NRL teams Round 19 2021: Injury carnage and bubble blues

Mitchell Moses will be missing once again for the Eels, after it was revealed he played more than 70 minutes of State of Origin with a back fracture.

Mitchell Moses will sit out a second successive game for Parramatta after it emerged he played more than 70 minutes of State of Origin with a transverse process fracture in his back – an injury generally associated with car accidents or gunshots.

Moses has been maligned in some quarters for his performance for the Blues in their Origin III loss but his critics can’t question his toughness amid revelations he suffered the injury after being tackled by Maroons forward Felise Kaufusi in the opening minutes at Cbus Super Stadium.

This type of fracture involves a break in one or more transverse process – the winglike bones on the right and left side of each vertebra in the spine. The fractures are generally associated with car or motorcycle accidents, severe blows to the back or spine, and violence such as a gunshot wound.

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Mitchell Moses will miss some time for Parramatta after suffering a back fracture. Picture: Getty Images.

Moses played through immense pain, winning plaudits from coach Brad Fittler for his defence in a beaten Blues side. Others singled him out for criticism, suggesting that he didn’t run the ball enough.

Scroll down for full round 19 team lists and comment

Despite the criticism that came his way, Moses kept the injury quiet and so did the Eels – he didn’t want there to be any suggestion that he was using it as a response to his critics.

However, The Australian was alerted to the injury when Moses was left out of the Parramatta side for a second week and Arthur confirmed the extent of the damage on Tuesday night.

“I know my players really well,” Arthur said.

“Everyone else watched Origin and I watched Mitchell and Junior (Paulo). I watched his body movement. I knew after (a few) minutes that he was gone.

“His back was gone. He wasn’t moving freely. You could see it. That’s my job – to know about my players. I knew he wasn’t good.

“People in the past might have questioned whether he was tough enough. I reckon he showed that (in Origin).”

Mitchell Moses suffered the injury early in State of Origin Game III and played through it for most of the game. Picture: Getty Images.

Moses finished Origin III with two try assists but Fittler reserved his greatest praise for the way the No.7 kept putting his body in front of Queensland players, Kaufusi among them. He did it while in unbearable pain.

Moses kept his counsel in the aftermath to Origin disappointment but Arthur felt compelled to speak on Tuesday when he was asked about why his star No.7 was missing.

The hope is that Moses will be fit to return next week, although any comeback will hinge on his capacity to endure the pain associated with his back injury.

“It’s more of a pain tolerance thing,” Arthur said.

“He’s not running at the moment and he only did a little bit of weights today. We made the decision early yesterday that he wasn’t going to play.”

TEAMS WRAP: A ROUND OF COMEBACKS

—Nick Campton

It‘s an NRL round for comebacks after Melbourne’s Ryan Papenhuyzen and Parramatta’s Blake Ferguson were both named to make their first grade comebacks after lengthy lay-offs.

Papenhuyzen has endured a lengthy recovery from a concussion suffered during Magic Round in May while Ferguson has spent the last six weeks in reserve grade after he was dropped following a horrible defensive display against Souths in Round 12.

Ryan Papenhuyzen is back – kind of. Picture: NRL Photos

But the duo have both been named for their long-awaited returns – Papenhuyzen will come off the bench for Melbourne against the Cowboys on Friday night despite Craig Bellamy opting to rest Origin stars Cameron Munster, Felise Kaufusi and Dale Finucane while Ferguson will line up on the wing against Canberra on Thursday.

He’ll partner a debutant on the right side with 18-year old sensation Will Penisini named for his first NRL start at centre.

The Raiders won’t be so lucky with Origin five-eighth Jack Wighton ruled out with a sternum injury while rookie fullback Xavier Savage is out for the rest of the year after his shoulder injury was found to be worse than first thought – the 19-year old now requires season-ending surgery.

Mitchell Moses is out for the Eels. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Veteran winger Jordan Rapana will replace Savage at fullback as the Raiders look to continue their charge to the finals and win three matches in a row for the first time this season.

