NRL Early Mail round 12: Predicted team changes, Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, Billy Walters, Luciano Leilua and Nathan Brown set to return
The Broncos should be boosted by the return of three superstars this week, while the Dragons will welcome power upfront ahead of their Thursday night clash with the Bulldogs. UPDATED EARLY MAIL
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Queensland’s hopes have received a huge boost with superstar fullback Reece Walsh set to be cleared for Brisbane’s derby against the Titans on Sunday in the lead up to Origin I.
The cavalry is returning for the injury-ravaged Broncos with star trio Walsh (knee), Payne Haas (foot) and Billy Walters (wrist) on track to return for the showdown with arch rivals Gold Coast at Suncorp Stadium.
That has major implications for a Queensland Origin side sweating on the fitness of Walsh following the series of injury ructions that have claimed Cameron Munster, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Tom Gilbert and Tom Flegler.
Munster (groin) has already been wiped out for Origin I, and most likely the entire series, and the prospect of losing another key spine member in Walsh would have been a crushing blow for the Maroons.
The Queensland side for Origin I is named Monday and coach Billy Slater has previously shown a reluctance to pick injured players, giving Walsh one more game to erase any doubts over his fitness.
With fullback rival Kalyn Ponga (foot) already sidelined for four months, the Maroons cannot afford to also lose Walsh, who played a starring role in Queensland’s series victory last season.
Broncos strike centre Kotoni Staggs is confident Brisbane will receive a triple boost with the selection of Walsh, Walters and Haas, the latter of whom only needs to stay fit to be picked for the Blues for Origin I on June 5.
“Reece was out there running around so he looks good,” Staggs said.
“Hopefully he is back on the paddock this week and we’ll see how he goes.”
The Broncos breathed a sigh of relief that Haas has been cleared of serious injury.
The NSW Origin bookend hobbled off in the 60th minute against Manly – a knock to his calf triggered a nerve issue in his foot – but he made a stunning return to the field to play the final five minutes.
“He’s the Incredible Hulk,” Staggs said with a laugh of Haas’ miraculous comeback.
“I didn’t see him go off (against Manly) but I saw the replay and thought he was gone for the game, then I looked back up and he was on the field.
“He has recovered pretty well.”
DRAGONS WELCOME BACK LEILUA
The Dragons are poised to receive a major boost ahead of their clash with Canterbury on Thursday night with the return from injury of damaging forward Luciano Leilua.
The major off-season recruit is set to be named to play his first game in six weeks after overcoming a calf injury that he suffered in round five.
Leilua is tipped to be named on the interchange bench before coming into the match to add some much-needed potency to the Dragons pack.
BROWN BACK TO FILL A LODGE-SHAPED HOLE
Nathan Brown will make his return from a hip injury in time to replace Matt Lodge on Manly’s interchange bench.
Brown has not played since round nine but his return is a timely boost for the Sea Eagles who will be without fellow prop Lodge for at least the next 12 months because of a biceps injury.
In a further boost for the Sea Eagles hooker Lachlan Croker is edging close to a return and is tipped to be named on Tuesday.
BENJI EYES BIG CHANGES AS BACKLINE STOCKS SHREDDED
The Wests Tigers are set to suffer a huge blow to centre stocks this week after Justin Olam and Brent Naden were whacked with bans by the NRL judiciary.
It comes after a scathing Benji Marshall put his side on notice in the wake of Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins, declaring he is ready to make team changes for Friday’s clash against the Cowboys.
The Match Review Committee charged Naden with grade two dangerous contact on Monday for a high shot on Dolphins winger Jack Bostock which saw Naden sin-binned.
Naden is facing a week on the sideline and will miss Friday’s clash against the Cowboys if he pleads guilty to the charge.
Olam then joined Naden in the sin bin in the 47th minute for a hip drop tackle on Jamayne Isaako.
Olam was also hit with a one week ban.
The bans are likely to test the club’s outside back stocks with Starford To’a (hamstring) and Junior Tupou (foot) already sidelined indefinitely.
Marshall is likely to turn to the likes of Solomona Faataape and Solomon Alaimalo. The rookie coach also has rising young gun Josh Feledy at his disposal.
The suspensions could not have come at a worse time for Marshall, with the club staring down the barrel of eight straight losses if the side is unable to overcome the Cowboys in Townsville.
“Put it this way, our discipline is terrible,” Marshall said. “We need to find players that will be more disciplined.”
“If we can’t change it, then the people have to change.”
Elsewhere, Penrith enforcer James Fisher Harris is free to take on Cronulla in Saturday’s top of the table blockbuster after he was hit with a $1,000 fine for dangerous contact on Warriors utility Dylan Walker.
Warriors forward Jackson Ford also copped a $1,000 fine for a dangerous throw on Matt Eisenhuth, while Melbourne’s Nelson Asofa Solomona received a $1,000 penalty for dangerous contact on Parramatta winger Maika Sivo.
–Fatima Kdouh
Moses ‘unlikely’ for Origin audition
Eels coach Brad Arthur has delivered a brutal reality check to Blues fans hoping to see halfback Mitchell Moses in the State of Origin opener, declaring “it’s highly likely that he’s not going to be ready” as he continues to recover from a broken foot.
