NRL Late Mail round 9: Storm young gun Sua Faalogo poised for debut, Shaun Johnson set to play for Warriors

Api Koroisau has been scratched from the first match of Super Saturday while Melbourne Storm fans will get their first look for 2024 at an exciting prospect.

The Wests Tigers have copped a major hit with captain Api Koroisau scratched from Saturday’s game. Jake Simpkin comes into the 17 to start at hooker. Their opponents, the Bulldogs, have late changes too with Connor Tracey ruled out, Blake Taafe will start at fullback in his place.

Apisai Koroisau of the Tigers. Picture: Getty Images

FAALOGO TO COVER FOR COATES

Storm young gun Sua Faalogo is set to play his first game of the year with the flyer likely to start on the wing.

Tyran Wishart was named to replace the injured Xavier Coates but Faalogo is now likely to start on the flank.

—Michael Carayannis

Boom Storm rookie Sua Faalogo. Picture: Bryden Sharp

Shaun Johnson set to play

Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson has trained well and is expected to play against the Newcastle Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.

The veteran playmaker is managing an Achilles injury that only rest will heal.

However, Johnson has managed his training load this week and is on track to face the Knights.

—David Riccio

NRL ROUND 9 LATE MAIL

BULLDOGS v TIGERS

Saturday, 3pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

Bulldogs

17. Blake Taaffe 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Josh Curran 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jaeman Salmon 13. Kurt Mann

Bench: 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Samuel Hughes 16. Kurtis Morrin 22. Jacob Preston

Reserves: 18. Blake Wilson 19. Poasa Faamausili

Players cut: 1. Connor Tracey 20. Toby Sexton 21. Jake Turpin

Late Mail: Fullback Connor Tracey has been ruled out, Blake Taafe will start in his place. Reigning Player of the Year Jacob Preston is set to return from a jaw injury off the bench.

Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. Charlie Staines 3. Brent Naden 4. Justin Olam 5. Solomon Alaimalo 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 18. Jake Simpkin 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Samuela Fainu 13. John Bateman

Bench: 14. Latu Fainu 15. Alex Twal 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Fonua Pole

Reserves: 19. Starford To’A 20. Asu Kepaoa

Players cut: 9. Apisai Koroisau 21. Alex Lobb 22. Solomona Faataape

Late Mail: Api Koroisau scratched from Saturday’s game. Jake Simpkin comes into the 17 to start at hooker.

TITANS v STORM

Saturday, 5:30pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Titans

1. AJ Brimson 2. Phillip Sami 3. Brian Kelly 4. Harley Smith-Shields 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Tanah Boyd 7. Kieran Foran 8. Joe Stimson 9. Chris Randall 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Isaac Liu

Bench: 14. Sam Verrills 15. Erin Clark 16. Klese Haas 17. Josiah Pahulu

Reserves: 18. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 19. Keenan Palasia

Players cut: 20. Jacob Alick-wiencke 21. Keano Kini 22. Aaron Schoupp

Late Mail: The Titans have “full confidence” Phillip Sami will return from an ankle injury after a false start last week. Harley Smith-Shields missed last week due to a minor abdominal injury in the warm-up but is expected to line up. Keenan Palasia (quad) is on the extended bench and aiming to return for his first game since round 4. David Fifita is named to start but could make his now-regular late switch to the bench with Klese Haas to start in the back row.

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Nick Meaney 5. Tyran Wishart 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Christian Welch 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero

Bench: 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Joe Chan 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Alec MacDonald

Reserves: 19. Sualauvi Faalogo 21. Dean Ieremia

Players cut: 18. Jack Howarth 20. Grant Anderson 22. Tristan Powell

Late Mail: Xavier Coates wasn’t named this week due to a minor hamstring injury but should return next week. “Xav just got a strain to his hamstring, it was a precaution on the weekend that he came off and he got really close for this week but we decided just to rest him this week and hopefully he’ll be back for the following week against the Sharks,” said football boss Frank Ponissi.

Tui Kamikamica is also due back next week from a calf injury. “He got awfully close this week to playing but he just hasn’t done enough training. So given the calf injury and the mechanics of the calf we decided that another full week of training and he should definitely be back for the Sharks game,” Ponissi said.

COWBOYS v DOLPHINS

Saturday, 7:35pm, QCB Stadium, Townsville

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Semi Valemei 6. Tom Dearden 19. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

Bench: 14. Helium Luki 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Jason Taumalolo

Reserves: 18. Jake Granville 22. Jaxon Purdue

Players cut: 7. Chad Townsend 20. Harrison Edwards 21. Jamal Shibasaki

Late Mail: Chad Townsend is alte out and will be replaced by Jake Clifford. Heilum Luki will return from an ankle injury. Viliami Vailea makes his club debut at centre in place of Tom Chester, who is facing a month on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury.

Dolphins

1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Tesi Niu 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Euan Aitken 13. Max Plath

Bench: 14. Josh Kerr 15. Kurt Donoghoe 16. Ray Stone 17. Connelly Lemuelu

Reserves: 18. Oryn Keeley 20. Jarrod Wallace

Players cut: 19. Sean O’Sullivan 21. Edrick Lee 22. Mason Tague

Late Mail: Connelly Lemuelu (knee) is right to go after returning through reserve grade last week. Felise Kaufusi (hamstring) is expected to return and Jesse Bromwich (calf) is also pushing to play.

Tom Flegler and Herbie Farnworth are still a month away due to shoulder problems.

KNIGHTS v WARRIORS

Sunday, 2pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Knights

1. David Armstrong 2. Greg Marzhew 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott

Bench: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jed Cartwright 17. Brodie Jones

Reserves: 18. Mathew Croker 19. Jack Hetherington 20. Jack Cogger 21. Thomas Cant 22. Thomas Jenkins

Late Mail: Greg Marzhew, Jacob Saifiti and Jed Cartwright are big watches at the 24-hour cut with all suffering minor ankle injuries last week. Tyson Frizell (hamstring) is set to return next week.

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Tohu Harris

Bench: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Tom Ale 16. Jacob Laban 17. Bunty Afoa

Reserves: 18. Adam Pompey 20. Zyon Maiu’u 21. Edward Kosi 22. Taine Tuaupiki 23. Tanner Stowers-Smith

Late Mail: Shaun Johnson has trained well and is expected to play despite an ongoing Achilles injury. Bunty Afoa (hamstring) and Kurt Capewell (throat) both return.

SHARKS v DRAGONS

Sunday, 4:05pm, PointsBet Stadium, Sydney

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Bench: 14. Jack Williams 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Samuel Stonestreet 21. Royce Hunt 22. Billy Burns

Late Mail: Toby Rudolf is the big watch here as he aims to return from a calf injury. Tuku Hau Tapuha is again on standby after filling Rudolf’s bench spot last week.

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Jack Bird 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Hame Sele 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth

Bench: 14. Fa’amanu Brown 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Jack de Belin 17. Ben Murdoch-Masila

Reserves: 18. Michael Molo 19. Mathew Feagai 20. Toby Couchman 21. Luciano Leilua 22. Jesse Marschke

Late Mail: Mikaele Ravalawa (knee) is expected to return while Luciano Leilua (calf) is on the extended bench.