NRL Late Mail: Team news and changes for Round 23

KALYN Ponga is set to play in the halves, while Melbourne and North Queensland have been forced to make late changes.

IT’S not so much about testing Kalyn Ponga’s abilities in the halves, those are there for all to see. Rather, Newcastle coach Nathan Brown is considering moving him to five-eighth in a bid to manage his workload.

Ponga was named at fullback but trained in the halves alongside Mitchell Pearce on Wednesday in the strongest indication he will be at six instead of one this weekend against the Panthers.

The young fullback’s fitness has suffered after time out with a hamstring injury following Origin, then not being able to train because of an ankle problem he picked up.

It’s for that reason, and to keep him in combination with Pearce, that Brown might make the shift.

“He plays like it anyway, so it’s not going to change him in a lot of ways,” Brown said. “From a defensive point of view, we saw in Origin he can handle the workload if needed.

“We’ve all seen him put the body on the line at fullback. He might get a little bit of extra workload if we do decide to play him there (at six), but he’ll run a lot less and him and Mitchell can still work together.”

Ponga’s potency in the Knights’ attack sparked chatter about him having more control over the playmaking by starting at five-eighth.

Kalyn Ponga is set to switch to the halves.

Brown always said it would happen if Ponga was keen on the move, but with preferred No.6 Connor Watson out with a groin injury and the Knights having a heavy injury toll, including Ponga, Brown’s hand appears to have been forced.

“He’s only a young kid still,” Brown said. “While he’s a very, very good player, his fitness levels and his fitness base is going to improve the more he matures and the more he trains and the more he plays.

“KP hasn’t run very much so his fitness levels are dipping a little bit and his attacking influence on the team might improve if he plays at six in the short term.”

— Fiona Bollen

In other late mail:

* Cowboys prop Matt Scott has been ruled out of his side’s clash with Cronulla

* Panthers lock James Fisher-Harris has been ruled out with a minor shoulder injury and has been replaced in the starting side by Kaide Ellis.

Jahrome Hughes is out with a knee injury.

PANTHERS vs KNIGHTS

Saturday, 3:00pm, Pepper Stadium

Panthers: 1 Tyrone Peachey, 2 Josh Mansour, 3 Waqa Blake, 4 Dean Whare, 5 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 6. Tyrone May, 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 James Tamou, 9 Sione Katoa, 10 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 11 Viliame Kikau, 12 Isaah Yeo, 18 Kaide Ellis Interchange: 14 Wayde Egan, 15 Trent Merrin, 16 Corey Harawira-Naera, 17 Moses Leota Reserves: 19 Christian Crichton, 20 Adam Keighran

Players cut: 13. James Fisher-Harris, 20. Adam Keighran

Late mail: James Tamou (leg) will play after a late withdrawal last week, but James Fisher-Harris has been ruled out with a shoulder injury. Kaide Ellis will start at lock.

Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Ken Sio, 3. Sione Mata’utia, 4. Cory Dennis, 5. Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6. Jack Cogger, 7. Mitchell Pearce (c), 8. Herman Ese’ese, 9. Danny Levi, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12. Mitchell Barnett, 13. Aidan Guerra, Interchange: 14. Jamie Buhrer (c), 15. Chris Heighington, 16. Pasami Saulo, 19. Josh King

Reserves: 18. Nick Meaney, 21. Luke Yates

Players cut: 17. JJ Felise, 20. Brodie Jones

Late mail: Kalyn Ponga is set to play five-eighth after training there during the week. Nick Meaney would play fullback with Jack Cogger dropping out.

PODCAST! The teams are in for week two of head-to-head finals — and there are plenty of injuries to deal with. Join Tom Sangster and Nick Campton.

TIGERS vs DRAGONS

Saturday, 5:30pm, Leichhardt Oval

Tigers: 1 Moses Mbye, 2 David Nofoaluma, 3 Esan Marsters, 4 Mahe Fonua, 5 Kevin Naiqama, 6 Benji Marshall, 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Russell Packer, 9 Robbie Farah, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Chris Lawrence, 12 Michael Chee Kam, 13 Elijah Taylor

Interchange: 14 Alex Twal, 15 Suaso Sue, 16 Luke Garener, 17 Matt Eisenhuth Reserves: 18 Jacob Liddle, 21 Malakai Watene-Zelezniak

Players cut: 19 Robbie Rochow, 20 Tyson Gamble

Late mail: Mahe Fonua (broken arm) is a certain starter. Chris Lawrence (hamstring) must earn final clearance but is on track to play.

