NRL Early Mail: Paul Gallen and Sam Burgess aiming to return in Round 5

A PAIR of superstars are expected to return for Cronulla and Souths. Get all the latest team news ahead in the Round 5 edition of NRL Early Mail.

GET all the latest team news in the Round 5 edition of NRL Early Mail.

In the biggest news so far:

* Sharks skipper Paul Gallen is hopeful of making his return from a knee injury;

* Sam Burgess (neck) will be named for South Sydney’s clash with Manly on Thursday;

* Matt Moylan is expected to make his first appearance of the season in Penrith’s clash with Parramatta;

* Martin Taupau and Brenton Lawrence will return from suspension for Manly;

* Cowboys centre Kane Linnett will miss 4-6 weeks with a shoulder injury and is expected to be replaced by Matt Wright;

* Daly Cherry-Evans will miss a month with an ankle injury and Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett has a number of options at his disposal.

SEA EAGLES V RABBITOHS

7:50pm AEDT Thursday at Brookvale Oval

Sea Eagles: Former Panther Isaac John is favoured to play halfback in the absence of the injured Daly Cherry-Evans (ankle).

John played at No.7 in the Sea Eagles’ 26-20 loss to Newtown in the NSW Cup last weekend - his return match from a hamstring injury.

Fellow former Panther Api Koroisau has excelled at five-eighth in the NSW Cup ranks, but is favoured to return to the NRL via the bench with Matt Parcel to start.

Tim Moltzen, Feleti Mateo and Tom Symonds were all considered as potential replacements for Cherry-Evans, although Symonds was unlikely due to a calf injury

The luckless Jamie Buhrer will miss a few weeks with a broken thumb after suffering the injury in his return from a broken jaw. He’ll be replaced in the starting side by Martin Taupau, who is returning from suspension. Brenton Lawrence will also be back after a week on the sidelines and will replace Luke Burgess on the bench.

Rabbitohs: Coach Michael Maguire has confirmed Sam Burgess will return from his neck injury to play against Manly. Dual international Burgess suffered the injury in Souths’ round three loss to St George Illawarra at the SCG, spending two nights in hospital, and sat out the Good Friday loss to Canterbury. “He will be playing,” Maguire said at Rabbitohs training at Redfern Oval on Tuesday. The return of Burgess will see Nathan Brown either drop to the bench and Jason Clark to reserve grade or the former Tiger will drop out of the team entirely. Alex Johnston will return at the expense of Michael Oldfield but Bryson Goodwin’s status is still unknown after he hurt his groin.

Sam Burgess is set to return from a neck injury.

TITANS V BRONCOS

7:50pm AEDT Friday at Cbus Super Stadium

Titans: Tyrone Roberts will miss a couple of weeks with a knee injury with Josh Hoffman or Daniel Mortimer expected to partner Ashley Taylor in the halves. Nathan Friend is expected to return after missing the win over Canberra with a concussion. William Zillman and Nathan Davis are both a chance to return. Ryan James has been hit with a grade one dangerous contact charge and will miss a week unless he beats it at the judiciary.

Broncos: Centre Jack Reed will return on the left side with Jordan Kahu considered unlikely to play. Corey Oates is expected to miss at least one more week.

BLESSING: Teammates back Hopoate stance

COMEBACK: Barba stars as Sharks down Melbourne

STORM V KNIGHTS

3:00pm AEDT Saturday at AAMI Park

Storm: Late inclusion Curtis Scott suffered a fractured leg and will be out for 6-8 weeks. Craig Bellamy may opt to switch Tohu Harris to the centres or recall Richie Kennar, while Cheyse Blair or Jeremy Hawkins could also be in line for their Storm debut. Winger Marika Koroibete was put on report for a trip on Chad Townsend and is likely to come under the scrutiny of the NRL match review committee.

Knights: Nathan Ross and Danny Levi were both placed on report in the defeat to the Warriors while Jake Mamo is sidelined after injuring his ankle. Sione Mata’utia, who is available after serving a one-week suspension, Akuila Uate, Daniel Saifiti, Jack Stockwell and Will Pearsall will join the Knights in Melbourne today with the squad flying straight from Auckland following Monday’s loss.

TIGERS V SHARKS

5:30pm AEDT at Campbelltown Stadium

Tigers: Hooker Robbie Farah started on the bench on his return from a knee injury, but the former skipper hopes to be back in the starting side this week. Tim Grant failed a concussion test on Monday and will be monitored.

Sharks: Skipper Paul Gallen is a chance to return this week from a knee injury. “I’ll train tomorrow. I ran yesterday and ran pretty well. If I get through tomorrow’s session I should be right to play this week,” Gallen told 2KY’s Big Sports Breakfest. He’d come back at lock, which would push Jayson Bukuya to the bench and Joseph Paulo out of the side.

DALEY’S DILEMMA: Tedesco or Dugan for Blues No. 1

STUNNING SWITCH: Why did Taylor bench Farah?

Sharks skipper Paul Gallen hopes to return this week. Picture: Wesley Monts

COWBOYS V DRAGONS

7:30pm AEDT at 1300SMILES Stadium

Cowboys:Centre Kane Linnett will miss 4-6 weeks with a shoulder injury, meaning the Cowboys will need to make their first change to the grand final-winning team. Matthew Wright is expected to earn a recall at left centre.

Dragons:Ben Creagh was a late withdrawal from the win over the Panthers with a knee injury but will be fit to face the Cowboys.

ROOSTERS V WARRIORS

2:00pm AEDT at Central Coast Stadium

Roosters: No further injuries for the Roosters but reinforcements are still a while away. It remains to be seen exactly what Trent Robinson will do with Jayden Nikorima, who was benched in the loss to Manly.

Warriors: Konrad Hurrell and Solomone Kata both looked ginger at times in the win over the Knights but the duo are expected to be fit.

Matt Moylan is expected to return for the Panthers.

EELS V PANTHERS

4:00pm AEDT at Pepper Stadium

Eels: Tim Mannah went for scans on Tuesday after suffering a shoulder injury and his status for the local derby is up in the air. Danny Wicks seems to be the candidate to move into the starting line up should the former skipper succumb to injury and Peni Terepo will come in on the bench.

Panthers: Will Smith was knocked into tomorrow by Joel Thompson and will spend at least a week on the sidelines. However, skipper Matt Moylan will definitely be named to play his first match of the season and prop Jeremy Latimore will return from suspension. Backrower Bryce Cartwright dislocated his thumb shortly before half-time against the Dragons and did not return. He could still be named if scans clear him later today.

BULLDOGS V RAIDERS

7:00pm AEDT at Belmore Sports Ground

Bulldogs: The Bulldogs have numerous bumps and bruises but Tony Williams (concussion) and James Graham (back) are both expected to be fit for the return to Belmore.

Raiders:Jeff Lima will require surgery following a hand injury and has been ruled out for at least two months. Edrick Lee was cleared of a fracture and will be free to play the Bulldogs. It seems unlikely that Blake Austin or Aidan Sezer will be fit but Sezer is a chance of being a late inclusion. Joey Leilua will return from suspension at right centre, replacing Brenko Lee.

Originally published as NRL Early Mail: Paul Gallen and Sam Burgess aiming to return in Round 5