NRL Late Mail for Round 17: Origin takes its toll on Sharks, Cowboys

Injuries from the State of Origin decider have forced late changes to squads, while South Sydney has been hit with some bad news ahead of Round 17. Keep up to date with all the team news.

Sam Burgess is still sidelined. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Manly star Tom Trbojevic will not back up against South Sydney with Des Hasler opting to rest his talismanic fullback.

Trbojevic, who has only played five matches for Manly so far this season, will stay on the sidelines but fellow Origin stars Jake Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans will play.

Brendan Elliott is expected to replace Trbojevic at fullback.

For South Sydney, Sam Burgess will not make an early return from a shoulder injury following complications in his recovery.

Burgess was named to make a return from shoulder surgery this weekend.

But an infection post surgery will delay his return for at least two more weeks.

Burgess’ omission will see Jaydn Su’A make his club debut off the bench with Kyle Turner likely to start in the back row.

The Rabbitohs’ Origin contingent of Damien Cook, Cameron Murray and Dane Gagai are all expected to play tomorrow afternoon. Queensland forward Ethan Lowe is 18th man for tomorrow’s game and at this stage is likely to be rested.

— Fatima Kdouh

Meanwhile, the Sharks have suffered a bitter blow on the eve of their grudge match against Melbourne with representative forward Wade Graaham ruled out for up to a month with a hamstring injury.

The NSW bench forward was forced from the field after just 16-minutes in the Blues epic victory over Queensland on Wednesday night.

Scans this morning have revealed a grade two hamstring injury with the Sharks medical staff predicting a three to four week stint on the sidelines for Graham.

— David Riccio

Keep up to date with all the late mail and breaking team news for Round 17.

PANTHERS VS TITANS

Friday, July 12th, 6:00pm, Panthers Stadium

Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Josh Mansour 3. Dean Whare 4. Brent Naden 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. James Maloney 8. James Tamou 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 14. Wayde Egan 15. Frank Winterstein 16. Moses Leota 17. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 19. Jed Cartwright

Reserves: 20. Hame Sele 21. Nathan Cleary

Players cut: 13. Liam Martin 18. Kaide Ellis (two more to come)

Late Mail: Halfback Nathan Cleary is a chance of returning from an ankle injury, and would replace Jarome Luai who would drop back to the bench. Jed Cartwright will make his NRL debut off the bench after Liam Martin (quad) was ruled out, with either Moses Leota or Frank Winterstein to start at lock. Brent Naden will play despite picking up a knock to the leg in Panthers’ last game.

Titans: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Anthony Don 3. Dale Copley 4. Brian Kelly 5. Phillip Sami 6. Tyrone Roberts 7. Ryley Jacks 8. Jack Stockwell 9. Nathan Peats 10. Moeaki Fotuaika 11. Kevin Proctor 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Jarrod Wallace

Interchange: 14. Mitch Rein 15. Shannon Boyd 16. Jai Whitbread 17. Tyrone Peachey

Reserves: 18. Will Matthews 20. Brenko Lee

Players cut: 19. Leilani Latu 21. Jesse Arthurs (two more to come)

Late Mail: Titans are also coming off the bye. They are expected to be 1-17 with the full squad training earlier in the week with AJ Brimson (ankle) and Dale Copley (calf) both set to play.

Nathan Cleary is hoping to play despite an ankle injury.

KNIGHTS VS BULLDOGS

Friday, July 12th, 7:55pm, Macdonald Jones Stadium

Knights: 1. Connor Watson 2. Hymel Hunt 3. Kurt Mann 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6. Mason Lino 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. James Gavet 9. Danny Levi 10. Josh King 11. Jamie Buhrer 12. Sione Mata’utia 13. Herman Ese’ese

Interchange: 14. Jacob Saifiti 16. Phoenix Crossland

Reserves: 18. Tautau Moga 19. David Klemmer 20. Daniel Saifiti 21. Tim Glasby 22. Brodie Jones 23. Chris Randall

Players cut: 15. Pasami Saulo 17. Aidan Guerra (Two more to come)

Late Mail: State of Origin forwards David Klemmer and Tim Glasby are still in the frame to play after Pasami Saulo and Aidan Guerra were cut from the squad. At this stage Klemmer, Glasby, Mitchell Pearce and Daniel Saifiti are all set to back up.

