NRL Round 2 Early Mail: Predicted team changes for upcoming round
The Sharks have copped a setback on Nicho Hynes ahead of their blockbuster clash against the Eels, while Latrell Mitchell sat out South Sydney training due to a knee injury.
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Nicho Hynes will miss a second game, ruled out of Cronulla’s clash with Parramatta on Friday night.
In a blow for the Sharks who are aiming to notch their first win of the year, Hynes has been kept on ice as he recovers from a calf injury.
In positive signs for the Dally M medallist, he has returned to training in a limited capacity.
Hynes will aim to return for the Sharks round three clash against the Raiders.
In further Sharks team news, hard-running forward Royce Hunt is in contention to play against the Eels after recovering from an arm injury that ruled him out of the opening round.
Wade Graham is going all-in to defend a reckless tackle charge by appointing high profile lawyer Nick Ghabar.
Graham will front the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night after being charged for the tackle on Rabbitohs forward Davvy Moale in the opening game of the season.
He is facing a month on the sideline if found guilty by the judiciary panel but could also escape with a fine.
– David Riccio
LATRELL A SPECTATOR AT TRAINING
– Fatima Kdouh
Blake Taaffe trained at fullback in South Sydney’s Tuesday morning session with superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell keeping a close eye on proceedings at Redfern Oval.
Mitchell is battling a knee injury ahead of Thursday night’s blockbuster against Penrith.
Mitchell appeared to move freely and even practiced his goal kicking at the start of the session.
But Mitchell only watched from the sidelines when players were put through an opposed session.
Coach Jason Demetriou believes the No.1 is a chance of taking the field but won’t be risked if he needs an extra week to overcome the injury.
Junior Tatola also did not take part in the session and will miss Thursday’s game.
AMONE AVAILABLE FOR DRAGONS
St George Illawarra five-eighth Talatau Amone has been cleared to play by the NRL.
The Dragons were informed on a Tuesday afternoon – only hours before they were due to name their side to play Gold Coast on Sunday – that Amone was free to take his place in the club’s season opener.
Amone was automatically stood down under the game’s no fault stand down rule after being charged with a myriad of offences in the preseason.
It’s unclear whether Amone will be named for the Dragons, who also have fellow young gun Jayden Sullivan available to play five-eighth.
DOGS STAY LOYAL DESPITE THRASHING
– David Riccio
Cameron Ciraldo will resist making changes ahead of a road trip to Melbourne on Saturday. Canterbury are expected to field the same 17 players that cruelled themselves with 13 errors in their opening round loss to the Sea Eagles in round one. Key forward Tevita Pangai Jr (calf) remains sidelined until at least round four while Luke Thompson is hoping to return by round 13.
FORAN OUT FOR 2-4 WEEKS
– Peter Badel
The Titans have suffered a blow with star recruit Kieran Foran to be ruled out of Sunday’s away clash against the Dragons at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
The 32-year-old hobbled off in the Titans’ 22-10 defeat of the Wests Tigers on Sunday.
It is understood Foran has damaged his posterior-cruciate (PCL) and medial-cruciate (MCL) ligaments. Thankfully, his ACL remains intact, ruling out any fear of a knee reconstruction, but Foran is expected to be sidelined for two to four weeks in an early-season setback for the Titans.
Titans coach Justin Holbrook has multiple options up his sleeve. Jayden Campbell replaced Foran at five-eighth for the remainder of the Tigers clash, while rookie playmaker Toby Sexton and fullback AJ Brimson could also slot into second receiver alongside Tanah Boyd.
RAIDERS WEIGH-UP RAPANA REPLACEMENT
– Fatima Kdouh
Canberra winger Jordan Rapana has accepted a three-week ban for a grade one shoulder charge on North Queensland’s Scott Drinkwater.
Coach Ricky Stuart is likely to turn to James Schiller or Semi Valemei to replace Rapana, while veteran Jarrod Croker is also an option. But opting for Croker would likely force centre Harley Smith Shields out to the wing.
ROOSTERS CRISIS AS LODGE SENT FOR SURGERY
—Michael Carayannis and Brent Read
Matt Lodge will undergo surgery on Tuesday to repair a badly damaged face as the Roosters’ horror start to the season goes from bad to worse.
