NRL 2023 Round 3 teams: Early Mail, predicted changes for upcoming round
After missing the first two weeks of the season, the Sharks have made a call on Nicho Hynes for the upcoming round. Full predicted team changes here.
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Nicho Hynes has declared his comeback date, admitting that he went close to playing last weekend.
The Dally M star will sit out a third consecutive match for the Sharks with a calf injury keeping him sidelined for the club’s road trip to Canberra on Sunday.
Capable replacement Braydon Trindall will retain the Sharks halfback jersey.
Hynes said he was confident he would be back for round four when the Sharks face St George-Illawarra in the local derby.
“It’s (calf) going good. I had a good run on Saturday and yesterday I got moving again,’’ Hynes said. “I’m just waiting for the medical team to say lets go. It’s just one of those ones that you need to be very careful with the spot it’s in.”
“I’ve had to get the kilometres right per week, so that when it comes to game day I’m ready to go. The GPS data is showing that it’s on the right track.”
“I was hoping this week, but I’ll be ready to go next week I reckon.’’
—David Riccio
KNIGHTS SEEK EXEMPTION AS 10 UNAVAILABLE
The Knights will have to seek permission from the NRL to play a development player or draft someone in from outside their top 30 to deal with their growing injury crisis.
The Knights have just 28 players contracted and could be without as many as 10 bodies from their top squad for Friday night’s clash with the Dolphins.
The most high-profile casualties are set to be Kalyn Ponga, Jayden Brailey (both concussion), Jacob Saifiti (facing 5-6 week suspension) and Tyson Frizell (ankle), while plenty more players could also miss out.
Newcastle’s already threadbare playing stocks are at breaking point after experienced half Adam Clune copped a concussion playing NSW Cup. Clune was a frontline contender to replace Ponga.
Kurt Mann injured his shoulder last week at training and will be sidelined for at least another week.
Adam Elliott re-aggravated the serious groin injury he was carrying from the end of last year and won’t play.
Jack Johns (ankle) is in extreme doubt, while Dylan Lucas was in line for a call-up but he injured his hamstring in reserve grade.
Young gun Krystian Mapapalangi (shoulder) is out long-term.
Back-rower Mat Croker is free to return from suspension.
Knights halfback Jackson Hastings escaped with a fine after he was charged with a careless high tackle on Tommy Talau which sparked a post match slanging match.
Saifiti is facing at least a five-match ban after he was charged for his high shot on Wests Tigers’ Jake Simpkin.
Saifiti will cop five games with an early guilty plea and six if he fights the charge and loses at the judiciary after he was hit with a grade three reckless high-tackle charge.
—Michael Carayannis, Brent Read, Russell Jackson
KEARY’S CONCUSSION ADVICE FOR PONGA
Roosters star Luke Keary has urged Kalyn Ponga to ignore outside noise and listen solely to medical professionals after the Knights skipper suffered another concussion that has his immediate playing future in doubt.
The superstar five-eighth has had four concussions in the past 10 months and had his 2022 season cut short after three concussions in six weeks.
Knights coach Adam O’Brien has already ruled out his star player for this week’s game against the Dolphins, and there is no clear return date for a young man who is dealing with yet another brain injury.
“It’s obviously not great to see,” said Keary, who has suffered a number of head knocks throughout his career.
“Everyone will want to have their opinion on it, but it’s probably best for him to turn the TV off, put the phone down and go and talk with the right people and not listen to anyone else.”
—Martin Gabor
VERRILLS TO SHOULDER ON
Sam Verrills is confident he will be fit to take on Melbourne Storm in his first home for Gold Coast at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.
Verrills was forced from the field after suffering a shoulder in Sunday night’s 32-18 loss to St George Illawarra.
Titans coach Justin Holbrook described the injury as a “burner in his shoulder” with Verrills looking in obvious discomfort.
However, sources say the 24-year-old is confident the injury is not serious and he is hoping to play against a Storm side embarrassed by the Bulldogs after Craig Bellamy’s team crashed to a shock 26-12 defeat.
—Paul Crawley
SEA EAGLES V EELS
Thursday, 8pm, 4 Pines Park, Sydney
Sea Eagles: Josh Schuster is firming to return from a calf injury for his first game of the season.
If cleared, he’d replace Cooper Johns in the halves.
Eels: Sean Russell’s season is over after undergoing shoulder surgery, with Bailey Simonsson returning in the loss to the Sharks.
KNIGHTS V DOLPHINS
Friday, 6pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Knights: The Knights’ injury riddled start to the season has continued, with Kalyn Ponga and Jayden Brailey both failing HIAs in the win over the Tigers.
If unavailable on the five day turnaround, Tyson Gamble would likely come into the halves for Ponga. Phoenix Crossland may be forced into hooking duties for Brailey.
