NRL Late Mail: Payne Haas in doubt for Broncos after being struck down with illness, Brendan Piakura ruled out

Superstar prop Payne Haas could be a shock withdrawal for the Broncos’ clash with the Rabbitohs after being struck down by illness, in what could be a double blow for the side after the loss of another forward.

Superstar Broncos prop Payne Haas could be a shock withdrawal after being struck down by illness on the eve of Brisbane’s crucial clash against South Sydney on Friday night.

And the Broncos have suffered a double whammy with damaging back-rower Brendan Piakura scratched from Brisbane’s starting side on Thursday night.

This masthead can reveal Haas is in grave doubt to face the Rabbitohs in what would be a major blow for the Broncos as they look to keep their top-four hopes alive in the round 22 clash at Suncorp Stadium.

It is understood Haas reported feeling unwell after the NSW Origin enforcer took part in Brisbane’s captain’s run at Red Hill on Thursday morning.

Maguire will give Haas every opportunity to prove his fitness on game day, but the Broncos are resigned to being without their No.1 prop in a significant setback on match eve.

There has been ongoing concern over Haas’ health with Brisbane’s $1 million prop having battled a lower back problem which he endured throughout the State of Origin series.

Payne Haas is in doubt for the Bronocs. Picture: NRL Photos

Fresh speculation suggested Haas aggravated his back condition and that could be the reason for his possible scratching against Wayne Bennett’s Bunnies.

But Haas appeared to run freely at Brisbane’s final training session on Thursday, only for the five-time Paul Morgan Medallist to later advise the Broncos’ medical staff he was not feeling 100 per cent.

The potential loss of Haas would be a major blow for a Broncos forward pack under pressure to muscle up against the Rabbitohs after being outgunned by the lowly Eels in their 22-20 loss last week.

Haas’ injury-ravaged season took another twist last Friday night when he hit the deck in the dying minutes of the Eels loss and hobbled off, only to be cleared of major ankle damage.

Veteran back-rower Jack Gosiewski has been promoted to the starting side to replace Piakura, with North Sydney front-row recruit Ben Talty added to the bench.

Should Haas be ruled out, Brisbane will face a front-row crisis, with bench hitman Kobe Hetherington a possible starter in the middle alongside Xavier Willison.

That could see utility forward Tyson Smoothy, currently named in Brisbane’s extended squad, added to the bench.

-Peter Badel, Phil Rothfield

DODD EARNS RECALL

Lewis Dodd will start for South Sydney after Jack Wighton’s suspension.

Dodd - who played halfback last week - was originally left out of the starting 17. But given Wighton’s suspension the Rabbitohs have recalled Dodd.

Wighton will miss Souths’ next four matches after he was found guilty of a grade two shoulder charge at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night.

—Michael Carayannis

Lewis Dodd sitting on the bench after being hooked in the Rabbitohs Round 21 loss to the Sharks. Picture: NRL Imagery

THREE STARS SENT FOR SURGERY

Three NRL stars have been booked for shoulder reconstructions in the same week - with more to come at the end of the season.

South Sydney’s Tevita Tatola, St George Illawarra’s Toby Couchman and Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu will all go under the knife.

Melbourne gun Jahrome Hughes will attempt to rehabilitate his injured shoulder with an eye to playing in the NRL finals, but will likely require surgery at the end of the season.

Toby Couchman will go for season-ending shoulder surgery. Picture: NRL Photos

NRL ROUND 22 LATE MAIL

Friday, 6:00pm, Go Media Stadium

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Kurt Capewell 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Tanah Boyd 10. Jackson Ford 9. Samuel Healey 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith 11. Leka Halasima 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Taine Tuaupiki 15. Jacob Laban 16. Freddy Lussick 20. Bunty Afoa

Reserves: 18. Eddie Ieremia 21. Edward Kosi

Players cut: 8. Demitric Vaimauga 22. Kalani Going 23. Makaia Tafua

Late Mail: The Warriors have suffered another blow in the 24-hour team update, with front rower Demetric Vaimauga (knee) ruled out. His withdrawal sees Tanner Stowers-Smith start in the front row, and Buty Afoa the new face on the bench.