Bulldogs: 1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2. Nick Meaney 3. Marcelo Montoya 4. Will Hopoate 5. Reimis Smith 6. Brandon Wakeham 7. Jack Cogger 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Michael Lichaa 10. Dylan Napa 11. Josh Jackson 12. Corey Harawira-Naera 13. Chris Smith

Interchange: 14. Adam Elliott 15. Renouf Toomaga 16. Ofahiki Ogden 17. Sauaso Sue

Reserves: 19. Jeremy Marshall-King 21. Kerrod Holland

Players cut: 20. Fa’amanu Brown 22 Danny Fualalo (Two more to come)

Late Mail: Bulldogs have no major concerns leading into the game, coming off a bye and only having Dylan Napa going into Origin camp late as 18th man. The only change will be Jeremy Marshall-King set to return from a knee injury. He could be a direct swap with Michael Lichaa dropping out, or he could start on the bench with either Renouf To’omaga or Ofahiki Ogden dropping out of 17. No other late changes expected.

All teams are back on deck after the bye but will Origin players back up? Join Tom Sangster and Rob Sutherland for the lowdown.

RABBITOHS VS SEA EAGLES

Saturday, July 13th, 3:00pm, ANZ Stadium

Rabbitohs: 1. Adam Doueihi 2. Dane Gagai 3. James Roberts 4. Braidon Burns 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Liam Knight 11. John Sutton 17. Kyle Turner 13. Cameron Murray

Interchange: 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Dean Britt 18. Jaydn Su’A

Reserves: 14. Ethan Lowe 19. Connor Tracey 20. Tom Amone 21. Corey Allan 22. Billy Brittain 23. Bayley Sironen

Players cut: 12. Sam Burgess

Late Mail: Skipper Sam Burgess has suffered an injury setback and has been ruled out. Burgess’ omission will see Jaydn Su’A make his club debut off the bench with Kyle Turner likely to start in the back row.

The Rabbitohs’ Origin contingent of Damien Cook, Cameron Murray and Dane Gagai are all expected to play. Queensland forward Ethan Lowe is 18th man and at this stage is likely to be rested.

— Fatima Kdouh

Sea Eagles: 14. Brendan Elliott 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Dylan Walker 4. Moses Suli 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Cade Cust 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Manase Fainu 10. Martin Taupau 11. Joel Thompson 12. Curtis Sironen 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 15. Corey Waddell 16. Morgan Boyle 17. Taniela Paseka

Reserves: 18. Lachlan Croker 19. Kane Elgey 20. Brad Parker 21. Haumole Olakau’atu 22. Lloyd Perrett

Players cut: To come …

Late Mail: Tom Trbojevic will not back up after being rested following Origin III and will be replaced by Brendan Elliott. Lock Jake Trbjoevic will play but Lloyd Perrett on is on standby should he be rested. The Sea Eagles’ other concern is Dylan Walker who failed to finish last game due to a knee injury. If ruled out Brad Parker would replace him at centre. Reuben Garrick is expected to play despite a concussion last game. Haumole Olakau’atu won’t be a late inclusion after picking up a quad injury in Canterbury Cup last weekend.

BRONCOS VS WARRIORS

Saturday, July 13th, 5:30pm, Suncorp Stadium

Broncos: 1. Anthony Milford 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Xavier Coates 6. Darius Boyd 7. Jake Turpin 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Payne Haas 11. Alex Glenn 12. Tevita Pangai Junior 13. Tom Flegler

Interchange: 14. James Segeyaro 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. David Fifita 17. Pat Carrigan

Reserves: 18. Keenan Palaisa 19. Rhys Kennedy 20. Corey Paix 21. Jamayne Isaako 22. Izaia Perese

Players cut: To come …

Late Mail: Broncos’ Origin players Corey Oates, David Fifita and Joe Ofahenguae will be assessed on Friday morning with Oates most likely to be rested, which would see Jamayne Issako return to first grade after missing a few weeks due to personal reasons. Keenan Palasia and Rhys Kennedy are on standby for Ofahenguae and Fifita. Anthony Milford will return after missing week due to a knee injury. Corey Paix was named on the extended bench but will be ruled out after suffering a syndesmosis injury in the 20s Origin game on Wednesday night.

