SuperCoach NRL Round 21 late mail: Predicted team changes, injury news

As if Newcastle and South Sydney needed any more injury concerns, a Knights backline star is set to miss their Raiders clash, while a Rabbitohs forward is in doubt. See all the Round 21 team news.

The Knights major injury drama continues with strike centre Bradman Best ruled out for the club’s road trip to Canberra.

Best has succumbed to a knee complaint, which while isn’t deemed severe, is enough for the NSW Origin centre to be ruled out of the match against the Raiders on Sunday afternoon.

Newcastle have a bye next week, allowing Best time to recover for their round 24 clash with the Cowboys.

Bradman Best has been ruled out of the Knights’ Canberra clash. Picture: Getty Images

Knights coach Adam O’Brien has the option of using extended squad players James Schiller or Kyle McCarthy to replace Best.

Best joins the club’s attacking players on the sidelines with Kalyn Ponga, Fletcher Sharpe, Dylan Lucas and Adam Elliott all unavailable.

—David Riccio

SOUTHS STAR IN DOUBT

—Michael Carayannis

South Sydney’s injury woes have continued with forward Jai Arrow the latest to be struck down.

Arrow is in doubt for the Rabbitohs clash against Cronulla after struggling with a foot injury.

Coach Wayne Bennett said the injury seems “manageable” and he is hopeful Arrow will play.

“Foot problem in the back of his foot when he puts his boot on,” Bennett said. “A bit of nerve (problem).”

Jai Arrow against the Panthers last round. Picture: NRL Imagery

MANLY SWEAT ON STAR’S FITNESS

—Brent Read

Manly coach Anthony Seibold insists that Luke Brooks will be fit to take on the Bulldogs despite missing a large chunk of Thursday’s training session with a hip flexor problem.

Young half Joey Walsh spent most of Thursday’s session training alongside captain Daly Cherry-Evans after Brooks was given an early mark.

Seibold remains confident that Brooks will be fit to face the Bulldogs on Sunday.

Luke Brooks is battling a hip flexor injury but is expected to play against the Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

“He got a little bit tight through his hip flexor,” Seibold said.

“He has done plenty of work over the last four or five weeks so we gave Joey Walsh some reps in the halves.

“Joey’s developing really well … but Brookesy will be right. Our physio said it was more precaution.

“He started the session and felt a bit tight. We just felt as though he didn’t need to finish the session – we would rather be cautious with him.”

ROUND 21 TEAMS

PANTHERS v WESTS TIGERS

Saturday, 5:30pm, CommBank Stadium

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Luke Garner 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 14. Brad Schneider 15. Liam Henry 16. Luron Patea 19. Liam Martin

Reserves: 18. Paul Alamoti

Players cut: 17. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Daine Laurie 21. Maverick Geyer 22. Luke Sommerton

Late mail: One change an hour before kick-off, with Liam Martin making his return on the bench at the expense of Matt Eisenhuth. Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo return after being rested.

Wests Tigers

1. Sunia Turuva 2. Izaac Tu’itupou 3. Taylan May 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Jarome Luai 7. Latu Fainu 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Alex Twal 11. Alex Seyfarth 12. Tony Sukkar 13. Adam Doueihi

Interchange: 14. Tristan Hope 15. Jack Bird 16. Fonua Pole 17. Sione Fainu

Reserves: 22. Krystian Mapapalangi

Players cut: 18. Brent Naden 19. Charlie Murray 20. Charlie Staines 21. Luke Laulilii

Late mail: No changes in the 24-hour team update.

RABBITOHS v SHARKS

Saturday, 7:35pm, Industree Group Stadium, Gosford

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Tallis Duncan 5. Tyrone Munro 6. Jack Wighton 7. Lewis Dodd 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Siliva Havili 10. Sean Keppie 11. Euan Aitken 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner

Interchange: 14. Liam Le Blanc 15. Jacob Host 16. Ryan Gray 17. Ashton Ward

Reserves: 18. Thomas Fletcher 19. Shaquai Mitchell

Players cut: 20. Salesi Ataata 21. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 22. Ammaron Gudgeon

Late mail: Jai Arrow (foot) is reportedly in some doubt. If he is ruled out, expect Jacob Host to come into the starting side,

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes Interchange: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 19. Chris Veaila 20. Hohepa Puru

Players cut: 18. Jayden Berrell 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Niwhai Puru

Late mail: Mawene Hiroti has been named to return from injury in NSW Cup this week.

RAIDERS v KNIGHTS

Sunday, 2:00pm, GIO Stadium

Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Simi Sasagi 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Noah Martin 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota

Reserves: 18. Manaia Waitere 21. Danny Levi

Players cut: 19. Trey Mooney 20. Joseph Roddy 22. Ethan Sanders

Late mail: No changes expected. Seb Kris (concussion) missed the squad but is due back next week, with Simi Sasagi to play centre.

Knights

1. Dane Gagai 2. Dominic Young 3. Fletcher Hunt 22. Kyle McCarthy 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jackson Hastings 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Jermaine McEwen 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Phoenix Crossland

Interchange: 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Mathew Croker 16. Tyson Frizell 17. Jack Hetherington

Reserves: 18. Thomas Cant 20. Matthew Arthur

Players cut: 4. Bradman Best 19. James Schiller 21. Brodie Jones

Late mail: Bradman Best (knee) has been ruled out, with Kyle McCarthy named to replace him. Brodie Jones (illness) misses out once again.

BULLDOGS v SEA EAGLES

Sunday, 4:05pm, Allianz Stadium

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Enari Tuala 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon

Interchange: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Josh Curran 17. Bailey Hayward

Reserves: 19. Jethro Rinakama 20. Daniel Suluka-Fifita

Players cut: 21. Blake Wilson 22. Kurtis Morrin 23. Toby Sexton

Late mail: No changes in the 24-hour team update. Bronson Xerri is the big watch after being named to return from a groin injury. If he is a late scratching, expect Enari Tuala to move to centre and Jethro Rinakama to move to the wing.

Sea Eagles

1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Tom Trbojevic 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong

Reserves: 18. Tommy Talau 20. Caleb Navale

Players cut: 14. Jake Simpkin 19. Clayton Faulalo 21. Joey Walsh

Late mail: Manly have made one change in the 24-hour team update, with Jake Simpkin (concussion) ruled out and Gordon Chan Kum Tong coming onto the bench. Luke Brooks (hip flexor) will seemingly be good to go, with Joey Walsh dropping off the extended bench.

Haumole Olakau’atu (shoulder) returns.

BYE: Dolphins

Originally published as SuperCoach NRL Round 21 late mail: Predicted team changes, injury news