Early Mail: KFC SuperCoach disaster as big guns ruled out
KFC SuperCoaches are on a selling rampage with a host of guns ruled out of the upcoming round. But there are also some huge cheapie opportunities.
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Broncos coach Anthony Seibold looks set to wield the axe to his left edge with winger Corey Oates dropped from the starting side while Darius Boyd appears to be under an injury cloud.
Boyd missed the start of full contact training at Red Hill on Tuesday before joining the club’s 13-on-13 drills.
Origin star Oates was also left out of the starting team to train with the reserves with Jamayne Isaako replacing him on the wing.
Richard Kennar was also spotted training with the main squad at left centre.
Patrick Carrigan and Tom Flegler will return from suspension this week, while Joe Ofahengaue faces a two week ban.
The club’s under-fire halves pairing Anthony Milford and Brodie Croft look set to have survived the axe and Tom Dearden was training as a bench reserve.
—Chris Honnery
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STORM V ROOSTERS
Thurs 2 July, AAMI Park, Melbourne, 7:50pm
Storm: What a clash to open Round 8 with the game to be moved to Suncorp Stadium after Storm switched to Sunshine Coast base on weekend due to COVID-19 issues in Victoria. Storm will be missing Cameron Munster after he suffered a knee injury in the Panthers game with Ryley Jacks the logical option to replace him, but there has been some talk of moving Cameron Smith to the halves with Brandon Smith starting at hooker.
Christian Welch will need to pass required concussion protocols after failing gameday HIA. Ryan Papenhuyzen copped a knock to the calf early in Warriors game but played game out and should be right to go. Kenny Bromwich passed gameday HIA and Josh Addo-Carr (knock) will overcome knocks to play. Tui Kamikamica has recovered from hamstring/back issues and could come into contention for a spot on the bench.
Scans confirmed a grade 2 MCL sprain (partial tear) for Cameron Munster, with the Storm expecting him to miss 3-4 weeks. Usual return to play time of 3-6 weeks in the NRL, past examples below: pic.twitter.com/ieOcsPhWYr
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 29, 2020
Roosters: Will be without injured trio Victor Radley (ACL), Sam Verills (ACL) and Isaac Liu (ribs) after all suffered injuries in Dragons game on Friday. But in some good news James Tedesco will be fit to return after being late withdrawal last weekend due to concussion. Boyd Cordner was battered and bruised after the game on Friday due to a groin injury early in the game then suffered a nasty head cut. He played out the game but is in some doubt. Nat Butcher will return after being rested and is expected to be named at lock to replace Radley. Poasa Faamausili returns after being recalled from loan with the Warriors and will come into contention for a bench spot. Josh Morris suffered a calf injury at training last week and will need to prove his fitness to play.
RAIDERS V DRAGONS
Fri 3 July, Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney, 6pm
Raiders: Return home to play at GIO Stadium for the first time since the COVID-19 break and are expected to be without Corey Horsburgh after he failed to finish Eels game due to a foot injury. Joseph Tapine, who was a late withdrawal due to a knee injury suffered at captain’s run, is set to come back into the team. Or if Tapine’s not fit, Dunamis Lui would return to the 17. Josh Papalii passed gameday HIA, will be monitored and need to pass required protocols to play.
Dragons: Not expected to make any major changes after coming through the loss to the Roosters with no major injuries except for Jacob Host, who suffered hamstring injury in warm up.
Mitch Moses is expected to miss 2-3 weeks after suffering a calf injury. Likely moderate grade strain with that return to play timeframe. Worth noting calf injuries notorious for lingering + with Moses’ recent history of calf injury pre-Round 3 will need to monitor rehab progress pic.twitter.com/0NDuVDsNLb
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 29, 2020
EELS V COWBOYS
Fri 3 July, Bankwest Stadium, Sydney, 7.50pm
Eels: Will be without Mitch Moses after he suffered a calf injury in the game on the weekend with Will Smith, Jai Field, Brad Takairangi and Jaeman Salmon all options to come into halves to partner Dylan Brown. But I think Brad Arthur will run with Takairangi. Both Waqa Blake and Junior Paulo passed gameday HIAs and should be right to be named.
Cowboys: Coming off a good home win against the Knights but it doesn’t get any easier travelling on gameday to Bankwest Stadium to face ladder leaders the Eels. No major injury concerns to come out of the game on weekend although Mitch Dunn (groin) and Connelly Lemuelu (shoulder) were late withdrawals and could return. Valentine Holmes is an outside chance to return if he can prove fitness as he recovers from an ankle injury.
