NRL Late Mail round 14, predicted team changes: Lachlan Galvin to debut for Bulldogs, AJ Brimson cleared to face Broncos

The Bulldogs have confirmed teen star Lachlan Galvin will make his debut for the club on Monday against the Eels - the side he came close to joining from the Tigers. Latest team news inside.

The Bulldogs have confirmed Lachie Galvin will play his first game for the club on Monday. It is expected that Galvin will start off the interchange bench to play the Eels - the side he almost joined.

-Michael Carayannis

BRIMSON GRANTED EXEMPTION

Titans fullback AJ Brimson has been granted an exemption from the NRL’s concussion stand down protocols and will play in Saturday’s derby against the Broncos.

Brimson was facing two rounds on the sidelines after suffering a head knock at training in the lead-up to last weekend’s loss to Melbourne.

He sat out the Storm game and was set to miss the Broncos clash at Suncorp Stadium due to the NRL’s mandatory 11-day stand down period for head knocks.

The Broncos game falls on day nine of his stand down period.

However the Titans were successful in having Brimson cleared to play after obtaining clearance from an independent doctor.

Brimson also did not report any concussion-related symptoms in the days following the training incident.

The return of Brimson is a boost for the last-placed Titans and coach Des Hasler as they attempt to avoid an eighth loss in nine games against the similarly desperate Broncos.

Brimson will slot into fullback, with Jayden Campbell and Kieran Foran combining in the halves and Tom Weaver dropping out of the team.

- Travis Meyn

AJ Brimson has been cleared to face the Broncos. Picture: Getty

TIGERS DOWNPLAY LUAI SCARE

Wests Tigers halfback Jarome Luai is expected to be fit to play against his former club Penrith, after falling ill with gastro at the start of the week.

The captain was a notable absence at training on Wednesday, but after a day off on Thursday, Luai is expected to report to Concord on Friday to finalise preparation for his clash with his former club.

Teammate Api Koroisau confirmed his co-captain will be right to play on Thursday and none of the other Tigers had come down with the virus.

“He was just sick, had gastro,” Koroisau said.

“He was pretty much by himself, so he’s the only one who has missed training.”

Jarome Luai of the Tigers. Picture: Getty Images

Still at the Tigers, Adam Doueihi has sent a scare through the team after he was kicked in the face and forced off the field at training on Wednesday.

Doueihi, who has been named at centre for Sunday’s clash with the Panthers at CommBank Stadium, suffered the setback at the Tigers’ Concord base towards the end of the session.

He was attended to by a trainer in the grandstand with this masthead capturing Doueihi getting his jaw and teeth checked.

It’s understood Doueihi has been given the all clear to play against the Panthers this weekend.

— Tyson Jackson and Brent Read

Adam Doueihi has a fresh injury.

Bulldogs blow with Tupouniua sidelined

Sitili Tupouniua is facing an extended absence from coach Cameron Ciraldo’s outfit after the Canterbury star suffered a fresh hamstring injury.

Tupouniua was set to return from a five week suspension next weekend against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 15.

That return has now been delayed indefinitely after the forward went down with a hamstring injury during training.

Despite lining up for the season opener, the 28-year old had a distributed pre-season due to hamstring issues.

Given his history with hamstring injuries, club medical staff won’t be tempted to rush the forward back onto the field with Canterbury’s position in the top eight is all but secured.

-Fatima Kdouh

Sitili Tupouniua is facing time out with a hamstring injury. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images

NRL ROUND 14 LATE MAIL

SHARKS V WARRIORS

Saturday, Jun 7, 5:30pm

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Mawene Hiroti 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Billy Burns 21. Jayden Berrell

Players cut: 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Hohepa Puru 22. Niwhai Puru

Late Mail: No late changes expected at this stage.

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Kurt Capewell 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Leka Halasima 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Jacob Laban 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith

Reserves: 20. Samuel Healey23. Taine Tuaupiki

Players cut: 18. Tom Ale 21. Tanah Boyd 22. Ali Leiataua

Late Mail: No late changes expected at this stage.

BRONCOS V TITANS

Saturday, Jun 7, 7:35pm

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 20. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

Interchange: 14. Billy Walters 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Xavier Willison 17. Ben Te Kura

Reserves: 2. Selwyn Cobbo 18. Tyson Smoothy

Players cut: 19. Deiner Mariner 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Blake Mozer

Late Mail: Selwyn Cobbo has been dropped to the reserves by Broncos coach Michael Maguire with youngster Josiah Karapani promoted to the starting side in his place.

Titans

1. Jayden Campbell 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Allan Fitzgibbon 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tom Weaver 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sean Mullany 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui

Interchange: 14. Klese Haas 15. Jaimin Jolliffe 16. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 17. Arama Hau

Reserves: 18. AJ Brimson 21. Tukimihia Simpkins

Players cut: 19. Josh Patston 20. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 22. Ryan Foran

Late Mail: AJ Brimson has been cleared to return by the NRL. Brimson will slot into fullback, with Jayden Campbell and Kieran Foran combining in the halves and Tom Weaver dropping out of the team.

RAIDERS V RABBITOHS

Sunday, Jun 8, 2:00pm

Raiders

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh

Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota

Reserves: 18. Noah Martin 19. Trey Mooney 20. Danny Levi 21. Jed Stuart 22. Ethan Sanders

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: To come

Rabbitohs

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Jack Wighton 4. Campbell Graham 5. Isaiah Tass 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Jai Arrow 9. Siliva Havili 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. Euan Aitken 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Lachlan Hubner

Interchange: 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Sean Keppie 16. Liam Le Blanc 17. Tevita Tatola

Reserves: 18. Davvy Moale 19. Jye Gray 20. Tyrone Munro 21. Thomas Fletcher22. Jacob Host

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: To come

WESTS TIGERS V PANTHERS

Sunday, Jun 8, 4:05pm

Wests Tigers

1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Heath Mason 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Sione Fainu 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Tony Sukkar 13. Alex Seyfarth

Interchange: 14. Latu Fainu 15. Jack Bird 16. Kit Laililii 17. Charlie Murray

Reserves: 18. Luke Laulilii 19. Tallyn Da Silva 20. Charlie Staines 21. Brent Naden 22 Ele El-Zakhem

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: To come

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaiah Yeo

Interchange: 14. Luke Sommerton 15. Matt Eisenhuth 16. Luron Patea 17. Daine Laurie

Reserves: 18. Brad Schneider 19. Isaiah Papali’i 20. Trent toelau 21. Luke Garner 22.Paul Alamoti

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: To come

BULLDOGS V EELS

Monday, Jun 9, 4:00pm

Bulldogs

1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Josh Curran 13. Kurt Mann

Interchange: 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Harry Hayes 16. Lipoi Hopoi 17. Kurtis Morrin

Reserves: 19. Jake Turpin 20. Blake Wilson 21. Samuel Hughes 22. Blake Taaffe 23. Lachlan Galvin

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Sitili Tupouniua suffered a hamstring injury at training and could miss an extended period.

Tupouniua was due back from suspension in round 15.

Eels

1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood

Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 16. Ryan Matterson 17. Jordan Samrani

Reserves: 18. Joash Papali’i 19. Matt Doorey 20. Joey Lussick 21. Dean Hawkins 22. Samuel Loizou

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: To come

BYE: ROOSTERS

Originally published as NRL Late Mail round 14, predicted team changes: Lachlan Galvin to debut for Bulldogs, AJ Brimson cleared to face Broncos