NRL Early Mail round 16: Who backs up from representative week?

EXPECT mass changes in the round 16 NRL teams due a host of injuries and restings following the representative round. Not to mention the possibility Aaron Woods could play for the Shakrs as early as Friday.

EXPECT mass changes in the round 16 NRL teams due a host of injuries and restings following the representative round.

In major news:

* Aaron Woods has signed a three-year deal to join the Sharks immediately and is a big chance of being named in Cronulla’s 21-man squad to fly to New Zealand and take on the Warriors this Friday;

* Kieran Foran (foot), Akuila Uate (ankle) and Ata Hingano (ankle) have been ruled out for the season;

* NSW captain Boyd Cordner (concussion) is out for the Roosters due to a heavy head knock in Origin;

* Recruits Moses Mbye and Robbie Farah are set to play for the Tigers after switching clubs during the rep round.

* Shaun Johnson, Tohu Harris and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will play for the Warriors after missing the Denver Test. However, coach Stephen Kearney is considering reneging on his pledge not to back up Kiwi players Ken Maumalo, Peta Hiku and Issac Luke;

* Manu Ma’u (broken cheekbone) Sam Kasiano (PCL), Raymond Faitala-Mariner (suspected broken hand) were injured over the representative round;

* Josh Dugan (stress fracture fibula), Mitchell Moses (knee), Dale Finucane (thumb), Ryan Matterson (concussion/wrist), Dylan Walker (eye socket), George Burgess (quad), Viliame Kikau (knee) and Josh Reynolds (hamstring) headline a host of players returning from injury;

* Mahe Fonua (broken arm), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (broken jaw), Michael Morgan (torn bicep) and Sam Hoare (ACL) are out due to serious injuries suffered in the last NRL round.

Boyd Cordner copped a heavy concussion in Origin.

DRAGONS V EELS

Thursday 28 June, WIN Stadium, 7.50pm

Dragons: The make-up of the squad remains a mystery but the Dragons have a host of players backing up from representative games and coach Paul McGregor has hinted at resting stars. Gareth Widdop, James Graham (England) and Leeson Ah Mau (New Zealand) appear the most likely to sit out due to the tight turnaround from the Denver Test, plus fitness risks related to travel and altitude. Origin players Tyson Frizell, Jack De Belin, Paul Vaughan and Ben Hunt also face a heavy workload, with the Dragons due to take the field just four days following the interstate blockbuster. Blues forward Frizell left the field for a concussion test but returned. Nene Macdonald (shoulder) pulled out of the Papua New Guinea squad due to a minor muscle tear but is expected to be named for the Dragons.

It’s a tall order for Gareth Widdop to back up from the Denver Test.

Eels: Tongan firebrand Manu Ma’u (broken cheekbone) was injured over the representative round. Mitchell Moses (knee) is right to go after missing last match. He is expected to return in the halves with Corey Norman switching to fullback, Bevan French to wing and Josh Hoffman dropping out of the side. Bench utility Reed Mahoney (suspension) is out but Will Smith (hamstring) and Kaysa Pritchard (groin) are available for selection. Nathan Brown (arm) failed to finish last game but was cleared of serious injury and will be named.

WARRIORS V SHARKS

Friday 29 June, Mt Smart Stadium, 6pm

Warriors: Warriors coach Stephen Kearney may renege on his pledge and select his three New Zealand internationals for NRL duty this week despite their involvement in the Denver Test loss to England. Kearney will assess the fitness of winger Ken Maumalo, centre Peta Hiku and hooker Issac Luke when they arrive back in Auckland on Wednesday. His original stance was that any Kiwis involved in the historic Test in Colorado on Sunday wouldn’t be considered for Friday’s match against Cronulla.

However, injuries to first-choice backs David Fusitu’a (ankle) and Solomone Kata (hamstring) could open the door for Maumalo and Hiku respectively. Kearney may also find it difficult to omit veteran hooker Luke, who has been hugely influential this season. He says the medical staff will be busy this week assessing player welfare. The five players who represented Samoa in their loss to Tonga in Sydney over the weekend all underwent Tests on Monday and are available to face the Sharks. Adam Blair (suspension) will also miss the match.

Solomone Kata leaves the field with a hamstring injury.

“The dilemma that we have is I can’t make any definite decisions until later on in the week,” he said. “I spoke about it before with those (Kiwis) guys not playing because it’s such a big trip. But with the situation we find ourselves in we may have to play them. It will depend how David and Sol pull up in the next couple of days.” If selected, Maumalo, Hiku and Luke would have just one training run this week. Shaun Johnson, Tohu Harris and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck are confirmed starters after sitting out the Denver Test.

