NRL Late Mail Round 21: Josh Addo-Carr out for Bulldogs, Viliame Kikau’s comeback from injury delayed

The Bulldogs have suffered a massive blow ahead of their Panthers clash, with two stars ruled out through injury. See all the late Round 21 team changes.

The Bulldogs have suffered a major blow with representative duo Viliame Kikau and Josh Addo-Carr ruled out of Sunday’s clash against Penrith.

Kikau was attempting to make his comeback from a pec injury while Addo-Carr is battling a hamstring injury from Origin III.

—David Riccio

Viliame Kikau’s comeback from an injury has been delayed. Picture: Julian Andrews.

KEY SHARK OUT FOR SEASON

The Sharks have suffered a massive blow in their bid to keep their finals hopes alive with starting backrower Teig Wilton ruled out for the season.

The consistent Wilton has received the worst possible news that he requires surgery on a knee injury suffered against the Warriors last Sunday.

Although scans revealed his ACL was intact, Wilton has had no choice but to receive an operation on Wednesday to repair his badly damaged meniscus.

The recovery period is 12 weeks, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.

Wilton, 23, has proven a mainstay on the Sharks’ left-edge in 2023.

His back row position has been taken by promising Wollongong-product Jesse Colquhoun for the Sharks’ must-win clash against Manly at PointsBet Stadium on Sunday.

Teig Wilton is out for the season. Picture: Getty

ROUND 21 LATE MAIL

PANTHERS v BULLDOGS

Sunday, 2pm, BlueBet Stadium, Penrith

Panthers

1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Bench: 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Luke Garner

Reserves: 18. Jack Cogger 22. Tyrone Peachey

Players cut: 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Jaeman Salmon 21. Tom Jenkins

Late Mail: Nathan Cleary is expected to return from a hamstring injury after a false start last weekend.

Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo are back after being rested last week post-Origin.

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Bulldogs

1. Jake Averillo 2. Blake Wilson 3. Jacob Kiraz, 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 11. Jackson Topine 12. Jacob Preston 13. Corey Waddell

Bench: 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Tevita Pangai Junior 17. Jayden Okunbor

Reserves: 19. Samuel Hughes 20. Hayze Perham

Players cut: 21. Chris Patolo 22. Josh Addo-Carr 23. Viliame Kikau

Late Mail: Big guns Josh Addo-Carr (hamstring) and Viliame Kikau (pectoral) must get final clearance but both are on track.

Expect them to come into the final 17 after originally being named on the extended bench.

SHARKS v SEA EAGLES

Sunday, 4:05pm, PointsBet Stadium, Sydney

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Connor Tracey 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Briton Nikora 12. Jesse Colquhoun 13. Dale Finucane

Bench: 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Jack Williams 17. Thomas Hazelton

Reserves: 18. Kayal Iro 20. Royce Hunt

Players cut: 19. Mawene Hiroti 21. Daniel Atkinson 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha

Late Mail: Teig Wilton missed selection and has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury. Coach Craig Fitzgibbon swung the axe on Tuesday with Matt Moylan dropped and Siosifa Talakai benched. Royce Hunt has been named in reserves as he aims to return from an ankle injury.

Sea Eagles

1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jake Trbojevic

Bench: 14. Dean Matterson 15. Aaron Woods 16. Sean Keppie, 17. Matthew Lodge

Reserves: 18. Ethan Bullemor 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong

Players cut: 19. Jake Arthur, 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega

Late Mail: No changes expected.

BYE: Dolphins