NRL Late Mail Round 15: Sam Walker’s comeback aborted due to fresh injury

Sydney Roosters star Sam Walker has suffered another major injury setback, while their opponents the Newcastle Knights have lost one of their key attacking weapons. Update mail here.

Sydney Roosters star Sam Walker has suffered another major injury setback that will sideline the halfback for another four weeks.

Walker suffered a broken thumb in an accident at training on Thursday morning and will enter hospital for surgery on Friday.

The million-dollar halfback was poised to make his return from ACL surgery against the Newcastle Knights on Saturday.

Coach Trent Robinson will move Hugo Savala back to halfback and recall Sandon Smith to the starting line-up.

“It was just a tackling drill,” said Robinson.

“He thought it was a bit sore. Then he made another one and just thought it was a bit annoying.

“Then he couldn’t catch properly. It was hurting. So the physio said we should probably get a picture (X-ray) of this and it showed the break.

“He’s very unlucky. It was so exciting to get him going again but we’ll go back to what we’ve been doing and hopefully Sam will be right in a few weeks.”

-Phil Rothfield

Sam Walker is out due to a thumb injury. Picture Thomas Lisson

ANOTHER DEBUT FOR KNIGHTS, HUNT IN FOR SHARPE

Newcastle’s growing casualty ward continues with another debutant to be named to play against the Roosters.

Fullback flyer Fletcher Sharpe has been ruled out after a calf strain with Fletcher Hunt switching to fullback and Kyle McCarthy comes into the centres.

Brock Greacen will make his NRL debut off the bench for Newcastle against the Roosters on Saturday night.

The 22-year-old is on a train and trial contract with the Knights but the prop has played 12 NSW Cup games this year.

-Michael Carayannis

LATE MAIL ROUND 15

KNIGHTS v ROOSTERS

Saturday, 5.30pm, McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights

4. Fletcher Hunt 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 18. Kyle McCarthy 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Jack Cogger 8. Mathew Croker 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Brodie Jones 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Phoenix Crossland

Interchange: 15. Thomas Cant 16. Jermaine McEwen 17. Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana 21. Brock Greacen

Reserves: 19. Tyrone Thompson 20. Mason Teague

Players cut: 1. Fletcher Sharpe 14. Matt Arthur 22. Wilson De Courcey

Late Mail: Fletcher Sharpe (calf) is out which sees Fletcher Hunt switch to fullback and Kyle McCarthy come into the centres. Brock Greacen will make his NRL debut off the bench.

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Mark Nawaqanitawase 5. Dominic Young 14. Sandon Smith 6. Hugo Savala 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Benaiah Ioelu 10. Salesi Foketi 11. Egan Butcher 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley

Interchange: 15. Zach Dockar-Clay 16. Blake Steep 19. Makahesi Makatoa 20. Taylor Losalu

Reserves: 18. Ethan King 21. Tom Rodwell

Players cut: 7. Sam Walker 17. Nat Butcher 23. Xavier Va’a

Late Mail: Sam Walker suffered a broken thumb at training and will miss a month.

Sandon Smith returns to the starting side in the halves.

Naufahu Whyte (knee) is back while Nat Butcher’s return has once again been delayed. Makahesi Makatoa and Taylor Losalu have been promoted from the reserves to the interchange.

COWBOYS v DOLPHINS

Saturday, 7:35pm, Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Braidon Burns 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jaxon Purdue 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Karl Lawton 10. Coen Hess 11. Sam McIntyre 12. Kai O’Donnell 13. Jason Taumalolo

Interchange: 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Griffin Neame 17. Kaiden Lahrs

Reserves: 18. Thomas Duffy 21. Marly Bitungane

Players cut: 19. Semi Valemei 20. Jaxson Paulo 22. Mason Kira

Late Mail: Murray Taulagi and Jason Taumalolo (both calf) are confirmed to return.

“Both were good this morning (Tuesday) and we have another training session tomorrow,” coach Todd Payten said. “But they were touch and go last week so an extra week on the short turnaround, I’m 100 per cent certain they are ready to go.”

Dolphins

1. Jake Averillo 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Max Feagai 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe

Interchange: 14. Ray Stone 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Josh Kerr

Reserves: 18. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Aublix Tawha

Players cut: 20. Harrison Graham 21. Tevita Naufahu 22. Junior Tupou

Late Mail: Ray Stone is on track to return from a shoulder injury.

Tom Gilbert (pec/shoulder), Daniel Saifiti (shoulder), Max Plath (ACL) and Tom Flegler (shoulder) have all be ruled out for the season.

RABBITOHS v BULLDOGS

Sunday, 4.05pm, Accor Stadium

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Jack Wighton 4. Isaiah Tass 5. Tyrone Munro 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Jai Arrow 9. Siliva Havili 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. Euan Aitken 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Lachlan Hubner

Interchange: 14. Davvy Moale 15. Sean Keppie 16. Liam Le Blanc 17. Tevita Tatola

Reserves: 18. Ryan Gray 19. Campbell Graham 20. Lewis Dodd 21. Fletcher Myers 22. Jacob Host

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Keaon Koloamatangi will be released from the NSW extended squad to play for the Rabbitohs.

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Jacob Kiraz 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Toby Sexton 8. Josh Curran 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Bailey Hayward

Interchange: 14. Jake Turpin 15. Harry Hayes 16. Lipoi Hopoi 17. Kurtis Morrin

Reserves: 19. Blake Taaffe 20. Enari Tuala 21. Samuel Hughes 22. Luke Smith 23. Jonathan Sua

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Jacob Kiraz has been called into NSW camp as a training replacement for Brian To’o (hamstring). He will be released by the Blues to play for the Bulldogs.

However, NSW 18th man Matt Burton won’t be released from NSW camp.

Lachlan Galvin has been named to start for the first time in Bulldogs colours after a great cameo from the bench last week.

BYES: Broncos, Eels, Panthers, Raiders, Storm, Warriors, Tigers

Originally published as NRL Late Mail Round 15: Sam Walker’s comeback aborted due to fresh injury