NRL finals late mail: Bradman Best, Jesse Ramien ruled out of week one of finals

Cronulla have been hit with a huge injury blow on the eve of their massive finals clash with Melbourne, while Newcastle’s Bradman Best will miss their elimination final against North Queensland.

Cronulla have suffered a massive blow on the eve of their qualifying final clash in Melbourne with strike centre Jesse Ramien ruled out.

Ramien has succumbed to an ankle injury he suffered late in the match against Manly last Sunday.

The injury isn’t considered serious, but not worth rolling the dice in such a major match and for fear of doing further damage that could implicate the powerful centre’s availability for the remainder of the Sharks finals campaign.

Ramien’s omission will see powerful ball-carrier Siosifa Talakai move from the interchange bench and into the centres, where he has ample experience.

Bench utility Daniel Atkinson is another centre option should the Sharks decide on a late swap prior to kick-off.

Tom Hazleton, who was originally named in the extended reserves, has been elevated onto the bench and into the Sharks final 17.

Jesse Ramien will miss the Sharks’ clash with Melbourne. Picture: Getty

BEST BLOW FOR KNIGHTS

Bradman Best has been ruled out of Newcastle’s elimination final against North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday night.

Best pulled up tight in his troublesome hamstring following the Knights’ victory over the Dolphins on Sunday.

Dylan Lucas is frontrunner to replace Best, although coach Adam O’Brien also has Kyle McCarthy as an option.

Kai Pearce-Paul is also expected to be elevated into the final 17 after recovering from a leg laceration.

—David Riccio

Bradman Best has a hamstring injury. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

NRL FINALS WEEK ONE TEAMS

STORM vs SHARKS

Saturday 14 September, 4:05pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne

STORM

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero

Interchange: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Christian Welch 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Alec MacDonald

Reserves: 18. Grant Anderson 19. Lazarus Vaalepu

Players cut: 20. Kane Bradley 21. Joe Chan 22. Ativalu Lisati

SHARKS

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 17. Siosifa Talakai 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 22. Thomas Hazelton

Reserves: 19. Chris Veaila 20. Jayden Berrell

Players cut: 3. Jesse Ramien 18. Braden Hamlin-Uele 21. Samuel Stonestreet

COWBOYS vs KNIGHTS

Saturday 14 September, 7:50pm, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

COWBOYS

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange: 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Griffin Neame

Reserves: 18. Jaxon Purdue 20. Thomas Mikaele

Players cut: 19. Chad Townsend 21. Marly Bitungane 22. Tomas Chester

KNIGHTS

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 12. Dylan Lucas 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jack Cogger 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 22. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott

Interchange: 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones

Reserves: 18. Thomas Cant 19. Will Pryce

Players cut: 4. Bradman Best 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Kyle McCarthy

BULLDOGS vs SEA EAGLES

Sunday, 15 September, 4:05pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

BULLDOGS

1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon

Interchange: 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Harry Hayes 17. Josh Curran

Reserves: 19. Blake Taaffe 20. Lipoi Hopoi 21. Jonathan Sua 22. Drew Hutchison 23. Chris Patolo

SEA EAGLES

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Tommy Talau 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Karl Lawton 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown

Reserves: 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Jamie Humphreys 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 22. Corey Waddell