NRL Late Mail Round 13: Jake Arthur’s Manly debut confirmed

Jake Arthur will make his club debut for Manly just six days after making the biggest move of his career. See the full Round 13 late mail.

Jake Arthur will make his club debut for Manly just six days after making the biggest move of his career.

Stuck behind Eels halves Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses, the former Parramatta halfback decided to make a mid-season switch to Manly last Monday for an opportunity to play first grade.

The call was an emotional one for Arthur and his father, Eels head coach Brad Arthur, who has since spoken about the relief of his son making the move to Manly.

Sea Eagles coach Anthony Siebold has wasted no time offering Arthur his shot with the 20-year-old set to make his debut from the interchange bench against the Knights on Sunday.

He is likely to come on to the field at either lock, or in the halves.

“Jake will come on to the bench, there’ll be no other changes, but Jake gives us some flexibility and versatility,” Seibold said.

Jake Arthur will debut for Manly. Picture: Tyler Morpeth (Manly Media)

“Depending on the game, whether he goes on in the halves or he goes on and becomes a service player through the middle of the field.

“That’s the two ways we’ve looked at using him this week.

“Two weeks ago he played a really good game of footy in first grade against Canberra and he’s been a standout in the NSW Cup this year.

“I’ve loved his work-ethic this week. We’ve brought him in to the club and we want to give him that opportunity.’’

Seibold conceded the talented young half and his father Brad were in a tough situation at Parramatta.

“It would’ve been a difficult situation for Brad and Jake,’’ Seibold said.

“But the thing about Jake is, he’s 20 years of age, he’s played in a grand final, he was an elite kid coming through and I remember watching him as a schoolboy player.

“He’s also been a good player, I just think he’s been very harshly critiqued by people who either support the club, or who watched him play.

“He’s a really talented player.

“He’s ready for that next opportunity and we want to see what he can do.’’

KNIGHTS EXPLAIN PONGA SWITCH, MILLER EXPERIMENT

Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien says the move to shift Kalyn Ponga out of the five-eighth spot was not just about his star player.

O’Brien has abandoned the pre-season plan for Ponga to wear the No.6 jersey instead switching him back to the fullback spot where he has shone. It comes as the Knights reach a pivotal moment in their season with four wins, six losses and a draw ahead of their clash against Manly.

Ponga will start at fullback, Tyson Gamble at five-eighth and regular fullback Lachie Miller relegated to the bench.

Adam O’Brien has refused to rule out a move back to five-eighth for Kalyn Ponga. Picture: Getty Images.

“The reason isn’t based around Kalyn alone,” O’Brien said. “I felt I needed to get Tyson back out there and playing a lot more. We’ve played a lot more good footy when he has come onto the field. He was only getting 20 minutes off the bench but against the Titans there was a real difference when he came on. He and Jackson Hastings are really connected in the halves.

Miller’s inexperience at fullback has also shown in recent weeks. While he started the season in blistering form he has struggled to find consistency.

“We knew with Lachie who is so young into his NRL career that it was going to be hard,” O’Brien said. “He started the season on fire but over the last few weeks he is down on confidence and came up with a couple of errors. He is trying really hard but I want to alleviate some pressure on him.

“The plan was for him to go to NSW Cup and work on a few things but having a look at him at training, we used him as a 14 and he looked really good. He provides cover for fullback, halves and he can also do a job at nine. He has played a fair bit of that in the Queensland Cup.

O’Brien is confident Lachlan Miller can excel in a utility role, but isn’t sure if the bench move will be a long-term switch. Picture: Getty Images.

“He understood the areas he needs to work on. He is so young in terms of his career.”

Ponga sent a scare through the NRL in the opening exchanges of their loss to Cronulla last Saturday. He came from the field for a concussion test before returning. O’Brien said Ponga’s history of headknocks were not a major factor in the move and refused to rule out a return to the No.6 jersey for Ponga.

“I don’t have those answers yet,” O’Brien said. “Lachie could shoot the lights out off the bench. It isn’t going to be a one-week move but I’m not willing to say it’s a long-term thing.

RABBITOHS LOSE ONE STAR BUT GAIN ANOTHER

—David Riccio, Michael Carayannis

Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham has failed in his bid to overcome a sternum injury.

The NSW Origin hopeful has withdrawn from South Sydney’s clash with the Raiders on Saturday night.

Graham was forced to abort Blues camp earlier this week after being included as the 18th man due to the sternum injury.

In more positive news for the Rabbitohs, damaging forward Keaon Koloamatangi has been cleared to make his comeback after more than a month on the sidelines with a foot injury.

