NRL Late Mail round 27: Izack Tago returns for Panthers, Jackson Ford rested for Warriors

The Panthers have made some late changes, with a star making a long-awaited return from injury, while the Warriors are set to rest another player. See all the Round 27 team changes.

Corey Horsburgh. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images.

FORD OUT THIS WEEK, METCALF OUT FOR SEASON

Warriors back-rower Jackson Ford has been ruled out of his team’s clash against the Dolphins.

Ford joins a long-list of Warriors players including Addin Fonua-Blake, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Luke Metcalf, Shaun Johnson, Tohu Harris and Wayde Egan who won’t play.

Ford has been rested. The Warriors will debut two players; Kalani Going and Paul Roache

The Warriors have also lost one of their most dangerous attacking weapons with Luke Metcalf set to miss the rest of the season.

One of the buys of the season, the Warriors five-eighth has been left shattered by a hamstring injury suffered last weekend.

The injury is on the opposite hamstring which robbed him of the opening three months of the season.

Luke Metcalf’s year is over in a blow for the Warriors. Picture: Michael Bradley/Getty Images.

FULL LATE MAIL ROUND 27

DOLPHINS v WARRIORS

Saturday, 3pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Tesi Niu 18. Valynce Te Whare 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harrison Graham 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Kenny Bromwich

Interchange: 14. Jarrod Wallace 15. Isaiya Katoa 16. Max Plath 17. Herman Ese’ese

Reserves: 19. Mason Teague 21. Trai Fuller

Players cut: 4. Euan Aitken20. Brayden McGrady 22. Kurt Donoghoe

Late Mail: Just the one changes for the Dolphins, with Euan Aitken dropping out of the side and Valynce Te Whare starting at centre. No further expected for the Dolphins as they look to end their season on a high.

Warriors

1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Edward Kosi 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Ronald Volkman 8. Bunty Afoa 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Josh Curran 12. Marata Niukore 13. Dylan Walker

Interchange: 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Tom Ale 18. Kalani Going 23. Paul Roache

Reserves: 14. Brayden Wiliame 20. Jacob Laban

Players cut: 15. Jackson Ford21. Ben Farr 22. Zyon Maiu’u

Late Mail: The Warriors have opted to rest Jackson Ford in the 24-hour team update, with Paul Roache joining the bench. Brayden Wiliame also drops back to the reservesm with Kalani Going taking his place on the bench. Te Maire Martin returns from injury in the halves. He’s set to be the Warriors’ five-eighth throughout the finals with Luke Metcalf out for the season with a hamstring injury.

Mitch Barnett is confirmed to return from a leg laceration. Shaun Johnson, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Addin Fonua-Blake and Dallin Watene -Zelezniak are among the players rested.

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PANTHERS v COWBOYS

Saturday, 5:30pm, BlueBet Stadium, Penrith

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 19. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jack Cogger 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. James Fisher-Harris 17. Zac Hosking 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 3. Tyrone Peachey 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 21. Luke Garner

Reserves: 18. Jaeman Salmon 22. Matt Eisenhuth

Players cut: 11. Scott Sorensen 14. Soni Luke 20. Thomas Jenkins

Late Mail: Izack Tago (leg) is a late inclusion after being named on the extended bench, with Tyrone Peachey moving back to the bench and Soni Luke out of the side. Scott Sorensen is set to miss another week, with Zac Hosking into the starting side and Luke Garner joining the bench.

Dylan Edwards, Sunia Turuva and Scott Sorensen are back. The Panthers could opt to rest more players, but with the minor premiership still up for grabs that may resist the temptation.

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Heilum Luki 13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange: 14. Jake Granville 15. Coen Hess 16. Griffin Neame 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

Reserves: 18. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 19. Robert Derby

Players cut: 20. James Tamou 21. Brendan Elliot 22. Jack Gosiewski

Late Mail: The Cowboys have named the same 17 and no late changes are expected.

Jeremiah Nanai (shoulder) and Semi Valemei (knee) will be back for week one of the finals if the Cowboys make it.

DRAGONS v KNIGHTS

Saturday, 7:35pm, Jubilee Stadium, Sydney

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Connor Muhleisen 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Billy Burns 12. Dan Russell 13. Jack de Belin

Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Michael Molo 16. Ben Murdoch-Masila 17. Ryan Couchman

Reserves: 18. Toby Couchman 20. Alexander Lobb

Players cut: 19. Jayden Sullivan 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Viliami Fifita

Late Mail: No changes in the 24-hour team update.

Knights

1. Lachlan Miller 2. Dominic Young 3. Enari Tuala 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Adam Clune 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Fa’amanu Brown 16. Jack Hetherington 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Brodie Jones 13. Adam Elliott

Interchange: 14. Riley Jones 15. Daniel Saifiti 17. Mathew Croker 19. Oryn Keeley

Reserves: 22. David Armstrong 24. Dane Aukafolau

Players cut: 10. Leo Thompson 18. Jack Johns 20. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 21. Jackson Hastings

Late Mail: The Knights have made one change in the 24-hour team update, with Leo Thompson dropping out of the side, with Jack Hetherington promoted to the starting side and Oryn Keeley the new face on the bench.

Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) and Jackson Hastings (ankle) were aiming to be late inclusions after being named on the extended bench, but dropped out. Tyson Frizell, Dane Gagai and Phoenix Crossland have been rested, while Kalyn Ponga (shoulder) will return in week one of the finals.

TITANS v BULLDOGS

Sunday, 2pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Titans

1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Kieran Foran 7. Thomas Weaver 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui

Interchange: 14. Keano Kini 15. Kruise Leeming 16. Joe Stimson 17. Jacob Alick

Reserves: 18. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 19. Jo Vuna 20. Tony Francis 21. Josiah Pahulu 22. Ken Maumalo

Late Mail: Moeaki Fotuaika is confirmed to return after missing last week.

Bulldogs

1. Hayze Perham 2. Blake Wilson 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Luke Thompson 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Liam Knight 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Corey Waddell 13. Max King

Interchange: 14. Kyle Flanagan 15. Samuel Hughes 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Jayden Okunbor

Reserves: 19. Jeral Skelton 20. Bailey Biondi-odo 21. Jayden Tanner 22. Ryan Sutton 23. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Late Mail: To come

SHARKS v RAIDERS

Sunday, 4:05pm, PointsBet Stadium, Sydney

Sharks

1. Connor Tracey 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. Jack Williams 15. Royce Hunt 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Matt Moylan

Reserves: 18. Kayal Iro 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Oregon Kaufusi 21. Jesse Colquhoun 22. Daniel Atkinson

Late Mail: Plenty of SuperCoach eyes are on whether Nicho Hynes is cleared to return from a quad injury.

The Sharks remain “hopeful”.

Raiders

1. Jordan Rapana 2. Sebastian Kris 3. Jack Wighton 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Nick Cotric 6. Matt Frawley 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Emre Guler 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh

Interchange: 14. Tom Starling 15. Ata Mariota 16. Jarrod Croker 17. Hohepa Puru

Reserves: 18. Pasami Saulo 19. Albert Hopoate 20. Trey Mooney 21. Danny Levi 22. James Schiller

Late Mail: Corey Horsburgh will miss the game through suspension after failing at the judiciary on Tuesday night.