The Bulldogs will be without star enforcer Luke Thompsondue to a positive Covid diagnosis, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Meanwhile, the Warriors have been forced into yet another reshuffle with a key backline player out through injury and Penrith have made a change to their bench.
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Read on for all of the Late Mail ahead of Round 24.
FRIDAY
Penrith Panthers vs Warriors at BlueBet Stadium, 6.00pm AEDT
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Taylan May 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Moses Leota 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Mitch Kenny 15. Matt Eisenhuth 16. Spencer Leniu 19. J’maine Hopgood 18. Sunia Turuva 20. Chris Smith
Players cut: 17. Charlie Staines 21. Kurt Falls 22. Lindsay Smith
Late Mail: Jarome Luai is set to make an early return from a knee injury, with Jaeman Salmon dropping out. James Fisher-Harris returns from suspension with Matt Eisenhuth dropping to the bench, while J’maine Hopgood replaces Charlie Staines on the bench.
Warriors team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Viliami Vailea 18. Adam Pompey 5. Edward Kosi 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Tohu Harris 12. Josh Curran 16. Eliesa Katoa 13. Bunty Afoa 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Dunamis Lui 17. Tom Ale 21. Ben Murdoch-Masila 23. Taniela Otukolo 24. Jackson Frei
Players cut: 4. Marcelo Montoya 11. Euan Aitken 20. Rocco Berry 22. Daejarn Asi
Late Mail: Marcelo Montoya has been ruled out due to injury with Adam Pompey replacing him in the centres. Meanwhile, second-rower Euan Aitken is out due to personal reasons, with Eliesa Katoa to start and Ben Murdoch-Masila coming onto the bench, while Jackson Frei has been added to the reserves. Chanel Harris-Tavita returns from a knee injury with Daejarn Asi dropping out.
Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park Park, 7.55pm AEDT
Storm team: 1. Nick Meaney 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Young Tonumaipea 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harry Grant 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Brandon Smith 14. Chris Lewis 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Josh King 19. Trent Loiero 22. Marion Seve
Players cut: 18. Alec MacDonald 20. William Warbrick 21. Cooper Johns
Late Mail: Marion Seve is a chance to return from a knee injury after being named 18th man, with Young Tonumaipea likely to make way if he is deemed fit. There were no changes at the 24-hour update.
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Sam Verrills 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Angus Crichton 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Connor Watson 15. Egan Butcher 16. Lindsay Collins 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho 18. Drew Hutchison 19. Terrell May
Players cut: 20. Siua Wong 21. Fletcher Baker 22. Oliver Gildart
Late Mail: Forwards Lindsay Collins (concussion) and Siosiua Taukeiaho (cheekbone) are set to make their long-awaited returns via the bench.
MORE NRL NEWS
OVERHAUL: Tigers say stars will be ‘moved’. These players could be in the firing line
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TEAMS: Panthers star’s shock return as Cowboys make big switch; Young bunny axed
DECISIONS: Storm up ante with ‘impressive’ Munster offer amid Dolphins ‘pressure’
SATURDAY
Canberra Raiders vs Manly Sea Eagles at GIO Stadium, 3.00pm AEDT
Raiders team: 1. Xavier Savage 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Corey Harawira-Naera 18. James Schiller 19. Ata Mariota 20. Matt Frawley 21. Trey Mooney 22. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Players cut:
Late Mail: The Raiders are set to to keep the same 17 as they aim to keep their finals dream alive.
Sea Eagles team: 1. Tolutau Koula 2. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Andrew Davey 13. Dylan Walker 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Josh Schuster 16. Martin Taupau 17. Kurt De Luis 18. Ethan Bullemor 19. Kaeo Weekes 20. James Roumanos 21. Jamie Humphreys 22. Jacob Sykes
Players cut:
Late Mail: Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega will debut on the wing, with Alfred Smalley dropping out. Andrew Davey comes into the second row with Ethan Bullemor named 18th man. Toafofoa Sipley starts at prop with Martin Taupau on the bench.
Cronulla Sharks vs Canterbury Bulldogs at PointsBet Stadium, 5.30pm AEDT
Sharks team: 1. Lachlan Miller 2. Matt Ikuvalu 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Dale Finucane 14. Teig Wilton 15. Cameron McInnes 16. Aiden Tolman 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Braydon Trindall 19. Jesse Colquhoun 20. Franklin Pele 21. Kayal Iro 22. Luke Metcalf
Players cut:
Late Mail:Centre Siosifa Talakai returns from a shoulder injury in a timely boost with Connor Tracey out due to concussion. Andrew Fifita will come off the bench in his last home game for the club.
