Origin has played havoc with squads this weekend with 11 rep stars absent from Friday night’s clash between North Queensland and Penrith.
And the late withdrawal of Latrell Mitchell from the NSW side due to a calf injury has had a flow-on effect with the Bulldogs as star five-eighth Matt Burton has been recalled to the Blues squad as 18th man, which means he is unavailable for Sunday’s trip to Cronulla.
Burton’s late club omission means Khaled Rajab could make his run-on debut while Kyle Flanagan is a chance for a recall to the bench.
On the flip side, the Sharks have received a boost with Nicho Hynes back in the No.7 jersey after he was controversial dropped from the NSW team.
The Cowboys will be without Maroons quartet Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai as well as Blues debutant Reece Robson while the Panthers have Brian To’o, Jarome Luai, Isaiah Yeo, Liam Martin and NSW 18th man Stephen Crichton unavailable along with injured representative halfback Nathan Cleary.
Jason Taumalolo has been named in the side to bring some much-needed star power to the contest when he returns from knee surgery after he was on the extended bench for the past two weeks before being a late withdrawal heading into the Cowboys’ bye.
Cowboys coach Todd Payten on Thursday confirmed Taumalolo was good to go. “He’s been a mainstay of our team for a long time. He makes everyone feel more confident. It’ll take a week or two for him to really get his motor running but he’s got a job to do – all he’s got to do is make his tackles and take his carries.”
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Newcastle have dropped winger Greg Marzhew for missing the team bus during last week’s trip to Brisbane.
Marzhew’s omission comes after Enari Tuala and Bradman Best were dropped for the same reason late last season, also after an away game against the Broncos. Coincidentally, Tuala will replace Marzhew in the side to face the Sydney Roosters on Saturday, making his second NRL appearance of the season.
“Greg missed the team bus early on Sunday morning, which is a clear breach of team standards and as a result he will not play this weekend,” said Knights football boss Peter Parr.
Storm prop Christian Welch (hip-drop tackle) and Warriors veteran Mitch Barnett (high tackle) were the only players suspended from the previous round with each player accepting a one-game ban.
Eels winger Maika Sivo was the only player charged from Monday’s win over Canterbury and as copped a $3000 fine to avoid a potential two-game ban for dangerous contact after a hit on Jacob Kiraz.
Sydney Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has been slugged with a $6000 fine but avoided a suspension after his explosive altercation with Penrith’s Spencer Leniu.
Waerea-Hargreaves was hit with two grade-one contrary conduct charges worth $3000 each after he took the early guilty plea.
Leniu was handed the same charges by the NRL’s match review committee but his cleaner record means he will only pay $3600 in fines.
Jake Turpin ($3000 for a shoulder charge) and Nat Butcher ($3000 for a crusher tackle) were two more Roosters on the charge sheet while Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam ($1800 for dangerous contact) and Rabbitohs forward Michael Chee Kam ($2500 for a dangerous throw) were also in strife.
And, after previous instances went unpunished this season, the NRL match review committee has fined Canberra’s Albert Hopoate for pulling the hair of rival winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
Hopoate was handed a grade-one contrary conduct charge for pulling Watene-Zelezniak’s locks as he attempted a tackle and accepted a $1000 fine with an early guilty plea.
Raiders five-eighth Jack Wighton and Warriors big man Marata Niukore were pinged $3000 fines for their high shots in Friday night’s game. Niukore was sin-binned for his shot, also on Rapana, but has escaped suspension, the MRC judging the hit as a grade-one offence.
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Peta Hiku 5. Semi Valemei 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Jake Granville 10. Coen Hess 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Heilum Luki 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Sam Macintyre 15. Griffin Neame 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 18. Brendan Elliot 19. Riley Price 20. Mitchell Dunn 21. Thomas Dufty 22. Jake Bourke
Coming off the bye, Jason Taumalolo is making a return from knee surgery after he was named on the extended bench for the past two weeks before being a late withdrawal.
Cowboys prop Coen Hess has accepted an early guilty plea for a careless high tackle and will be available for their clash with the Panthers.
With Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai as well as Blues debutant Reece Robson out, Todd Payten at least has Tom Dearden available after he was relieved of 18th man duties with Queensland.
Jake Granville will to start at hooker while the likes of Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Sam McIntyre and Zac Laybutt will come into the game-day side.
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Tyrone Peachey 5. Thomas Jenkins 6. Jaeman Salmon 7. Jack Cogger 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Zac Hosking 12. Scott Sorensen 13. Matt Eisenhuth 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Luke Garner 18. Jack Cole 19. Liam Henry 20. Mavrik Geyer 21. Eddie Blacker 22. Jesse Maclean
Jaeman Salmon will slot into the halves with Jack Cogger to replace Jarome Luai while Tyrone Peachey, Luke Garner, Thomas Jenkins, Matt Eisenhuth and Soni Luke have received a call-up for the absent Origin stars.
