NRL Early Mail Round 4: All the latest news ahead of Tuesday’s team announcements

GET all the latest team news ahead of Tuesday’s team announcements in the Round 4 edition of NRL Early Mail.

Siosifa Talakai could return for the Rabbitohs. Picture: Phil Hillyard

GET all the latest team news ahead of Tuesday’s team announcements in the Round 4 edition of NRL Early Mail.

In the biggest news so far:

* Dean Ritchie reports that Kieran Foran will finally play his first NRL game for the New Zealand Warriors this weekend.

* Panthers skipper Matt Moylan sat out Penrith’s Tuesday training session, while Bryce Cartwright took no part in contact;

* Cronulla are considering naming hooker James Segeyaro in their 21-man squad in the hope of having him registered in time for Saturday’s clash with Parramatta;

* Doubtful trio Brendan Elliot (concussion), Sione Mata’utia (concussion) and Nathan Ross (ankle) all took part in at least some of the Knights training session on Tuesday and all are considered likely starters against the Panthers;

* Parramatta is in the midst of a hooking crisis. Kaysa Pritchard (ankle) went down on Friday night and fellow rakes Cameron King (sternum) and Isaac De Gois (concussion) are also injured;

* North Queensland could send an SOS to exciting young winger Gideon Gela-Mosby, with Justin O’Neill (hamstring) and Kyle Feldt (ankle, knee) in doubt;

* The Rabbitohs are on the hunt for replacements after being rocked by the match review committee, with Hymel Hunt (four weeks), George Burgess (two weeks) and Braidon Burns (one week) all copping bans. SuperCoaches hope Siosifa Talakai is the big winner;

* Bryce Carywtright (bone bruising to ankle) is expected to return on the Penrith right edge in place of James Fisher-Harris (fractured cheekbone);

* Storm stars Cameron Munster (broken jaw, round eight) and Suliasi Vunivalu (dislocated shoulder, round eight) are sidelined, with Billy Slater, Ryley Jacks and Young Tonumaipea set to be the big winners;

* The Warriors hope to have Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (concussion) and Kieran Foran (shoulder) available;

* Manly welcome back props Martin Taupau and Addin Fonua-Blake from suspension.

SUPERCOACH: Wilfred wraps the weekend round

CASUALTY WARD: Full round 3 injury list

RABBITOHS v ROOSTERS

8.05pm AEDT Thursday at ANZ Stadium

Rabbitohs: Souths have been hit hard by the match review committee with three players copping a total of seven weeks in suspensions. Hymel Hunt (four weeks), George Burgess (two weeks) and winger Braidon Burns (one week) have all entered early guilty pleas. Siosifa Talakai will come into contention for Hunt’s centre spot, while Thomas Burgess is favourite to replace his brother in the 17, with Zane Musgrove to start.

Roosters: Blake Ferguson (rib cartilage) is pushing for inclusion. Ferguson is considered a “week-to-week” prospect and his injury can be needled, so don’t be surprised to see him named in the 17 in place of Joseph Manu. Also expect Kane Evans (calf) to be named in the squad.

Siosifa Talakai could return for the Rabbitohs. Picture: Phil Hillyard

PANTHERS v KNIGHTS

6pm AEDT Friday at Pepper Stadium

Panthers: Matt Moylan was a notable onlooker at Penrith training on Tuesday morning.

The Panthers skipper pulled up sore from the Roosters loss, but is in no doubt for the Knights clash on Friday.

Bryce Cartwright (bone bruising in ankle) ran at the start of the session but took no part in contact.

If Cartwright returns he would replace James Fisher-Harris (fractured cheekbone) on the right fringe.

— Christian Nicolussi

Knights: Doubtful trio Brendan Elliot (concussion), Sione Mata’utia (concussion) and Nathan Ross (ankle) all took part in at least some of the Knights training session on Tuesday and all are considered likely starters against the Panthers.

Elliot and Mata’utia have passed concussion testing so far with some further tests to get through before they are officially cleared.

The expectation is coach Nathan Brown will name an unchanged 17 this afternoon.

— Barry Toohey

BRONCOS v RAIDERS

8.05pm AEDT Friday at Suncorp Stadium

Broncos: Wayne Bennett’s men will have Tevita Pangai Jnr (ankle) available for selection after the young prop was a late withdrawal from Thursday’s clash against the Storm.

Raiders: Josh Hodgson (ankle) carried an injury into the Tigers’ match, but still punched out 68 minutes and will be named for the unchanged Raiders.

