NRL teams Round 8: Late Mail, predicted team changes, Talatau Amone facing drop in reshuffle

Dragons coach Anthony Griffin is set to shuffle roles for two of his brightest young players for the clash against Wests Tigers. FULL ROUND 8 LATE MAIL.

Jayden Sullivan is expected to play his first game of the year for the Dragons in place of Talatau Amone.

Amone has impressed off the bench in recent weeks but needs to play longer minutes and that is expected to happen in NSW Cup this week.

Scans have cleared Moses Suli of a serious knee injury with the Dragons centre expected to line up to play against the Tigers. Suli suffered a bad cork but had further scans on Wednesday. Despite severe swelling it is hoped he will take his place.

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Talatau Amone is seet to drop back to NSW Cup. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Raiders lose skipper for Warriors clash

Elliott Whitehead has been ruled out of the Raiders clash with the Warriors due to ongoing issues with a severe facial cut.

The Canberra captain is aiming to return next week.

Adam Elliott will instead start in the back row with Harry Rushton added to the bench.

Bulldogs’ Covid blow

Canterbury are sweating on the health of its four Covid-19 players after captain Josh Jackson also tested positive to the virus on Wednesday.

Max King will move from the bench to lock to cover for Jackson.

King’s move means Billy Tsikrikas’s NRL fairy tale is set to continue with the schoolteacher set to take on the Roosters from the bench.

Tsikrikas, 26, had given up on playing NRL until last week when he was handed a shock start because of a Covid crisis at Belmore.Brent Naden is the other late out for the Bulldogs with his place on the wing taken by Jayden Okunbor.

Josh Jackson is out due to Covid (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

ROUND 8 TEAMS

WARRIORS v RAIDERS

Saturday, 3pm, Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe

Warriors

1. Reece Walsh, 2. Rocco Berry, 3. Jesse Arthars, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Viliami Vailea, 21. Daejarn Asi, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Matt Lodge, 11. Euan Aitken, 12. Bayley Sironen, 13. Jazz Tevaga

Bench: 14. Taniela Otukolo, 15. Bunty Afoa, 16. Eliesa Katoa, 17. Jack Murchie

Reserves: 18. Edward Kosi, 20. Ben Murdoch-Masila

Players cut: 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 22. Pride Petterson-Robati, 23. Junior Ratuva, 24. Valingi Kepu, 25. Jackson Frei

Late Mail: Chanel Harris-Tavita (testicle) is out replaced by Daejarn Asi at five-eighth. Ben Murdoch-Masila has been named on the extended bench and is la chance to return from injury via the bench.

Raiders

1. Jordan Rapana, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Matt Timoko, 4. Semi Valemei, 5. Xavier Savage, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. Brad Schneider, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Tom Starling, 10. Joseph Tapine, 11. Hudson Young, 16. Adam Elliott, 13. Ryan Sutton

Bench: 14. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 15. Corey Harawira-Naera, 17. Corey Horsburgh, 18. Harry Rushton

Reserves: 19. Matt Frawley, 22. Trey Mooney

Players cut: 12. Elliott Whitehead, 20. Jarrod Croker 21. Emre Guler, 23. James Schiller, 24. Peter Hola

Late Mail: Elliott Whitehead has been ruled out of the Raiders clash with the Warriors due to ongoing issues with a severe facial cut.

The Canberra captain is aiming to return next week.

Adam Elliott will instead start in the back row with Harry Rushton added to the bench.

BULLDOGS v ROOSTERS

Saturday, 5.30pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

Bulldogs

1. Matt Dufty, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 3. Aaron Schoupp, 4. Jake Averillo, 21. Jayden Okunbor, 6. Matt Burton, 7. Kyle Flanagan, 8. Luke Thompson, 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Paul Vaughan, 11. Corey Waddell, 12. Tevita Pangai Jr, 16. Max King

Bench: 14. Bailey Biondi-Odo, 15. Joe Stimson, 17. Ava Seumanufagai, 23. Billy Tsikrikas

Reserves: 19. Josh Cook, 20. Jackson Topine,

Players cut: 2. Brent Naden, 13. Josh Jackson, 22. Reece Hoffman, 24. Paul Alamoti, 25. Tui Katoa

Late Mail: Club captain Josh Jackson has been scratched for the clash with the Roosters after testing positive to COVID. Max King will move to lock and last week’s debutant Billy Tsikrikas comes on to the bench.

