NRL Late Mail round 2: Broncos explain Payne Haas training exit, Bulldogs star Sam Hughes sidelined

The Broncos insist Payne Haas will be raring to go against the Raiders despite leaving training early, while a Bulldogs forward is set for a stint on the sidelines. See all the Round 2 predicted team changes.

The Broncos insist Payne Haas will be raring to go against the Raiders after the star prop was given an early mark at training to observe a religious practice.

Haas left the field at Red Hill on Wednesday morning about 45 minutes before the rest of his teammates.

Haas has been observing the Muslim practice Ramadan for the past fortnight, which includes fasting between sunrise and sunset.

A lack of sustenance didn’t stop the NSW Origin front rower from playing a starring role in Brisbane’s 50-14 round 1 demolition of the Roosters last Thursday, in which Haas charged for 142m and busted 11 tackles.

Given his strong form, the Broncos said coach Michael Maguire gave Haas an early mark in the humid post-flood conditions in Brisbane to rest and recover.

Haas did not complete scheduled media commitments after training, but teammate Kobe Hetherington said Brisbane’s bookend hadn’t slowed down.

Payne Haas left Brisbane training early on Monday. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“He had to go home, he’s doing Ramadan and has been pretty flat out lately,” he said.

“He got through that game doing it, I don’t know how he did it, but he’s a different human.

“We all know what Payne’s like. He gives it week-in, week-out and puts up the big numbers.

“He always gives his 100 per cent. He’s gone home early for a bit of rest.”

After a strong round 1 performance, Maguire has named an unchanged side for Saturday night’s clash with the Raiders in Canberra.

The Broncos have also largely escaped the impact of Cyclone Alfred in south east Queensland, which has forced the Dolphins and Gold Coast Titans to make significant moves.

—Travis Meyn

BULLDOGS SUFFER INJURY BLOW

—Fatima Kdouh

Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo has suffered an early season blow to his engine room with prop Sam Hughes set to be sidelined for at least six weeks.

Hughes missed last weekend’s Round 1 clash against St George Illawarra due to an ankle syndesmosis injury that he suffered in the final week of the trials.

Daniel Suluka-Fifita has again been named Hughes’ replacement up front, and will start at prop alongside Max King against the Titans on Sunday.

Samuel Hughes is set to be sidelined for six weeks. Picture: Getty Images

Bulldogs medical staff had initially diagnosed Hughes with a grade one syndesmosis but further scans this week revealed the front rower required surgery.

Canterbury general manager Phil Gould confirmed Hughes has gone under the knife earlier in the week to repair the injury.

“Sam was fighting to get ready for game one. He injured his ankle against the Broncos in the second trial, came back a grade one syndesmosis, which is usually two to three weeks,” Gould said on the Six Tackles podcast.

“We’ve had to rescan him this week. It’s a grade three. He’s been in and got surgery.

“So he’s out for six weeks, which is a big loss. I don’t think it was a misdiagnosis. I think it was just one of those ones … and unfortunately, it’s cost him six weeks.”

It comes after revelations star backrower Viliame Kikau was racing the clock to line up in last week’s season opener due to a back injury.

The forward has two bulging discs in his lumbar spine that will require ongoing pain management for the rest of the season but Kikau is hopeful of having to avoid surgery to repair the injury

Despite the back issue, Kikau was named to take on the Titans on Sunday.

ROUND TWO TEAMS

KNIGHTS V DOLPHINS

8pm Thursday March 13 at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Knights

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

Interchange: 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Adam Elliott 17. Mathew Croker

Reserves: 18. Brodie Jones 19. Will Pryce 20. Logan Aoake 21. Matthew Arthur 22. 22. Thomas Cant

Late Mail: To come.

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Junior Tupou 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Oryn Keeley 12. Max Plath 13. Tom Gilbert

Interchange: 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Josh Kerr 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Ray Stone

Reserves: 18. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Max Feagai 20. Kenny Bromwich 21. Harrison Graham 22. Aublix Tawha

Late Mail: To come.

WARRIORS VS SEA EAGLES

6pm Friday March 14 at Go Media Stadium, Auckland

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima

Reserves: 18. Samuel Healey 20. Te Maire Martin 21. Eddie Ieremia 22. Bunty Afoa 23. Edward Kosi

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. Taniela Paseka 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley

Reserves: 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Tommy Talau 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 21. Jakob Arthur 22. Dean Matterson

Late Mail: To come.

