NRL Late Mail Round 15: Reed Mahoney cleared to return from concussion, Cody Walker out for Rabbitohs

Bulldogs star Reed Mahoney has been cleared to make his return from a concussion, after being granted an exemption from the NRL’s 11-day stand down protocol. See all the Round 15 late mail.

Reed Mahoney has been cleared to play for the Bulldogs against his former club Parramatta on Monday after meeting a neurological expert on Friday.

Mahoney is the second player this week allowed to play following independent advice following in the footsteps of Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic.

The Bulldogs hooker left the field during his team’s 25-24 loss to the Roosters last Sunday for a category two head injury assessment.

He was diagnosed with a concussion and was subject to the NRL’s 11-day stand down period but the Bulldogs applied for an exemption.

Trbojevic was not diagnosed with a concussion while Mahoney was concussed but is the first player to be allowed to return before the 11-day stand down.

Reed Mahoney has been cleared to play for the Bulldogs in Round 15. Picture: NRL Imagery.

The Bulldogs were granted the clearance only after Mahoney met with an independent neurological expert appointed by the NRL. Mahoney failed his head injury assessment but presented with no concussion symptoms the following day. The Bulldogs were aided by an eight day turn around.

Kyle Flanagan had been on standby for Mahoney. The Bulldogs lost to the Eels 30-4 in round seven.

Meanwhile, the luckless Tigers will be without star duo Api Koroisau and Luke Brooks for at least a month.

Koroisau had surgery to repair a fractured jaw on Friday and he is likely to be sidelined for about six weeks.

Brooks suffered a grade two hamstring strain late in Thursday’s loss to the Titans.

That injury will sideline him for four to six weeks. The Tigers will now be without their starting halfback and hooker for an extended period.

Reed Mahoney cleared to play by the NRL CMO. Protocols will continue, however, Reed will play on Monday.

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) June 9, 2023

NRL’S ‘BEST BACKUP HALF’ SET FOR BUNNIES CALL UP

The hits just keep coming for NSW with halves contender Cody Walker ruled out of his final audition for South Sydney.

Walked failed to train on Friday with the Rabbitohs due to a quad injury and has been withdrawn from the club’s clash with St George-Illawarra on Saturday afternoon.

Rabbitohs and NSW star Latrell Mitchell (calf) also failed to train as did Bunnies captain and Blues forward Cameron Murray (groin).

Walker was viewed by many experts, including Matty Johns and Braith Anasta, as the best option at five-eighth for NSW to square the State of Origin series in Brisbane.

However, those hopes are now forlorn with Walker’s quad injury expected to rule him out of selection consideration.

Cody Walker has been ruled out for the Rabbitohs in Round 15, after picking up a quad injury. Picture: Getty Images.

Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook will captain South Sydney for the first time against St George Illawarra, while rookie half Dean Hawkins will replace Walker in the halves.

Souths coach Jason Demetriou lauded Hawkins as the best halfback in-waiting in the NRL.

“I said to him last week I was really happy with the way he was playing and knocking on the door and to be patient. Funnily enough, a week later he’s playing first grade,” Demetriou said.

“I’m really comfortable with Deano, he knows the game inside out, and for me he’s the best halfback outside the NRL who isn’t playing regular NRL.

“He’s a South Sydney junior, he loves the club, we’re definitely keen on keeping him.

“But sometimes guys who are sitting behind other guys are looking for opportunities, and it’s a good opportunity for Deano to put his hand up.”

Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou has praised Dean Hawkins, saying he’s the best halfback-in-waiting in the NRL. Picture: Sam Ruttyn.

DRAGON SET FOR SHOCK EARLY RETURN

Dragons prop Blake Lawrie is expected to make an early return from a broken hand.

Lawrie is likely to start at prop for the Dragons against South Sydney on Saturday. He was named in an extended squad alongside Jack Bird. While Lawrie will play, Bird is not going to take to the field.

Blake Lawrie is set to make his Dragons return ahead of schedule, after suffering a broken hand in Round 12. Picture: Getty Images.

WALTERS WIELDS AXE AT BRONCOS

Broncos coach Kevin Walters has dropped a selection bombshell by axing Brisbane’s supersub Cory Paix in favour of rival hooker Tyson Smoothy for Saturday night’s clash against Newcastle at Suncorp Stadium.

Paix has been a key member of Brisbane’s resurgence, playing 14 consecutive games this season as Billy Walters’ hooking partner-in-crime to help the Broncos to an equal share of the premiership lead.

