NRL teams Round 19: Early Mail, predicted team changes for upcoming round
The Parramatta Eels and Brisbane Broncos are set to add some serious muscle to their packs ahead of Thursday’s blockbuster showdown.
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The Eels will name one of their strongest line-ups on Thursday with NSW Origin forward Ryan Matterson cleared to return from injury.
Matterson has been recalled for a huge clash between the fifth-placed Broncos against the sixth-placed Eels after two weeks on the sideline with a rib injury.
Ky Rodwell is the man to make way for Matterson’s return.
Bryce Cartwright (ribs) is also a chance to return, most likely through the NSW Cup.
That would mean the Eels only have Hayze Dunster and Ray Stone (both out for the season) unavailable from their 30-man squad.
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JURBO OUT FOR MANLY
Jake Trbojevic has been ruled out of Manly’s clash against the Dragons with Covid.
HAAS BACK, TURPIN TO STEP IN FOR WALTERS
Broncos Origin star Payne Haas will be named to return from a shoulder injury in Thursday’s clash against Parramatta in Sydney.
Haas has missed Brisbane’s past two games and the Origin decider due to injuries in both of his shoulders.
However he is set to return against the Eels at CommBank Stadium as the Broncos look to move into the top four.
Broncos hooker Billy Walters sustained a hip injury in Brisbane’s 16-12 win against the Titans last weekend and will be rested.
Jake Turpin is expected to be promoted to the No. 9 jersey while Cory Paix will return from injury on the bench after training strongly at Kingscliff on Tuesday morning.
The Broncos are set to welcome Queensland Origin players Pat Carrigan, Kurt Capewell and Corey Oates back into the team along with Haas.
Winger Selwyn Cobbo will miss the game after suffering a heavy concussion in the opening minutes of the Origin decider.
PAPENHUYZEN REPLACEMENT CONFIRMED
Melbourne hooker Harry Grant has confirmed Nick Meaney will be tasked with filling the ‘big boots’ of injured Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen at fullback.
Papenhuyzen was ruled out for the season after suffering a fractured kneecap in last weekend’s loss to Canberra.
“As a club we have some guys who can step up and fill his pretty big boots. Paps is just a class player, he’s a big game player. We’ll miss him but Nick Meaney has done a great job filling in at fullback and trained there most of the preseason so we are excited for him to get his opportunity,” Grant said.
It’s expected Meaney will also take over goal kicking duties.
Papenhuyzen’s injury has put further strain on Craig Bellamy’s outside back stocks. Reimis Smith (pec) and George Jennings (ACL) are out for the season, while Xavier Coates (ankle) isn’t due back until round 22.
DOUBLE SETBACK FOR RAIDERS
The Canberra Raiders look set to cop the two match ban for Jordan Rapana’s grade two careless high tackle charge.
But that will open the door for one of rugby league’s famous surnames to potentially get his starting debut for the Raiders against the Warriors on Saturday.
Albert Hopoate is tipped to come into the run-on side and join Nick Cotric on the wings this week, after the Raiders suffered a double setback with two-try hero James Schiller going down with an ankle injury against the Storm
Schiller went for scans on Monday but is thought to be unlikely to play.
The Raiders flew Hopoate’s father John down for his club debut off the bench last weekend for the win in Melbourne.
Cotric missed the match with a leg injury.
The Raiders have until midday to make the final decision if they will challenge either of Rapana’s two charges coming out of the game.
They were seriously considering tackling the shoulder charge on Marion Seve but it would come at a significant risk.
While the penalty is a $3000 fine if Rapana takes the early guilty plea, that would go up to a two game ban if he fights the charge at the judiciary and loses, meaning Rapana would end up on the sidelines for four games.
EELS v BRONCOS
Thursday, 7.50pm, Commbank Stadium, Sydney
Eels: Ryan Matterson is expected to return to face Brisbane, however he’s no guarantee as he continues his recovery from a rib cartilage injury. If cleared, he’d start at lock, with Marata Niukore shifting to the bench and Ky Rodwell dropping out of the side.
Broncos: The Maroons Origin quartet of Corey Oates, Kurt Capewell, Pat Carrigan and Selwyn Cobbo are all set to return to club duty, although Cobbo must pass concussion protocols to take his place.
Jordan Pereira and Delouise Hoeter will make way on the wings, while a few decisions will be made around who drops out of the pack after Zac Hoskings’ impressive games in recent weeks.
