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Penrith have suffered a double blow for Thursday’s clash against Manly with Jarome Luai and Mitch Kenny ruled out.
Luai has an illness while Kenny was omitted after failing to complete the captain’s run on Wednesday with the club granted an exemption by the NRL to bring young hooker Luke Sommerton into their squad.
Jack Cogger is likely to replace Luai in the halves while Soni Luke is set to start at hooker with Kenny sidelined.
Manly’s middle-forward stocks took another hit with Matt Lodge tearing his ACL in the loss to the Roosters in a major blow leading into Thursday night’s home assignment against Penrith. Sean Keppie returns from a back injury for Lodge.
Brisbane halfback Adam Reynolds (groin) and Kobe Hetherington (back) were late withdrawals for the win over the Cowboys and are good to go for Friday’s stoush with Parramatta, as is second-rower Jordan Riki, who has been out for a month with a foot problem.
Titans hooker Sam Verrills is out for the rest of the year after he needed to have an operation on his troublesome shoulder in a major blow for the Gold Coast heading into Friday’s must-win match with Cronulla.
“He broke his collarbone at the Roosters last year before he came to us and got a plate in it,” interim coach Jim Lenihan said. “Sam did it again at the Titans in a contact drill on day one of pre-season and they put another plate in and more screws.
“It got infected after that procedure and they cleaned it up. The infection is back and it starting to pop through the skin where they cut him.
Melbourne have resisted the urge to rush Ryan Papenhuyzen back into the NRL for this Sunday’s crucial clash with Canberra after his encouraging return from injury in the Queensland Cup.
The Storm have kept Papenhuyzen in the Q Cup despite making a successful return from a shattered kneecap for the Sunshine Coast 384 days after suffering the horrific injury in a clash with Canberra’s Jack Wighton.
Coincidentally, the Storm play the Raiders this Sunday at AAMI Park and with both teams locked on 30 competition points, fourth spot is on the line. Storm coach Craig Bellamy has said he wanted Papenhuyzen to have a couple of matches in the Q Cup before he’d bring him back to the NRL side.
Storm winger George Jennings injured his knee in the loss to Penrith but Xavier Coates (hip) will replace him this round.
Kiwi halfback Jahrome Hughes (ankle) is under a cloud after sitting out the Panthers game but has been named to play.
Wighton was charged with contrary conduct for comments directed directed at referee Peter Gough after he was penalised for a high tackle in the final minute of Sunday’s 22-18 win over the Tigers.
He has paid a $3000 fine with an early guilty plea instead of risking being banned two matches if he challenged the judiciary.
Wighton said: “You’re trying hard to give this to them. You’re trying hard. That was a good tackle.”
Gough responded: “If you want to stay on the field, stop. It’s high, it’s on report, we’re going to have a penalty.”
Raiders centre Seb Kris has been ruled out for 3-4 weeks after scans revealed he had suffered a low-grade hamstring tear with rookie Ethan Strange named to replace him in the centres.
Souths prop Tom Burgess has been banned for the rest of the regular season after copping a grade-two careless high tackle for a contentious hit late in the loss to Cronulla.
Burgess was sin-binned in the 76th minute after his tackle on Tom Hazelton left the Sharks prop dazed. There was contact with the head but it appeared to be incidental and Fox League analysts Cooper Cronk and Mal Meninga said they thought there was little untoward in the incident.
He has copped a three-week ban with an early guilty plea rather than risking four matches if he took on the judiciary.
The inconsistency of the judicial process was a major talking point throughout the round after Panthers star Jarome Luai avoided a suspension despite appearing to shoulder charge a player in the head while Titans prop Moeaki Fotuaika getting a small ban despite being sent off against the Warriors.
The match review committee charged Luai with a grade-one careless high tackle for a shot on Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona during Penrith’s win over the Storm on Friday night.
He was placed on report during the game and has subsequently been handed a lenient punishment by the match reviewers despite this being a “third and subsequent offence”. Luai has paid a fine of $3000 to avoid a two-match ban.
Fotuaika was banished in the 17th minute of the Gold Coast’s defeat to the Warriors for his heavy contact on Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad which rubbed the fullback out for the rest of the match.
He was charged with a grade-two careless high tackle and has accepted a one-match ban rather than it potentially doubling if he contested the judiciary.
His light punishment follows Roosters prop Nathan Brown copping the same sanctions 24 hours earlier after he was sent off in Thursday night’s victory over Manly. He has also taken the option of one week out.
Knights forward Lachlan Fitzgibbon ($1800 for a hip-drop tackle) and Cowboys hooker Jake Granville ($1000 for a high tackle) are also lighter in the hip pocket.
Dragons duo Blake Lawrie ($750 for a high tackle) and Ryan Couchman ($1000 for a high tackle) were fined for incidents in the loss to Parramatta on Sunday.
