NRL Late Mail ahead of round 4: Last-minute team news and gossip

PENRITH captain Matt Moylan will miss his fourth straight game to start the season while big money recruit Trent Merrin is a certain starter.

PENRITH captain Matt Moylan will miss his fourth straight game to start the season after being ruled out of his side’s NRL clash with St George Illawarra on Sunday.

The Panthers fullback was considered a chance of returning from his back injury against the Dragons, and while he has returned to full training, coach Anthony Griffin has opted not to risk further injury.

The goal, again, is next week.

“If it was a back-end of the season game and we were really desperate, he’d play,” Griffin said.

“But we’re going to be patient with him and just make sure when he does play, he’ll be right. Hopefully that’s next Sunday for him.”

Forward Trent Merrin is a certain starter after overcoming an illness that kept him out of last week’s win over Brisbane.

The former Dragon was on a drip in hospital this time last week but Griffin said the NSW State of Origin representative had trained well through the week and wouldn’t be on a minutes restriction. “There’s no reason why he wouldn’t. He obviously got struck by a bad viral infection last Saturday morning but by the middle of this week he had his weight back on and all his blood tests were alright,” he said.

“Some of his symptoms must’ve looked like it but it’s obviously not glandular fever. He’s in a really good frame of mind. He’s fit and healthy, looking forward to play(ing).”

BRONCOS v COWBOYS

8.05pm Friday at Suncorp Stadium

Broncos: Updated 7.10pm Friday

1. Darius Boyd 2. Greg Eden 3. Jordan Kahu 4. James Roberts 5. Lachlan Maranta 6. Anthony Milford 7. Ben Hunt 8. Josh McGuire 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Adam Blair 11. Alex Glenn 12. Matt Gillett 13. Corey Parker (c) Interchange: 14. Jarrod Wallace 15. Sam Thaiday 16. Joe Ofahengaue 17. Kodi Nikorima

Lachlan Maranta returns on the wing, Jordan Kahu will start in the centes. Jack Reed is expected back in round 5.

Cowboys:

1 Lachlan Coote 2 Kyle Feldt 3 Justin O’Neill 4 Kane Linnett 5 Antonio Winterstein 6 Michael Morgan 7 Johnathan Thurston (c) 8 Matthew Scott (c) 14 Rory Kostjasyn 10 James Tamou 11 Gavin Cooper 12 Ethan Lowe 13 Jason Taumalolo Interchange 9 Jake Granville 15 John Asiata 16 Scott Bolton 17 Ben Hannant

Jake Granville goes to the bench with Rory Kostjasyn to start at hooker.

RABBITOHS v BULLDOGS

4pm Friday at ANZ Stadium

Rabbitohs:Updated 3pm Friday

1 Greg Inglis (c) 19 Michael Oldfield 3 Bryson Goodwin 4 Hymel Hunt 5 Aaron Gray 6 Cody Walker 7 Luke Keary 8 George Burgess 9 Cameron McInnes 10 David Tyrrell 11 Paul Carter 12 Kyle Turner 13 Nathan Brown Interchange: 14 Damien Cook 15 Jason Clark 16 Chris Grevsmuhl 17 Kirisome Auva’a

Winger Alex Johnston has been ruled out (hamstring), with Michael Oldfield set to replace him. Forward Sam Burgess (neck) has been cleared of serious damage, but will miss Friday’s clash as he is still battling stiffness after straining some of the smaller muscles in his back. He will return next week.

Bulldogs: Updated 3pm Friday

1 Will Hopoate 2 Curtis Rona 3 Josh Morris 4 Chase Stanley 5 Sam Perrett 6 Josh Reynolds 7 Moses Mbye 8 Aiden Tolman 9 Craig Garvey 10 James Graham (c) 11 Josh Jackson 12 Tony Williams 13 Greg Eastwood Interchange: 14 Sam Kasiano 15 Tim Browne 16 David Klemmer 17 Adam Elliott

LISTEN TO OUR ROUND 4 SUPERCOACH PODCAST

RAIDERS v TITANS

5.30pm Saturday at GIO Stadium

Raiders: No changes, with Shannon Boyd (concussion) cleared. Elliott Whitehead will again play five-eighth, with first choice halves Aidan Sezer (eye socket) and Blake Austin (knee) aiming for round six at the earliest. Joey Leilua (suspension) will return next week. He was found not guilty of dangerous contact at the judiciary on Wednesday night and avoided an extra week, but is still serving a ban for a dangerous throw.

Titans: Updated 2.27pm Friday

Skipper Nathan Friend has been ruled out after copping two knocks to the head in first three rounds. Kierran Moseley will come on to the bench in his absence, with Daniel Mortimer likely to start at hooker. Greg Bird (concussion) is expected to play. Ashley Taylor will relinquish the goalkicking duties to Tyrone Roberts. A return date for Will Zillman (calf) is still up in the air, although he did some light running this week. SuperCoach cheapie Nathan Davis (shoulder) is due back in round six.

ROOSTERS v SEA EAGLES

7.30pm Saturday at Allianz Stadium

Roosters: Unchanged. Brendan Elliot has been named to replace Dale Copley (pectoral, round 20), while Eloni Vunakece comes onto the bench for Ian Henderson (broken leg, indefinite). With no recognised bench hooker, Jake Friend could play 80 minutes.

Sea Eagles: Forwards Brenton Lawrence and Martin Taupau both drop out through suspension. Jamie Buhrer (broken jaw) has been cleared to return and will come into the 17, with the other spot to be decided following Friday’s final training run. Darcy Lussick is the favourite.

DRAGONS v PANTHERS

4pm Sunday at WIN Stadium

Dragons: Playmaker Benji Marshall (hamstring) will train with the full squad later in the week and is a strong chance of being a late inclusion, with Josh McCrone to drop out. A final decision will be made on game day.

Panthers: Backrower Trent Merrin has made a miraculous recovery from a viral infection and is set to take his place, while Matt Moylan (back) has been ruled out for another week.

WARRIORS v KNIGHTS

2pm Monday at Mt Smart Stadium

Warriors: The full squad is fit, with Sam Lisone (shoulder) cleared to return.

Knights: Coach Nathan Brown must find a replacement for Sione Mata’utia (suspension) at centre. Wingers Cory Denniss and Nathan Ross both had stints in the position during Wednesday’s session, with Akuila Uate (chest) training on a wing and aiming to be a late inclusion. Jake Mamo (ankle) may also come into contention. He ran on his own and came through the test well.

TIGERS v EELS

4pm Monday at ANZ Stadium

Tigers: Jason Taylor’s team have two sessions left, but expect no changes. Robbie Farah (knee) has got through all sessions so far and will return, but don’t be surprised if he plays off the bench.

Eels: No changes expected. Beau Scott (hip/shoulder) has had a light week so far but is expected to play, while Manu Ma’u (suspension) returns.

SHARKS v STORM

7pm Monday at Southern Cross Stadium

Sharks: Centre Jack Bird (concussion) has showed no ill-effects from being felled by Martin Taupau, and the club expects him to pass all protocols. Paul Gallen (knee) is pushing to be a late inclusion and considered an outside chance. David Fifita (golden staph) was a late withdrawal last week and won’t be considered this round.

Storm: Young gun Curtis Scott trained at centre during Thursday’s session, although Craig Bellamy says he has no problem with continuing to play forwards in the backs.

Originally published as NRL Late Mail ahead of round 4: Last-minute team news and gossip