Bulldogs team: 1. Jake Averillo 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Braidon Burns 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Josh Jackson 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Joe Stimson 16. Harrison Edwards 17. Chris Patolo 19. Declan Casey 20. Bailey Biondi-Odo 21. Jackson Topine 22. Kurtis Morrin 23. Jeral Skelton
Players cut: 13. Luke Thompson
Late Mail:The Bulldogs will be without star enforcer Luke Thompson due to a positive Covid diagnosis, according to The Daily Telegraph. The 27-year-old missed training on Wednesday due to illness with confirmation on Thursday that Covid will rule him out of the clash with the Sharks. Joe Stimson has also revealed he was hospitalised early this week with an infected cut on his knee but is reportedly set to line-up on Saturday. Skipper Josh Jackson moves from lock to second row with Tevita Pangai Jr dropped to NSW Cup and Chris Patolo joining the bench.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs North Queensland Cowboys at Accor Stadium, 7.35pm AEDT
Rabbitohs team: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Izaac Thompson 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Hame Sele 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Kodi Nikorima 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Siliva Havili 17. Thomas Burgess 18. Blake Taaffe 19. Taane Milne 20. Davvy Moale 21. Jed Cartwright 22. Michael Chee Kam
Players cut:
Late Mail: Prop Thomas Burgess is set to return from a groin injury on the bench, with Hame Sele to start and Daniel Suluka-Fifita dropping out.
Cowboys team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Scott Drinkwater 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Tom Gilbert 15. Coen Hess 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Griffin Neame 18. Brendan Elliot 19. Tomas Chester 20. Jake Granville 21. Riley Price 22. Ben Condon
Players cut:
Late Mail: Scott Drinkwater switches to five-eighth for the injured Tom Dearden, with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to start at fullback and Tom Gilbert joining the bench.
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SUNDAY
Wests Tigers vs St George Illawarra Dragons at CommBank Stadium, 2.00pm AEDT
Tigers team: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Brent Naden 3. Starford To’a 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Junior Pauga 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Jock Madden 8. Joe Ofahengaue 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Zane Musgrove 11. Thomas Freebairn 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Fa’amanu Brown 14. Fonua Pole 15. Austin Dias 16. Jacob Liddle 17. Kitione Kautoga 18. Justin Matamua 19. Tyrone Peachey 20. James Roberts 21. Tukimihia Simpkins 22. Brandon Tumeth
Players cut:
Late Mail: Luke Garner (head knock), Ken Maumalo (groin), James Tamou (suspended) and Alex Seyfarth (shoulder) are all out. Junior Pauga comes onto the wing, while Tom Freebairn starts in the second row. Joe Ofahengaue moves from lock to prop, Fa’amanu Brown switches to lock and Jake Simpkin replaces him at hooker. Jacob Liddle and debutant Kitione Kautoga join the pine.
Dragons team: 1. Cody Ramsey 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Jack Bird 4. Zac Lomax 5. Tautau Moga 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Aaron Woods 9. Jayden Sullivan 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Josh Mcguire 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Tyrell Fuimaono 15. Jaiyden Hunt 16. Jackson Ford 17. Tyrell Sloan 18. Jack Gosiewski 19. Jonathon Reuben 20. Poasa Faamausili 21. Joshua Coric 22. Josh Kerr
Players cut:
Late Mail: Jack Bird switches to centre for the suspended Moses Mbye. Jack de Belin moves to lock, with Aaron Woods to start at prop.
Gold Coast Titans vs Newcastle Knights at Cbus Super Stadium, 4.05pm AEDT
Titans team: 1. Jayden Campbell 2. Sosefo Fifita 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Greg Marzhew 6. AJ Brimson 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Jaimin Jolliffe 9. Sam McIntyre 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Isaac Liu 14. Paul Turner 15. Herman Ese’ese 16. Moeaki Fotuaika 17. Klese Haas 18. Corey Thompson 19. Jarrod Wallace 20. Toby Sexton 21. Esan Marsters 22. Sam Lisone
Players cut:
Late Mail: Centre Phillip Sami will need to pass concussion protocols to take his place. Jaimin Jolliffe starts at prop with Klese Haas to debut off the bench.
Knights team: 1. Tex Hoy 2. Edrick Lee 3. Dane Gagai 4. Krystian Mapapalangi 5. Dominic Young 6. Anthony Milford 7. Adam Clune 8. David Klemmer 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Brodie Jones 13. Sauaso Sue 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Mathew Croker 18. Jack Johns 19. Chris Randall 20. Enari Tuala 21. Simi Sasagi 22. Jirah Momoisea
Players cut:
Late Mail: Tyson Frizell (ribs) and Daniel Saifiti (Covid protocols) return, with Mat Croker and Jacob Saifiti shifting to the bench.
