NRL Late Mail Round 11: Cruel blow as Tigers enforcer Fonua Pole out long-term

Wests Tigers enforcer Fonua Pole is set to be ruled out long-term, but coach Benji Marshall also has a number of players aiming for quick returns.

The Wests Tigers have been dealt a cruel blow, with enforcer Fonua Pole set to miss up to seven weeks with an MCL injury sustained against Melbourne last Sunday.

Pole was taken from the field and didn’t return in the Tigers’ 64-0 loss, and while coach Benji Marshall was unaware of the severity of the injury post-game, this masthead can reveal the 22-year-old suffered medial damage to his knee.

In a boost for the Tigers, injured stars Latu Fainu and Jeral Skelton are both expected back after the club’s round 12 bye, both pushing to be named to play the Cowboys in Townsville.

ROUND 11 LATE MAIL

KNIGHTS V EELS

Friday May 16, 6pm, McDonald Jones Stadium

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Fletcher Hunt 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Tyson Frizell 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott

Interchange: 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Mathew Croker 16. Thomas Cant 17. Brodie Jones

Reserves: 18. Jack Hetherington 19. Tyson Gamble 20. Matthew Arthur21. Kyle McCarthy 22. Paul Bryan

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: To come

Eels

1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Matt Doorey 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood

Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 16. Jordan Samrani 17. Toni Mataele

Reserves: 18. Joash Papali’i 19. Ryan Matterson 20. Dean Hawkins 21. Jake Tago 22. Brendan Hands

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Zac Lomax (foot) is on track to return and prove his claims for Origin selection.

BULLDOGS V ROOSTERS

Friday May 16 2025, 8:00pm, Accor Stadium

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Harry Hayes 13. Kurt Mann

Interchange: 14. Bailey Howard 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Lipoi Hopoi 17. Luke Smith

Reserves: 19. Jack Underhill 20. Blake Wilson 21. Jake Turpin 22. Drew Hutchison 23. Blake Taaffe

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: To come

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley

Interchange: 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Egan Butcher 16. Blake Steep 17. Lindsay Collins

Reserves: 18. Ethan King 19. Salesi Foketi 20. Dominic Young 21. Chad Townsend 22. Benaiah Ioelu

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Lindsay Collins (knee) has been named to return from the bench.

“He’ll be close, he’ll be getting the steps through, so that’s a positive,” coach Trent Robinson said.

Sandon Smith (concussion) is confirmed to return.

DOLPHINS V WARRIORS

Saturday May 17th 2025, 3:00pm, Suncorp Stadium

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Kurt Donoghoe 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Tom Gilbert 13. Ray Stone

Interchange: 14. Harrison Graham 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Josh Kerr 17. Connelly Lemuelu

Reserves: 18. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Oryn Keeley 20. Max Feagai 21. Kenny Bromwich 22. Junior Tupou

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: To come

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Kurt Capewell 5. Taine Tuaupiki 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Leka Halasima 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Jacob Laban 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Samuel Healey

Reserves: 18. Eddie Ieremia 20. Tanner Stowers-Smith 21. Tanah Boyd 22. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 23. Moala Graham-Taufa

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Co-captain James Fisher-Harris (pectoral) and winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) are on track to return.

COWBOYS V SEA EAGLES

Sat May 17th 2025, 5:30pm, Queensland Country Bank Stadium

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jaxon Purdue 7. Tom Dearden 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Sam McIntyre

Interchange: 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Griffin Neame 17. Kai O’Donnell

Reserves: 18. Jake Clifford 19. Thomas Duffy 20. Semi Valemei 21. Karl Lawton 22. Kaiden Lahrs

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: To come

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Ethan Bullemor 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Caleb Navale 17. Nathan Brown

Reserves: 18. Michael Chee Kam 19. Clayton Faulalo 20. Jakob Arthur 21. Joey Walsh 22. Matthew Lodge

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: To come

SHARKS V STORM

Sat May 17th 2025, 7:35pm, Sharks Stadium

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Billy Burns 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Teig Wilton 22. Chris Veaila

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Tom Hazelton (sternum) wasn’t named on Tuesday and is considered a “week-to-week proposition.”

Teig Wilton (shoulder) will aim to prove his fitness after being named on the extended bench, likely replacing Billy Burns.

Siosifa Talakai (concussion) returns after sitting out last week.

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Sualauvi Faalogo 3. Grant Anderson 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero

Interchange: 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Joe Chan

Reserves: 18. Ativalu Lisati 19. Lazarus Vaalepu 20. Kane Bradley 21. Harry Grant 22. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Harry Grant (hamstring) will need to pass a fitness test to take his spot after being named on the extended bench.

Will Warbrick (concussion) has still not returned to training, with Sua Fa’alogo to hold the right wing spot indefinitely.

BRONCOS V DRAGONS

Sun May 18th 2025, 2:00pm, Suncorp Stadium

Broncos

1. Selwyn Cobbo 2. Deine Mariner 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Xavier Willison 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington

Interchange: 14. Cory Paix 15. Corey Jensen 16. Brendan Piakura 17. Fletcher Baker

Reserves: 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Josiah Karapani 20. Martin Taupau 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Delouise Hoeter

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: To come

Dragons

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Corey Allan 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lykhan King-Tongia 8. Jack de Belin 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Dylan Egan 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Hamish Stewart

Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Luciano Leilua 16. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 17. Blake Lawrie

Reserves: 18. Nathan Lawson 19. Hame sele 20. Lachlan Ilias 21. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 22. Michael Molo

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: To come

RAIDERS V TITANS

Sun May 18th 2025, 4:05pm, GIO Stadium

Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies

Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota

Reserves: 18. Jed Stuart 19. Noah Martin 20. Pasami Saulo 21. Trey Mooney 22. Danny Levi

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Corey Horsburgh (concussion) returns and will push for an Origin berth.

Matty Nicholson (ankle) has been ruled out for three months.

Titans

1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Phillip Sami 6. AJ Brimson 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui

Interchange: 14. Kieran Foran 15. Jaimin Jolliffe 16. Chris Randall 17. Josiah Pahulu

Reserves: 18. Tony Francis 19. Arama Hau 20. Josh Patston 21. Harley Smith-Shields 22. Sean Mullany

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Veteran playmaker Kieran Foran (biceps) is confirmed to return from injury.

WESTS TIGERS V RABBITOHS

Sun May 18th 2025, 6:15pm, Campbelltown Sports Stadium

Wests Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To’a 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Royce Hunt 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal

Interchange: 14. Brent Naden 15. Tony Sukkar 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu

Reserves: 18. Heath Mason 19. Tallyn Da Silva 20. Solomona Faataape 21. Reuben Porter 22. Tristan Hope

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: To come

Rabbitohs

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Jai Arrow 9. Siliva Havili 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. Euan Aitken 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Lachlan Hubner

Interchange: 14. Jye Gray 15. Sean Keppie 16. Davvy Moale 17. Liam Le Blanc

Reserves: 18. Tevita Tatola 19. Lewis Dodd 20. Joshua Schuster 21. Fletcher Myers 22. Jacob Host

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: To come