NRL Late Mail Round 7: Latest team news and Wacko’s Whispers

Keep up to date with late team changes and gossip for round seven of the 2021 NRL season, via WACKO’S WHISPERS.

Keep up to date with all the Late Mail for round Seven of the 2021 NRL season right here.

TIGERS V SEA EAGLES

Sun 25 Apr, Bankwest Stadium, Sydney, 1:45pm

TIGERS

1. Daine Laurie, 2. David Nofoaluma, 3. James Roberts, 4. Michael Chee Kam, 5. Tommy Talau, 6. Adam Doueihi, 7. Luke Brooks, 8. James Tamou, 9. Jake Simpkin, 10. Stefano Utoikamanu, 11. Joe Ofahengaue, 12. Luciano Leilua, 13. Alex Twal

Bench: 14. Moses Mbye, 15. Luke Garner, 16. Alex Seyfarth, 17. Zane Musgrove

Reserves: 19. Thomas Mikaele, 21. Joseph Leilua

Players cut: 18. Jacob Liddle, 20. Tom Amone

Late Mail: The Tigers play their first ANZAC DAY game since 2004 and they could have one charge with coach Michael Mcguire to make a final call at the captain’s run as to whether Joey Leilua, who has been named on the extended bench, could come into the side to replace Michael Chee-Kam at centre with no other late changes expected.

SEA EAGLES

1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Jason Saab, 3. Brad Parker, 4. Morgan Harper, 5. Reuben Garrick, 6. Kieran Foran, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Taniela Paseka, 9. Lachlan Croker, 10. Martin Taupau, 11. Haumole Olakau’tau, 12. Josh Schuster, 13. Jake Trbojevic

Bench: 14. Cade Cust, 15. Josh Aloiai, 16. Sean Keppie, 17. Toafofoa Sipley

Reserves: 18. Zac Saddler, 19. Tevita Funa

Players cut: 20. Christian Tuipulotu 21. Ben Trbojevic

Late Mail: The Sea Eagles have just one player in doubt after Josh Aloiai suffered a knock to the knee last weekend. Aloiai will need to pass a fitness test to play. Aloiai is expected to play against his old team and we should see the same change as last week with Martin Taupau and Haumole Olakau’atu both dropping to the bench with Aloiai starting at prop and Sean Keppie starting on the right edge. Tom Trbojevic made a successful return from hamstring injury but is something he will need to manage week in and week out.

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ROOSTERS V DRAGONS

Sun 25 Apr, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, 4:05pm

ROOSTERS

1 James Tedesco, 2 Daniel Tupou, 3 Josh Morris, 4 Joey Manu, 5 Brett Morris, 6 Drew Hutchison, 7 Sam Walker, 8 Isaac Liu, 9 Sam Verrills, 15. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 11 Angus Crichton, 12 Sitili Tupouniua, 13 Victor Radley

Bench: 14. Benjamin Marschke, 16. Nat Butcher 17. Lindsay Collins, 18. Fletcher Baker

Reserves: 19. Matt Ikuvalu 20. Egan Butcher

Players cut: 10 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 21. Tuku Hau Tapuha

Late Mail: The Roosters received a massive boost with Victor Radley free to play after receiving a downgrade at the judiciary meaning he is free to play in the ANZAC DAY blockbuster. However, star prop Siosiua Taukeiaho (ribs) has been rested and his spot in the starting lineup taken by Jared Waerea-Hargreaves with Fletcher Baker coming into the 17. Sam Verrills returns at hooker to play his first NRL game of the season after recovering from an ACL injury. Ben Marschke passed his game day HIA and will be right to play while Brett Morris, who was a late scratching last week due to calf tightness, has to pass a fitness test at the captain’s run on Saturday to play with Matt Ikuvalu on standby if ruled out again.

DRAGONS

1 Matt Dufty, 2 Cody Ramsey, 3 Jack Bird, 4 Zac Lomax, 5 Mikaele Ravalawa, 6 Corey Norman, 7 Adam Clune, 8 Blake Lawrie, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Paul Vaughan, 11 Josh Kerr, 12 Tariq Sims, 13 Tyrell Fuimaono

Bench: 14. Kaide Ellis, 15. Josh McGuire, 16. Daniel Alvaro, 18. Billy Burns,

Reserves: 19. Poasa Faamausili, 20. Jordan Pereira,

Players cut: 17. Brayden Williame, 21. Ben Hunt

Late Mail: Changes for the Dragons too with utility back Brayden Williame dropping off the interchange bench with coach Anthony Griffin opting to beef up his forward rotation by promoting former Panther Billy Burns. Ben Hunt was named on the extended bench as he recovers from a broken leg but has been cut 24 hours prior to kickoff. Blake Lawrie returns after missing the game last week due to a corked quad with Poasa Faamausili (shoulder) returning last week in the NSW Cup a chance to replace Kaide Ellis on the bench.

STORM V WARRIORS

Sun 25 Apr, AAMI Park, Melbourne, 6:15pm

STORM

1 Nicho Hynes, 2 George Jennings, 3 Reimis Smith, 4 Justin Olam, 5 Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Cameron Munster, 7 Jahrome Hughes, 8 Jesse Bromwich, 9 Brandon Smith, 10 Christian Welch, 11 Felise Kaufusi, 12 Ken Bromwich, 13 Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Bench: 14. Harry Grant 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Dale Finucane

Reserves: 19. Ryley Jacks 22 Chris Lewis

Players cut: 18 Dean Ieremia 20. Trent Loiero 21. Aaron Pene

Late Mail: The Storm welcome back Co-Captain Dale Finucane (calf) after he spent the last few weeks returning to full training and he will start on the bench. I expect to see the same switcheroo as previous weeks with Tui Kamikamica starting at lock with Nelson Asofa-Solomona dropping to the bench. Harry Grant is in some doubt due to concussion and will need to pass required protocols to play, if fit he’s a chance to start in place of Brandon Smith who would drop to the bench. Ryan Papenhuyzen is expected to be out for a couple of weeks due to shoulder injury which see Nicho Hynes start at fullback. Smith (leg), Kenny Bromwich (HIA) and Cameron Munster (knock) are all set to overcome knocks to play.

WARRIORS

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 18. Rocco Berry, 3. Marcelo Montoya, 4. Jack Murchie, 5. Ken Maumalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Sean O’Sullivan, 8. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Kane Evans, 11. Josh Curran, 12. Ben Murdoch-Masila,

Bench: 14. Jazz Tevaga, 15. Bunty Afoa, 16. Leeson Ah Mau, 17. Bayley Sironen, 20. Tom Ale

Reserves: 21. Reece Walsh, Edward Kosi

Players cut: 2. David Fusitu’a, 13. Tohu Harris 22. Taniela Otukolo

Late Mail: KFC SuperCoach superstar Tohu Harris is out which sees Jazz Tevaga move to lock and Tom Ale come on to the bench. Changes in the backline too with David Fusitu’a (hamstring) out which sees Rocco Berry promoted from the reserves on to the wing.

Originally published as NRL Late Mail Round 7: Latest team news and Wacko’s Whispers