He may have done enough to claim a bench spot, with Capewell returning to the starting edge role.
Cory Paix should be available for selection after missing last week with a concussion.
Payne Haas is also a chance to return from a shoulder injury, but may be given one more week.
DRAGONS v SEA EAGLES
Friday, 6pm, Jubilee Oval, Sydney
Dragons: Tariq Sims returns from a one week suspension at lock, pushing Jack Bird to the edge and Billy Burns to the bench.
Moses Suli suffered an ankle injury in the loss to the Roosters, if unavailable Moses Mbye may be called upon to play centre.
Sea Eagles: No major changes expected at Manly following a big win over Newcastle.
KNIGHTS v ROOSTERS
Friday, 7.55pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Knights: Newcastle face several injury concerns out of the loss to Manly.
Edrick Lee (foot), Tyson Frizell (ribs), Dominic Young (ribs) and Simi Sasagi (shoulder) are all in doubt to face the equally battered Roosters.
Kurt Mann would return at lock if Frizell missed out, pushing Mitchell Barnett to the edge.
With Bradman Best missing, the Knights are getting low on outside backs, with Hymel Hunt to come in should either winger miss out.
Roosters: Mass changes expected at the luckless Roosters.
Billy Smith succumbed to the third ACL injury of his young career, meaning Kevin Naiqama will come into the backline.
Sitili Tupouniua also did his ACL, meaning Nat Butcher will start on the edge.
Sio Siua Taukeiaho fractured his cheekbone, hopefully to be somewhat offset by the return of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves who was a late out due to his ongoing hamstring injury on the weekend.
Lindsay Collins is likely to return provided he passes concussion protocols, while Luke Keary is in the same boat as he nears a return.
If Keary is cleared, Joey Manu would move to centre rather than Naiqama.
RAIDERS v WARRIORS
Saturday, 3pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra
Raiders: Nic Cotric is likely to return in place of the injured James Schiller on the wing.
Elliott Whitehead should return on the edge, pushing Adam Elliott to the bench.
Corey Horsburgh is also expected to return on the bench.
Jordan Rapana was placed on report late in the win over the Storm and is facing 2-3 weeks.
Warriors: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will return on the wing in place of Edward Kosi after missing last week’s clash due to Covid.
Ronald Volkman missed the loss to the Eels due to illness, he should return in place of Chanel Harris-Tavita who would shift to the bench.
PANTHERS v SHARKS
Saturday, 5.30pm, BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
Panthers: Penrith return to full strength as they welcome back Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton, Jarome Luai, Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Api Koroisau and Liam Martin.
Sharks: The only major change at Cronulla will be the return of Siosifa Talakai at centre, pushing Connor Tracey either to the bench or out of the team.
RABBITOHS v STORM
Saturday, 7.35pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney
Rabbitohs: Origin pairing of Damien Cook and Cameron Murray return from NSW duties.
Cook will start at hooker, with Siliva Havili moving to the bench.
Murray must pass concussion protocols, but if cleared as expected he’ll start at lock, pushing Davvy Moale to the bench.
Storm: Ryan Papenhuyzen will miss the rest of the season with a fractured kneecap.
This will see Nick Meaney shift to fullback and take over the goal-kicking duties.
Grant Anderson is nearing a return from an elbow injury and would come into the side on the wing if cleared.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona was placed on report in the loss to the Raiders but only faces a fine.
BULLDOGS v TITANS
Sunday, 2pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney
Bulldogs: Josh Addo-Carr is in serious doubt with a glute injury that saw him unable to finish the clash with the Rabbitohs.
Aaron Schoupp will return from a Covid absence in the backline.
Raymond Faitala-Mariner was placed on report in the loss but is only facing a fine, while Luke Thompson is nearing a return from a lengthy concussion lay-off.
Titans: No major changes expected at the Titans following a tight loss to Brisbane.
COWBOYS v TIGERS
Sunday, 4.05pm, QCB Stadium, Townsville
Cowboys: Tom Dearden, Valentine Holmes and Jeremiah Nanai all return from Origin duties, while Murray Taulagi comes back from a Covid lay-off.
Tigers: David Nofoaluma and James Roberts are due back for the Tigers after missing the narrow loss to Penrith due to illness.
They’ll replace Junior Tupou and Asu Kepaoa in the backline in likely the only major changes.
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Originally published as NRL teams Round 19: Early Mail, predicted team changes for upcoming round
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