NRL Late Mail round 1 2024: Predicted team changes for upcoming weekend

The Dragons have received mixed news ahead of their Titans clash, with one star cleared of injury, while another has been ruled out. See all the late team changes here.

St George Illawarra have received some mixed news with Blake Lawrie ruled out of their clash against the Titans, while Jacob Liddle has been given the green light to play.

Lawrie will miss the game with rib injury while Liddle had a slight hamstring injury during St George Illawarra’s final pre-season hitout against the Tigers.

The Dragons have reshuffled their forward pack, with Jack de Belin moving into the front row, former Bulldog Raymond Faitala-Mariner moves from the bench into the backrow, and Tom Eisenhuth moves to lock. Ben Murdoch-Masila is the new face on the bench.

“Blake is a tricky one,” coach Shane Flanagan said. “If it was a semi final he would play with some painkilling there. It is a big game but it’s round one. We have to make a decision. He will train but we will see how he pulls up and how he feels.

“Jacob Liddle will be fine.”

FERMOR TIPPED FOR 80 MINUTES

Gold Coast Titans forward Beau Fermor has been backed to step straight back into 80 minutes on his return to the NRL from an ACL injury.

The Queensland Origin hopeful missed all of last season with the injury but has impressed in the pre-season under new coach Des Hasler.

“Beau Fermor is looking good,” said centre AJ Brimson. “Obviously he was out all last year with his knee injury and he had a massive 2022.

“I’m hoping he can have a big year for us and possibly even for the Maroons …

“I reckon he’ll be playing 80 minutes.”

—Ben Horne

Beau Fermor is set to play 80 minutes. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

BRONCOS SWEAT ON REYNOLDS INJURY

Brisbane is sweating on the fitness of skipper Adam Reynolds following the United States adventure.

The Broncos returned to Brisbane on Tuesday morning following the 20-10 loss to the Roosters in the NRL’s inaugural Vegas trip.

Backrower Brendan Piakura must pass concussion tests over the next week to prove his fitness for next Thursday’s round 2 blockbuster with the Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium.

Reynolds is also under an injury cloud after sustaining a knee injury in the loss to the Roosters.

Reynolds underwent scans after returning to Brisbane and received a promising prognosis, with Broncos medical staff confident he will not miss the clash against his former club.

– Travis Meyn, Peter Badel

KOROISAU NON-COMMITTAL ON GOALKICKING

Forget who will make up the halves combination at the Tigers, it is goalkicking that Wests Tigers skipper Api Koroisau has been asked about plenty of times in recent weeks.

Koroisau surprised plenty when he was handed the goalkicking duties during the trials despite accomplished points-scorer Aidan Sezer signing.

“I might wait for people to buy me in SuperCoach,” Koroisau laughed. “I think I’m goalkicking. We’ll see how the form goes.”

Koroisau kicked at a very handy 85.71 per cent last year as he booted his first conversion since 2017. Sezer has an NRL career strike rate of 82.11 per cent.

—Michael Carayannis

Apisai Koroisau “thinks” he’s goalkicking. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

EELS v BULLDOGS

Saturday, 9th March, 5:30pm, CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Eels

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Morgan Harper 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood

Interchange: 14. Brendan Hands 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Joe Ofahengaue 17. Kelma Tuilagi Reserves: 20. Luca Moretti 22. Blaize Talagi

Cut: 18. Ofahiki Ogden 19. Daejarn Asi 21. Makahesi Makatoa

Late Mail: Bailey Simonsson (hamstring) is right to go despite picking up an injury in the trials. No changes to the starting line-up in the 24-hour team update.

Bulldogs

1. Blake Taaffe 2. Blake Wilson 3. Jacob Kiraz 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Poasa Faamausili 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon

Interchange: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Samuel Hughes 16. Josh Curran 17. Kurtis Morrin

Reserves: 22. Connor Tracey 23. Kitione Kautoga

Cut: 19. Bronson Xerri 20. Toby Sexton 21. Jake Turpin

Late Mail: Barring a last-minute flare-up, Jacob Kiraz (back) will play despite an injury-interrupted pre-season. No changes to the starting line-up in the 24-hour team update.

TITANS v DRAGONS

Saturday, 9th March, 7:35pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast

Titans

1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. AJ Brimson 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Keenan Palasia

Interchange: 14. Sam Verrills 15. Isaac Liu 16. Erin Clark 17. Jaimin Jolliffe

Reserves: 19 Jojo Fifita 21 Harley Smith-Shields

Cut: 18 Joe Stimson20 Jacob Alick 22 Josiah Pahulu

Late Mail: Isaac Liu (knee) will play despite a minor injury that kept him out of the final trial. The Titans have confirmed David Fifita (partial pec tear) and Jayden Campbell (dislocated patella) are aiming for returns between rounds 4-6. AJ Brimson says SuperCoach star Beau Fermor is set to play 80 minutes. No changes in the 24-hour team update.

Dragons

1 Tyrell Sloan 2 Zac Lomax 3 Moses Suli 4 Jack Bird 5 Mikaele Ravalawa 6 Kyle Flanagan 7 Ben Hunt 8 Francis Molo 9 Jacob Liddle 13 Jack de Belin 12 Jaydn Su’A 17 Raymond Faitala-Mariner 11 Tom Eisenhuth

Interchange: 14 Connor Muhleisen 15 Michael Molo 16 Viliami Fifita 18 Ben Murdoch-Masila

Reserves: 19 Christian Tuipulotu 20 Jesse Marschke 21 Ryan Couchman 22 Mathew Feagai

Cut: 10 Blake Lawrie

Late Mail: Blake Lawrie has been ruled out of the game, forcing a forward pack reshuffle. Jack de Belin moves into the front row, former Bulldog Raymond Faitala-Mariner moves from the bench into the backrow, and Tom Eisenhuth shifts to lock. Ben Murdoch-Masila is the new face on the bench. Jacob Liddle is set to play after recovering from a hamstring injury. Hame Sele (hamstring) and Luciano Leilua (suspension) are on track for round 2.

DOLPHINS v COWBOYS

Sunday, 10th March, 4:05pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Dolphins

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Tesi Niu 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Ray Stone

Interchange: 14. Josh Kerr 15. Max Plath 16. Kenny Bromwich 17. Mark Nicholls

Reserves: 18. Jarrod Wallace 19. Jake Averillo 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Euan Aitken 22. Isaiya Katoa

Late Mail: Centre Herbie Farnworth (knee) and halfback Sean O’Sullivan (concussion) are right to play.

Cowboys

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

Interchange: 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

Reserves: 18. Tomas Chester 19. Thomas Mikaele 20. Semi Valemei 21. Jack Gosiewski 22. Jake Clifford

Late Mail: No changes expected.

BYE: Wests Tigers