NRL Early Mail Round 3: All the latest news ahead of Tuesday’s team announcements
CRONULLA star Valentine Holmes has declared himself fit to play his first match of the NRL season after testing out his injured hamstring at training.
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GET all the latest team news ahead of Tuesday’s team announcements in the Round 3 edition of NRL Early Mail.
In the biggest news so far:
* Cronulla star Valentine Holmes has declared himself fit to play his first match of the NRL season
* Fears that Bryce Cartwright could miss 4-6 weeks with an ankle injury have been alleviated, with the Panthers star even a chance to play this weekend;
* Champion fullback Billy Slater is tipped to make his long-awaited comeback for the Storm;
* Cowboys enforcer Jason Taumalolo has opted to fight a shoulder charge ruling, while the Townsville side are without Matt Scott, Lachlan Coote and Antonio Winterstein through injury, with Kalyn Ponga a strong chance to play his first game of the season;
* There are fears Titans fullback Jarryd Hayne could be looking at upwards of six weeks out with an ankle injury;
* Warriors recruit Kieran Foran has been cleared to return by the NRL, but is unlikely to feature this week due to a shoulder injury;
* Highly rated youngster Marcelo Montoya is in line to debut for the Bulldogs;
CASUALTY WARD: All the injuries at every NRL club
STORM v BRONCOS
8.05pm AEDT Thursday at AAMI Park
Storm: In a massive boost for the Melbourne Storm, champion fullback Billy Slater is tipped to make his long-awaited comeback.
According to Storm insiders, Slater could probably have played in round one against the Bulldogs but they gave him the extra fortnight to be sure.
This game will have a huge bearing on the premiership betting market.
If Slater can get through unscathed and play anywhere near as well as he used to, Melbourne Storm should be installed as the competition favourites.
And rest assured Maroons coach Kevin Walters will be watching closely because eventually he’s going to have to decide between Slater and his Thursday night opponent, Darius Boyd, for the QLD number one jersey in State of Origin.
— Phil Rothfield
Broncos: Jordan Kahu and Tevita Pangai Jnr are racing the clock to be fit for Thursday’s clash with Melbourne. The Broncos duo did limited training this morning at Red Hill as they recover from injuries suffered in Friday’s golden point thriller against the Cowboys.
Kahu fell victim to a hip cork early in the match but played on while Pangai Jnr went off in the second half with an ankle problem. While both were at training today, they did modified programs which included limited running and a lot of time on the exercise bikes.
Kahu is understood to be confident he can recover in time for his side’s trip to Melbourne but Anthony Milford did do extra work on his goal-kicking today while Benji Marshall watched on.
The Broncos are also hopeful bench impact player Pangai Jnr will prove his fitness in time, but fellow forward Jai Arrow said he is fighting against a high ankle sprain. “T has a high ankle sprain,” Arrow said after training. “I’m not too sure where he is at. They’ll make a decision on Wednesday.”
Matt Gillett (concussion) and Josh McGuire (leg tightness) also trained separate to the group but only as a precaution. David Mead trained on the wing in place of Kahu while George Fai and Marshall were with the depleted first grade group.
- Rikki-Lee Arnold
Full details in Broncos live training coverage by Courier Mail
BULLDOGS v WARRIORS
6pm AEDT Friday at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Bulldogs: Canterbury’s backline has been plunged into an early-season injury crisis with Will Hopoate and Kerrod Holland ruled out for at least a month.
The Bulldogs confirmed Hopoate (fractured eye socket) and Holland (shoulder) are set to miss four to six weeks after being injured in Thursday night’s bruising NRL loss to the Sydney Roosters.
Hopoate was taken to hospital after a nasty head collision with Zane Tetevano in the second half.
Winger Holland injured his AC joint scoring the side’s first try, meaning Hasler is on the lookout for a new kicker, likely Moses Mbye.
Brett Morris is likely to move to fullback for Hopoate, with highly rated youngsters Brad Abbey, Marcelo Montoya, Reimis Smith and Tyrone Phillips in the running to come into the starting side on the wing.
Warriors: Five-eighth Kieran Foran admits lack of contact training on his surgically-repaired shoulder is likely to scupper a newly-sanctioned NRL return.
The former Manly and Parramatta star has been given the green light by the NRL integrity unit to return to the field in round three, But Foran doubts he’ll be physically ready to take the field on Friday.
He will likely have to look to the clash with St George Illawarra in Sydney the following round or a home clash with Gold Coast a week later.
“The shoulder’s been coming along OK,” Foran said.
“I’ve got a big couple of weeks coming up with it, start doing contact.
“I’m hopeful of playing in the next couple of weeks. It probably won’t be round three. If it’s not round three it’ll be one of the weeks after that.”