Campbell Graham was ruled out of Origin. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

FULL NRL ROUND 13 TEAMS

Ryan Matterson suffered a calf injury. Didn’t see mechanism, tough to estimate severity based on video alone. But loss of function (couldn’t bear weight) brings concern for moderate strain, if that is the case return to play range often 3-6 weeks. Hopefully not as bad as it looks pic.twitter.com/3IsDOcBRNT

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) May 19, 2023

WARRIORS v BRONCOS

Saturday, 5:30pm, McLean Park, Napier

Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris

Bench: 14. Bayley Sironen 15. Josh Curran 16. Demitric Sifakula 17. Tom Ale

Reserves: 20. Taine Tuaupiki 22. Kalani Going

Players cut: 18. Ronald Volkman 21. Ali Leiataua 23. Zyon Maiu’u

Late Mail: Jackson Ford will return after a two-week hiatus due to concussion and then the bye. Mitchell Barnett is hopeful of returning next week, having not played since Round 3 due to a serious neck injury. Luke Metcalf will make his club debut at five-eighth after returning from a serious hamstring injury through the lower grades. No changes in the 24-hour update.

Broncos

1. Tristan Sailor 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Keenan Palasia 9. Billy Walters 10. Corey Jensen 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington

Bench: 14. Cory Paix 15. Xavier Willison 16. Brendan Piakura 17. Martin Taupau

Reserves: 19. Tyson Smoothy 20. Delouise Hoeter

Players cut: 18. Jock Madden 22. Israel Leota 23. Benjamin Te Kura

Late Mail: With five players on Origin duty, the depleted Broncos are hopeful veteran halfback Adam Reynolds (concussion/neck) will be cleared for the trip to Napier. No changes in the 24-hour update.

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RABBITOHS v RAIDERS

Saturday, 7:35pm, Accor Stadium, Sydney

Rabbitohs

1. Blake Taaffe 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 14. Jed Cartwright 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Hame Sele 11. Michael Chee Kam 12. Jacob Host 13. Liam Knight

Bench: 15. Tallis Duncan 16. Shaquai Mitchell 17. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 21. Keaon Koloamatangi

Reserves: 18. Richard Kenner 20. Peter Mamouzelos

Players cut: 4. Campbell Graham 19. Tyrone Munro 22. Dean Hawkins

Late Mail: Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham has failed in his bid to overcome a sternum injury and will be replace by Jed Cartwright, while Keaon Koloamatangi has been cleared to return via the interchange bench.

The NSW Origin hopeful has withdrawn from South Sydney’s clash with the Raiders on Saturday night.

Graham was forced to abort Blues camp earlier this week after being included as the 18th man due to the sternum injury.

Koloamatangi has been cleared to make his comeback after more than a month on the sidelines with a foot injury.

Raiders

1. Sebastian Kris 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Pasami Saulo 11. Corey Harawira 12. Corey Horsburgh 13. Joseph Tapine

Bench: 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Nick Cotric 17. Ata Mariota

Reserves: 18. Hohepa Puru 20. Matt Frawley

Players cut: 19. Danny Levi 21. Harley Smith-Shields 22. Peter Hola

Late Mail: Elliott Whitehead missed selection on Tuesday due to a pectoral injury that will sideline him for 4-6 weeks. Zac Woolford (concussion) and Nick Cotric (hamstring) are both on track to return.

KNIGHTS v SEA EAGLES

Sunday, 4:05pm, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

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. Jack Johns 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott

Bench: 14. Lachlan Miller 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mat Croker

Reserves: 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Enari Tuala 20. Brodie Jones 21. Adam Clune 22. Kurt Mann

Late Mail: Kalyn Ponga returns to the fullback role but won’t kick goals with Jackson Hastings preferred. Kurt Mann (abdomen) is gunning for a comeback and could come into the 17 on the bench.

Sea Eagles

1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Josh Schuster 7. Cooper Johns 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Sean Keppie

Bench: 14. Christian Tuipulotu 15. Karl Lawton 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Ben Condon

Reserves: 18. Morgan Boyle 19. Jake Arthur 20. Dean Matterson 21. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 22. Morgan Harper

Late Mail: Don’t be surprised if fresh recruit Jake Arthur finds his way into the 17 on game day. Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic are on Origin duty, while Jake Trbojevic (calf) has been ruled out for six weeks. Josh Aloiai (shoulder) is aiming to return after next week’s bye, while a return date is yet to be set for Ben Trbojevic (hamstring). Bench forward Karl Lawton (shoulder) is in doubt.

BYE: Panthers, Roosters, Sharks, Tigers, Storm, Bulldogs, Titans

Originally published as NRL Late Mail Round 13: Jake Arthur’s Manly debut confirmed