“He’s been a massive addition to our team and it’s quite sad for him, but he’s young, this is just an injury he’ll have that won’t keep him down too long,” Rapana said.

“These setbacks happen in your career, just don’t let them hold you back.

“We’ve gone back to basics, especially against Manly, we just played through the middle third of the field.

“I’ll definitely be blowing, no doubt, but if we hold the ball and get the repeat sets and complete like we did against Manly I’m pretty sure Josh Papalii could play fullback.”

Matt Frawley will replace Wighton at five-eighth with Harley Smith-Shields to slot in on the wing.

Newcastle will be without Mitchell Pearce for at least one more week after the halfback was ruled out of Friday’s clash with the Roosters.

However, the Knights will welcome back Origin forward Daniel Saifiti after he missed last week’s loss to Melbourne with a rib cartilage injury while Kalyn Ponga will also be fit to play after he suffered a concussion.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson has opted for Billy Smith over Josh Morris in the centres with the veteran named on an extended bench.

Panthers playmaker Jarome Luai will return against the Broncos after a knee injury kept him out of Origin III while the Dragons have opted to have Corey Norman serve his one-match ban for Covid breaches against the Titans.

Jayden Sullivan will take Norman’s place alongside Ben Hunt in the halves while Gold Coast boast a young gun for their own after Toby Sexton was selected to make his NRL debut in relief of Jamal Fogarty.

Despite scoring six tries in his last four games, Taane Milne will be dropped back to the bench for South Sydney’s clash with the Warriors despite Alex Johnston’s injury.

Milne has been in terrific form on the right wing but will wear the number 14 jersey on Saturday afternoon with Jaxson Paulo and Josh Mansour preferred as the starters.

Mansour is expected to line up on the left wing vacated by Johnson, who suffered a hamstring injury against the Bulldogs.

Paulo will replace Milne on the right.

Jai Arrow will also come off the bench in his return from suspension after he was ruled out of Origin III following a breach of the NRL’s biosecurity rules.

Kalyn Ponga is good to go despite being injured against the Melbourne Storm.

ROUND 19 TEAMS

EELSTEAM NEWS: Mitch Moses is OUT with a reported back injury. Jakob Arthur again takes his spot at halfback. Blake Ferguson is recalled on the wing after six weeks in NRL exile, replacing Haze Dunster. Young gun Will Penisini earns a centre spot with Tom Opacic rested. Junior Paulo is a key inclusion up front after being rested post Origin. Marata Niukore reverts to the bench and Bryce Cartwright drops out.

RAIDERSTEAM NEWS: Two big injury blows with young gun Xavier Savage (shoulder) out for the season and Origin star Jack Wighton (ribs) out for a week. Jordan Rapana switches to fullback for Savage with Harley Smith-Shields moving from the forwards to the wing. Matt Frawley replaces Wighton at five-eighth. Matt Timoko earns a bench spot ahead of Ryan James.

ROOSTERS TEAM NEWS: Trent Robinson has pulled a significant shock by dropping veteran Josh Morris. James Tedesco is back after a post Origin rest, pushing Joseph Manu back to centre and Morris out of the side, with youngster Billy Smith retained as the other centre. Siosiua Taukeiaho (hamstring) is a welcome inclusion on the bench in place of Fletcher Baker. Angus Crichton returns to the starting side after playing from the bench last week with Nat Butcher dropping to the interchange.

KNIGHTS TEAM NEWS: Origin star Daniel Saifiti (ribs) is a big inclusion at prop. David Klemmer drops to the bench and Jack Johns drops out of the 17. Jacob Saifiti (ankle), Kalyn Ponga and Klemmer (both concussion) have been named but must pass fitness tests later in the week. Lachlan Fitzgibbon drops from the starting second row back to the reserves list with Mitch Barnett taking his spot on the edge and Connor Watson promoted from the bench to lock.

COWBOYS TEAM NEWS: Javid Bowen (ACL) is out for the season. Murray Taulagi shifts in from the wing to centre with Kane Bradley coming onto the flank for his NRL debut. Peter Hola drops off the bench to accommodate the return of Heilum Luki (suspension).

