NRL teams Round 13: Early Mail, predicted changes, Origin tears apart teams
In a dream result for KFC SuperCoaches, Jason Taumalolo is set to save us from a Round 13 disaster - but news is not so good for another forward stud. PREDICTED TEAM CHANGES.
There is carnage on the Origin and injury fronts ahead of Thursday night’s Titans-Cowboys clash on the Gold Coast - but at least one big name NRL star is set to return.
The Titans will be without star forward David Fifita for at least a fortnight after he aggravated a knee injury in last week’s loss to Brisbane.
The Titans are also sweating on the fitness of prop Moeaki Fotuaika (ankle), backrower Beau Fermor (abdominal strain), centre Esan Marsters (ankle) and winger Jamayne Isaako (shoulder).
Captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui will sit out the game after being picked in Queensland’s team for Origin I on Wednesday week.
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Titans coach Justin Holbrook is expected to wield the selection axe after his team surrendered a 20-point lead to the Broncos, losing 35-24.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys have lost four regulars to the Queensland team and are still missing injured winger Kyle Feldt.
Valentine Holmes, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai have made Queensland’s 17 while 18th man Tom Dearden will not be released from Camp Maroon.
Wingers Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Murray Taulagi will join the Cowboys for Wednesday morning’s captain’s run on the Gold Coast and face the Titans before heading back into Queensland camp.
In a boost for the third-placed Cowboys, star forward Jason Taumalolo trained on Monday and looks set to return from a knee injury.
With Dearden missing, Cowboys coach Todd Payten is expected to hand utility Ben Hampton his first game of the season at five-eighth alongside halfback Chad Townsend.
ROBINSON PONDERS SUAALII SWITCH
Trent Robinson is set to give Sydney Roosters fans a glimpse into the future with the Origin selection of two veterans leaving the coach with spots to fill in the backline for Sunday’s clash against Canberra.
Roosters fullback and NSW mainstay James Tedesco, 29, was named for the Blues on Sunday, and so was seasoned winger Daniel Tupou, 30.
Their respective selections for game one has turned into an opportunity for boom teenager Joseph Suaalii to get a crack at centre, or even at the back.
In the past, Robinson has opted to move Joseph Manu from the centres to cover for Tedesco in the No. 1 jumper.
But Suaalii, who has played on the wing this year, said he would be ready to shift one in from the edge to cover for Manu at centre or even slot straight into fullback as a direct replacement for Tedesco.
“Yeah, 100 per cent I would like to play there at centre but I don’t know yet where Joey is going to play yet,” Suaalii said.
“If Robbo puts me at centre or wing, or fullback even, I would be happy to just do the job for the team.
“I haven’t been into Roosters training this week yet, but I will speak to the coach to see what he needs ... and there will be boys who come up from reserve grade too.”
Kevin Naiqama and Billy Smith are also options to help fill the gaps in Robinson’s back five reshuffle.
Suaalii’s 12 NRL games have all been at centre or on the wing but the rising rookie is hoping to one day take over Tedesco’s No. 1 jumper on a more permanent basis.
“Long-term, I love playing fullback. That is my favourite position but right now if I play fullback, centre or wing … I’m happy wherever the coach puts me,” Suaalii said.
Blues coach Brad Fittler added Suaalii to his extended squad on Sunday night to give the teenager a taste of the Origin experience.
But Suaalii, who still has to pass HIA protocols this week, is expected to break camp and re-join the Roosters to prepare for the Raiders match.
“I’m taking training lightly, but honestly I feel fine. I want to get in there and train, they will probably hold me back a bit before I can get back into it,” Suaalii said.
FIFITA INJURY SETBACK
When David Fifita was left out of the Queensland Origin squad, the eyes of KFC SuperCoaches lit up.
A SuperCoach great available for the Round 13 bye, surely that’s too good to be true?
Well it is.
Fifita is set to miss 2-3 weeks with a reaggravation of a knee injury.