Warriors: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c) 2. David Fusitu’a 3. Peta Hiku 4. Gerard Beale 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Blake Green 8. Agnatius Paasi 9. Issac Luke 10. Leeson Ah Mau 11. Adam Blair 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Jazz Tevaga

Interchange: 14. Lachlan Burr 15. Sam Lisone 16. Bunty Afoa 17. Chanel Harris-Tavita

Reserves: 18. Hayze Perham 20. Blake Ayshford 21. Ligi Sao 22. Leivaha Pulu

Players cut: To come …

Late Mail: Warriors are unaffected by Origin but have both Peta Hiku (concussion) and Jazz Tevaga (ankle) in doubt with Blake Ayshford and Ligi Sao on standby should they be ruled out. No other late changes expected.

STORM VS SHARKS

Saturday, July 13th. 7:35pm, AAMI Park

Storm: 1. Jahrome Hughes 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Will Chambers 4. Marion Seve 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Brodie Croft 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Dale Finucane

Interchange: 14. Brandon Smith 15. Christian Welch 16. Joe Stimson 17. Ryan Papenhuyzen

Reserves: 18. Justin Olam 19. Tino Faasuamaleaui 20. Tui Kamikamica 21. Sandor Earl 22. Tom Eisenhuth 23. Solomone Kata

Players cut: To come …

Late Mail: Storm are expected to be 1-17 for #Cam400 with a final call on Origin players Cameron Munster, Will Chambers, Felise Kaufusi and Dale Finucane set to back up. Coach Craig Bellamy said all were desperate to play in the AAMI Park match to honour their captain Cameron Smith, who becomes the first player to reach 400 NRL games. “I don’t think there is too much physically wrong with them,” Bellamy said.

“They will have some bumps and bruises, no doubt, and there is a couple of them we need to check but they all want to play.”

Sharks: 1. Matt Moylan 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Josh Dugan 5. Josh Morris 6. Shaun Johnson 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Matt Prior 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Jack Williams

Interchange: 14. Kurt Capewell 15. Jayson Bukuya 16. Aaron Woods 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Billy Magoulias 19. Kyle Flanagan 20. Aaron Gray 21. Blayke Brailey

Players cut: To come …

Late Mail: The Sharks have suffered a bitter blow on the eve of their grudge match with Melbourne with representative forward Wade Graaham ruled out for up to a month with a hamstring injury. The NSW bench forward was forced from the field after just 16 minutes in the Blues epic victory over Queensland on Wednesday night. Scans Thursday morning have revealed a grade two hamstring injury with the Sharks medical staff predicting a three to four week stint on the sidelines for Graham. Graham’s omission from the Sharks line-up to face Melbourne on Saturday night will likely see Kurt Capewell start the match after originally being named on the interchange bench. Blayke Brailey or Kyle Flanagan are expected to come onto the bench. Matt Moylan will also be out due to a hamstring injury with Josh Dugan, who is expected to play despite a hip injury, moving to fullback with Aaron Gray coming onto the wing. Another left field option that could be considered due to goal kicking would be moving Johnson to fullback with Flanagan starting in halves.

— David Riccio

Michael Morgan leaves the field after being knocked out in Origin 3. Picture: Adam Head

ROOSTERS VS COWBOYS

Sunday, July 14th, 2:00pm, Central Coast Stadium

Roosters: 1. Joseph Manu 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Brett Morris 5. Ryan Hall 6. Luke Keary 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Friend 10. Sio Siua Taukeiaho 11. Nat Butcher 12. Mitchell Aubusson 13. Victor Radley

Interchange: 14. Isaac Liu 15. Angus Crichton 16. Sitili Tupouniua 17. Poasa Faamausili

Reserves: 18. Lindsay Collins 19. Matt Ikuvalu 20. Lachlan Lam 21. Sam Verrills

Players cut: To come …

Late Mail: Roosters are expected to be 1-17 with both James Tedesco and Boyd Cordner rested. Jake Friend (bicep) and Sio Siua Taukeiaho (concussion) are both confirmed to return. Joseph Manu is in some doubt due to concussion but is expected to play with Matt Ikuvalu on standby should he be ruled out.

Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Jordan Kahu 4. Tom Opacic 5. Javid Bowen 6. Michael Morgan 7. Jake Clifford 8. Josh McGuire 9. Jake Granville 10. Jordan McLean 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Shane Wright 13. Jason Taumalolo

Interchange: 14. John Asiata 15. Matt Scott 16. Scott Bolton 17. Francis Molo

Reserves: 18. Coen Hess 19. Reuben Cotter 20. Corey Jensen 21. Murray Taulagi

Players cut: To come …

Late Mail: Cowboys will have a couple of changes with Michael Morgan to be ruled out after he failed to finish Origin. This will see John Asiata move into the halves to partner Jake Clifford with Reuban Cotter coming onto the bench. The other change is expected to be Coen Hess recovering from a knee injury and starting in 2RF with Shane Wright dropping out of 17. Matt Scott will also return from a shoulder injury. Josh McGuire is expected to back up from Origin.

TIGERS VS EELS

Sunday, July 14th, 4:05pm, Bankwest Stadium

Tigers: 1. Corey Thompson 2. Robert Jennings 3. Moses Mbye 4. Esan Marsters 5. David Nofoaluma 6. Benji Marshall 7. Luke Brooks 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Robbie Farah 10. Alex Twal 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Chris Lawrence 13. Matthew Eisenhuth

Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Elijah Taylor 17. Michael Chee-Kam

Reserves: 18. Paul Momirovski 19. Chris McQueen 20. Josh Reynolds 21. Oliver Clark

Players cut: To come …

Late Mail: Tigers only have Moses Mbye to back up from Origin but with four-day turnaround he shouldn’t have any problems and is expected to play. Their only concern leading into the game is Robert Jennings due to concussion and nasty head cut, but I expect him to play with no direct replacement named in 21-man squad, with Tigers to be 1-17.

Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Brad Takairangi 4. Josh Hoffman 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitch Moses 8. Kane Evans 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Manu Ma’u 13. Nathan Brown

Interchange: 14. Jaeman Salmon 15. Marata Niukore 16. David Gower 17. Tepai Moeroa

Reserves: 18. Oregon Kaufusi 19. Daniel Alvaro 20. Greg Leleisiuao 21. Bevan French

Players cut: To come …

Late Mail: Eels are coming off a bye and have no major concerns leading into the game with only Blake Ferguson playing Origin while Clint Gutherson was in camp on 18th man duties. I am expecting one change with Marata Niukore to drop off the bench with either Orgeon Kaufusi or Daniel Alvaro coming in.

DRAGONS VS RAIDERS

Sunday, July 14th, 6:10pm, WIN Stadium

Dragons: 1. Matt Dufty 2. Jonus Pearson 3. Tim Lafai 4. Euan Aitken 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Corey Norman 7. Darren Nicholls 8. Jeremy Latimore 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Jacob Host 12. Tariq Sims 13. Luciano Leilua

Interchange: 14. Korbin Sims 15. Reece Robson 16. Patrick Kaufusi 17. Josh Kerr

Reserves: 18. Tristan Sailor 19. Jason Saab 20. James Graham 21. Ben Hunt 22. Paul Vaughan 23. Tyson Frizell

Players cut: To come …

Late Mail: Dragons could have a few changes with Paul McGregor naming his Origin players, except Corey Norman, all on extended bench. It will be interesting to see if McGregor does rest them as he has been known not to rest players after origin. A final call will be made at captain’s run on Saturday morning but the four-day turnaround helps a lot. Hunt would replace Darren Nicholls at halfback while Paul Vaughan and Tyson Frizell would come into 17 for Josh Kerr and Patrick Kaufusi. Vaughen and Frizell would start at prop and lock respectively with Blake Lawrie and Luciano Leilua dropping back to the bench. James Graham was named on the extended bench but won’t play this weekend. He will return from a broken leg next weekend.

Raiders: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Nick Cotric 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Josh Papalii 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Dunamis Lui 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine

Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili 15. Corey Horsburgh 16. Sia Soliola 17. Ryan Sutton

Reserves: 18. Sam Williams 19. Michael Oldfield 20. Royce Hunt 21. Emre Guler

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Players cut: To come …

Late Mail: Raiders are expected to be 1-17 with Josh Papalii tipped to back up from Origin. Nick Cotric will have to pass a fitness test on his ankle at captain’s run while Jordan Rapana will play due to a long turnaround after failing to finish last game due to concussion.