PANTHERS VS ROOSTERS

8pm Friday March 14 at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Casey McLean 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To’o 6. Jack Cole 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 14. Daine Laurie 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Matthew Eisenhuth 17. Luke Garne

Reserves: 18. Brad Schneider 19. Luron Patea 20. Liam Henry 21. Luke Sommerton 22. Thomas Jenkins

Late Mail: To come.

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Mark Nawaqanitawase 4. Robert Toia 5. Dominic Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Chad Townsend 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Salesi Foketi

Interchange: 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Makahesi Makatoa 16. Blake Steep 17. Taylor Losalu

Reserves: 18. Hugo Savala 19. Ethan Roberts 20. Ethan King 21. Max McCathie 22. Billy Smith

Late Mail: To come.

DRAGONS VS RABBITOHS

3pm Saturday March 15 at WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Dragons

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. Emre Guler 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin

Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 17. Hamish Stewart

Reserves: 18. Dylan Egan 19. Tyrell Sloan 20. Lyhkan King-Togia 21. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga

Late Mail: To come.

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Isaiah Tass 3. Fletcher Myers 4. Campbell Graham 5. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Davvy Moale 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Lachlan Hubner

Interchange: 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Siliva Havili 16. Tallis Duncan 17. Tevita Tatola

Reserves: 18. Liam Le Blanc 19. Lewis Dodd 20. Jacob Host 21. Thomas Fletcher 22. Talanoa Penitani

Late Mail: To come.

COWBOYS VS SHARKS

5:30pm Saturday March 15 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Thomas Duffy 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Sam McIntyre 11. John Bateman 12. Kai O’Donnell 13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange: 14. Karl Lawton 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess

Reserves: 18. Jake Clifford 19. Jeremiah Nanai 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Jaxson Paulo 22. Jason Taumalolo

Late Mail: To come.

Sharks

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

Interchange: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Thomas Hazelton

Reserves: 18. Tuku Hau Tapuha 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Billy Burns 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Hohepa Puru

Late Mail: To come.

RAIDERS VS BRONCOS

7:35pm Saturday March 15 at GIO Stadium, Canberra

Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Albert Hopoate 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Corey Horsburgh 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies

Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Matt Nicholson 17. Ata Mariota

Reserves: 18. Danny Levi 19. Trey Mooney 20. Chevy Stewart 21. Michael Asomua 22. Ethan Sanders

Late Mail: To come.

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Deine Mariner 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington

Interchange: 14. Billy Walters, 15. Corey Jensen, 16. Xavier Willison, 17. Brendan Piakura

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

Late Mail: To come.

EELS VS TIGERS

4:05pm Sunday March 16 at CommBank Stadium, Parramatta

Eels

1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Sean Russell 3. Will Penisini 4. Zac Lomax 5. Jordan Samrani 6. Dylan Brown 7. Ronald Volkman 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Jack Williams 13. J’maine Hopgood

Interchange: 14. Ryley Smith 15. Matt Dooery 16. Kitione Kautoga 17. Sam Tuivaiti

Reserves: 18. Dan Kier 19. Joash Papalii 20. Toni Mataele 21. 22. Joey Lussick

Late Mail: To come.

Tigers

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

Interchange: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu

Reserves: 18. Charlie Staines 19. Latu Fainu 20. Tristan Hope 21. Tony Sukkar 22. Solomona Faataape

Late Mail: To come.

BULLDOGS VS TITANS

6:15pm Sunday March 16 at Belmore Sports Ground, Belmore

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 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. Jacob Preston 13. Kurt Mann

Interchange: 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Josh Curran 17. Jaeman Salmon

Reserves: 19. Harry Hayes 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Blake Taaffe 22. Luke Smith 23. Jonathan Sua

Late Mail: To come.

Titans

1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 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. Chris Randall 15. David Fifita 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Brock Gray

Reserves: 18. Jaylan De Groot 19. Arama Hau 20. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 21. Tom Weaver 22. Tony Francis

Late Mail: To come.

Originally published as NRL Late Mail round 2: Broncos explain Payne Haas training exit, Bulldogs star Sam Hughes sidelined