Lodge will spend an extended stint on the sidelines to repair a facial fracture as he joins the Roosters’ growing casualty ward.
It is unclear how many games he will miss until he goes under the knife.
Lodge, Victor Radley (concussion) and Brandon Smith (ribs) all struggled at times during the surprise loss to the Dolphins. Lodge and Radley failed concussion tests.
Veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves missed the clash because of a hamstring injury but the club are hopeful he will be back in time to play the Warriors on Saturday.
Matt Lodge will undergo surgery after suffering a depressed (“divot†in the bone) facial fracture yesterday. No expected recovery range provided by the Roosters as yet - though have often seen a return within 4-6 weeks for fractures of this nature in the past pic.twitter.com/l9JCc7xeqH
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 5, 2023
KEY BRONCO CLEARED TO RETURN
—Peter Badel
The Broncos have received a huge boost with star recruit Reece Walsh getting the green light to return from injury for Brisbane’s derby blockbuster against the Cowboys this Friday night.
Walsh missed Brisbane’s epic 13-12 defeat of Penrith in the season opener due to a fractured cheekbone but coach Kevin Walters confirmed his gun fullback will be on deck for their round 2 clash at Suncorp Stadium.
The former Warriors whizkid will slot straight into the Broncos’ No. 1 jumper, with Selwyn Cobbo to return to the right wing at the expense of Jesse Arthars after the Queensland Origin star filled in at fullback against the Panthers.
ROUND 2 EARLY MAIL BY TIM WILLIAMS
PANTHERS v RABBITOHS
8pm Thursday at BlueBet Stadium
Panthers: Scott Sorenson suffered a HIA in the shock loss to Brisbane.
He’ll need to pass concussion protocols to take his place on the bench against the Rabbitohs.
Soni Luke played just 26 minutes, making an immediate impact with a try off the bench.
After missing both pre-season trials, he’ll increase his minutes game-by-game, eating into the time of Mitch Kenny who will continue to start at hooker.
Rabbitohs: Latrell Mitchell suffered a PCL injury in the win over the Sharks. He doesn’t require scans and is set to play.
Blake Taaffe is on standby should Mitchell miss any games and would also kick goals.
Playing off the bench, Jai Arrow suffered a hamstring injury and failed to finish the game, putting him in major doubt for round 2.
Tavita Tatola failed an early HIA and must pass concussion protocols to take his place up front.
Davvy Moale started in round one, pushing Tom Burgess to the bench, while Michael Chee-Kam started on the edge in place of Arrow, a forced moved due to South Sydney’s injury crisis through their middle.
Taane Milne returns from suspension and is likely to play off the bench and be injected in the forward pack, while Hame Sele and Jacob Host are also chances to return from injuries.
EELS v SHARKS
6pm Friday at CommBank Stadium
Eels: A late scratching in round 1, Bailey Simonsson is pushing for a comeback in place of Isaac Lumelume. Returning for his first NRL game since suffering an ACL injury, Josh Hodgson played the full 84 minutes in the golden point loss to Melbourne.
Sharks: All eyes are on the looming return of Nicho Hynes, he’s pushing to return from a calf injury and will replace Braydon Trindall at halfback if cleared.
Jack Williams failed a HIA in the loss to the Rabbitohs. If unavailable, the club will be hoping Royce Hunt is cleared to return from an elbow injury.
Wade Graham is facing as many as three weeks or could be cleared pending his trip to the judiciary.
Tom Hazelton is the likely bench forward replacement if required.
BRONCOS v COWBOYS
8.05pm Friday at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos: Reece Walsh has been cleared to return from a fractured eye socket.
He will come in at fullback for Selwyn Cobbo, who returns to the wing with Jesse Arthars dropping out. No other changes are expected following the upset win over the Panthers.
Cowboys: No changes expected following a one point win over the Raiders.
ROOSTERS v WARRIORS
3pm Saturday at Allianz Stadium
Roosters: Matt Lodge has been sent for surgery on a facial fracture and is out indefinitely. Victor Radley failed a HIA in the stunning upset loss to the Dolphins and must pass concussion protocols to take his place against the Warriors, but the six day turnaround won’t do him any favours.