TITANS V SHARKS
Sat 4 July, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 3pm
Titans: Coming off a massive win over Big Brother Brisbane Broncos on the weekend which gives them some confidence moving forward. They have no major injury concerns and should field the same 17. Tyrone Roberts returned from an ankle injury in a 11 vs 11 game against Broncos fringe players on the weekend that ended in a 16-all draw with no conversions. He could come into contention after gaining some match fitness. AJ Brimson has returned to running as part of his rehab as he recovers from a back injury but isn’t expected to return for a number of weeks.
Sharks: Only concern coming out of a good away win against Manly was Josh Dugan, who was ill leading into the game but overcame it to play. However, he picked up a minor calf injury and failed to finish the match, but he should be right to go and no changes are expected. Ronaldo Mulitalo (knee) and Nene Macdonald (match fitness) are closing in on spots and could be named on the extended bench.
WARRIORS V BRONCOS
Sat 4 July, Central Coast Stadium, Central Coast, 5.30pm
Warriors: Expected to be without Roger Tuivasa-Sheck after he was charged with a grade one shoulder charge for a hit on Felise Kaufusi. He would need to be found not guilty at the judiciary to play. David Fusitu’a is expected to return after missing the Storm game due to HIA protocols and with Tuivasa-Sheck missing we could see a reshuffle of Peta Hiku to fullback, Gerard Beale to left centre, Patrick Hebert to right centre and Fusitu’a onto the right wing. Wayde Egan returns after missing the game on weekend due to suspension and will start, with Karl Lawton in some doubt after failing gameday HIA, which could see Chanel Harris-Tavita retain his bench utility role. New loan player Jack Hetherington will come into the 17 as a replacement for returning Rooster Poasa Faamausili, who was recalled to the Bondi club after injuries to Radley, Verrills and Liu.
Broncos: Expected to be without Joe Ofahengaue after he was hit with a grade one shoulder charge on Sam Lisone and looking at two weeks with an early guilty plea due to priors and carry over points. Matt Lodge is in serious doubt after suffering a knee injury but the Broncos are hopeful he will be right to play. In some good news they will get back Tom Flegler and Patrick Carrigan after both missed the Titans game due to suspension. Kotoni Staggs is also a chance to return from a hamstring injury after training last week with the squad during field session. Jake Turpin is closing on returning from a leg injury and is an outside chance to be named in the extended squad. David Fifita is expected to return in Round 9 against the Bulldogs.
TIGERS V PANTHERS
Sat 4 July, Bankwest Stadium, Sydney, 7.35pm
Tigers: Adam Doueihi is in some doubt due to a knee injury which is hopefully only a cork. Thomas Mikeale left the field due to a knee injury and is also in doubt.
Panthers: Come out of the Rabbitohs game with a number of players carrying bumps and bruises, with Nathan Cleary (quad/infection), Viliame Kikau (shoulder), Api Koroisau (eye), Jarome Luai (shoulder), Brent Naden (neck) and Liam Martin (neck/shoulder) all needing to be checked before Teamlist Tuesday. Josh Mansour could also return after suffering a minor knee injury at training which meant he was late withdrawal last week.
TWAL WATCH: smashing his rehab. Knee brace suggestive of at least grade 2 MCL sprain as suspected. Expected back in 4 weeks pic.twitter.com/QxxibvFfWH
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 30, 2020
SEA EAGLES V KNIGHTS
Sun 5 July, Central Coast Stadium, Central Coast, 4.05pm
Sea Eagles: Return home to Brookvale which could see Moses Suli return from a finger injury with either Tevita Funa or Brendan Elliot dropping out of 17 and Reuben Garrick to continue playing fullback after spending the full game there on the weekend. Corey Waddell could return if he recovers from a shoulder injury. Martin Taupau, Lachlan Croker and Elliot all copped knocks during Sharks game but all should be fit to be named.
Knights: Welcome back Bradman Best after he missed the Cowboys game on the weekend due to a COVID-19 breach. He will replace either Gehamat Shibasaki or Enari Tuala at left centre. Mitch Barnett is still a couple of weeks away.
BULLDOGS V RABBITOHS
Sun 5 July, Bankwest Stadium, Sydney, 6.30pm
Bulldogs: Will be without Will Hopoate after he suffered a syndesmosis injury in the Tigers game with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to move to fullback, which could see Nick Meaney return on the wing after recovering from a hip injury. Jake Averillo failed gameday HIA and will need to pass required protocols. Chris Smith has recovered from a knee injury and is an option to come onto the bench. New recruit Luke Thompson isn’t expected to be named after coming out of a 14 day isolation period in Melbourne and travelling to Sydney on Sunday but should be right to play in Round 9 against Broncos pending clearance.
Rabbitohs: Come into this game off a nine-day turnaround which will help Adam Reynolds after he looked to be carrying hamstring injury in the final minutes of the Warriors game, putting him in some doubt with Troy Dargan a chance to come back into the 17. Damien Cook (knee) and Hame Sele (knock) should both be right to play after overcoming knocks.