NRL Early Mail: Team news, tips for Round 11

EARLY MAIL: Melbourne lose skipper to suspension, good news for Canberra, Nathan Cleary’s return not so straightforward for Penrith — get all the latest news ahead of team announcements.

Nathan Cleary has been cleared to return for Penrith.

GET all the latest team news ahead of Tuesday’s team announcements in the Round 11 edition of NRL Early Mail.

STORM skipper Cameron Smith will miss Melbourne’s clash with Manly after copping a one-game ban for a “wishbone” tackle.

Smith was hit with a grade two dangerous contact charge for the tackle on Titans forward Kevin Proctor by the match review committee.

Smith pleady guilty to the charge on Monday, ruling him out of Saturday night’s clash at AAMI Park.

Storm teammate Sam Kasiano will also miss the Sea Eagles clash after accepting a one-game ban for dangerous contact.

Cameron Smith will miss Storm’s clash with Manly.

Canberra has received a timely boost on the injury front with Blake Austin cleared of a serious ankle injury.

There were initial fears Austin would be sidelined for several weeks after he was injured during Sunday’s loss to Cronulla.

Austin was helped off by trainers after being injured while scoring Canberra’s second try late in the first half and did not return.

But after going for scans on Monday the Raiders revealed Austin received “positive results” and would be given every chance to tackle the Dragons in Mudgee on Sunday.

Blake Austin was injured in Canberra’s loss to Cronulla.

Meanwhile, James Maloney and Nathan Cleary will be reunited in Penrith’s halves without a full training session under their belt, after Maloney’s partner went into labour.

Cleary was due to return to Panthers training from a knee injury for the first time on Monday night, however Maloney will be absent from the session to be by his partner’s side.

With Wednesday’s light captain’s run the only other session this week, it means the two will go into Thursday night’s game against the Tigers without having played or trained properly next to each other since Cleary was injured on March 23.

Elsewhere Round 11 news:

* Brisbane’s forward depth has taken another hit, with confirmation Alex Glenn (knee) and Payne Haas (shoulder) will be sidelined;

* The Warriors’ first and second-choice halfbacks may be unavailable this week with Mason Lino in doubt and Shaun Johnson unlikely to return this round;

* Roosters hitman Victor Radley will return from suspension;

* Manly are hoping to have Trent Hodkinson training with the club as soon as this week to face Melbourne on Saturday night

PANTHERS v TIGERS

7.50pm Thursday at Panthers Stadium

Panthers: Halfback Nathan Cleary has been cleared to return to action in Thursday night’s Family Feud against the team coached by his father Ivan. Cleary’s return will cause a fair bit of shuffling at the Panthers with Tyrone Peachey moving back to the centres, Isaah Yeo to the second-row and Corey Harawira-Naera to the bench.

Tigers: To come

Nathan Cleary has been cleared to return for the Panthers.

EELS v WARRIORS

6pm Friday at ANZ Stadium

Eels: To come

Warriors: Hooker Issac Luke hopes to return for the clash against the Eels on Friday night and would replace Karl Lawton. Lawton may yet retain his position in the team though with the Warriors’ first-choice halfback Shaun Johnson unlikely to return from his lingering ankle injury and his replacement Mason Lino suffering an ankle injury of his own in the Round 10 loss to the Roosters.

Shaun Johnson’s ankle, 1 week after a medial/high ankle sprain last weekend. Is free of the moonboot but as can be seen below he is still dealing with significant bruising/swelling. Would be surprised if he plays next week, Rd12 return at the earliest more likely pic.twitter.com/yFmorPJEAh

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) May 13, 2018

BRONCOS v ROOSTERS

7.55pm Friday at Suncorp Stadium

Broncos: Brisbane’s forward depth will be further tested this week with veteran backrower Alex Glenn for up to a month after the backrower suffered a medial ligament tear. The Broncos also confirmed giant teen Payne Haas dislocated his shoulder in the loss to Manly.

“It was a full dislocation so he will be seeing the specialist to decide the further course of action,” high performance manager Jeremy Hickmans said. “We won’t have an exact time frame on him until after that appointment.” Veteran Sam Tagataese and Patrick Mago are possible selection options for Wayne Bennett.

Roosters: Victor Radley’s return from suspension will likely see Nat Butcher lose his place on the interchange bench.

Payne Haas dislocated his shoulder in the los to Manly.

TITANS v KNIGHTS

3pm Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium

Titans: Will Matthews, Jack Stockwell (concussion) and Kevin Proctor (groin) are all in doubt, however Jai Arrow and Nathan Peats (ribs) are both a chance of returning.

Knights: To come

COWBOYS v RABBITOHS

5.30pm Saturday at 1300SMILES Stadium

Cowboys: Tough as teak forward Shaun Fensom (elbow) and Ben Hampton (ankle) picked up injuries in the loss to Wests Tigers last week. Francis Molo shapes as Fensom’s likely replacement after being placed on standby ahead of the Tigers match due to the off-field drama surrounding Scott Bolton while young centre Enari Tuala could replace Hampton after his starring display for Northern Pride on the weekend.

Rabbitohs: To come

STORM v SEA EAGLES

7.35pm Saturday at AAMI Park

Storm: Skipper Cam Smith is out after accepting a one-game ban for a ‘wishbone’ tackle on Kevin Proctor. Sam Kasiano is also out after pleading guilty to dangerous contact charge. Young gun Brandon Smith will likely replace Smith at hooker.

Sea Eagles: Manly are hopeful of having Cronulla five-eighth Trent Hodkinson training with the club as soon as this week to face Melbourne on Saturday night. The Sea Eagles are hopeful of finalising a deal with Hodkinson on Monday, with the former NSW playmaker to fill their problematic No. 6 jersey for the rest of the season. The move would free the Sea Eagles to shift Dylan Walker from 5/8 to the centres replacing youngster Moses Suli. Young forward Taniela Paseka will be sidelined for up to four weeks with an ankle injury.

DRAGONS v RAIDERS

2pm Sunday at Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee

Dragons: Mystery surrounds Jack de Belin’s fitness. The Dragons forward leader was pulled after just nine minutes in the second half of Sunday’s 24-10 loss to South Sydney though St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor refused to reveal any details including the nature or severity of the problem. The back-rower did not train during the week because of a hip pointer injury and McGregor suggested it was a mistake to let him play. Whether he will miss any game time remains unknown after McGregor was evasive when asked about his star forward. Halfback Ben Hunt copped a cork quad and bruising to his ribs against the Rabbitohs but is expected to play against the Raiders.

Raiders: Five-eighth Blake Austin has been cleared of a serious ankle injury and will be given every chance to play. Halfback Sam Williams made his return from a knee injury in reserves at the weekend.

SHARKS v BULLDOGS

4pm Sunday at Southern Cross Group Stadium

Sharks: To come

Bulldogs: To come