Jared Waerea-Hargeaves is an outside chance to return from a hamstring injury up front, while Joey Manu is also nearing a return from a facial fracture.
Drew Hutchinson started at centre on game day, pushing Corey Allan to the bench.
Impressive rookie Josh Wong is a chance to play off the bench if required.
Egan Butcher was placed on report for a dangerous tackle that saw him sin-binned in the loss.
Warriors: No major changes expected for the Warriors, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak a late scratching on the wing in the win over the Knights.
If cleared to return, he’d replace Edward Kosi.
Jazz Tevaga is expected to miss another week with injury.
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DOLPHINS v RAIDERS
5.30pm Saturday at Kayo Stadium
Dolphins: Herman Ese’ese dropped out of the 17 in the upset win over the Roosters, with Connelly Lemuele impressing with a try in his place.
No changes are expected to the 17.
Raiders: Jordan Rapana has copped a three-game suspension with an early guilty plea for a shoulder charge, with James Schiller or Albert Hopoate to replace him on the wing.
Josh Papali’i is a strong chance to return from a calf injury at prop, pushing Joe Tapine to lock and Corey Harawira-Naera to the bench.
STORM v BULLDOGS
7.35pm Saturday at AAMI Park
Storm: Cameron Munster faces 2-4 weeks on the sideline with a compound fracture of the finger that he remarkably played through in the win over the Eels.
Tyran Wishart is likely to come into the side at five-eighth, while promising rookie Jonah Pezet is an outside chance to be promoted into the team for his NRL debut.
Xavier Coates is expected to miss two weeks with a shoulder injury, adding to the backline injury woes.
Pending injury returns, Grant Anderson is in line to come into the side on the wing.
Tom Eisenhuth and Tariq Sims are both due back from injury in the next fortnight.
Bulldogs: No changes. Luke Thompson will miss an extended period with an ankle injury sustained at training on Tuesday. Andrew Davey missed selection due to head knocks, but may return in coming weeks. Star rookie Karl Oloapu dominated in NSW Cup on the weekend and will heap pressure on halfback Kyle Flanagan in coming weeks.
Luke Thompson has undergone surgery for his Lisfranc (midfoot) injury suffered at Bulldogs training. Usual recovery range of 3-4 months, overall a complex injury that is one of the more challenging to rehab. Wish him the best pic.twitter.com/lvlPSoUJVf
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 4, 2023
WESTS TIGERS v KNIGHTS
4.05pm Sunday at Leichhardt Oval
Tigers: Shawn Blore left the field early in the loss to the Titans with a HIA and must pass concussion protocols to take his place.
Star recruit John Bateman is likely to join the team for his club debut, but may be eased in from the bench.
Ken Maumalo will also push to return from a knee injury and would likely replace Charlie Staines if cleared.
Knights: Tyson Frizell failed a HIA in the loss to the Warriors and must pass concussion protocols to take his place on the edge against the Tigers.
Kalyn Ponga also copped a knock to the head, but returned to the field and will be fine for round 2.
Greg Marzhew is a chance to return from a hip pointer injury on the wing, if cleared he’d replace Hymel Hunt on the left wing.
Dane Gagai is also a decent chance to return from a hamstring injury and would replace Enari Tuala at right centre.
Adam Elliott will start for the Knights in coming rounds as he returns from a pre-season injury niggle.
Rookie Krystian Mapapalangi is recovering from a shoulder injury and faces an extended period on the sidelines.
DRAGONS v TITANS
6.15pm Sunday at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Dragons: The major concerns for the Dragons ahead of their first game of the season are Jack Bird (knee) and Jack de Belin (calf) who are expected to take their places in the second-row. Jayden Sullivan is likely to be given the nod at five-eighth with Moses Mbye to play as the bench utility, although regular No. 6 Talatau Amone is now free to play following changes in his legal situation.
Titans: Beau Fermor suffered a devastating ACL injury last week that ended his season, with Joe Stimson starting on the edge in his place.
As a result, David Fifita switched sides to the left edge outside Kieran Foran, who himself failed to finish against the Tigers and is out for 2-4 weeks with a PCL injury.
Foran is set to be replaced by Toby Sexton in the halves.
BYE: Sea Eagles
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