In-form Cowboys reshuffle forward pack; $650k recruit given another chance — Late Mail
South Sydney have suffered a huge blow with Cody Walker ruled out for five weeks, but it means one of their most exciting young players is back in the starting side.
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The Storm are waiting patiently to confirm a flyer’s return and the Sharks have been dealt a huge blow.
Meanwhile, a Knights playmaker has recovered from injury and is a late in for Adam O’Brien’s struggling outfit.
Read on for all of the Late Mail out of Round 8!
FRIDAY APRIL 25
New Zealand Warriors vs. Newcastle Knights at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch, 6:05pm AEST
Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Rocco Berry 4. Ali Leiataua 5. Adam Pompey 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 10. Mitchell Barnett 9. Wayde Egan 12. Marata Niukore 11. Kurt Capewell 14. Leka Halasima 13. Erin Clark 8. Jackson Ford 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Jacob Laban 20. Tanah Boyd
Players cut: 18. Te Maire Martin 21. Tanner Stowers-Smith 22. Samuel Healey 23. Edward Kosi
Late Mail: The Warriors have reshuffled their forward pack in the final update with Jackson Ford moving to the bench and promising back rower Leka Helasima into the starting side. That means Marata Niukore will start at prop.
Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 20. Jack Cogger 8. Tyson Frizell 14. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Mathew Croker 9. Phoenix Crossland15. Tyrone Thompson 16. Thomas Cant 17. Brodie Jones 21. Matthew Arthur
Players cut: 7. Tyson Gamble 18. Kyle McCarthy 19. Paul Bryan 22. Logan Aoake
Late Mail:Jayden Brailey has been promoted to the starting line up with Adam O’Brien electing to bring Phoenix Crossland off the bench.Jack Cogger has recovered from a finger injury and has been parachuted into the starting side, with Tyson Gamble, who was named in the No. 7 jersey, dropped completely. The Knights have been struggling with ball in hand, and through six rounds have only recorded a paltry 60 points.
Melbourne Storm vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs at AAMI Park, 8:10pm AEST
Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Kane Bradley 3. Grant Anderson 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Joe Chan 17. Lazarus Vaalepu 18. Ativalu Lisati 19. Sualauvi Faalogo
Players cut: 20. Keagan Russell-Smith 21. Coby Williamson 22. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Late Mail: Centre Nick Meaney reportedly will need to get through a pair of training sessions to prove his fitness according to Code Sports. He’s aiming to return from a facial fracture in what is a big boost for the Storm. Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been left out of the 19-man squad, still yet to return after a layoff due to concussion.
Rabbitohs team: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 3. Jack Wighton 4. Campbell Graham 5. Isaiah Tass 14. Jye Gray 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Euan Aitken 13. Jai Arrow 15. Siliva Havili 16. Davvy Moale 17. Tallis Duncan 19. Lewis Dodd 18. Liam Le Blanc 20. Thomas Fletcher
Players cut: 6. Cody Walker 21. Salesi Ataata 22. Declan Casey
Late Mail: The club has confirmed Cody Walker is out for five weeks after tearing his calf at training this week. That means Jye Gray has earned a reprieve. He’s been moved into the starting side at five-eighth as Walker’s replacement, after originally being demoted to the bench, with Latrell Mitchell named at fullback. With Gray moving into the starting side, Lewis Dodd now comes into the team on the bench.
Do Souths need to move on from Walker? | 03:19
SATURDAY APRIL 26
North Queensland Cowboys vs. Gold Coast Titans at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, 5:30pm AEST
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Harrison Edwards 19. Zac Laybutt 21. Karl Lawton
Players cut: 15. Kai O’Donnell 20. Thomas Duffy 22. Thomas Mikaele
Late Mail: Second rower Kai O’Donnell drops off the interchange bench and has been replaced by the versatile Harrison Edwards.
Titans team: 1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Tom Weaver 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. David Fifita 15. Jaimin Jolliffe 16. Brock Gray 17. Arama Hau 18. Tony Francis 20. Jacob Alick-Wiencke
Players cut: 19. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 21. Allan Fitzgibbon 22. Josiah Pahulu
Late Mail: To come.
Penrith Panthers vs. Manly Sea Eagles at CommBank Stadium, 7:35pm AEST
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Paul Alamoti 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Thomas Jenkins 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Liam Henry 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Brad Schneider 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Lindsay Smith 17. Mavrik Geyer 18. Daine Laurie 19. Luron Patea 20. Asu Kepaoa 21. Matt Eisenhuth 22. Jack Cole
Players cut:
Late Mail:
Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jazz Tevaga 14. Tommy Talau 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown 18. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 19. Clayton Faulalo 20. Jakob Arthur 21. Michael Chee Kam 22. Caleb Navale
Players cut:
Late Mail:
Calls grow for DCE to not play Origin | 02:59
SUNDAY APRIL 27
Canberra Raiders vs. the Dolphins at GIO Stadium, 2:00pm AEST
Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Zac Hosking 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota 18. Simi Sasagi 19. Jed Stuart 20. Pasami Saulo 21. Trey Mooney 22. Danny Levi
Players cut:
Late Mail:
Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Max Plath 10. Francis Molo 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Tom Gilbert 13. Mark Nicholls 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Ray Stone 16. Connelly Lemuelu 17. Josh Kerr 18. Kenny Bromwich 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Tevita Naufahu 22. Junior Tupou
Players cut:
Late Mail:
Wests Tigers vs. Cronulla Sharks at Leichhardt Oval, 4:05pm AEST
Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To’a 5. Brent Naden 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu 18. Tony Sukkar 19. Heath Mason 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Solomona Faataape 22. Tristan Hope
Players cut:
Late Mail:
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Mawene Hiroti 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Tuku Hau Tapuha 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Jayden Berrell 19. Braden Hamlin-Uele 20. Billy Burns 21. Hohepa Puru 22. Jesse Colquhoun
Players cut:
Late Mail: A big blow for the Sharks, with Code Sports reporting front rower Toby Rudolf is set for a six to weight week sideline stint. Rudolf reportedly suffered a syndesmosis injury in Cronulla’s win over the Knights, having already missed the start of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Meanwhile, Kayal Iro is expected to return in the coming two rounds from a hamstring injury.
