NRL teams round 3, 2022: Late Mail, predicted team changes

Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett poised to drop a selection bombshell, Newcastle Knights must take on the Penrith Panthers without star fullback Kalyn Ponga. FULL LATE MAIL

Bulldogs coach Trent Barrett is contemplating a selection bombshell by relegating his first-choice halfback just two rounds into the season.

Jake Averillo has been told to prepare for the possibility of playing in the NSW Cup this week with 21-game rookie Brandon Wakeham tipped to start as the club’s new halfback against the Sea Eagles on Sunday night.

Barrett is toying with the shock call despite Averillo spending the entire summer forming a combination with star five-eighth Matt Burton.

Wakeham, who has been playing five-eighth with halfback Kyle Flanagan over the past two weeks in the lower grades, is yet to play a game with Burton.

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Jake Averillo may play NSW Cup this weekend. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Interestingly, Flanagan – despite his dominant form in the NSW Cup – has again been overlooked for a recall.

The Dogs face a Sea Eagles side chasing their first win of the season and in what is also their first game this year at Brookvale‘s Four Pines Park.

Barrett didn’t deny Wakeham would play against the Sea Eagles when speaking to The Daily Telegraph, but added that he was yet to make a final call due to a number of injury concerns.

Wakeham’s last appearance in the NRL was in round 25 last season.

What has quickly emerged after two games is that the Dogs have placed a heavy reliance on Burton to provide almost all of the attacking spark and creativity for the Bulldogs attack.

Burton has been open in declaring publicly he is embracing the extra responsibility.

But undoubtedly, Wakeham’s unpredictability with the ball is seen as a trait that could help take the pressure off Burton.

Brandon Wakeham could take some pressure off Burton. Picture: AAP Image/David Neilson

Averillo’s individual statistics after a scrappy 6-4 win over the Cowboys in round one and spirited 16-10 loss to the Broncos last Sunday night, give an insight into why Barrett is contemplating the change.

From Averillo’s opening two matches, the 21-year-old produced: one tackle bust, three missed tackles, four errors, two forced drop-outs and zero line-breaks or line-break assists.

Wakeham’s anticipated return to first grade would prove a significant opportunity for the young half, who is off-contract this year and can use the elevated platform to prove his worth in the NRL.

Averillo would join Flanagan in the Bulldogs NSW Cup side against Manly feeder-club Blacktown on Monday night.

BIG BOOST FOR BRONCOS

THE Broncos have received a boost with key forward Pat Carrigan cleared of a minor knee complaint for Sunday’s derby blockbuster against the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium.

Brisbane have made one late reshuffle, with rookie forward TC Robati culled from the bench to accommodate off-season recruit Corey Jensen, who will make his Broncos debut against his former Cowboys club.

But there are no concerns for Carrigan, who passed a fitness test at Brisbane’s captain’s run on Saturday, two days after throwing a scare through the Broncos when he failed to finish training due to a knee concern.

Carrigan reported jarring his right knee in a separate incident to the left knee he had reconstructed last year, but Broncos coach Kevin Walters confirmed he will take his place in the No.13 jumper for the round 3 Queensland derby.

Pat Carrigan and Payne Haas will lead the Broncos middle on Sunday. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“Pat is OK, we thought he would be,” Walters said.

“We pulled him out of training on Thursday as a precaution, but it’s great news for us that he is right to go.

“He had a slight issue behind his knee, but he got through training and he is good to go.

“You are always a little concerned when a player goes down (at training), but our medical staff here are very good and they worked on Patty to make sure he was right to go and I have full confidence in them.

“Pat has been a good player for us in the opening two rounds. He has worked hard on his passing game while he was injured and his running game is great, he is right up on the advantage line and his minutes have been good for someone who hasn’t played a lot of footy in the last few months.

“He will be very important for us.”

ROUND 3 TEAMS AND LATE MAIL

BRONCOS v COWBOYS

Sunday, 4.05pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Broncos

1. Tesi Niu, 2. Corey Oates, 3. Kotoni Staggs, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Selwyn Cobbo, 6. Albert Kelly, 7. Adam Reynolds, 8. Keenan Palasia, 9. Jake Turpin, 10. Payne Haas, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jordan Riki, 13. Pat Carrigan

Bench: 14. Ryan James, 15. Kobe Hetherington, 17. Billy Walters, 24. Corey Jensen

Reserves: 18. David Mead, 16. TC Robati

Players cut: 19. Rhys Kennedy, 20. Tyson Gamble, 21. Jordan Pereira, 22. Corey Paix, 23. Brenko Lee

Late mail: Pat Carrigan is a certain starter after impressing in the final training run. One late change with TC Robati replaced by Corey Jensen on the interchange bencch.

Cowboys

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2. Kyle Feldt, 3. Valentine Holmes, 4. Peta Hiku, 5. Murray Taulagi, 6. Tom Dearden, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Jordan McLean, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Coen Hess, 11. Tom Gilbert, 12. Jeremiah Nanai, 13. Jason Taumalolo

Bench: 14. Jake Granville, 15. Helium Luki, 16. Reuben Cotter, 17. Griffin Neame

Reserves: 20. Connelly Lemuelu, 21. Brendan Elliot

Players cut: 18. Emry Pere 19. Scott Drinkwater, 22. Ben Condon, 23. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, 24. Daejarn Asi

Late mail: No major changes are expected, however Jamayne Taunoa-Brown is nearing a return from injury and may be a game day inclusion. If available, Griffin Neame would likely be the man to make way.

Kevin Walters and the Broncos may be forced into late changes. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

SEA EAGLES v BULLDOGS

Sunday, 6.15pm, 4 Pines Park, Sydney

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Jason Saab, 3. Brad Parker, 4. Morgan Harper, 5. Reuben Garrick, 6. Kieran Foran, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Sean Keppie, 9. Lachlan Croker, 10. Martin Taupau, 11. Haumole Olakau’atu, 12. Ethan Bullemor, 13. Jake Trbojevic

Bench: 14. Dylan Walker, 15. Karl Lawton, 16. Andrew Davey, 17. Taniela Paseka

Reserves: 18. Toafofoa Sipley, 20. Tolutau Koula

Players cut: 19. Morgan Boyle, 21. Jorge Taufua, 22. Alec Tuitavake, 23. Christian Tuipulotu, 24. James Roumanos

Late mail: Despite being winless to start the season, Des Hasler won’t rush to make any changes to his squad. The only game day change would be if Ethan Bullemor shifted to the bench in place of Andrew Davey or Karl Lawton. Dylan Walker must pass concussion protocols to take his place, if unavailable he’d be replaced by Tolutau Koula on the bench.

Bulldogs

1. Matt Dufty, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 3. Braiden Burns, 4. Brent Naden, 25. Aaron Schoupp, 6. Matt Burton, 7. Jake Averillo, 8. Luke Thompson, 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Paul Vaughan, 11. Jack Hetherington, 12. Tevita Pangai Jr, 13. Josh Jackson

Bench: 14. Bailey Biondi-Odo, 15. Corey Waddell, 16. Max King, TBC

Reserves: 19. Chris Patolo 20. Brandon Wakeham, 21. Joe Stimson

Players cut: 2. Jayden Okunbor, 17. Ava Seumanufagai, 22. Kyle Flanagan, 23. Reece Hoffman, 24. Josh Cook

Late mail: Coach Trent Barrett is weighing up a switch in his halves with Brandon Wakeham a chance to replace Jake Averillo at halfback. Winger Jayden Okunbor has been replaced by Aaron Schoupp.

Originally published as NRL teams round 3, 2022: Late Mail, predicted team changes