STORM TEAM NEWS: Where do we start? Ryan Papenhuyzen (concussion) returns on the bench with Nicho Hynes retaining the fullback spot. Origin players Cameron Munster, Felise Kaufusi and Dale Finucane (concussion) have been given the week off after backing up last week. Josh Addo-Carr, Christian Welch (both rested) and Nelson Asofa-Solomona (suspension) return. Still no Harry Grant (hamstring).

RABBITOHS TEAM NEWS: Jaxson Paulo and Josh Mansour form an all-new wing pairing with Alex Johnston (hamstring) out for 2-4 weeks and Taane Milne dropped to the bench. Latrell Mitchell returns at fullback after a post Origin rest with Blake Taaffe dropping to the reserves. Jai Arrow (Covid breach) returns on the bench in place of Liam Knight (concussion).

WARRIORS TEAM NEWS: Big changes with Tohu Harris (ACL), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (concussion), Wayde Egan (shoulder) and Rocco Berry (hamstring) all out. Jack Murchie replaces Tohu on the edge. Kodi Nikorima replaces RTS at five-eighth. Jazz Tevaga replaces Egan at hooker with Josh Curran to play lock. Adam Pompey replaces Berry at centre. Bunty Afoa and Taniela Otukolo join the bench.

SEA EAGLES TEAM NEWS: The Big Three return with Tom Trbojevic, Daly Cherry-Evans (both rested) and Jake Trbojevic (hip) back in action. Turbo’s return at fullback sees Reuben Garrick move to the wing and Moses Suli drop out. DCE’s return sees Josh Schuster move back to 2RF with Karl Lawton (back) out. Jack Trbojevic takes up his customary No. 13 jumper with Sean Keppie dropping to the bench. Josh Aloiai (wrist) returns from a long lay-off on the interchange. Kurt DeLuis and Cade Cust miss the 17.

TIGERS TEAM NEWS: No changes after a strong win over the Broncos.

PANTHERS TEAM NEWS: Origin five-eighth Jarome Luai (knee) is a key inclusion. Matt Burton shifts from the halves to centre with Brent Naden dropping out of the 17. Nathan Cleary continues his rehab on a shoulder injury and is still two weeks away.

BRONCOS TEAM NEWS: Winger Xavier Coates again misses out after sitting out last week’s post Origin clash, named in jersey No. 21. Cory Paix is promoted to the bench in place of Jesse Arthars. Other than that it’s essentially the same 17 as last week, although there’s a forward switcheroo with Thomas Flegler and Jordan Riki promoted to start and Rhys Kennedy and TC Robati back to bench.

DRAGONS TEAM NEWS: Mass forced changes with Jayden Sullivan, Jordan Pereira, Kaide Ellis, Mathew Feagai, Matt Dufty, Talatau Amone and Tyrell Fuimaono the fresh faces in the squad. Brayden Wiliame, Corey Norman, Jackson Ford and Poasa Faamausili drop out. Changes of note include young gun Sullivan to play five-eighth in place of Norman, while Matt Dufty returns at fullback for rookie sensation Sloan.

TITANS TEAM NEWS: Young gun Toby Sexton makes his much-anticipated debut at halfback in place of Jamal Fogarty (hand). Phillip Sami (ankle) is replaced on the wing by Greg Marzhew. Erin Clark (elbow) is replaced at hooker by Mitch Rein.

BULLDOGS TEAM NEWS: Jeremy Marshall-King (suspension) returns at hooker with Sione Katoa dropping out of the 17.

SHARKS TEAM NEWS: The suspension of veteran Sharks prop Aiden Tolman for one week has provided the window of opportunity for hard-running forward Royce Hunt to play his first game in 10 months. Hunt’s career was rocked in round 14 last year when he suffered a dislocated patella (knee cap). Toby Rudolf starts at prop in place of Tolman, Jack Williams takes the No. 13 jumper and Hunt comes onto the bench.