NRL Late Mail Round 14: Predicted team changes
Both the Canterbury Bulldogs and Wests Tigers have rung the changes ahead of this afternoon’s NRL clash at Bankwest Stadium, including the axing of a Test player.
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Kiwi skipper Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been axed by the last-placed Bulldogs with interim coach Steve Georgallis opting to blood a debutant instead.
Reimis Smith will start on the wing in place of Watene-Zelezniak with back-rower Matt Doorey to take his place on the interchange bench to play the Tigers.
“Dal and I have been chatting the last three or four weeks,” Georgallis said.
“It isn’t something that popped up. We had a chat about it this week about not overcomplicating everything and going back to the basics and not think about why he isn’t playing well and play to his strengths.
“He is disappointed. Matt Doorey is a great kid. He is a second-rower. Runs great lines. Training really well.”
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WESTS TIGERS LATE MAIL: Elijah Taylor comes onto the bench for his first game since Round 9, replacing Chris Lawrence. Thomas Mikaele (knee) has been ruled out, replaced by Alex Seyfarth. Jacob Liddle (ACL/MCL/LCL) returns after a long lay-off. Joey Leilua will play after being cleared to return by the NRL despite leaving the club’s biosecurity bubble. The NRL asked the Wests Tigers for a documented timeline of Leilua’s movements before allowing him to re-enter the bubble.
— Full story by Michael Carayannis
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BULLDOGS LATE MAIL: Kiwi winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been axed. Reimis Smith starts on DWZ’s wing with back-rower Matt Doorey coming onto the bench.
KNIGHTS LATE MAIL: Knights are 1-17 with Tex Hoy and Brodie Jones omitted, as expected. Daniel Saifiti (knee), Star To’a (COVID hold), Aiden Guerra (illness) and Gehamat Shibasaki (leg) all cleared.
SEA EAGLES LATE MAIL: The Sea Eagles are without Marty Taupau after he suffered a nasty looking concussion last week from a high tackle. Jake Trbojevic starts at prop, Corey Waddell comes into the starting side at lock and Jack Gosiewski joins the bench. Curtis Sironen (knee), Joel Thompson (ankle) and Brad Parker have all been all cleared. Tevita Funa replaces Jorge Taufua on the wing.