NRL Early Mail Round 7: Team news and tips
RABBITOHS lock Cam Murray spent half today’s training session in the rehab group and half with the main squad as he comes back from a hamstring strain. Meanwhile, the Sharks, Titans and Warriors will be forced into big changes.
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CAMERON Murray is expected to be named for the Rabbitohs but is still a 50/50 chance to play this weekend.
Murray completed part of Tuesday’s training session with the full squad as he continues to make his return from a hamstring injury.
He started in the rehabilitation group before joining the full squad for just part of the session.
Meanwhile the Sharks, Titans and Warriors will be forced into big changes for round seven after being hit hard by injury.
BULLDOGS V ROOSTERS
Thursday, April 19, ANZ Stadium, 7.50pm
Bulldogs: No injury concerns following a big win over the Cowboys.
Roosters: Sio Siua Taukeiaho (knee) went down in the warm-up on the weekend. He injured cartilage and will miss a fortnight. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will continue at starting prop with Nat Butcher on the bench.
WARRIORS V DRAGONS
Friday, April 20, Mt Smart Stadium, 6pm
Warriors: Leivaha Pulu (ankle) was taken to hospital after suffering a serious injury on the weekend. Further assessment is needed before the full extent of the injury is determined, but he is definitely out this weekend. Simon Mannering and Isaiah Papali’i are the leading contenders for his left edge back row spot. Solomone Kata (ankle) is expected to miss a month. Coach Stephen Kearney will be forced to delve deep into his backline depth due to injuries to Blake Ayshford (back, TBC), Nathaniel Roache (back, season) and Gerard Beale (leg, round 9). Options for Kata’s left centre spot include Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Tohu Harris.
Dragons: James Graham (concussion) failed to finish last week, but is expected to play. Luciano Leilua (ankle) is due back in round 10.
BRONCOS V STORM
Friday, April 20, Suncorp Stadium, 7.55pm
Broncos: Prop Matt Lodge is in doubt for Friday’s clash with the Storm, after scans confirmed a rib cartilage injury.
Lodge did not train on the field Tuesday morning, with the forward understood to be in discomfort.
The Broncos are hopeful Lodge will play on Friday but it will be determined by how he can manage the pain.
It is the best case scenario however, with Brisbane originally concerned he may have fractured his ribs.
“He will not be able to train much this week, so we will manage him through some sessions and just see how it goes,” Hickmans told the Broncos website.
“If he can handle the discomfort, he is a good chance of playing against the Storm.”
Meanwhile, Kodi Nikorima (corked thigh) was eased back in to training Tuesday, with Jack Bird and Anthony Milford running as the halves for the majority of the session.
Nikorima chimed in more towards the end of training, but there is a push for Bird to retain his spot at five-eighth.
— Rikki-Lee Arnold
Storm: Kangaroos star Will Chambers (suspension) returns at right centre in place of Young Tonumaipea.
RABBITOHS V RAIDERS
Saturday, April 21, Central Coast Stadium, 3pm
Rabbitohs: Sam Burgess (suspension) returns. Jason Clark is expected to move to the bench with Kyle Turner dropping out. Cameron Murray (hamstring) remains in doubt after going down at training last week.
Raiders: No changes expected following victory over the Eels.
WESTS TIGERS V KNIGHTS
Saturday, April 21, Scully Park, 5.30pm
Tigers: To come.
Knights: Mitch Barnett (suspension) returns at lock. Jacob Saifiti is set to drop out, with Herman Ese’ese returning to prop and Daniel Saifiti dropping to the bench.
COWBOYS V TITANS
Saturday, April 21, 1300SMILES Stadium, 7.35pm
Cowboys: Matt Scott (concussion) is right to go despite failing to finish. Coach Paul Green is considering a shake-up following a horror start to the year. “We do need to change what’s happening for us on the field,” Green said. “Whether or not that will be personnel or not, I’m not sure. We’ve got to fix it and fix it pretty quickly. You don’t want to change (the team) for the sake of change. You’ve got to be confident and the players need confidence too.”
Titans: Garth Brennan’s side have a number of injury concerns out of the loss to Penrith. Nathan Peats (ribs) is in doubt after failing to finish, which could open the door for Mitch Rein to start and Ryan Simpkins to come onto the bench. Jai Arrow (corked back) also failed to finish but will be named and is expected to play. Centre Dale Copley (hamstring) suffered a minor strain and is also in doubt. Ryan James (suspension) and Morgan Boyle (concussion) return.
EELS V SEA EAGLES
Sunday, April 22, ANZ Stadium, 2pm
Eels: To come.
Sea Eagles: To come.
SHARKS V PANTHERS
Sunday, April 22, Southern Cross Group Stadium, 4.10pm
Sharks: Andrew Fifita (knee) is expected to be named after being cleared of serious injury, despite initial fears of a season-ending ACL tear. Paul Gallen (knee, round 11), Luke Lewis (knee, round 8) and Wade Graham (hamstring, round 8) will all miss out. Expect Kurt Capewell to start on an edge with Scott Sorensen, Jack Williams and James Segeyaro (concussion) added to the squad. Jayson Bukuya (groin) is also a chance.
Panthers: Penrith have shot to their best start to an NRL season in 19 years, but with an injury crisis brewing, they’re going to need it. Panthers coach Anthony Griffin is running worryingly low on outside backs after winger Josh Mansour suffered a suspected fractured cheekbone in Sunday’s 35-12 demolition of the Gold Coast at Panthers Stadium. Mansour went down after being hit with an accidental flying knee by Anthony Don as the Titans winger leapt to contest a Kane Elgey bomb. Mansour was taken to hospital and early indications are that he will miss around six weeks. After 119kg back-rower Viliame Kikau was at times forced to fill in on the flank in the second half, it leaves the Panthers short a specialist winger for next week’s clash against Cronulla. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (jaw) must receive doctor’s clearance but had been pencilled in to return the following round. Waqa Blake (ankle) and Tyrone Philips (pec) are also still several weeks away. Another option would be to move Tyrone Peachey from five-eighth back into the centres but with Tyrone May (knee) and Nathan Cleary (knee) in the recovery group, they are also short on back-up halves.