David Fifita suffered a “low velocity aggravation†of his recent MCL sprain and is expected to miss the next 2-3 weeks. Re-injury risk for MCL sprains is low (mostly a contact injury in nature) so a bit of bad luck for Fifita.
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) May 30, 2022
PANTHERS EYE EIGHT CHANGES
Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary has backed Kurt Falls to step-up and guide the Panthers around the park alongside Sean O’Sullivan in the halves against Canterbury on Friday night.
Falls, 25, is in line to make his debut with six Penrith players – including Cleary, Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin – named to play in Origin game one on June 8.
Cleary, who played Schoolboy footy with Falls for St Dominic’s College, said Penrith fans would not be disappointed in Falls, who is both ‘more skilful’ and a ‘better goal kicker’ than the halfback.
“He is probably a bit more like me with maybe a bit more skill. He has got a great kicking game … He is a goal kicker as well. He is a good player. If he gets his chance on Friday, he will show what he can do. We spend a bit of time together and goal kick whenever we can. He’ll goal kick on Friday night if he plays. He is probably a better goal kicker than me too … he might take my spot,” Cleary laughed.
Falls earned his first ever NRL deal as a 24-year old last season, which saw him added to Penrith’s top 30 roster for 2022.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary asked for eight players to be left out of the club’s NSW Cup side on Sunday — Falls, O’Sullivan, Robert Jennings, Charlie Staines, J’maine Hopgood, Matt Eisenhuth, Chris Smith and Hohepa Puru.
Staines is set to replace To’o on the wing with Jennings to come in for Crichton at centre.
Eisenhuth is an option in the No.13 jumper but rising middle Hopgood and Jersey Flegg rookie Puru are also in the running for Yeo’s lock spot.
The reliable Scott Sorensen will start on an edge for Martin. Utility Mitch Kenny is the likely replacement at hooker for Apisai Koroisau if he’s not released from Blues camp in Coogee for round 13.
BOOST FOR BULLDOGS
Back spasms kept Tevita Pangai Jr from taking the field against St George Illawarra but the Bulldogs big man is expected to play on Friday, alongside flyer Josh Addo-Carr, who was sensationally left out of the Fittler’s Blues squad.
RESHUFFLES FOR RAIDERS, SEA EAGLES
The Raiders turned to Matt Frawley when five-eighth Jack Wighton was out suspended but this time Jamal Fogarty and Brad Schneider will make up Canberras pairing during the Origin period.
Ryan Sutton and Emre Guler will help provide cover for Josh Papalii while the enforcer is on Maroons duty.
Manly coach Des Hasler can turn to Josh Schuster as cover for halfback Daly Cherry-Evans when the northern beaches club take on the Warriors on Saturday.
WHOLESALE CHANGES AT COWBOYS
Like Penrith, North Queensland are preparing to make wholesale changes with Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai to be named in Billy Slater’s Maroons squad on Monday.
Brendan Elliot, Connelly Lemuelu and Ben Hampton are options to fill the gaps left by Holmes and Tuilagi in the back five.
Coen Hess and Heilum Luki should come into the starting side for Cotter and Nanai, respectively.
Brisbane, St George Illawarra, Parramatta, Newcastle, South Sydney, Cronulla, Melbourne and Wests Tigers have a bye in round 13.
TITANS v COWBOYS
Thursday, 7.50pm, Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Titans: Mo Fotuaika is expected to return from injury in the front-row, replacing Tino Fa’asuamaleaui who has been called up for Queensland Origin duty.
Toby Sexton left the field for a period in the loss to Brisbane, but returned to the game, with the young playmaker expected to face the Cowboys.
David Fifita is out for 2-3 weeks after aggravating a knee injury on the weekend.
However, Justin Holbrook has opted to use the barnstorming forward in a bench role even when fully fit on occasions.
Cowboys: The Cowboys sensational form in 2022 has been rewarded with a host of Origin call-ups.
Valentine Holmes, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai have all been named in the Maroons’ 17, meaning they’ll be unavailable for club selection.