Captain James Fisher-Harris (calf) will miss two games.

Chanel Harris-Tavita also has a calf injury but is expected to be back next week.

Also back next round is Wayde Egan, who missed selection this week due to concussion.

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Max Feagai 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jake Averillo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe

Interchange: 14. Ray Stone 15. Aublix Tawha 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Josh Kerr

Reserves: 18. Harrison Graham 20. LJ Nonu

Players cut: 19. Peter Hola 21. Kenny Bromwich 22. Tevita Naufahu

Late Mail: No changes in the 24-hour team update. Felise Kaufusi (knee) and Mark Nicholls (knee) are confirmed to return.

Kodi Nikormia (hamstring) has trained this week and is on track.

BRONCOS v RABBITOHS

Friday, 8:00pm, Suncorp Stadium

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Selwyn Cobbo 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Xavier Willison 9. Ben Hunt 10. Payne Haas 12. Jordan Riki 17. Jack Gosiewski 13. Patrick Carrigan

Interchange: 14. Billy Walters 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Corey Jensen 20. Ben Talty

Reserves: 18. Tyson Smoothy 19 Jesse Arthars

Players cut: 11. Brendan Piakura 21. Josiah Karapani 22. Jaiyden Hunt

Late Mail: The Broncos have made a change in the 24-hour team update, with Brendan Piakura out. He is replaced by Jack Gosiewski, with Ben Talty the new face on the bench.

Payne Haas (ankle) limped off last week but has trained and will play.

He is also managing a back complaint.

“Payne’s had a fair break actually. He had a couple of weeks off after Origin. He’s already had his break and you manage that week-to-week,” said coach Michael Maguire.

“Payne wants to play, he’s busting to play.

“When he came back from Origin we actually pushed him and said ‘no sorry, you’re not playing’.”

Wingers Selwyn Cobbo and Deine Mariner are back in the top grade with Jesse Arthars and Josiah Karapani axed.

Rabbitohs

1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Tallis Duncan 5. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 19. Lewis Dodd 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Jai Arrow 9. Ryan Gray 10. Sean Keppie 11. Euan Aitken 12. Jacob Host 13. Lachlan Hubner

Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili 15. Liam Le Blanc 16. Thomas Fletcher 17. Ashton Ward

Reserves: 18. Peter Mamouzelos 20. Tyrone Munro

Players cut: 6. Jack Wighton 21. Shaquai Mitchell 22. Salesi Ataata

Late Mail: The Rabbitohs have handed Lewis Dodd a recall, with five-eighth Jack Wighton suspended for four matches after a loss at the judiciary on Tuesday night.

Junior Tatola (dislocated shoulder) will go for surgery and miss 3-5 months.

TITANS v PANTHERS

Saturday, 3:00pm, CBUS Super Stadium

Titans

1. AJ Brimson 2. Jaylan De Groot 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 12. Beau Fermor 13. Klese Haas

Interchange: 14. 14. Tom Weaver 15. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 16. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 17. Josh Patston

Reserves: 18. Arama Hau 19. Tukimihia Simpkins 20. Tony Francis 21. Ryan Foran 22. Alofiana Khan-Pereira

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Sam Verrills is confirmed to return after missing last week due to the birth of his child.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (knee) is aiming for a round 25 return.

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Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Interchange: 14. Brad Schneider 15. Liam Henry 16. Luron Patea 17. Isaiah Papali’i

Reserves: 18. Paul Alamoti 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Daine Laurie 21. Mavrik Geyer 22. Luke Sommerton

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Coach Ivan Cleary says his team will be unchanged.

“No (there won’t be changes), not at this point. But you can never say anything in this comp,” Cleary said.