St George Illawarra will be without Jack Bird and Zac Lomax due to shoulder injuries and prop Francis Molo (concussion) while Rabbitohs star Jai Arrow suffered severe back spasms in Saturday’s loss to the Sharks and is in doubt for this weekend’s trip to Cairns to face the Dragons.
Wests winger Charlie Staines has been sidelined after picking up a hamstring injury at Canberra on Sunday while Tigers teammate Daine Laurie (head knock) is a chance to play in Saturday’s meeting with the Warriors in Waikato.
Odds: Sea Eagles $7.50, Panthers $1.09 – odds via PlayUp
Sea Eagles: 1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Tolutau Koula 5. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Sean Keppie 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Dean Matterson 15. Aaron Woods 16. Kelma Tuilagi 17. Ethan Bullemor 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Ben Condon 20. Kaeo Weekes 21. Morgan Harper 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
Matthew Lodge will not return until midway through next season after suffering an ACL tear in just his third match for Manly. Sean Keppie comes into the pack this week after a brief layoff with a back complaint.
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Zac Hosking 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 18. Jack Cogger 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 14. Soni Luke 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Jaeman Salmon 19. Luke Garner 20. Jack Cole 21. Thomas Jenkins 22. Liam Henry 23. Luke Sommerton
Jarome Luai escaped a ban for his high shot on Nelson Asofa-Solomona but has been ruled out with an illness.
Mitch Kenny is also out with Luke Sommerton drafted into the squad as back-up. Izack Tago has delayed his comeback from a leg injury so Zac Hosking will fill in again at centre.
Odds: Sharks $1.44, Titans $2.80 – odds via PlayUp
Sharks: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jesse Colquhoun 17. Matt Moylan 18. Mawene Hiroti 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Daniel Atkinson 21. Kayal Iro 22. Jayden Berrell
Thomas Hazelton has failed to pass the concussion protocols to play after copping a high shot late in the win over Souths so Jesse Colquhoun replaces him on the bench. Ronaldo Mulitalo (jaw) is back on the wing for Mawene Hiroti but prop Oregon Kaufusi (finger) remains out.
Titans: 1. Jayden Campbell 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Jaimin Jolliffe 9. Chris Randall 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Erin Clark 14. Kruise Leeming 15. Isaac Liu 16. Klese Haas 17. Keano Kini 18. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 19. Thomas Weaver 20. Jacob Alick 21. Jo Vuna 22. Tony Francis
AJ Brimson has been ruled out due to his rib injury so Jayden Campbell will again step in at fullback. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui is back from his suspension in a major boost for Gold Coast’s chances of remaining in the playoff hunt.
Moeaki Fotuaika’s high shot against the Warriors has led to a one-game ban for the Queensland representative while Jaimin Jolliffe is back from a broken hand to further boost the pack.
Sam Verrills is out for the rest of the year after he needed to have an operation on his troublesome shoulder.
(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Odds: Broncos $1.30, Eels $3.55 – odds via PlayUp
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Deine Mariner 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Brendan Piakura 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Corey Jensen 19. Xavier Willison 20. Tristan Sailor 21. Jock Madden 22. Jordan Pereira
Adam Reynolds (groin) and Kobe Hetherington (back) were late withdrawals for the win over the Cowboys and are good to go, as is Jordan Riki, who has been out for a month with a foot problem.
Herbie Farnworth (knee) has been cleared but Jesse Arthars (head knock) has been replaced by Deine Mariner.
Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Daejarn Asi 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Andrew Davey 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Luca Moretti 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Brendan Hands 18. Makahesi Makatoa 19. Waqa Blake 20. Ofahiki Ogden 21. Ky Rodwell 22. Jack Murchie
Maika Sivo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard have one more match to serve on their suspensions. Daejarn Asi has been recalled in the centres with Bailey Simonsson switching to the flank with debutant Arthur Miller-Stephen dropped.
Odds: Rabbitohs $1.10, Dragons $7 – odds via PlayUp
Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Jai Arrow 9. Damien Cook 10. Shaquai Mitchell 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron Murray 14. Tallis Duncan 15. Jed Cartwright 16. Siliva Havili 17. Davvy Moale 18. Ben Lovett 19. Tyrone Munro 20. Peter Mamouzelos 21. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 22. Dean Hawkins
Thomas Burgess has been banned three weeks for his high shot on opposing prop Tom Hazelton in the loss to Cronulla.
Jai Arrow (back spasms) is a doubtful starter this week while Junior Tatola’s knee will keep him out for a couple more rounds.
