NRL Late Mail round 8: Brad Arthur’s roll of the dice on halves debutant, Billy Walters to play despite ankle injury

The Sharks have suffered a late blow ahead of their clash agaisn the Raiders. See full ins and outs for round 8 here.

COWBOYS v PANTHERS

COWBOYS v PANTHERS

Saturday, 7:35pm, QCB Stadium, Townsville

Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Tomas Chester 5. Semi Valemei 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

Bench: 14. Jake Granville 15. Jason Taumalolo 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Thomas Mikaele

Reserves: 19. Jack Gosiewski 22. Jake Clifford

Players cut: 18. Viliami Vailea 20. Marly Bitungane 21. Jamal Shibasaki

Late Mail: No changes expected with Thomas Mikaele named to make his club debut from the bench.

Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Taylan May 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 15. Lindsay Smith 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 17. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo

Bench: 14. Daine Laurie 16. Liam Henry 18. Matt Eisenhuth 21. Mavrik Geyer

Reserves: 20. Brad Schneider 19. Paul Alamoti

Players cut: 8. Moses Leota 11. Scott Sorensen22. Tyrone Peachey

Late Mail: The Panthers have been hit with a host of changes on gameday, with Moses Leota and Scott Sorensen ruled out, with Lindsay Smith and Luke Garner replacing them in the starting side. Matt Eisenhuth and Mavrik Geyer elevated to the bench. Nathan Cleary (hamstring), Taylan May (personal reasons) and Dylan Edwards (hamstring) are all good to go.

DOLPHINS v KNIGHTS

Sunday, 2pm, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Dolphins: 1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Tesi Niu 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Kenny Bromwich 12. Euan Aitken 13. Max Plath

Bench: 14. Josh Kerr 15. Kurt Donoghoe 16. Ray Stone 17. Oryn Keeley

Reserves: 18. Mason Teague 22. Connelly Lemuelu

Players cut: 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Jarrod Wallace 21. Valynce Te Whare

Late Mail: Kurt Donoghoe (suspension) returns in the bench.

Knights: 1. David Armstrong 2. Greg Marzhew 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott

Bench: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jed Cartwright 17. Brodie Jones

Reserves: 19. Thomas Cant 22. Krystian Mapapalangi

Players cut: 18. Mathew Croker 20. Jack Cogger 21. Will Pryce

Late Mail: Dane Gagai (calf) is expected to play. David Armstrong has been named for his NRL debut in place of Kalyn Ponga (foot, three months). English recruit Will Pryce had been playing five-eighth in reserve grade, but switches to fullback this week in an indication he could be a contender for the No. 1 slot down the track.

RAIDERS v SHARKS

Sunday, 4:05pm, GIO Stadium, Canberra

Raiders: 1. Chevy Stewart 2. James Schiller 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Kaeo Weekes 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Danny Levi 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Simi Sasagi 13. Morgan Smithies

Bench: 14. Tom Starling 15. Ata Mariota 16. Trey Mooney 17. Pasami Saulo

Reserves: 18. Albert Hopoate 20. Zac Woolford

Players cut: 19. Emre Guler 21. Nick Cotric 22. Peter Hola

Late Mail: Albert Hopoate is on the extended bench as he aims to return from burns to his arm. Kaeo Weekes will make his Canberra debut in the halves in place of Jamal Fogarty (biceps).

Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Bench: 14. Jack Williams 15. Siosifa Talakai 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha

Reserves: 18. Mawene Hiroti 21. Royce Hunt

Players cut: 16. Toby Rudolf 20. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Kade Dykes

Late Mail: The Sharks have suffered a late blow, with Toby Rudolf ruled out. Tuku Hau Tapuha joins the interchange bench in his absence. Royce Hunt is on the extended bench as he aims to return from a calf injury, while Sione Katoa is back from suspension on the wing. Daniel Atkinson starts at halfback in place of Braydon Trindall.

Originally published as NRL Late Mail round 8: Brad Arthur’s roll of the dice on halves debutant, Billy Walters to play despite ankle injury