NRL Early Mail: Josh Dugan expected to be named for Dragons
WORKHORSE Shaun Fensom is expected to be available for the Raiders. Get all the latest news in the Round 3 edition of NRL Early Mail.
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GET all the latest team news and predictions on team list Tuesday in the Round 3 edition of NRL Early Mail.
In the big news so far:
* Canberra workhorse Shaun Fensom (concussion) and rookie playmaker Lachlan Croker (shoulder) are expected to be available to face Newcastle;
* Dragons fullback Josh Dugan (hamstring) is expected to be fit for this week’s match against the Rabbitohs and is likely to be selected at fullback;
* Young gun Latrell Mitchell is expected to be named in the No. 1 jersey after his surprise switch to fullback against the Raiders, meaning Blake Ferguson returns to the centres;
* An injury to Eels hooker Nathan Peats (elbow) and back-up Cameron King opens the door for Isaac De Gois to make a return to the Parramatta side;
* Panthers skipper Matt Moylan looks set to miss at least one more week with a back problem but should return in round 4;
* Bulldogsforward Danny Fualolo is back in the frame for selection if David Klemmer is suspended.
COWBOYS V ROOSTERS
8.05pm AEDT Thursday at 1300SMILES Stadium
Cowboys: No changes expected for North Queensland after they made it through the loss to Parramatta unscathed but hooker Jake Granville is expected to move back into the starting side at the expense of Rory Kostjasyn.
Roosters: Young gun Latrell Mitchell is expected to be named in the No. 1 jersey after his surprise switch to fullback against the Raiders, meaning Blake Ferguson returns to the centres. Vincent Leuluai played just four minutes before succumbing to injury and Ian Henderson didn’t get on the field at all, which means that Trent Robinson could tweak his bench a little bit in order to better suit the needs of the team.
BULLDOGS V EELS
8.05pm Friday at ANZ Stadium
Bulldogs:David Klemmer’s pending suspension seems to put Danny Fualolo back in the frame for a shot in first grade. Aidan Tolman is expected to be fit following his concussion last week while young centre Kerrod Holland is expected to be retained ahead of Chase Stanley.
Eels:Nathan Peats’ dislocated elbow and Cameron King’s sternum injury sustained for Wentworthville on the weekend means Isaac De Gois and Kaysa Pritchard will share the hooking duties for the blue and golds. Manu Ma’u is facing a one-week suspension and would likely be replaced in the starting side by Kenny Edwards.
KNIGHTS V RAIDERS
5.30pm Saturday at Hunter Stadium
Knights:David Bhana played just 11 minutes on Saturday and suffered an ankle injury that will keep him out for eight weeks. Kade Snowden and Pauli Pauli are the contenders to replace the former Warrior. Akulia Uate will need a fitness test to take his place after the club confirmed he’d suffered a chest joint injury.
Raiders: Canberra workhorse Shaun Fensom and rookie playmaker Lachlan Croker are expected to be available to face Newcastle following injuries in round two.
Fensom was forced off with concussion just one minute into their win over Sydney Roosters at GIO Stadium on Saturday, while Croker went down with a hurt shoulder on debut late in the second half.
The Raiders confirmed on Tuesday both were expected to be up for selection for this week’s match against the Knights at Hunter Stadium.
As expected, star halves Blake Austin (knee) and Aidan Sezer (eye socket) are due back between rounds five and seven following injuries suffered in their season-opening win over Penrith.
New recruit Adam Clydsdale is slated for a return in round three or four after injuring his shoulder in the Raiders’ trial against the Knights.
The Raiders will also be without centre Joseph Leilua for at least two matches after pleading guilty to a dangerous throw on Shaun Kenny-Dowall in the 21-20 victory over the Roosters.
Sisa Waqa is expected to slot in at right centre but Stuart could pull a fast one and insert Brenko Lee.
PANTHERS V BRONCOS
7.30pm Saturday at Pepper Stadium
Panthers: Matt Moylan will miss at least one more week with a back problem but is tipped to return in Round 4 against the Dragons. With the injuries to Dean Whare and Waqa Blake, coach Anthony Griffin seems likely to recall Will Smith and possibly George Jennings or Robert Jennings.
Broncos:Greg Eden is expected to fill in for Corey Oates on the left wing but Lachlan Maranta is a chance to return early from injury, while Tom Opacic and Marion Seve are the other outside backs in the frame.
TITANS V TIGERS
9.30pm Saturday at CBus Super Stadium
Titans: Promising rookie centre Nathan Davis returned to the Gold Coast with his arm in a sling but the club remains unsure of the extent of his shoulder injury. Will Zillman could return in his absence, either directly at centre or from his preferred fullback position. The latter would mean David Mead would move to the wing and Nene Macdonald to centre.
Tigers: Back-rower Curtis Sironen left the field on Monday night with a hamstring complaint. The extent of the injury is unknown but a stint on the sidelines could open the door for Joel Edwards to make his Tigers debut.
WARRIORS V STORM
2pm Sunday at Mt Smart Stadium
Warriors:Blake Ayshford and Manu Vatuvei both failed to finish the defeat to Brisbane. Konrad Hurrell and David Fusitu’a are the logical replacements but McFadden has shown a preference for the likes of Jono Wright and Matthew Allwood in the past. Ben Matulino’s pending suspension leaves a big hole in the middle for the New Zealanders and Albert Vete is expected to replace him on the bench.
Storm:Billy Slater’s shoulder injury means Cameron Munster will assume the fullback duties fulltime with young gun Curtis Scott to duel with Richie Kennar for the vacancy at centre.
DRAGONS V RABBITOHS
4pm Sunday at Sydney Cricket Ground
Dragons: Josh Dugan is expected to be fit for this week’s match against the Rabbitohs and is set to be be selected at fullback, shifting Kurt Mann to reserve grade to gain some confidence.
Dragons coach Paul McGregor strongly hinted at changes to his back three after a poor output over the opening fortnight of the season that has left them without a win.
Sunday’s back three of Mann, Peter Mata’utia and Jason Nightingale made a combined six errors against the Sharks, with Mann totalling four in two matches.
“We’ve put a lot of work into (Dugan’s move to centre) in the pre-season and it’s only two games into the competition,” McGregor said after the game.
“But he averaged 160 metres last year from the back and we’re certainly not getting that out of our back three at the moment. So we’ll look at that.
“I’ve also always said that Josh is one of the best, if not the best, defensive fullback in the game.”
Dugan’s move would see Euan Aitken likely return at right centre.
Rabbitohs: No further injuries to report for the Rabbitohs. Tom Burgess is still a week or two away from returning.
SEA EAGLES V SHARKS
7pm Monday at Brookvale Oval
Sea Eagles: No further injuries to report. Fullback Brett Stewart could make a return from a hamstring injury.
Sharks: Ben Barba struggled with injury in the final minutes of the win over the Dragons but is expected to be fit. If he’s unavailable look for Jack Bird to switch to fullback and Gerard Beale to come into the centres. Chris Heighington will also return to the side after serving his suspension.
Originally published as NRL Early Mail: Josh Dugan expected to be named for Dragons
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