Round 7 NRL Early Mail: Team news and tips

Get all the latest news ahead of the team announcements, including concerns for two popular fullbacks, a young gun suspended and more.

Get all the latest news ahead of Tuesday’s team announcements in the Round 7 edition of NRL Early Mail.

ROOSTERS v DRAGONS

4.05pm Thursday at the SCG

Roosters: Trent Robinson are resigned to losing star five-eighth Luke Keary — and the replacement could be a surprise.

The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie reports that Lachlan Lam is being considered to replace Keary, who suffered concussion against Melbourne Storm last Friday night and is unlikely to play because of the short turnaround.

Star centre Latrell Mitchell shifted to five-eighth during last week’s dramatic win over Melbourne and was brilliant, and previosly played there when Cooper Cronk was injured for two games earlier in the season.

But Robinson isn’t sure whether Mitchell will play in the No.6 or whether Lam will make his starting debut.

— Dean Ritchie

READ THE FULL STORY ON LUKE KEARY’S ROOSTERS REPLACEMENT

The Roosters are hopeful Sio Siua Taukeiaho (back) will be available after he was ruled out during the warm-up.

Dragons: Paul McGregor has a massive call to make as to whether young gun Zac Lomax needs to be rushed into the starting team to fix St George Illawarra’s goal-kicking dramas.

Tim Lafai missed three shots at goal that would be considered well within range for most serious NRL kickers in the win over Manly.

It would be a huge call to hold Lafai responsible given he was forced to take over the kicking duties in the wake of Gareth Widdop’s season-ending shoulder injury.

— Paul Crawley

READ THE FULL STORY ON ZAC LOMAX

STORM v WARRIORS

7.50pm Thursday at AAMI Park

Storm: Melbourne are likely to remain unchanged from the golden point loss to the Roosters.

Warriors: Blake Green is expected to return in the halves pushing Peta Hiku to centre and Gerard Beale onto the bench or out of the 17 completely. David Fusitu’a (ribs) is in doubt, if the flying winger is ruled out Beale would earn a backline reprieve. In-form skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is in doubt with a hamstring injury.

BULLDOGS v COWBOYS

6pm Friday at ANZ Stadium

Bulldogs: Sauaso Sue returns from suspension and will likely win a bench role. Nick Meaney (finger) is in doubt and would be replaced at fullback by Will Hopoate with Marcelo Montoya likely to join the backline. Adam Elliott (ribs) is in doubt and would be replaced by Rhyse Martin in the back-row. Corey Harawire-Naera could also shift to centre if required.

Cowboys: North Queensland wrecking ball Jason Taumalolo is expected to return from injury slightly ahead of schedule, according to coach Paul Green.

The 191cm lock forward was sidelined for up to 10 weeks with a grade three medial ligament strain following the Cowboys’ Round 2 loss to Brisbane.

However, news out of the Cowboys suggests Taumalolo is on track to avoid the worst case scenario of spending 10 weeks on the sidelines.

Green said Taumalolo would not be out for as long as initially thought.

“He’s going well, but exactly how long (until he returns) I’m not sure, it definitely won’t be the 10 weeks,” Green said.

Kyle Feldt (groin) is a chance to return for his first game of the season in place of either Justin O’Neill or Ben Hampton.

PANTHERS v RABBITOHS

7.50pm Friday at Panthers Stadium

Panthers: Centre Dean Whare is out for up to a month after scans revealed a tear in his hamstring.

The Kiwi left the field injured in the second half of the Panthers’ loss to Cronulla on Thursday night, and the club confirmed on Monday he would miss between two and four weeks.

Rabbitohs: South Sydney are expected to remain unchanged from the win over the Bulldogs with Braidon Burns (hamstring) still at least a week away.

TIGERS v TITANS

5.30pm Saturday at Scully Park, Tamworth

Tigers: To come

Titans: Prop Ryan James (knee) headlines a trio of injured Titans, with the club sweating on scans amid fears of an ACL issue. Kevin Proctor (hip/quad) was a late withdrawal while Keegan Hipgrave (back) was ruled out on game day.

BRONCOS v SHARKS

7.30pm Saturday at Suncorp Stadium

Broncos: Tevita Pangai (suspension) makes a timely return for the struggling Broncos in place of Thomas Flegler who shifts to the bench. James Roberts will likely start after making a successful return from an Achilles injury. This will see Kotoni Staggs return to his utility role off the bench and Patrick Carrigan drop out of the side.

Sharks: Young gun Briton Nikora is out after copping a one-game ban for a dangerous throw charge.

Meanwhile, coach John Morris is considering switching Bronson Xerri from centre to the wing after the teenage tearaway laid claim to being the NRL’s fastest man with a sizzling sideline sprint.

The break and the try that paved the way for the Sharks’ come-from-behind 24-20 win over the Panthers came when Xerri found himself on the flank as winger Josh Dugan went infield to put the 18-year-old away.

Morris is now looking to set the flyer free.

“That is certainly an option there with Bronson playing winger and Dugan playing centre,’’ Morris said.

“Both him and Dugan are outside backs and can play either position. They both have the skills and there might be a time when they swap.’’

— James Phelps

READ THE FULL STORY ON BRONSON XERRI’S POTENTIAL SWITCH

SEA EAGLES v RAIDERS

2pm Sunday at Lottoland

Sea Eagles: Manly are expected to remain unchanged from the narrow loss to the Dragons.

Raiders: Star recruit Charnze Nicholl-Klokstad is in doubt with a knee injured suffered in the win over Brisbane.Ricky Stuart has several options if CNK is unavailable. Jack Wighton could shift to fullback with Aidan Sezer coming into the halves, however it’s more likely Bailey Simonsson would be a direct replacement at the back. Corey Horsburgh is a chance to replace JJ Collins on the bench.

KNIGHTS v EELS

4.05pm Sunday at McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights: Sione Mata’utia is a strong chance to return from injury. This would likely relegate Mitchell Barnett to the bench and Josh King out of the team. Kurt Mann (sternum)is expected to return from injury and is likely to replace Jamie Buhrer on the bench.

Eels: To come