Foran’s absence would see young gun Ata Hingano hold on to the No. 6 jersey for another week.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (concussion) is the main concern heading into round three. He must pass protocol after failing to finish on the weekend.
TITANS v EELS
8.05pm AEDT Friday at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: Fullback Jarryd Hayne is facing more than a month on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury in the Gold Coast’s horror loss to Newcastle.
Hayne is awaiting scans on his injured ankle, but the initial diagnosis is worrying for the Titans’ star fullback.
Hayne suffered a suspected syndesmosis injury. The severity of it will be revealed by scans, however he will be out of action for at least four weeks.
There are fears Hayne could be looking at upwards of six weeks off the field.
On top of Hayne’s injury, the Titans also have concerns over outside backs John Olive (pectoral), Daniel Vidot (groin), Anthony Don (dislocated shoulder), Will Zillman (calf) and Daniel Sarginson (knee). The club has issued an SOS to Dale Copley, who is currently playing reserve grade with the Roosters.
The Titans’ four hooker options — Nathan Peats (shoulder), Karl Lawton (dislocated shoulder), Ryan Simpkins (ribs) and Pat Politoni (broken arm) — are also injured.
Read more on Jarryd Hayne’s injury
— Travis Meyn
Eels: Brad Arthur’s men got through Sunday’s big win over the Dragons with no injury concerns and are expected to be unchanged.
KNIGHTS v RABBITOHS
4.30pm AEDT at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights: Newcastle came through unscathed from their first win in 335 days.
Rabbitohs: Souths have no injury concerns out of their drubbing of the Sea Eagles and are expected to be unchanged.
PANTHERS v ROOSTERS
7pm AEDT Saturday at Pepper Stadium
Panthers: Fears that Bryce Cartwright could miss at least a month of football with an ankle injury have been alleviated.
Penrith on Monday morning said that scans had revealed no fracture, with Cartwright suffering bone bruising.
The Panthers say there is even a chance Cartwright could be fit to face the Roosters. If Cartwright doesn’t play, he will be replaced on the right edge by James Fisher-Harris.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (foot) will return after getting close last week.
Roosters: Centre Blake Ferguson (rib cartilage) failed to finish and is in doubt, with Dale Copley (pending an approach from the Titans) and Joseph Manu backline options.
Kane Evans (calf) was injured in the warm-up and is awaiting scans results, although his injury is not considered serious. Isaac Liu (shoulder) sat out last week’s game but is fit to resume full contact training this week.
COWBOYS v SEA EAGLES
9pm AEDT Saturday at 1300Smiles Stadium
Cowboys: Prop Matt Scott has officially been ruled out for the season with an ACL injury, while enforcer Jason Taumalolo has opted to fight a shoulder charge ruling. If successful, he will be available for selection. If not, he misses two weeks.
Fullback Lachlan Coote (calf, round five) and winger Antonio Winterstein (broken arm, round seven) are also set for stints on the sideline, opening the door for teen sensation Kalyn Ponga to make his season debut.
Javid Bowen will replace Winterstein on the wing, with Gideon Gela-Mosby another backline option. Shaun Fensom is also in line to make his Cowboys debut in the pack, with Patrick Kaufusi set for a bigger role, and Sam Hoare also in the frame.
Sea Eagles: No injury concerns but coach Trent Barrett could be tempted to make changes following a second successive defeat.
RAIDERS v WESTS TIGERS
4pm AEDT Sunday at GIO Stadium
Raiders: Joey Leilua (knee) and Josh Papalii have been cleared of serious injury and will be named. Jarrod Croker (knee) is back running and a chance of an early return this week. David Taylor (disciplinary) is available for selection and could earn a bench spot, while Clay Priest (suspension) also returns. Sia Soliola (dangerous contact) is free to play after taking the early guilty plea.
Tigers: Hooker Matt Ballin (ACL) returned through NSW Cup last week and could push Jack Littlejohn for a bench spot. Fellow rake Jacob Liddle (shoulder) is not due back until next week. Kyle Lovett (disciplinary) is available for selection but likely to return through reserves.
SHARKS v DRAGONS
6.30pm AEDT Sunday at Southern Cross Group Stadium
Sharks: Cronulla fullback Valentine Holmes has declared himself fit to play his first match of the NRL season after completing a team training session on Tuesday.
Holmes picked up a hamstring injury in the club’s first pre-season trial in February, but is set to be back for Sunday’s local derby against St George- Illawarra.
“It feels really good. I did high speed running last Friday. The physios and trainers were happy about that and I trained full day today with the boys,” Holmes said on Tuesday.
The return of Holmes will see Jack Bird to move back into the centres and Kurt Capewell drop out.
Dragons: Young playmaker Jai Field (ribs) is expected to return on the bench after missing last week, replacing Kurt Mann. Tyson Frizell (concussion) will be named but must pass protocol.
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