NRL Late Mail Round 4: Predicted team changes, job security boost for Jackson Ford

The KFC SuperCoach stocks of Warriors forward Jackson Ford have been boosted following fresh revelations by coach Andrew Webster.

The SuperCoach stocks of Warriors forward Jackson Ford have improved dramatically following news one of his main rivals will play reserve grade this weekend.

Ford’s money-making prospects appear strong after Warriors coach Andrew Webster confirmed Josh Curran will play NSW Cup.

“Josh’s form isn’t terrible by any stretch of the imagination,” Webster said. “It’s just that there are a couple of things we want him to work on. He knows that, he’s comfortable with it.”

Curran can play both middle and edge and was considered a threat to Ford’s job security and game time.

However, with Curran plying his trade in the lower grades, Ford’s only real threat for minutes this week comes from Bayley Sironen in jersey No. 15.

Ford is owned by 15 per cent of KFC SuperCoaches.

Jackson Ford’s SuperCoach stocks have been boosted. Picture: Getty

FULL LATE MAIL FOR ROUND 4

COWBOYS v TITANS

Saturday, 5:30pm, QCB Stadium, Townsville

Cowboys

1. Tom Chester 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. Coen Hess 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo

Bench: 14. Jake Granville 15. Heilum Luki 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. James Tamou

Reserves: 18. Brendan Elliot

Players cut: 19. Riley Price 20. Mitchell Dunn 21. Laitia Moceidreke 22. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

Late Mail: No changes expected. The Cowboys have plenty of talent back in deck in the next fortnight in Peta Hiku (suspension, round 5), Reuben Cotter (knee round 6) and Scott Drinkwater (suspension, round 6).

Titans

1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Isaac Liu

Bench: 14. Jayden Campbell 15. Jo Vuna 16. Erin Clark 17. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui

Reserves: 18. Klese Haas

Players cut: 19. Sam McIntyre 20. Toby Sexton 21. Keano Kini 22. Treymain Spry

Late Mail: No changes expected. The job security of SuperCoach cheapie Alofiana Khan-Pereira has improved following the release of outside back Patrick Herbert on Thursday. Hooker Aaron Booth is back running nearly eight months after devastating injuries to his ACL, PCL and MCL, although he’s still many months off returning to the field.

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RABBITOHS v SEA EAGLES

Saturday, 7:35pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

Rabbitohs

1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron Murray

Bench: 14. Blake Taaffe 15. Michael Chee Kam 16. Davvy Moale 17. Jed Cartwright

Reserves: 18. Ben Lovett 20. Tallis Duncan

Players cut: 19. Dean Hawkins 21. Taane Milne 22. Peter Mamouzelos

Late Mail: Jacob Host (calf) must make it through training to take his spot but all signs point to him returning. Jai Arrow (hamstring) suffered a setback over the weekend and could miss an extended period. Don’t be surprised to see a tweak or two on the bench with only one middle forward named, despite an injury crisis in that position. Blake Taaffe made way last week and will likely happen again, given he played in the NSW Cup.

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 21. Karl Lawton 10. Jake Trbojevic 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Josh Aloiai

Bench: 14. Kaeo Weekes 15. Ben Trbojevic 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Sean Keppie

Reserves: 18. Toafofoa Sipley 19. Cooper Johns

Players cut: 9. Lachlan Croker 20. Morgan Harper 22. Ben Condon

Late Mail: Manly hooker Lachlan Croker has been ruled out with a shoulder injury, and has been replaced by Karl Lawton. Josh Schuster suffered from cramp last weekend but is certain to line up.

WARRIORS v BULLDOGS

Sunday, 2pm, Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Edward Kosi 3. Viliami Vailea 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris

Bench: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Bayley Sironen 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Tom Ale

Reserves: 18. Josh Curran 20. Taine Tuaupiki

Players cut: 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Rocco Berry 23. Demitric Sifakula

Late Mail: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Jackson Ford (both concussion) are on track to return. Talk of Josh Curran coming onto the bench is off the mark. Curran will play reserve grade this week. “Josh’s form isn’t terrible by any stretch of the imagination,” coach Andrew Webster said. “It’s just that there are a couple of things we want him to work on. He knows that, he’s comfortable with it.” The cavalry returns for the Warriors next week with Mitch Barnett (neck), Wayde Egan (concussion) and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (calf) all due back.

Bulldogs

1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Ryan Sutton 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Bench: 14. Jayden Okunbor 15. Corey Waddell 16. Jayden Tanner 17. Fa’amanu Brown

Reserves: 20. Josh Reynolds 22. Jackson Topine

Players cut: 19. Braidon Burns 21. Karl Oloapu 23. Kurtis Morrin

Late Mail: No changes expected. Kyle Flanagan will continue in the goalkicking role after taking the duties from Matt Burton last week. Tevita Pangai (calf) was originally due back this week but his return has been delayed until round 6.

KNIGHTS v RAIDERS

Sunday, 4:05pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Knights

1. Lachlan Miller 2. Hymel Hunt 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Brodie Jones 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Kurt Mann

Bench: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Mathew Croker 17. Jack Johns

Reserves: 18. Dylan Lucas 22. Tyson Frizell

Players cut: 19. Adam Clune 20. Thomas Cant 21. Enari Tuala

Late Mail: Kurt Mann trained in a non-contact pink singlet on Tuesday and remains in doubt as he aims to return from a shoulder injury, but benefits from a long turnaround. Jayden Brailey (concussion) will play after missing last week. Tyson Frizell (ankle) is unlikely despite being named in reserves. Greg Marzhew will make his club debut with Dom Young dropped.

Raiders

1. Sebastian Kris 2. James Schiller 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Harley Smith-Shields 5. Albert Hopoate 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Harawira-Naera

Bench: 14. Tom Starling 15. Pasami Saulo 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Emre Guler

Reserves: 18. Matt Frawley 19. Brad Schneider

Players cut: 20. Trey Mooney 21. Semi Valemei 22. Peter Hola

Late Mail: Josh Papali’i (calf) will play his first match of the season. “It’s like the new kid’s back on the block,” said five-eighth Jack Wighton. “When Papa’s energy’s around the team you can really feel it and the boys have got a buzz about them.”

DRAGONS v SHARKS

Sunday, 6:15pm, Jubilee Stadium, Sydney

Dragons

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Moses Mbye 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Ben Murdoch-Masila 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack Bird

Bench: 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Zane Musgrove 16. Toby Couchman 17. Josh Kerr

Reserves: 18. Michael Molo 19. Max Feagai 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Talatau Amone 22. Aaron Woods

Late Mail: Toby Couchman (concussion) is expected to return, while Jack De Belin (calf) is aiming for next week. Five-eighth Talatau Amone is lurking in reserves.

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane

Bench: 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Royce Hunt 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Braydon Trindall

Reserves: 18. Jack Williams 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Thomas Hazelton 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Connor Tracey

Late Mail: Nicho Hynes (calf) is gunning for a return. Braydon Trindall (ankle) is racing the clock and may yet drop off the bench.

BYE: ROOSTERS