NRL late mail Round 1: Wacko’s Whispers, team news and tips

The man with the best late mail in the business, Wacko’s Whispers, has all the team news and tips for the opening round of the 2020 NRL season.

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Late Mail for the final game of NRL Round 1.

ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS VS WESTS TIGERS

WIN Stadium, 6:15pm, Sunday, March 15th

Dragons: 1. Zac Lomax 2. Jordan Pereira 3. Brayden Williame 4. Tim Lafai 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Corey Norman 7. Ben Hunt 8. James Graham 9. Issac Luke 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Tariq Sims 13. Blake Lawrie

Interchange: 14. Trent Merrin 15. Tyrell Fuimaono 16. Billy Brittain 21. Josh Kerr

Cut: 18. Jackson Ford 20. Euan Aitken, 17. Jacob Host 19. Adam Clune

Wacko’s Whispers: Josh Kerr (knee) is a late inclusion on the bench in place of Jacob Host, who was cut 24 hours before kick-off. Brayden Wiliame wins centre position and will line up at left centre with Tim Lafai switching to right centre.

Josh Kerr returns for the Dragons after a knee injury.

Tigers: 1. Corey Thompson 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Joseph Leilua 4. Adam Doueihi 5. Robert Jennings 6. Benji Marshall 15. Josh Reynolds 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Billy Walters 10. Alex Twal 11. Luke Garner 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Elijah Taylor

Interchange: 14. Thomas Mikaele 16. Zane Musgrove 17. Chris Lawrence 18. Michael Chee Kam

Cut: 19. Oliver Clark 21. Paul Momirovski 7. Luke Brooks 20. Matthew Eisenhuth

Wacko’s Whispers: Luke Brooks (calf) will miss four weeks. Josh Reynolds comes into the starting side alongside Benji Marshall in the halves with Michael Chee Kam coming onto the bench. Adam Doueihi has been named to line up at left centre and is set to take up goalkicking duties.

MANLY SEA EAGLES VS MELBOURNE STORM

Lottoland, 4:05pm, Sunday, March 15th

Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Brad Parker 4. Moses Suli 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Dylan Walker 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Danny Levi 10. Martin Taupau 11. Joel Thompson 12. Curtis Sironen 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14. Lachlan Croker 15. Sean Keppie 16. Morgan Boyle 17. Haumole Olakau’atu

Cut: 18. Toafofoa Sipley 19. Brendan Elliot 20. Tevita Funa 21. Zac Saddler

Wacko’s Whispers: Sea Eagles are 1-17. Jake Trbojevic and Addin Fonua-Blake will both play despite being originally slated for much later returns due to off-season surgery. Morgan Boyle (shoulder), Tom Trbojevic (pec), Jorge Taufua (rest), Rueban Garrick (rest), Dylan Walker (rest) all play despite missing the final trial.

Storm: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Tui Kamikamica 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Dale Finucane

Interchange: 15. Tino Faasuamaleaui 16. Max King 17. Tom Eisenhuth 18. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Cut: 14. Harry Grant 19. Brenko Lee 20. Ryley Jacks 21. Darryn Schonig

Wacko’s Whispers: Nelson Asofa-Solomona comes into the 17 on the bench despite being named in the No. 18 jersey. He injured his hamstring in the pre-season but has returned to training and replaces Harry Grant. Also on a side note it is good to see Christian Welch has been named to return from an ACL injury in Queensland Cup for Easts Tigers. Ryley Jacks and Darryn Schonig were cut 24 hours before kick-off.

Jake Trbojevic during a Manly Sea Eagles training session at Narrabeen. Picture. Phil Hillyard