NRL Late Mail Round 5: Latest team news and Wacko’s Whispers

Keep up to date with late team changes and gossip for the fifth round of the 2021 NRL season, via WACKO’S WHISPERS.

The Eels have suffered a bitter blow ahead of their Round 5 clash with the Dragons, losing Ryan Matterson yet again due to ongoing concussion symptoms.

Matterson suffered the head knock in Parramatta’s Round 2 game against Melbourne, following an ugly elbow from Felise Kaufusi which saw him suspended for two games.

Matterson was reportedly close to playing in Round 4 but was a late withdrawal, with Parramatta confirming he would be out for another week.

“Parramatta Eels second rower Ryan Matterson has been ruled out of tomorrow’s Round Five clash against the St George Illawarra Dragons suffering ongoing symptoms of concussion.

“The Club has been closely monitoring Ryan since the incident in Round 2 and as a precaution he will miss tomorrow’s game.”

The Eels gun forward has a history with concussion and as such the Eels have been taking no chances with his health.

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Ryan Matterson is set to miss yet another game as he battles ongoing concussion symptoms. Picture: Getty Images.

The Cowboys have suffered a massive blow with captain Jason Taumalolo ruled out of Sunday’s clash with Wests Tigers.

Taumalolo was named to make an earlier than expected return from a broken hand, but will miss the match.

Also absent will be Josh McGuire who may have played his last game for the Cowboys.

While McGuire is expected to finalise a move to St George Illawarra as early as this week, it is an infected elbow which will see him miss the game against the Tigers.

Talks between the Dragons and the Cowboys are ongoing – centered around how much North Queensland will chip into McGuire’s contract for next season.

—Michael Carayannis & Travis Meyn

Josh McGuire may have played his last game for the Cowboys, missing out in Round 5 due to injury. Picture: Evan Morgan.

Tigers vs Cowboys

Sun 11 Apr, Leichhardt Oval, Sydney, 4:05pm

TIGERS: 1 Daine Laurie, 2 David Nofoaluma, 3 James Roberts, 19. Joseph Leilua, 5 Tommy Talau, 6 Adam Doueihi, 22 Luke Brooks (No. 7 retired in tribute to Tommy Raudonikis), 8 Zane Musgrove, 9 Jacob Liddle, 10 James Tamou, 17. Joe Ofahengaue 12 Luciano Leilua, 13 Alex Twal

Bench: 4. Moses Mbye 11 Luke Garner, 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Stefano Utoikamanu

Reserve: 14. Michael Chee Kam

Players cut: 18. Alex Seyfarth, 20. Jake Simpkin, 21. Tukimihia Simpkins

Late Mail: Centre Joey Leilua has been recalled. Moses Mbye reverts to the bench while Michael Chee Kam drops to 18th Man. Joe Ofahengaue starts in the back row with Luke Garner moving to the bench.

COWBOYS: 1 Valentine Holmes, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 4 Connelly Lemuelu, 5 Murray Taulagi, 6 Scott Drinkwater, 7 Ben Hampton, 8 Francis Molo, 9 Reece Robson, 10 Jordan McLean, 11 Shane Wright, 12 Ben Condon, 15. Coen Hess

Bench: 14. Jake Granville 17. Lachlan Burr 19. Reuben Cotter 20. Corey Jensen

Reserve: 21. Jake Clifford

Players cut: 13 Jason Taumalolo 16. Josh McGuire 18. Esan Marsters

Late Mail: Key forwards Jason Taumalolo and Josh McGuire are out. Taumalolo is replaced at lock by Coen Hess. Reuben Cotter and Corey Jensen come onto the bench. Murray Taulagi failed a game day HIA last week but has passed protocol. Kyle Feldt returns on the right wing after missing the past two games due to suspension.

Eels vs Dragons

Sun 11 Apr, Bankwest Stadium, Sydney, 6:15pm

EELS: 1 Clint Gutherson, 2 Maika Sivo, 3 Tom Opacic, 4 Marata Niukore, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Dylan Brown, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 9 Reed Mahoney, 10 Junior Paulo, 11 Shaun Lane, 12 Ryan Matterson, 13 Nathan Brown

Bench: 14. Oregon Kaufusi 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Will Smith 17. Bryce Cartwright

Reserves: 18. Ray Stone, 19. Haze Dunster, 20. Keegan Hipgrave’, 21. Jordan Rankin

Late Mail: Ryan Matterson – who has missed the past two weeks due to concussion issues – has been ruled out, with Isaiah Papali’i set to start on the left edge with Ray Stone or Keegan Hipgrave coming onto the bench. Bryce Cartwright returns to the NRL after returning to the NSW Cup last week from a broken jaw.

DRAGONS: 1 Matt Dufty, 2 Cody Ramsey, 3 Jack Bird, 4 Zac Lomax, 5 Mikaele Ravalawa, 6 Corey Norman, 7 Adam Clune, 8 Blake Lawrie, 9 Andrew McCullough, 10 Paul Vaughan, 11 Josh Kerr, 12 Tariq Sims, 13 Tyrell Fuimaono

Bench: 14. Poasa Faamausili 15. Trent Merrin 16. Daniel Alvaro 17. Brayden Williame

Reserves: 18. Jackson Ford 19. Kade Ellis 20. Jordan Pereira. 21. Max Feagai

Late Mail: The Dragons have had a fairly settled side this season only using 19 players so far and are expected to be 1-17 again, with Jack Bird returning from suspension. Brayden Williame drops to the bench and Jackson Ford drops out of the 17.

Originally published as NRL Late Mail Round 5: Latest team news and Wacko’s Whispers