Gould’s cryptic reply as Dogs halves mystery leaves Flanagan under threat: Early Mail

Gould’s cryptic reply as Dogs halves mystery leaves Flanagan under threat: Early Mail

The Bulldogs raised eyebrows on Tuesday with the naming of their halves pairing prompting speculation playmaker Kyle Flanagan’s position in the side could be under threat.

Read on for NRL Early Mail for Round 8.

Round 8

THURSDAY APRIL 20

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Penrith Panthers at Accor Stadium, 7.50pm AEST

Rabbitohs team: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Jai Arrow 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Michael Chee Kam 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron Murray 14. Jed Cartwright 15. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 16. Hame Sele 17. Davvy Moale 18. Taane Milne 19. Blake Taaffe 20. Josiah Karapani 21. Ben Lovett 22. Tallis Duncan

Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Matt Eisenhuth 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Zac Hosking 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Luke Garner 19. Eddie Blacker 20. Liam Henry 21. Jack Cogger 22. Tyrone Peachey

Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Enforcer returns in big boost for Phins | 00:57

FRIDAY APRIL 21

Parramatta Eels vs Brisbane Broncos at TIO Stadium, 8.00pm AEST

Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Haze Dunster 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Ryan Matterson 14. J’maine Hopgood 15. Brendan Hands 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Matt Doorey 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Jack Murchie 20. Makahesi Makatoa 21. Bailey Simonsson 22. Daejarn Asi

Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 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. Cory Paix 15. Corey Jensen 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Martin Taupau 18. Jesse Arthars 19. Keenan Palasia 20. Jock Madden 21. Brendan Piakura 22. Deine Mariner

SATURDAY APRIL 22

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Cronulla Sharks at Accor Stadium, 5.30pm AEST

Bulldogs team: 1. Hayze Perham 2. Declan Casey 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Braidon Burns 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Matt Burton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Corey Waddell 12. Jacob Preston 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 14. Josh Reynolds 15. Jayden Okunbor 16. Andrew Davey 17. Ryan Sutton 19. Karl Oloapu 20. Jackson Topine 21. Samuel Hughes 22. Jeral Skelton 23. Reece Hoffman

Early Mail: The Bulldogs turned some heads with the naming of their squad this week. Matt Burton was listed at No.7 with halves partner Kyle Flanagan named at six. One punter raised the change with Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould on Twitter and questioned whether it was a mistake. 

“I’m sure the coach will explain at the appropriate time. But it was a deliberate move and they have a reason,” Gould replied.

The Bulldogs have had a difficult start to the season, sitting in 15th spot on the ladder with three wins from the opening seven rounds. 

Flanagan, who has struggled to nail down the starting spot since his move from the Roosters, has come in for criticism as the Bulldogs have struggled to put points on the board.

Young playmaker Karl Oloapu, who the Bulldogs signed from the Broncos and is seen as a star of the future, has been named at 18 prompting speculation Flanagan’s position in the side could once again be under threat.

Sharks team: 1. William 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. Cameron McInnes 14. Wade Graham 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Braydon Trindall 19. Connor Tracey 20. Tuku Hau Tapuha 21. Mawene Hiroti 22. Jayden Berrell

Sin-bin count getting ridiculous | 02:14

North Queensland Cowboys vs Newcastle Knights at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, 7.35pm AEST

Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Jack Gosiewski 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Tomas Chester 15. Jake Granville 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Mitchell Dunn 18. Riley Price 19. Ben Hampton 20. Brendan Elliot 21. Taniela Sadrugu 22. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki

Knights team: 1. Lachlan Miller 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Kalyn Ponga 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Kurt Mann 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Mathew Croker 17. Jack Hetherington 18. Simi Sasagi 19. Hymel Hunt 20. Jack Johns 21. Dylan Lucas 22. Adam Clune

SUNDAY APRIL 23

Dolphins vs Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp Stadium, 2.00pm AEST

Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Euan Aitken 4. Brenko Lee 5. Robert Jennings 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Herman Ese’ese 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Tom Gilbert 14. Jarrod Wallace 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 17. Kurt Donoghoe 18. JJ Collins 19. Poasa Faamausili 20. Edrick Lee 21. Mason Teague 22. Valynce Te Whare

Titans team: 1. Jayden Campbell 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Isaac Liu 14. Kruise Leeming 15. Erin Clark 16. Thomas Mikaele 17. Klese Haas 18. Jo Vuna 19. Keano Kini 20. Thomas Weaver 21. AJ Brimson 22. Sam McIntyre

Wests Tigers vs Manly Sea Eagles at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, 4.05pm AEST

Wests Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Charlie Staines 3. Starford To’a 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Junior Tupou 6. Brandon Wakeham 7. Luke Brooks 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole 14. Daine Laurie 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Alex Twal 17. Tommy Talau 18. Alex Seyfarth 19. Shawn Blore 20. Justin Matamua 21. David Nofoaluma 22. Jake Simpkin

Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Josh Schuster 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Jake Trbojevic 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ethan Bullemor 13. Josh Aloiai 14. Samuela Fainu 15. Sean Keppie 16. Aaron Woods 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Cooper Johns 19. Kaeo Weekes 20. Ben Condon 21. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 22. Christian Tuipulotu

Wighton urged to make decision on future | 01:42

TUESDAY APRIL 25

Sydney Roosters vs St George Illawarra Dragons at Allianz Stadium, 4.05pm AEST

Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph Suaalii 4. Paul Momirovski 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Joseph Manu 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Egan Butcher 12. Angus Crichton 13. Victor Radley 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Terrell May 16. Sitili Tupouniua 17. Matthew Lodge 18. Corey Allan 19. Nathan Brown 20. Naufahu Whyte 21. Jake Turpin 22. Sam Walker

Dragons team: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Tautau Moga 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Zane Musgrove 9. Moses Mbye 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Ben Murdoch-Masila 12. Jack Bird 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Michael Molo 16. Toby Couchman 17. Josh Kerr 18. Jaiyden Hunt 19. Max Feagai 20. Jayden Sullivan 21. Billy Burns 22. Viliami Fifita

Melbourne Storm vs Warriors at AAMI Park, 7.00pm AEST

Storm team:1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Tariq Sims 18. Grant Anderson 19. Aaron Pene 20. Tyran Wishart 21. Jonah Pezet 22. Jack Howarth

Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Marcelo Montoya 4. Adam Pompey 5. Edward Kosi 6. Dylan Walker 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Jazz Tevaga 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Bayley Sironen 15. Josh Curran 16. Bunty Afoa 17. Tom Ale 18. Viliami Vailea 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Demitric Sifakula 23. Zyon Maiu’u

Bye: Canberra Raiders