Liam Martin has been named to start after returning from a wrist injury from the bench last week.

Isaiah Papali’i drops to the interchange.

DRAGONS v RAIDERS

Saturday, 5:30pm, CommBank Stadium

Dragons

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Mathew Feagai 5. Corey Allan 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Michael Molo 13. Jack de Belin

Interchange: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Hamish Stewart 16. Hame Sele 17. Blake Lawrie

Reserves: 18. Jacob Halangahu 19. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 20. Lachlan Ilias 21. Hayden Buchanan 22. Ben Murdoch-Masila

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Toby Couchman (dislocated shoulder) has been sent for immediate surgery and is out for 3-5 months.

Jaydn Su’A (MCL) missed selection on Tuesday and will miss up to a month.

Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh

Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota

Reserves:18. Danny Levi 19. Manaia Waitere 20. Noah Martin 21. Trey Mooney 22. Ethan Sanders

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Sebastian Kris returns from concussion in the only change.

SEA EAGLES v ROOSTERS

Saturday, 7:35pm, 4 Pines Park

Sea Eagles

1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Tom Trbojevic 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Corey Waddell 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Tommy Talau 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley

Reserves: 18. Caleb Navale 19. Clayton Faulalo 20. Aaron Schoupp 21. Joey Walsh 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Jake Simpkin (concussion) will return after his application for an exemption was denied last week.

Haumole Olakau’atu (dislocated shoulder) has been sent for surgery and will miss 3-5 months.

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Hugo Savala 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Egan Butcher

Interchange: 14. Ethan King 15. Blake Steep 16. Salesi Foketi 17. Spencer Leniu

Reserves: 18. Tom Rodwell 19. Taylor Losalu 20. Toby Rudolf 21. Zach Dockar-Clay 22. Victor Radley

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Billy Smith (concussion) and Hugo Savala (wrist) are back in action.

Victor Radley has been named on the extended bench as he aims to return from a shoulder injury.

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WESTS TIGERS v BULLDOGS

Sunday, 2:00pm, CommBank Stadium

Wests Tigers

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

Interchange: 14. Sione Fainu 15. Royce Hunt 16. Fonua Pole 17. Tony Sukkar

Reserves: 18. Tristan Hope 19. Brent Naden 20. Charlie Murray 21. Heath Mason 22. Luke Laulilii

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Double boost for the Tigers with Jahream Bula (hamstring) and Samuela Fainu (knee) back in the side.

Bulldogs

1. Jacob Kiraz 2. Jethro Rinakama 3. Bronson Xerii 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Enari Tuala 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon

Interchange: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Josh Curran 17. Bailey Hayward

Reserves: 19. Mitchell Woods 20. Blake Wilson 21. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 22. Kurtis Morrin 23. Toby Sexton

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: After playing with an abdominal strain for a few weeks, Connor Tracey was admitted to hospital earlier in the week due to severe abdominal pain.

He was diagnosed with an issue to his inferior epigastric artery.

“He needs three weeks’ complete rest before he can even get back into light training,” said Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould.

“We would be hopeful he is back for the finals but that’s only hopeful at the moment.”

SHARKS v COWBOYS

Sunday, 4:05pm, Sharks Stadium

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 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. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Billy Burns 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Jayden Berrell 19. Hohepa Puru 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Thomas Hazelton 22. Samuel Stonestreet

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: The Sharks expect Briton Nikora (concussion) and Siosifa Talakai (illness) to slot straight back into the side.

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Braidon Burns 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Harrison Edwards 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange: 14. Marly Bitungane 15. Kaiden Lahrs 16. Kai O’Donnell 17. Coen Hess

Reserves: 18. Jaxson Paulo 19. Nicholas Lenaz 20. Mason Kira 21. Jamal Shibasaki 22. Dane Aukafolau

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Expect Jake Clifford (quad) to return as named after getting close last week.

BYE: KNIGHTS