Roosters

1. James Tedesco, 2. Kevin Naiqama, 3. Paul Momirovski, 4. Joey Manu, 5. Joseph Suaalii, 6. Sam Walker, 7. Luke Keary, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Sam Verrills, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Angus Crichton, 12. Sitili Tupouniua, 13. Victor Radley

Bench: 14. Drew Hutchison, 15. Fletcher Baker, 16. Nat Butcher, 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho

Reserves: 19. Daniel Suluka-Fifita, 22. Adam Keighran

Players cut: 18. Lachlan Lam, 20. Ben Marschke, 21. Naufahu Whyte, 23. Renouf Atoni, 24. Tom Carr

Late Mail: No changes are expected to the 17 following the shock ANZAC Day loss to the Dragons, however there may be switches to the starting squad as per last week.

Nat Butcher started at lock for Victor Radley on Monday, I don’t expect this change to happen again.

Butcher and Angus Crichton have switched starting roles throughout the year, with Crichton starting and playing 80 minutes the past two weeks.

Sio Siua Taukeiaho started at prop last week in place of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, this switch may happen again.

Siosiua Taukeiaho could again be shuffled into the starting lineup. Picture: Getty

EELS v COWBOYS

Saturday, 7.05pm, TIO Stadium, Darwin

Eels

1. Clint Gutherson, 2. Hayze Perham, 3. Will Penisini, 4. Dylan Brown, 5. Bailey Simonsson, 6. Jake Arthur, 7. Mitchell Moses, 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 9. Reed Mahoney, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Shaun Lane, 12. Isaiah Papali’I, 13. Nathan Brown

Bench: 14. Makahesi Makatoa, 15. Ryan Matterson, 16. Oregon Kaufusi, 17. Bryce Cartwright

Reserves: 18. Wiremu Greig, 19. Mitch Rein, 20. Tom Opacic, 21. Ky Rodwell, 22. Solomone Naiduki, 23. Elie El-Zakhem, 24. Luca Moretti

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Due to a number of backline injuries, Dylan Brown has been named at centre again as per last week’s late switch.

Tom Opacic has been named on the extended bench, if cleared to return from injury, I expect him to come into the starting side, shifting Brown to the halves, and Jakob Arthur to the bench, with Bryce Cartwright dropping out of the 17.

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater, 2. Kyle Feldt, 3. Valentine Holmes, 4. Peta Hiku, 5. Murray Taulagi, 6. Tom Dearden, 7. Chad Townsend, 8. Jordan McLean, 9. Reece Robson, 10. Coen Hess, 11. Heilum Luki, 12. Jeremiah Nanai, 13. Jason Taumalolo

Bench: 14. Jake Granville, 15. Tom Gilbert, 16. Reuben Cotter, 17. Griffin Neame

Reserves: 18. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, 19. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 20. Connelly Lemuelu, 21. Ben Condon, 22. Emry Pere, 23. Brendan Elliot, 24. Ben Hampton

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: No major changes expected to the in-form Cowboys, however Todd Payten continues to play silly buggers with his back-row rotation.

The starting edge has changed on game day to the side named on Tuesday the past few weeks.

For now, Heilum Luki has been named to start, but there’s every chance he switches with Tom Gilbert come kick-off.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has been named on the extended bench and may come into the 17, where that would be remains to be seen, with Scott Drinkwater’s recent form being outstanding.