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott 14. Kurt Mann 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mat Croker 18. Jack Johns 19. Simi Sasagi 20. Brodie Jones 21. Lachlan Miller 22. Adam Clune
Lachlan Fitzgibbon (calf) is back to replace fellow second-rower Tyson Frizell, who is out on Blues duty. Enari Tuala has been picked on the wing ahead of Greg Marzhew, who has been dropped for missing the team bus last week.
Roosters: 1. Joseph Manu 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Corey Allan 4. Billy Smith 5. Junior Pauga 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Turpin 10. Nat Butcher 11. Egan Butcher 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Naufahu Whyte 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Nathan Brown 16. Terrell May 17. Angus Crichton 18. Siua Wong 19. Zach Dockar-Clay 20. Jaxson Paulo 21. Tuipulotu Katoa 22. Elie El Zakhem
Billy Smith (sternum) has been named to play at centre while Joey Manu shifts to fullback with James Tedesco in Blues camp. Rookie playmaker Sandon Smith will partner Luke Keary in the halves.
Back-up halfback Sam Walker is set for a longer than expected layoff. He will meet with a surgeon this week about his ACL sprain after spending the past six weeks on the sidelines.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Ryan Matterson 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10.Ofahiki Ogden 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Andrew Davey 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Luca Moretti 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Matt Doorey 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Haze Dunster 19. Jack Murchie 20. Ky Rodwell 21. Waqa Blake 22. Shaun Lane
Mitchell Moses being on Origin duty and Dylan Brown (stood down) also unavailable means Ryan Matterson has been shifted to the halves in his return from a calf injury alongside Daejarn Asi.
Ofahiki Ogden will start in NSW prop Junior Paulo’s place with Joe Ofahengaue joining the bench. Hooker Josh Hodgson (neck) is still out so Brendan Hands has been handed the No.9 jersey again.
Sea Eagles: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Josh Schuster 7. Jake Arthur 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Sean Keppie 14. Karl Lawton 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Ben Condon 18. Aaron Woods 19. Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega 20. Mordan Harper 21.Gordon Chan Kum Tong 22. Zac Fulton
Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans are out so Kaeo Weekes and Jake Arthur come into the run-on side.
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Brent Naden 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Junior Tupou 6. Starford To’a 7. Brandon Wakeham 7. Luke Brooks 8. Fonua Pole 9. Jake Simpkin 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Shawn Blore 13. John Bateman 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Tommy Talau 16. Alex Twal 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Will Smith 19. Justin Matamua 20. Aitasi James 21 Brandon Mansfield 22 Triston Reilly
With Luke Brooks sidelined for six weeks due to a hamstring injury, Starford To’a has been switched to the halves while Stefano Utoikamanu’s NSW debut means Fonua Pole will start and Alex Seyfarth has been added to the interchange.
Rookie hooker Tallyn de Silva has been added to the bench with Jake Simpkin starting to cover hooker Api Koroisau (broken jaw).
Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Marion Seve 5. George Jennings 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Trent Loiero 12. Tariq Sims 13. Josh King 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Tom Eisenhuth 15 Alec MacDonald 17 Aaron Pene 18. Justin Olam 19 Grant Anderson 20 Sualauvi Faalogo 21 Chris Lewis 22 Kane Bradley
Reimis Smith is unlikely to play due to a hamstring strain while Cameron Munster, Xavier Coates and Harry Grant being on Maroons duty compounds the absence of Christian Welch (hip-drop ban).
George Jennings is the new winger for Coates, Jonah Pezet gets another run at five-eighth while forwards Aaron Pene and Alec MacDonald have been promoted to the bench.
Jonah Pezet is tackled. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Sharks: 1. Will 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. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Wade Graham 16. Jack Williams 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Connor Tracey 19. Braydon Trindall 20. Toby Rudolf 21. Daniel Atkinson 22. Jesse Colquhoun
Royce Hunt suffered an ankle injury after Christian Welch’s hip-drop tackle in the closing stages of Cronulla’s heavy defeat in Melbourne. Tom Hazelton has been recalled for Hunt.
Bulldogs: 1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Braidon Burns 6. Karl Oloapu 7. Matt Burton 8. Chris Patolo 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Jayden Okunbor 12. Jacob Preston 13. Harrison Edwards 14. Khaled Rajab 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Max King 17. Corey Waddell 19. Jeral Skelton 20. Kyle Flanagan 21. Fa’amanu Brown 22. Jackson Topine 23. Franklin Pele
Josh Addo-Carr being on Origin duty opens the door for Braidon Burns to fill in on the wing. Matt Burton’s late NSW call-up means Khaled Rajab could make his run-on debut while Kyle Flanagan is a chance for a recall to the bench.
Bye – Broncos, Dolphins, Dragons, Rabbitohs, Raiders, Titans, Warriors
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