Dragons: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Max Feagai 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Michael Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Billy Burns 12. Dan Russell 13. Ben Murdoch-Masila 14. Connor Muhleisen 15. Ryan Couchman 16. Toby Couchman 17. Zane Musgrove 18. Jaiyden Hunt 19. Sione Finau 20. Nick Lui-Toso 21. Paul Turner 22. Tautau Moga
Blake Lawrie and debutant Ryan Couchman avoided suspension by taking fines from high tackles against Parra. Moses Suli (calf) returns at centre with Zac Lomax (shoulder) out. Jack Bird may not play again this year due to his shoulder problem while prop Francis Molo (head knock) is out.
Toby Couchman returns alongside his twin for the first time on the bench.
(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Odds: Tigers $5.50, Warriors $1.14 – odds via PlayUp
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford To’a 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Junior Tupou 6. Daine Laurie 7. Luke Brooks 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Alex Seyfarth 16. Alex Twal 17. Shawn Blore 18. Justin Matamua 19. Aitasi James 20. Triston Reilly 21. Josh Feledy 22. Kit Laulilii
Second-rower Shawn Blore and prop Stefano Utoikamanu are back after one-week layoffs due to concussions.
Five-eighth Daine Laurie (head knock) is a maybe but winger Charlie Staines (hamstring) is out with Asu Kepaoa recalled to centre and Junior Tupou heading to the flank.
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jazz Tevaga 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Josh Curran 18. Freddy Lussick 20. Edward Kosi 21. Bunty Afoa 22. Viliami Vailea 23. Ronald Volkman
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is out due to the concussion he suffered from Moeaki Fotuaika’s high shot last Friday with rookie Taine Tuaupiki deputising in the No.1 jersey for the fourth time this year.
Odds: Roosters $1.30, Dolphins $3.55 – odds via PlayUp
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Nat Butcher 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Sandon Smith 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Terrell May 17. Dylan Napa 18. Fetalaiga Pauga 19. Elie El Zakhem 20. Jake Turpin 21. Zach Dockar-Clay 22. Corey Allan
Drew Hutchison will remain as starting halfback after impressing when elevated off the bench last Thursday in the win over Manly. Egan Butcher (head knock) is out again while Nathan Brown has been banned this round after being sent off for a high shot against Manly.
Veteran prop Dylan Napa has been called up from the NSW Cup to make his first NRL appearance in two years.
Dolphins: 1. Kodi Nikorima 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 4. Valynce Te Whare 5. Tesi Niu 6. Isaiya Katoa 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Kenny Bromwich 14. Ray Stone 15. Josh Kerr 16. Anthony Milford 17. Jarrod Wallace 18. Herman Ese’ese 19. Max Plath 20. Poasa Faamausili 21. Harrison Graham 22. Jack Bostock
Centre Euan Aitken (knee) will need another week before coming back but forward Ray Stone is over his broken hand.
Kodi Nikorima has again been switched to fullback with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow returning to centre.
Odds: Storm $1.25, Raiders $4 – odds via PlayUp
Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Marion Seve 4. Young Tonumaipea 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Tom Eisenhuth 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Eliesa Katoa 16. Tepai Moeroa 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 18. Alec MacDonald 19. Reimis Smith 20. Jonah Pezet 21. Tariq Sims 22. Tyran Wishart
Ryan Papenhuyzen made a solid comeback from a fractured kneecap in the Queensland Cup last weekend to give Craig Bellamy food for thought at the selection table but the coach is slow-playing his return to NRL level.
George Jennings (knee) is out with Xavier Coates (hip) returning on the wing while Jahrome Hughes (ankle) is set to play with Jonah Pezet on standby in the reserves.
Raiders: 1. Jordan Rapana 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Ethan Strange 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Nick Cotric 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Adrian Trevilyan 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Ata Mariota 18. Brad Morkos 19. Matt Frawley 20. Tom Starling 21. Trey Mooney 22. Utuloa Asouma
Seb Kris is out 3-4 weeks with his hamstring strain and Jarrod Croker, who missed the win over the Tigers with a similar injury, still out, debutant Ethan Strange will start in the centres.
Sebastian Kris. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Odds: Knights $1.22, Bulldogs $4.30 – odds via PlayUp
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Enari Tuala 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott 14. Kurt Mann 15. Brodie Jones 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Hymel Hunt 20. Simi Sasagi 21. Jack Johns 22. Daniel Saifiti
Daniel Saifiti is a chance to return from his nagging thigh problem after being named in the reserves while twin brother Jacob (hamstring) should be right. NSW centre Bradman Best (groin) is out with Enari Tuala replacing him.
Bulldogs: 1. Jake Averillo 2. Blake Wilson 3. Jacob Kiraz 4. Braidon Burns 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Ryan Sutton 14. Kyle Flanagan 15. Luke Thompson 16. Liam Knight 17. Corey Waddell 19. Harrison Edwards 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Jayden Okunbor 22. Hayze Perham 23. Samuel Hughes
Coming off the bye, the Dogs have named English forward Luke Thompson to play his first NRL match of the season after a lengthy spell out with a foot injury.
Bye – Cowboys
with AAP
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