But Walters has wielded the axe, relegating Paix to the Queensland Cup and giving Smoothy – likened in style to Maroons Origin hooker Harry Grant – his Broncos debut against the Knights.

Paix, who signed a two-year extension with the Broncos in February, did not train with the top squad at Friday’s captain’s run and will turn out for feeder-club Souths Logan against Ipswich this Sunday.

Brisbane Broncos coach Kevin Walters. Picture: Richard Walker

Walters confirmed the positional shake-up, saying Paix needs more game time after playing less than 30 minutes in his past five games for the Broncos, including just 10 against Melbourne in round 11.

“Tyson will get a run,” Walters said.

“’Paixy’ hasn’t been getting enough game time, so we’ve put him back in Queensland Cup, he will get some good minutes there and work on his game.

“It’s not that I’m unhappy with Cory but he’s not getting enough game time with what he is doing.

“He needs to get his minutes up, he has a few little things to work on but it’s more him just playing some footy.”

ROOSTERS TIPPED TO PICK SMITH

Penrith players are expecting the Sydney Roosters to name a new goalkicking halfback ahead of Saturday night’s big game at Allianz Stadium.

Some Panthers players are privately predicting young Sandon Smith will slip into the Roosters halfback spot with Luke Keary switching back to five-eighth.

Smith’s possible elevation would mean Joey Manu reverts back to the centres.

The mooted inclusion of Smith remains unconfirmed at the moment.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson did not return calls on Thursday afternoon but will front the media at 8.30am on Friday where he will discuss his line-up.

The struggling Roosters could pull a massive reshuffle this week.

Smith has certainly made a significant impact at the Roosters this year and made his NRL debut last weekend against Canterbury, where he was used as a backup dummy-half behind Jake Turpin.

The late change could come after centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was suspended during the week for lifting his knee during Sunday’s game against Canterbury.

With Suaalii unavailable, the Roosters would need to find a new goal kicker and Smith, from the NSW central coast, does kick goals.

EELS LOCK IN BROWN REPLACEMENT

From clothesline to Eels spine.

It was an old Hills hoist clothesline in the backyard of his Christchurch home where rising Parramatta five-eighth Daejarn Asi honed his early kicking skills by mimicking heroes Andrew Johns, Johnathan Thurston and Dan Carter.

Asi, now 22, is expected to be thrust into the pivotal Eels No. 6 jumper for at least the next three weeks with Dylan Brown stood down.

A kid with an encyclopaedic knowledge of rugby league players, Asi is poised to partner Mitchell Moses in the Parramatta halves for Monday’s game against Canterbury at Accor Stadium.

As a child living in Aranui, a lower socio-economic suburb in east Christchurch, Asi would hone his kicking skills by slotting a footy through targeted gaps between the wire rope in his family’s backyard Hills hoist rotary clothesline.

He would aim his chip kicks and bombs for the clothesline’s spire.

Daejarn Asi will play five-eighth for the Eels.

“We had a washing line in New Zealand that would spin around,” said Asi’s mum, Tania Tainui, a Canterbury touch footy player.

“Daejarn would try to aim and kick into and through the middle of the wires. He would also try to hit the top of the clothesline with his chip kicks. It gave him his kicking direction.

“I remember telling him off once because I had washing on the line. You don’t want to know what I said to him but there definitely was a swear word in there.

FULL LATE MAIL ROUND 15

DRAGONS v RABBITOHS

Saturday, 3pm, 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. Jacob Liddle 10. Michael Molo 11. Billy Burns 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Ben Murdoch-Masila

Bench: 14. Moses Mbye 15. Jaiyden Hunt 16. Josh Kerr 17. Zane Musgrove

Reserves: 18. Talatau Amone 22. Blake Lawrie

Players Cut: 19. Toby Couchman 20. Tautau Moga 21. Jack Bird

Late Mail: Dragons prop Blake Lawrie is expected to make an early return from a broken hand, and could join the interchange bench at the expense of Zane Musgrove. Jack Bird is still at least another week away as he recovers from a knee injury.