SEA EAGLES v BULLDOGS

4.30pm AEDT Saturday at Brookvale Oval

Sea Eagles: Manly welcome back props Martin Taupau and Addin Fonua-Blake from suspension. Shaun Lane and Billy Bainbridge are expected to make way.

Bulldogs: No injury concerns out of their win over the Warriors.

EELS v SHARKS

7pm AEDT Saturday at ANZ Stadium

Eels: Parramatta welcome back halfback Corey Norman (hamstring), who was sorely missed in Friday’s loss to the Titans, with Jeff Robson to drop out. The club is in the midst of a hooking crisis. Kaysa Pritchard (ankle) went down on Friday night and fellow rakes Cameron King (sternum) and Isaac De Gois (concussion) are also injured. Tepai Moeroa (shoulder charge) is facing a two match ban, which can be reduced to one game with an early guilty plea.

Sharks: Cronulla are considering naming hooker James Segeyaro in their 21-man squad in the hope of having him registered in time for Saturday’s clash with Parramatta.

The Daily Telegraph has been told that the NRL still hasn’t registered Segeyaro’s contract, but he is a definite possibility to be named as part of Cronulla’s team announcement at 4pm today.

Segeyaro was on Friday given permission to start training with the Sharks ahead of his return to the NRL.

Backrower Wade Graham will be named but must pass protocol following two concussions against the Dragons.

TITANS v COWBOYS

9pm AEDT Saturday at CBUS Super Stadium

Titans: Roosters recruit Dale Copley will make his debut for the Titans against the Cowboys on Saturday. Copley will mostly likely come into the team for William Zillman, who is injured again. That means Chris McQueen could stay at centre.

— Travis Meyn

Cowboys: North Queensland could send an SOS to exciting young winger Gideon Gela-Mosby this week with Justin O’Neill in doubt for Saturday’s derby against the Titans. In a big blow for North Queensland, O’Neill and Kyle Feldt will on Monday be sent for scans after they both went down in their side’s 30-8 loss to Manly on Saturday night.

O’Neill was taken from the field late in the first half with a hamstring problem and failed to return, with club officials confirming he is unlikely to play in the coming weekend. Feldt meanwhile suffered a double blow, injuring his ankle midway through the second half before hyperextending his knee before the end of the match.

He stayed on the field but was in obvious pain, struggling to walk at times, and the Cowboys are unsure how he will go heading into Saturday’s match. With Lachlan Coote (calf) and Antonio Winterstein (arm) already on the sideline, things are not looking promising for the Cowboys ahead of their trip to the Gold Coast. But the injury crisis could open the door for Gela-Mosby to make his long-awaited NRL debut.

Full story at The Courier-Mail

TIGERS v STORM

4pm AEDT Sunday at Leichhardt Stadium

Tigers: Lock forward Elijah Taylor (family reasons) is expected to be back on deck, which would see Tim Grant shift to the bench and Kyle Lovett drop out. Chris Lawrence, Sauaso Sue and Kevin Naiqama must all pass protocol following concussions.

Storm: Melbourne have two slots to fill in the outside backs following injuries to Cameron Munster (broken jaw, round 8) and Suliasi Vunivalu (dislocated shoulder, round 8). After returning from the bench last week, Billy Slater will replace Munster as starting fullback, with Ryley Jacks to continue at five-eighth. Young Tonumaipea and Curtis Scott are contenders for Vunivalu’s wing spot.

Thrills and spills in NRL round 3

VIEW GALLERY

DRAGONS v WARRIORS

6.30pm AEDT Sunday at UOW Jubilee Stadium

Dragons: Expected to be unchanged following their local derby win. Jai Field (hamstring) picked up an injury in NSW Cup.

Warriors: Recruit Kieran Foran will finally play his first NRL game for the New Zealand Warriors this weekend.

The Daily Telegraph understands Foran has overcome a persistent shoulder injury and will be named in the Warriors side which will be officially announced this afternoon.

For an has yet to play for his new club but has now been medically cleared for Sunday’s important match against St George Illawarra at Jubilee Oval, Kogarah.

There were fears Foran’s shoulder injury may keep him sidelined until round eight.

Foran’s NRL-sanctioned suspension ended last round.

— Dean Ritchie

Fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (concussion) returns, but Manu Vatuvei (knee) went down injured on the weekend. This will likely see Tuimoala Lolohea switched to Vatuvei’s wing after deputising for Tuivasa-Sheck at fullback last week. Foran’s would see Ata Hingano relegated from the five-eighth position.