NRL Late Mail round 2: Hame Sele’s return from injury delayed, Sitili Tupouniua set to play for Roosters

The Dragons were hopeful of welcoming a star forward back from injury, but his return has been delayed, while a Roosters star is set to play after recovering from an injury in Las Vegas. See all predicted team changes here.

St George Illawarra’s Hame Sele has again been ruled out with an ongoing hamstring injury.

The Dragons were holding out hope that Sele would be a chance to return to play the Dolphins. However, his comeback to the Dragons is now expected to happen next week against the Cowboys.

Fellow returning St George junior Luciano Leilua will play. He will start off the bench.

—Michael Carayannis

ROOSTER BOOST AS KEY FORWARD FIRMS TO PLAY

Sitili Tupouniua is set to play against the Sea Eagles this weekend after recovering from an injury sustained in the Las Vegas season opener.

The backrower played just 43 minutes against the Broncos but trained on Monday and will take the field at 4 Pines Park on Sunday afternoon.

Dominic Young (neck) will make his club debut after missing the final 17 for Vegas.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (suspension) returns in place of Spencer Leniu (suspension, round 10).

Angus Crichton has been named on the extended bench and is unlikely once again due to a groin injury.

Sitili Tupouniua is set to play for the Roosters. Picture: NRL Photos

SEA EAGLES v ROOSTERS

Sunday, 4:05pm, 4 Pines Park, Sydney

SEA EAGLES

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Tommy Talau 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic

Bench: 14. Karl Lawton 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown

Reserves: 18. Jakob Arthur 20. Aaron Woods

Players cut: 19. Raymond Tuiamalo Vaega 21. Brad Parker 22. Jamie Humphreys

Late Mail: Jason Saab (hamstring) is set to miss six weeks, giving replacement winger Tommy Talau a decent run in the side.

Josh Schuster (calf, finger, chickenpox) will return through NSW Cup this weekend.

Karl Lawton suffered a lateral ankle injury against Souths but is on track to play.

ROOSTERS

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Siua Wong 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley

Bench: 14. Sandon Smith 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Nat Butcher 17. Terrell May

Reserves: 18. Connor Watson 19. Fetalaiga Pauga

Players cut: 20. Egan Butcher 21. Zach Dockar-Clay 22. Angus Crichton

Late Mail: Sitili Tupouniua (leg) and Dominic Young (neck) are both expected to play.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (suspension) returns while Angus Crichton continues to battle a groin injury.

DOLPHINS v DRAGONS

Sunday, 6:15pm, Kayo Stadium, Redcliffe

DOLPHINS

1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Euan Aitken 13. Max Plath

Bench: 14. Josh Kerr 15. Kenny Bromwich 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Jarrod Wallace

18. Kurt Donoghoe21. Tesi Niu

Players cut: 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Oryn Keeley 22. Mason Teague

Late Mail: No changes expected after Wayne Bennett wielded the axe on Tuesday. Bennett dumped halfback Sean O’Sullivan for Isaiya Katoa, demoted centre Tesi Niu for Jake Averillo and brought Euan Aitken and Max Plath into his starting forward pack.

DRAGONS

1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Jack Bird 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Tom Eisenhuth 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin

Bench: 14. Connor Muhleisen 15. Michael Molo 16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 17. Luciano Leilua

Reserves: 18. Viliami Fifita 19. Christian Tuipulotu

Players cut: 20. Jesse Marschke 21. Ben Murdoch-Masila 22. Hame Sele

Late Mail: Plenty of moving parts here with Blake Lawrie and Luciano Leilua both named to return. Hame Sele was initially named on an extended bench and was expected to be a late inclusion, but has again been ruled out with an ongoing hamstring injury. Don’t be surprised if there are game day changes.

BYE: Titans

Originally published as NRL Late Mail round 2: Hame Sele’s return from injury delayed, Sitili Tupouniua set to play for Roosters