Already light on middles, the Bulldogs are sweating on a star prop’s fitness ahead of their Round 23 blockbuster with the Dragons.
Meanwhile, Craig Bellamy admits his spine are still yet to gel completely following an injury-disrupted season.
Read on for all your Round 23 Early Mail!
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Lomax reflects on Origin arena | 03:10
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THURSDAY
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Melbourne Storm, 7.50pm AEST at Accor Stadium
Rabbitohs team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Fletcher Myers 3. Taane Milne 4. Richard Kennar 5. Jacob Gagai 6. Jack Wighton 7. Cody Walker 8. Davvy Moale 9. Damien Cook 10. Sean Keppie 11. Cameron Murray 12. Michael Chee Kam 13. Keaon Koloamatangi 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Tallis Duncan 16. Thomas Burgess 17. Shaquai Mitchell 18. Dean Hawkins 19. Liam Le Blanc 20. Brock Gray 21. Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson 22. Leon Te Hau
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Grant Anderson 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Trent Loiero 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Lazarus Vaalepu 16. Chris Lewis 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Kane Bradley 19. Sualauvi Faalogo 20. Tepai Moeroa 21. Dean Ieremia 22. Tristan Powell
Players cut:
Early Mail: No injury concerns for the Melbourne Storm heading into Round 23, although coach Craig Bellamy told media his spine need time to gel. “They probably weren’t quite, at times, on the same page,” Bellamy said on Wednesday. “And that’s natural with how much (Munster) hasn’t played this year and, Paps (Ryan Papenhuyzen) has been out a little bit as well.” Speaking of combinations, Melbourne will be without Eli Katoa, who has developed a fine partnership with Jahrome Hughes this season, with Trent Loeiro shifted to the back row in Katoa’s place.
FRIDAY
Gold Coast Titans vs Cronulla Sharks, 6pm AEST at Cbus Super Stadium
Titans team: 1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Kieran Foran 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Erin Clark 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Chris Randall 14. Isaac Liu 15. Jaimin Jolliffe 16. Josiah Pahulu 17. Keenan Palasia 18. AJ Brimson 19. Tanah Boyd 20. Joe Stimson 21. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 22. Tony Francis
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Blayke Brailey 8. Royce Hunt 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jack Williams 14. Jayden Berrell 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Niwhai Puru 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Billy Burns 21. Mawene Hiroti 22. Liam Ison
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Parramatta Eels vs Penrith Panthers, 8pm AEST at CommBank Stadium
Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Jake Tago 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Blaize Talagi 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Wiremu Greig 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Joey Lussick 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Matt Doorey 17. Dan Keir 18. Ethan Sanders 19. Kelma Tuilagi 20. Isaac Lumelume 21. Morgan Harper 22. Makahesi Makatoa
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Panthers team: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Trent Toelau 15. Matt Eisenhuth 16. Liam Henry 17. Mavrik Geyer 18. Luron Patea 19. Jack Cole 20. Isaiah Iongi 21. Asu Kepaoa 22. Luke Sommerton
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Walsh’s attitude ‘smacks of a brat’ | 04:40
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SATURDAY
Canberra Raiders vs Manly Sea Eagles, 3pm AEST at GIO Stadium
Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jordan Rapana 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Adam Cook 15. Trey Mooney 16. Ata Mariota 17. Simi Sasagi 18. Albert Hopoate 19. Danny Levi 20. Corey Horsburgh 21. Zac Woolford 22. Emre Guler
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tommy Talau 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Nathan Brown 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Karl Lawton 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 15. Ben Trbojevic 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Corey Waddell 19. Clayton Faulalo 20. Jamie Humphreys 21. Jake Simpkin 22. Dean Matterson
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Brisbane Broncos, 5.30pm AEST at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Sam McIntyre 11. Heilum Luki 24. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Griffin Neame 18. Jaxon Purdue 19. Jake Clifford 20. Tomas Chester 21. Semi Valemei 22. Marly Bitungane 24. Jeremiah Nanai
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Joshua Rogers 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Xavier Willison 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Blake Mozer 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Tristan Sailor 17. Martin Taupau 18. Cory Paix 19. Benjamin Te Kura 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Corey Oates 22. Vaa Semu
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 7.35pm AEST at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Dragons team: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Max Feagai 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth 14. Hame Sele 15. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 16. Ryan Couchman 17. Blake Lawrie 18. Mathew Feagai 19. Michael Molo 20. Lyhkan King-Togia 21. Jack Bird 22. Connor Muhleisen
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Josh Curran 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Kurt Mann 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Lipoi Hopoi 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Harry Hayes 19. Jeral Skelton 20. Jack Underhill 21. Blake Wilson 22. Poasa Faamausili 23. Drew Hutchison
Players cut:
Early Mail: Cameron Ciraldo will be sweating on the fitness of middle forward Josh Curran, who missed training on Monday as he deals with an AC joint injury suffered against Canberra on the weekend. Curran’s injury would be a major blow for the Bulldogs, who are already light on middle forwards and without their number one prop Max King through injury. Poasa Faamausili will likely take Curran’s place if he is unable to pass a fitness test later this week.
Bulldogs racing to lock in top 4 | 02:17
SUNDAY
Dolphins vs New Zealand Warriors, 2pm AEST at Suncorp Stadium
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. Jesse Bromwich 9. Max Plath 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Kenny Bromwich 14. Oryn Keeley 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 17. Sean O’Sullivan 18. Lachlan Hubner 19. Tesi Niu 20. Anthony Milford 21. Mason Teague 22. Trai Fuller
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Edward Kosi 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Marata Niukore 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Dylan Walker 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Tom Ale 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Leka Halasima 18. Te Maire Martin 20. Demitric Sifakula 21. Taine Tuaupiki 22. Moala Graham-Taufa 23. Bunty Afoa
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Newcastle Knights vs Wests Tigers, 4.05pm AEST at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 4. Dylan Lucas 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jack Cogger 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones 18. Thomas Cant 19. Sebastian Su’a 20. Jackson Hastings 21. Will Pryce 22. Krystian Mapapalangi
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Solomon Alaimalo 3. Solomona Faataape 4. Adam Doueihi 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Reuben Porter 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Isaiah Papali’i 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Alex Seyfarth 16. Fonua Pole 17. Alex Twal 18. Heath Mason 19. Tim Johannssen 20. Josh Feledy 21. Declan Casey 22. Tony Sukkar
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Source Agencies