Tom Dearden, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Murray Taulagi have been included in the Queensland squad, but if none are played as 18th man they should be available for club selection.
Either Brendan Elliot or Connelly Lemuelu is likely to come into the backline for Holmes, should Taulagi be available to take his place on the wing.
Heilum Luki will start on the edge in place of Nanai, while either Coen Hess or Jason Taumalolo would start for Cotter.
Taumalolo is battling a knee injury that saw him miss the Storm clash, he’s a chance to return this weekend.
PANTHERS v BULLDOGS
Friday, 7.55pm, BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
Panthers: Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Brian To’o, Isaah Yeo, Stephen Crichton, Liam Martin and Apisai Koroisau have all been selected for NSW.
Koroisau is outside the game day squad which makes him available for the Panthers on Friday.
As reported above by Fatima Kdouh, Ivan Cleary pulled Kurt Falls, Robert Jennings, Charlie Staines, Sean O’Sullivan, J’maine Hopgood, Matt Eisenhuth, Chris Smith and Hohepa Puru from the NSW Cup team on the weekend.
Falls and O’Sullivan are set to play in the halves, while Staines (wing) and Jennings (centre) are likely to come into the backline.
Eisenhuth may come into the starting side for Yeo, but at the very least will join the bench should Cleary opt for a ball-playing lock in Hopgood.
Scott Sorensen will start on the edge for Martin.
Bulldogs: No Origin outs for the struggling Bulldogs who strike the defending premiers at an optimal time.
Tevita Pangai Jnr missed the Round 12 loss to the Dragons due to back spasms, and while he’ll need to be cleared this week, he is expected to face Penrith.
If available, it’s likely he’d replace Joe Stimson on the bench in the side’s only change.
SEA EAGLES v WARRIORS
Saturday, 7.35pm, 4 Pines Park, Manly
Sea Eagles: Daly Cherry-Evans is Manly’s sole Origin rep, with Josh Schuster to start in the halves alongside Keiran Foran.
Jason Saab is due back from a toe injury and will come into consideration to replace Jorge Taufua on the wing.
Dylan Walker is in doubt having sustained an injury against the Storm.
Karl Lawton returns from a lengthy suspension on the bench, while Marty Taupau is also expected back for the Sea Eagles.
Ben Trbojevic is also an outside chance to return from a shoulder injury, but is likely to need one more week.
Warriors: No Origin interference for the Warriors, while a trio of players are chances of returning from injury.
Wayde Egan, Bayley Sironen and Josh Curran will all push to play in Round 13.
Egan is considered the most likely and would replace Freddy Lussick at hooker if available.
RAIDERS v ROOSTERS
Sunday, 4.05pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra
Raiders: Josh Papalii will miss the clash due to Origin selection, with Corey Horsburgh expected to start at prop in his place.
Jack Wighton has been included in the NSW squad at No. 14 and is unavailable.
Brad Schneider or Matt Frawley will slot into the halves alongside Jamal Fogarty who took up goal-kicking duties on return from injury.
Xavier Savage copped some bumps and bruises in the loss to the Eels, but is expected to face the Roosters.
Corey Harawira-Naera would be the likely man to fill the vacant bench spot, however an injury late in Canberra’s NSW Cup clash may see him miss out, with either Harry Rushton or impressive rookie Trey Mooney the alternative options.
Roosters: The Roosters will be missing James Tedesco and Daniel Tupou on Origin duty.
Joey Manu will play fullback in place of the absent skipper, while Kevin Naiqama or Billy Smith will play on the wing after both impressed for the North Sydney Bears on the weekend.
Joseph Suaalii also failed a game day HIA in the win over Cronulla and must pass concussion protocols on an eight day turnaround to take his place, despite being included in the NSW squad.
If out, both Naiqama and Smith would join the side to face Canberra.
Drew Hutchinson was utilised in a greater hooking role in Round 12, with Connor Watson entering the action at lock.
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