly, Cameron Cullen

Late mail: Brian Kelly is out, with Brad Parker to start in the centres and Kelepi Tanginoa joining the bench. Dylan Walker (ankle/foot) has been cleared.

Dylan Walker picked up an injury last week but is set to play.

Roosters: 1. Connor Watson 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Joseph Manu 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Luke Keary 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Victor Radley 10. Dylan Napa 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Mitchell Aubusson 13. Isaac Liu. Interchange: 14. Zane Tetevano 15. Sio Siua Taukeiaho 16. Aidan Guerra 17. Mitchell Cornish

Players cut: Jake Friend, Chris Smith, Kane Evans, Nat Butcher

Late mail: 1-17, with Jake Friend (broken hand) saved for another week.

Jake Friend (left) and Mitchell Pearce. Picture: Getty Images

Originally published as NRL Late Mail round 22: Team changes and gossip