I expect Reuben Cotter to start the game in place of either Coen Hess or Jordan McLean.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten continues to mess with the minds of Supercoaches until game day every week. Picture: Getty

KNIGHTS v STORM

Sunday, 2pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Edrick Lee, 3. Simi Sasagi, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Enari Tuala, 6. Jake Clifford, 7. Adam Clune, 8. David Klemmer, 9. Chris Randall, 10. Daniel Saifiti, 11. Tyson Frizell, 12. Brodie Jones, 13. Kurt Mann

Bench: 14. Phoenix Crossland, 15. Jacob Saifiti, 16. Leo Thompson 17. Sauaso Sue

Reserves: 18. Tex Hoy, 19. Jack Johns, 20. Brayden Musgrove, 21. Pasami Saulo, 22. Dylan Lucas, 23. Jaron Purcell, 24. Krystian Mapapalangi

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Injuries to Dane Gagai and Hymel Hunt have solidified the position of Edrick Lee on the wing, and also handing Simi Sasagi a start at centre.

The Knights back-row crisis could get worse should Brodie Jones not be cleared to play following an elbow injury last round.

With the likes of Mitch Barnett, Lachlan Fitzgibbons and Jirah Momoisea all unavailable, stocks are limited.

Sauaso Sue may be forced to the edge, however they may opt to bring in a more specialist edge player in Jack Johns.

Jacob Saifiti is expected to start at prop come game day, with brother Daniel to play from the bench.

Storm

1. Ryan Papenhuyzen, 2. Nick Meaney, 3. Reimis Smith, 4. Justin Olam, 5. Xavier Coates, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. Jesse Bromwich, 9. Harry Grant, 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona, 11. Felise Kaufusi, 12. Kenny Bromwich, 13. Josh King

Bench: 14. Brandon Smith, 15. Tyran Wishart, 16. Trent Loiero, 17. Tepai Moeroa

Reserves: 18. Chris Lewis, 19. Marion Seve, 20. Alec MacDonald, 21. Jordan Grant, 22. Jack Howarth, 23. Bronson Garlick, 24. Cooper Johns

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: Chris Lewis and Tyran Wishart switched last week on game day, this may occur again.

Reimis Smith must pass concussion protocol to take his part in the game, with the six day turnaround unlikely to help his chances.

If unavailable, Marion Seve is the likely replacement in the side.

However, it may also open a door for promising youngster Jack Howarth to come into the side at centre after a string of strong pre-season performances.

DRAGONS v TIGERS

Sunday, 4.05pm, WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Dragons

1. Moses Mbye, 2. Mathew Feagai, 3. Moses Suli, 4. Zac Lomax, 5. Mikaele Ravalawa, 6. Jack Bird, 7. Ben Hunt, 8. Francis Molo, 9. Andrew McCullough, 10. George Burgess, 11. Tariq Sims, 12. Josh McGuire, 13. Jack de Belin

Bench: 14. Talatau Amone, 15. Blake Lawrie, 16. Aaron Woods, 17. Tyrell Fuimaono

Reserves: 18. Tautau Moga, 19. Jackson Ford, 20. Josh Kerr, 21. Tyrell Sloan, 22. Cody Ramsey, 23. Jack Gosiewski, 24. Jayden Sullivan

Players cut: To come

Late Mail: While yet to be officially cleared, Jack Bird is expected to face the Tigers having likely avoided a major injury to his arm. If unavailable, Jayden Sullivan is tipped to get the nod ahead of Talatau Amone.

Tigers

1. Starford To’a, 2. David Nofoaluma, 3. Luke Garner, 4. Oliver Gildart, 27. Asu Kepaoa, 6. Luke Brooks, 7. Jackson Hastings, 8. James Tamou, 9. Jacob Liddle, 10. Zane Musgrove, 11. Kelma Tuilagi, 12. Luciano Leilua, 13. Joe Ofahengaue

Bench: 14. Jock Madden, 15. Alex Twal, 16. Thomas Mikaele, 17. Alex Seyfarth

Reserves: 18. Jake Simpkin, 19. Tyrone Peachey, 20. Junior Tupou, 21. Tukimihia Simpkins. 22. Austin Dias, 23. Fonua Pole, 24. Junior Tupou

Players cut: 5. Ken Maumalo

Late Mail: The only major change at the in-form Tigers would be if Jake Simpkin came into the side in place of Jock Madden, sharing the hooking role with Jacob Liddle.

Originally published as NRL teams Round 8: Late Mail, predicted team changes, Talatau Amone facing drop in reshuffle