Rabbitohs

1. Blake Taaffe 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Richard Kennar 22. Dean Hawkins 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Hame Sele 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jacob Host 13. Shaq Mitchell

Bench: 14. Jed Cartwright 15. Michael Chee Kam 16. Siliva Havili 17. Daniel Suluka-Fifita

Reserves: 18. Taane Milne 19. Tallis Duncan

Players cut: 6. Cody Walker 20. Ben Lovett 21. Liam Knight

Late Mail: Rabbitohs five-eigtht Cody Walker has been ruled out with a quad injury, with Dean Hawkins replacing him in the halves.

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BRONCOS v KNIGHTS

Saturday, 5:30pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Broncos

1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan

Bench: 15. Brendan Piakura 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Martin Taupau 22. Tyson Smoothy

Reserves: 18. Jesse Arthars 14. Cory Paix

Players cut: 19. Corey Jensen 20. Keenan Palasia 21. Deine Mariner

Late Mail: Selwyn Cobbo (hip) returns after missing last week’s post-Origin fixture. Cory Paix has dropped back to the reserves, with Tyson Smooty replacing him on the bench.

Knights

1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 18. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott

Bench: 14. Kurt Mann 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker

Reserves: 19. Enari Tuala 20. Jack Johns

Players cut: 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 21. Lachlan Miller 22. Brodie Jones

Late Mail: The Knights have made a late change, with Dylan Lucas promoted to the starting side, with Lachlann Fitzgibbon ruled out with a calf injury.

ROOSTERS v PANTHERS

Saturday, 7:35pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Corey Allan 4. Billy Smith 5. Junior Pauga 6. Joseph Manu 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Turpin 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Egan Butcher 12. Nat Butcher 13. Sitili Tupouniua

Bench: 14. Sandon Smith 15. Nathan Brown 16. Angus Crichton 17. Matthew Lodge

Reserves: 18. Drew Hutchison 19. Zach Dockar-Clay

Players cut: 20. Jaxson Paulo 21. Fletcher Baker 22. Naufahu Whyte

Late Mail: No changes in the 24-hour update. However, the Roosters could shuffle their team around before kick-off, with Sandon Smith a chance to start at halfback, Luke Keary moving to five-eighth and Joseph Manu moving back to the centres. Smith could be the Roosters first choice goal-kicker if he is elevated to the starting side.

Panthers

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

Bench: 14. Liam Martin 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon

Reserves: 19. Luke Garner 22. Soni Luke

Players cut: 18. Tyrone Peachey 20. Thomas Jenkins 21. Matt Eisenhuth

Late Mail: No changes in the 24-hour update. Stephen Crichton will kick goals in place of Nathan Cleary.

STORM v SHARKS

Sunday, 4:05pm, AAMI Park, Melbourne

Storm

1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Grant Anderson 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King

Bench: 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Aaron Pene 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Tariq Sims

Reserves: 18. Sualauvi Faalogo 19. Marion Seve 20. Kane Bradley 21. Tyran Wishart 22. Tom Eisenhuth

Late Mail: To come

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane

Bench: 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Wade Graham 16. Jack Williams 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele

Reserves: 18. Braydon Trindall 19. Connor Tracey 20. Thomas Hazelton 21. Daniel Atkinson 22. Jesse Colquhoun

Late Mail: Cameron McInnes (hand) returns in a big boost for the Sharks.

BULLDOGS v EELS

Monday, 4pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

Bulldogs

1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Karl Oloapu 7. Matt Burton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Jayden Okunbor 12. Jacob Preston 13. Harrison Edwards

Bench: 14. Khaled Rajab 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Chris Patolo 17. Corey Waddell

Reserves: 19. Kyle Flanagan 20. Jackson Topine 21. Braidon Burns 22. Blake Wilson 23. Franklin Pele

Late Mail: Reed Mahoney (concussion) has been named and has been cleared to play for the Bulldogs after receiving clearance from an independent neurologist. Jacob Kiraz (elbow) is set to play after being a late withdrawal last week.

Eels

1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Junior Paulo 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Andrew Davey 13. J’maine Hopgood

Bench: 14. Ofahiki Ogden 15. Brendan Hands 16. Matt Doorey 17. Makahesi Makatoa

Reserves: 18. Daejarn Asi 19. Jack Murchie 20. Ky Rodwell 21. Haze Dunster 22. Luca Moretti

Late Mail: Daejarn Asi is expected to replace Dylan Brown (stood down) at five-eighth. Reagan Campbell-Gillard (groin) is back early from injury.

Originally published as NRL Late Mail Round 15: Reed Mahoney cleared to return from concussion, Cody Walker out for Rabbitohs