Jacob Saifiti faces a five-game ban for his dangerous tackle.
Tyson Frizell suffered an ankle injury and is in doubt, with Brodie Jones or Jack Johns (in doubt) to start on the edge if he’s unavailable.
Adam Elliott faces another week out at least with a groin injury, while Mat Croker is available for selection after serving a suspension.
Greg Marzhew returned through NSW Cup on the weekend for his first game of the season.
Dolphins: Jeremy Marshall-King is facing a two week suspension for a dangerous contact charge.
Ray Stone is set to miss a few more weeks with knee bruising.
This is likely to see utility Kurt Donoghoe continue his rapid rise into the NRL, where he likely deputises as starting hooker, and would share the rotation with Kodi Nikorima.
ROOSTERS V RABBITOHS
Friday, 8pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Roosters: Brandon Smith suffered a back injury in the win over the Warriors and is in doubt to face the Rabbitohs.
If unavailable, Jake Turpin would start at hooker.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is pushing to return from injury to bolster the forward pack for the clash with South Sydney.
Despite being charged for dangerous contact, Joseph Suaalii is expected to be available this week.
Rabbitohs: South Sydney are hoping to welcome back a number of forwards for the Roosters clash.
Jai Arrow (hamstring), Hame Sele (calf) and Tevita Tatola (concussion) are all chances to return to the pack.
Jacob Host is likely one more week away from returning from a calf injury.
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TITANS V STORM
Saturday, 3pm, Cbus Stadium, Gold Coast
Titans: No major changes expected at the Titans following the loss to the Dragons.
Sam Verrills suffered a knock to his shoulder and will need to prove his fitness to face the Storm.
Storm: Nelson Asofa-Solomona suffered a shoulder injury in the loss to the Bulldogs that will likely see him miss six to eight weeks.
Xavier Coates is a strong chance to return from a shoulder injury, he’d replace Grant Anderson on the wing.
Tom Eisenhuth (back) and Tariq Sims (calf) are on track to return for their first games of the season.
COWBOYS V WARRIORS
Saturday, 5.30pm, QCB Stadium, Townsville
Cowboys: Scott Drinkwater is facing a three to four week suspension for a shoulder charge.
Peta Hiku is facing two to three weeks out for a crusher tackle.
This would likely see Valentine Holmes revert to fullback, while rookie Tom Chester will also come into consideration.
If Holmes does shift, Brendan Elliot and Gehamat Shibasaki would likely be called into the centres.
Warriors: The Warriors have come out of their gutsy loss to the Roosters battered and bruised.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Jackson Ford both failed HIAs and will need to pass concussion protocols to take their place against the Cowboys.
With both Luke Metcalf and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak sidelined with injury, it may force Te Maire Martin to fullback and Ronald Volkman to the halves if Nicoll-Klokstad is unavailable.
Josh Curran is also in doubt having suffered a hip injury.
The back-row injuries may force Mitchell Barnett to an edge this week if both Curran and Ford are unavailable.
Jazz Tevaga returned in NSW Cup and will likely join the bench for the Cowboys clash.
BRONCOS V DRAGONS
Saturday, 7.35pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Broncos: Corey Oates is set to miss six to eight weeks with a displaced fracture of the jaw.
This will see Jesse Arthars return to the side on the wing.
Dragons: No major changes expected at the Dragons following their win over the Titans.
Toby Couchman must pass concussion protocols to take his place, however he’s also a chance to be replaced by Jack de Belin if he proves his fitness following an off-season calf injury.
BULLDOGS v TIGERS
Sunday, 4.05pm, Belmore Oval, Sydney
Bulldogs: Rookie Jacob Preston was named at lock on game day, but played on the right edge, with Raymond Faitala-Mariner shifting to the middle of the park.
This change is expected to occur again for the Belmore clash with the Tigers.
Tigers: Both Jake Simpkin and Tommy Talau failed HIAs in the loss to Newcastle.
Ken Maumalo is pushing to return from a knee injury and could slot straight into the backline, rookie Junior Tupou is another candidate.
Shawn Blore is due back from a head knock, while John Bateman is a chance to play his first game for the club.
RAIDERS V SHARKS
Sunday, 6.15pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra
Raiders: Josh Papalii’i is pushing to return from a back injury for his first game of the season.
If he’s cleared, Pasami Saulo would likely move to the bench, with Ata Mariota dropping out of the team.
Tom Starling was used as a lock when coming onto the field in the loss to the Dolphins, with Danny Levi remaining at hooker.
Sharks: Nicho Hynes will miss at least one more week with a calf injury.
Jack Williams is expected to return from a concussion suffered against the Rabbitohs in round 1.
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