Moses hasn’t played since the round 3 win over the Sea Eagles back in March, with the teams for game one in Sydney set to be named after next week’s matches.
The halfback hasn’t been named for Magic Round and Arthur said it would be unfair to pick him next week if he wasn’t fully recovered from an injury that required surgery.
“The one thing about Mitch and the one thing we love is that he’s busting his backside to be back out there with his teammates,” he said, with the club hopeful last week that he’d be right to face the Storm.
“Maybe we were a bit optimistic and he was getting a bit excited, but he’s running in joggers doing straight line running, so he’s still a while away.
“We’re not going to rule it out (him playing next week), but we’ll wait until next week. It’s unlikely.
“It’s unfair on him to put him out there with a lack of work. He’s going to want to play and try to play, but it’s unfair on him and unfair on the team, and he’s too important to us moving forward to risk now.”
–Martin Gabor
ROUND 12 LATE MAIL, BY TIM WILLIAMS
BULLDOGS v DRAGONS
Thursday, 7:50pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney
Bulldogs: Jaeman Salmon is expected to return after missing Magic Round due to illness.
If Jacob Preston holds his starting spot, Salmon may shift back to lock or to the bench.
Forwards Ryan Sutton and Daniel Suluka-Fifita are nearing returns from injury.
Dragons: Luciano Leilua is a strong chance to return from a calf injury following the Dragons’ bye.
COWBOYS v TIGERS
Friday, 6pm, QCB Stadium, Townsville
Cowboys: Kyle Feldt is a chance to return from an ankle injury on the right wing in place of Braidon Burns.
Tigers: Brent Naden and Justin Olam face 1-2 week bans for separate dangerous contact incidents.
Samuela Fainu failed to finish the game, if unavailable he’d be directly replaced Isaiah Papali’i on the edge who is returning from a suspension.
SEA EAGLES v STORM
Friday, 8pm, 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Sea Eagles: Matt Lodge is out long-term with a torn bicep with Nathan Brown’s return offsetting the loss somewhat.
Lachlan Croker is expected to return from a head knock at hooker, pushing Karl Lawton to the bench.
Storm: Jahrome Hughes is likely to miss another week and return after the Round 13 bye.
Cameron Munster suffered a groin injury and is unlikely to play.
With potentially all of Munster, Hughes and Jonah Pezet unavailable it will force coach Craig Bellamy to get a little creative to plug the gap in the halves.
RAIDERS v ROOSTERS
Saturday, 3pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra
Raiders: Josh Papali’i is facing a one to two week suspension for a dangerous contact charge.
Corey Horsburgh is a chance to return from a groin injury.
Roosters: Joey Manu returns at centre from a head knock, which will see Junior Pauga drop out of the team.
Sandon Smith returns from suspension, but may have to do so via NSW Cup.
SHARKS v PANTHERS
Saturday, 5:30pm, PointsBet Stadium, Cronulla
Sharks: No changes expected at the ladder-leading Sharks.
Panthers: Liam Henry is expected to return from a concussion on the bench.
RABBITOHS v EELS
Saturday, 7:35pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney
Rabbitohs: Jacob Host returns from a suspension, likely on the bench.
Eels: Eels coach Brad Arthur says Mitchell Moses is “unlikely” to return from a foot injury. But if cleared to play, Daejarn Asi would drop out of the halves.
Ryan Matterson is likely to return after missing the loss to Melbourne due to illness.
Brad Schneider is expected to miss 4 weeks with a knee injury sustained during this collision.
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) May 17, 2024
Varied reports of LCL/PLC/PCL being the damaged structures. Any would make sense with the hyperextension/outward collapse of the knee. pic.twitter.com/PMnt4kBBNe
BRONCOS v TITANS
Sunday, 2pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Broncos: Payne Haas is likely to face the Titans after sending a scare through NSW Origin camp when leaving the field against Manly with a toe concern.
Haas later returned to the field to finish the clash.
Reece Walsh is in some doubt with a knee injury but is expected to return at fullback, pushing Selwyn Cobbo to centre and Josiah Karapani out of the team.
Billy Walters is a chance to return from a wrist injury at hooker which would push Tyson Smoothy to the bench.
Titans: Jaimin Jolliffe suffered a pec injury and may be set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines if confirmed to be serious.
Kieran Foran is a chance to return from a hamstring injury in the halves, which would push Chris Randall back to hooker.
Jayden Campbell is a chance to return from a knee injury at fullback which would see Keano Kini drop out of the team.
WARRIORS v DOLPHINS
Sunday, 4:05pm, Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Warriors: Wayde Egan is likely to be unavailable due to a failed HIA in the win over Penrith.
Freddy Lussick is due back from a concussion of his own and would start at hooker.
Tohu Harris is a chance to return at lock from a finger injury, which would see Dylan Walker revert to the bench.
Chanel Harris-Tavita is nearing a return from a calf injury.
Dolphins: Max Plath is due back from a head knock at lock, pushing Ray Stone to the bench.
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