Dragons: 1 Matt Dufty, 2 Nene McDonald, 3 Euan Aitken, 4 Tim Lafai, 5 Jordan Pereira, 6 Kurt Mann, 7 Ben Hunt, 8 James Graham, 9 Cameron McInnes, 10 Leeson Ah Mau, 11 Tyson Frizell, 12 Tariq Sims, 13 Jack de Belin Interchange: 14 Jeremy Latimore, 15 Jacob Host, 16 Blake Lawrie, 17 Luciano Leilua Reserves: 18 Zach Lomax, 19 Jai Field

Players cut: 20 Hame Sele, 21 Darren Nicholls

Late mail: Mystery surrounds the five-eighth spot following the injury to Gareth Widdop (dislocated shoulder). Kurt Mann has been named in the No. 6, but fellow contender Jai Field has been included in the squad.

SHARKS vs COWBOYS

Saturday: 7:30pm, Southern Cross Group Stadium

Sharks: 1. Valentine Holmes 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Ricky Leutele 5. Josh Dugan 6. Matt Moylan 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Matt Prior 11. Luke Lewis 12. Scott Sorensen 13. Paul Gallen

Interchange: 14 Kurt Capewell, 15. James Segeyaro, 16. Aaron Woods, 17. Jayson Bukuya

Reserves: 18. Joseph Paulo, 19. Ava Seumanufagai, 20. Wade Graham, 21. Sione Katoa

Players cut: To come

Late mail: No changes expected with Kurt Capewell (thumb) to return from injury.

Cowboys: 1. Te Maire Martin 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Justin O’Neill 4. Kane Linnett 5. Gideon Gela-Mosby 6. Jake Clifford 7. Johnathan Thurston (C) 8. Matt Scott (C) 9. Jake Granville 10. Jordan McLean 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Coen Hess 13. John Asiata

Interchange: 14. Ben Hampton 15. Francis Molo 16. Corey Jensen 17. Scott Bolton

Reserves: 18. Ethan Lowe 19. Kyle Laybutt 20. Shaun Fensom 21. Enari Tuala

Players cut: To come

Late mail: Matt Scott has been ruled out as he battles an ongoing neck issue. Coach Paul Green said Ethan Lowe would likely come into the squad.

BULLDOGS vs WARRIORS

Sunday, 2:00pm, ANZ Stadium

Bulldogs: 1. Will Hopoate 2. Brett Morris 3. Josh Morris 4. Kerrod Holland 5. Reimis Smith 6. Lachlan Lewis 7. Jeremy Marshall-King 8. Aiden Tolman 9. Michael Lichaa 10. David Klemmer 11. Josh Jackson 12. Rhyse Martin 13. Adam Elliott

Interchange: 14. Fa’amanu Brown 15. Danny Fualalo 16. Ofahiki Ogden 17. Greg Eastwood

Reserves: 19. Francis Tualau 20. Matt Frawley 21. Renouf To’omaga 23. John Olive

Players cut: To come

Late mail: No changes expected with Lachlan Lewis (family matter) to return.

Warriors: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2. David Fusitu’a, 3. Gerard Beale, 4. Solomone Kata, 5. Ken Maumalo, 6. Blake Green, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. James Gavet, 9. Issac Luke, 10. Agnatius Paasi, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Adam Blair, 13. Simon Mannering

Interchange: 14. Jazz Tevaga, 15. Leivaha Pulu, 16. Bunty Afoa, 17. Peta Hiku Reserves: 18. Joseph Vuna, 20. Anthony Gelling, 21. Tevita Satae, 22. Karl Lawton

Players cut: To come

Late mail: To come

RAIDERS vs ROOSTERS

Sunday, 4:00pm, GIO Stadium

Raiders: 1. Brad Abbey 2. Nick Cotric 3. Elliott Whitehead 4. Joey Leilua 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Blake Austin 7. Sam Williams 8. Dunamis Lui 9. Josh Hodgson (C) 10. Shannon Boyd 11. Joe Tapine 12. Sia Soliola 13. Josh Papalii

Interchange: 14. Emre Guler 15. Luke Bateman 16. Siliva Havili 17. Junior Paulo Reserves: 18. Jack Murchie 19. Liam Knight 20. Makahesi Makatoa 21. Michael Oldfield

Players cut: To come

Late mail: To come

Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Joseph Manu 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Ryan Matterson 7. Cooper Cronk 8. Dylan Napa 9. Jake Friend (c) 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Boyd Cordner (c) 12. Isaac Liu 13. Victor Radley

Interchange: 14. Nat Butcher 15. Zane Tetevano 16. Mitchell Aubusson 17. Sean O’Sullivan

Reserves: 18. Sitili Tupouniua 19. Kurt Baptiste 20. Paul Momirovski 21. Lindsay Collins

Players cut: To come

Late mail: To come