— Daniel Gilhooly in Auckland

Sharks: Former NSW player Josh Dugan (stress fracture fibula) is right to return after a month off. Luke Lewis (calf) will miss four weeks with Kurt Capewell and Scott Sorensen contenders to come into the 17. Jack Williams (pectoral) is out for the season which will likely see Ava Seumanufagai added to the bench. Matt Prior and Valentine Holmes were involved in Origin.

Josh Dugan is set to return from a leg injury. Picture: Brett Costello

ROOSTERS V STORM

Friday 29 June, Adelaide Oval, 7.55pm

Roosters: NSW skipper Boyd Cordner (concussion) is out. He doesn’t have enough days to clear protocol following a heavy knock in Origin. Ryan Matterson (concussion/wrist) is expected to return but centre Joseph Manu (suspension) is out. James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell and Dylan Napa were involved in Origin.

Storm: Melbourne welcome back Dale Finucane (hand) but will be without Sam Kasiano (PCL), who was injured in the Pacific Test. Nelson Asofa-Solomona is on a tight back up from the Denver Test. Billy Slater, Josh Addo-Carr, Will Chambers, Cameron Munster and Felise Kaufusi took part in Origin.

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PANTHERS V SEA EAGLES

Saturday 30 June, Panthers Stadium, 3pm

Panthers: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and James Fisher-Harris played the Denver Test. Nathan Cleary, James Maloney and Tyrone Peachey took the field for NSW. Reagan Campbell-Gillard (broken jaw) will miss the squad after being injured last match but Viliame Kikau (knee) is right to return.

Sea Eagles: The early return of Dylan Walker (eye socket) is a timely one for the injury hit Sea Eagles, who have lost Fiji winger Akuila Uate (ankle) for the season. Moses Suli (bruised sternum) has been cleared of serious injury and will be named. Given Manly’s injury crisis, Martin Taupau and the Trbojevic brothers will have no choice but to back up from the representative weekend.

Dylan Walker is set to return from a facial fracture.

KNIGHTS V BULLDOGS

Saturday 30 June, McDonald Jones Stadium, 5.30pm

Knights: Coach Nathan Brown has a back row spot open after Lachlan Fitzgibbon (suspension) lost at the judiciary last week. Slade Griffin, Herman Ese’ese (New Zealand) and Kalyn Ponga (Queensland) will be named to back up from rep games.

Bulldogs: Kieran Foran (foot) has been sent for surgery and is out for the season. Kiwi forward Raymond Faitala-Mariner (suspected broken hand) is expected to miss out, which could earn a reprieve for PNG star Rhyse Martin. David Klemmer will be named to back up. Brett Morris (birth of child) returns with Marcelo Montoya the likely omission and Reimis Smith to retain his spot.

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BRONCOS V RAIDERS

Saturday 30 June, Suncorp Stadium, 7.30pm

Broncos: Jamayne Isaako, Kodi Nikorima (New Zealand), James Roberts (NSW), Andrew McCullough and Josh McGuire (Queensland) are backing up. Tevita Pangai Junior (ribs) is set to be named after sitting out for Tonga over the rep round. Matt Gillett (broken neck) is a week or two away. Jack Bird (sternum) will likely miss the rest of the season after being sent for surgery.

Raiders: Ata Hingano (ankle) is out for the season. Joseph Tapine (55 minutes) and Elliott Whitehead (64 minutes) played big game time in the Denver Test but are expected to be named, as is Queensland’s Josh Papalii.

TIGERS V TITANS

Sunday 1 July, Leichhardt Oval, 2pm

Tigers: Expect big changes. Moses Mbye and Robbie Farah are available for selection after joining the club over the rep round, while David Nofoaluma (calf), Josh Reynolds (hamstring) and Benji Marshall (calf) will all get close. Esan Marsters is backing up from the Denver Test but Mahe Fonua (broken arm) is no chance after being ruled out for 6-10 weeks.

Titans: Dale Copley (ankle) is right to go despite an injury last round. Jarrod Wallace and Jai Arrow will be named following Origin. The Titans have confirmed Max King (shoulder) will miss the rest of the season.

RABBITOHS V COWBOYS

Robbie Farah has switched clubs from the Rabbitohs to the Tigers.

Sunday 1 July, Barlow Park, 4.10pm

Rabbitohs: George Burgess (quad) missed the Denver Test but should be right for the Rabbitohs. Sam Burgess, Thomas Burgess (England), Damien Cook, Angus Crichton, Greg Inglis and Dane Gagai (Origin) have long turnarounds from representative matches.

Cowboys: Paul Green’s side will be without Michael Morgan (torn bicep) and Sam Hoare (ACL). Lachlan Coote is a straight swap for Morgan at fullback. Matt Scott (neck) is a straight swap for Hoare after a late withdrawal last round. Te Marie Martin (New Zealand), Gavin Cooper and Coen Hess (Queensland) have long turnarounds from the rep weekend.