The Broncos could be forced into a late switch that would see a boom prop show his versatility in the forward pack.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has confirmed one man will take the field and explained why Luke Garner wasn’t named.
Meanwhile, the Warriors have received a huge boost with Tohu Harris potentially fit to take the field.
Read on for the Early Mail for Round 5.
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Coach backs Flanagan despite criticism | 03:25
THURSDAY MARCH 30
Sydney Roosters vs Parramatta Eels 8pm at Allianz Stadium
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph Suaalii 4. Drew Hutchison 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Egan Butcher 12. Nat Butcher 13. Victor Radley 14. Jake Turpin 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Corey Allan 17. Fletcher Baker 18. Ben Thomas 19. Junior Pauga
Players cut: 20. Sandon Smith 21. Siua Wong 22. Elie El Zakhem
Early Mail: To come.
Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Waqa Blake 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Wiremu Greig 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Ryan Matterson 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Matt Doorey 15. Brendan Hands 16. Jack Murchie 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Jakob Arthur 22. Haze Dunster
Players cut: 19. Jirah Momoisea 20. Ofahiki Ogden 21. Toni Mataele
Early Mail: To come.
MORE NRL NEWS
SUITORS: SIX potential NRL landing spots for Wighton after contract bombshell
POWER RANKINGS: Hynes makes Sharks a different beast; Dolphins’ cracks emerge
‘NOT GOOD FOR GAME’S SOUL’: Dragons under fire over Suli’s ‘stupid’ comments
MCKINNON: Why Dolphins make most sense for Wighton; Blues must pick Suaalii
Melbourne NRL Grand Final a possibility | 01:03
FRIDAY MARCH 31
Canberra Raiders vs Penrith Panthers 6pm at GIO Stadium
Raiders team: 1. Sebastian Kris 2. Albert Hopoate 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Harley Smith-Shields 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Matt Frawley 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papalii’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Harawira-Naera 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Corey Horsburgh 18. Brad Schneider 19. James Schiller 20. Peter Hola 21. Trey Mooney 22. Jarrod Croker
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
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. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Zac Hosking 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Matt Eisenhuth 19. Jack Cogger 20. Chris Smith 21. Kurt Falls 22. Thomas Jenkins
Players cut:
Early Mail: Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has revealed Luke Garner has suffered a rib injury, ruling him out of the club’s clash against the Raiders. He said the former Tiger “shouldn’t be out for too long” while Liam Martin will also sit out for one more week before he returns in Round 6. Jaeman Salmon also has been cleared of a finger injury and will take on Ricky Stuart’s side for the first time since he infamously dubbed the Panthers utility a “weak-gutted dog” after the club’s Round 21 clash.
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Melbourne Storm 8pm at Accor Stadium
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. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jacob Host 13. Cameron Murray 14. Jed Cartwright 15. Michael Chee Kam 16. Davvy Moale 17. Hame Sele 18. Blake Taaffe 19. Dean Hawkins 20. Ben Lovett 21. Taane Milne 22. Tallis Duncan
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Storm team:1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jonah Pezet 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tariq Sims 17. Tom Eisenhuth 18. Grant Anderson 19. Tyran Wishart 20. Jordan Grant 21. George Jennings 22. Jack Howarth
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
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‘The current culture stinks there!’ | 03:09
SATURDAY APRIL 1
Manly Sea Eagles vs Newcastle Knights 3pm at Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee
Sea Eagles team:1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Christian Tuipulotu 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. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Josh Aloiai 14. Kaeo Weekes 15. Ben Trbojevic 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Sean Keppie 18. Toafofoa Sipley 19. Cooper Johns 20. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 21. Karl Lawton 22. Samuela Fainu
Players cut:
Early Mail: Gun playmaker Josh Schuster has been ruled out after injuring his quad in the first half of the club’s clash with the Rabbitohs. Manly have confirmed in a clubs statement Cooper Johns will slot into the five-eighth role.
Knights team: 1. Lachlan Miller 2. Hymel Hunt 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Jack Johns 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Mathew Croker 17. Brodie Jones 18. Dylan Lucas 19. Enari Tuala 20. Dominic Young 21. Simi Sasagi 22. Thomas Cant
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
St George Illawarra Dragons vs The Dolphins 5.30pm at WIN Stadium
Dragons team: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Jayden Sullivan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Moses Mbye 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Ben Murdoch-Masila 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack Bird 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Zane Musgrove 16. Toby Couchman 17. Josh Kerr 18. Michael Molo 19. Tautau Moga 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Talatau Amone 22. Jack de Belin
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Dolphins team:1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Euan Aitken 4. Brenko Lee 5. Jack Bostock 6. Isaiya Katoa 7. Anthony Milford 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Herman Ese’ese 11. Kenny Bromwich 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Tom Gilbert 14. Jarrod Wallace 15. Mark Nicholls 16. Ray Stone 17. Mason Teague 18. Poasa Faamausili 19. Kurt Donoghoe 20. JJ Collins 21. Kodi Nikorima 22. Robert Jennings
Players cut:
Early Mail: Isaiya Katoa returns from an elbow injury and will have to quickly forge a new halves partnership with veteran Anthony Milford.
Brisbane Broncos vs Wests Tigers 7.35pm at Suncorp Stadium
Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 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. Keenan Palasia 16. Corey Jensen 17. Martin Taupau 18. Deine Mariner 19. Brendan Piakura 20. Kobe Hetherington 21. Jock Madden 22. Brendan Frei
Players cut:
Early Mail: The Broncos have been given an early scare with Jordan Riki leaving the training field on Wednesday. The backrower had his leg re-strapped, with boom forward Tom Flegler slotting into his vacant spot. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Flegler said he is “comfortable” playing on an edge. “I am doing a bit of practice there (the back row) just in case someone goes down with an injury,” Flegler said. While as it stands, Riki will likely take the field, coach Kevin Walters has back-up should the 23-year-old go down injured.
Tigers team: 1. Adam Doueihi 2. Charlie Staines 3. Brent Naden 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. Jake Simpkin 15. Alex Twal 16. Justin Matamua 17. Starford To’a 18. Shawn Blore 19. Joe Ofahengaue 20. Tukimihia Simpkins 21. Daine Laurie 22. Alex Seyfarth
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
‘Not good for the soul of the game’ | 03:01
SUNDAY APRIL 2
Cronulla Sharks vs New Zealand Warriors 4.05pm at PointsBet Stadium
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Williams 17. Braydon Trindall 18. Connor Tracey 19. Thomas Hazelton 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Tuku Hau Tapuha
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Edward Kosi 3. Viliami Vailea 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Ronald Volkman 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Bayley Sironen 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Tom Ale 18. Josh Curran 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Freddy Lussick 22. Rocco Berry 23. Demitric Sifakula
Players cut:
Early Mail: Despite leaving the field with a second-half knee injury, gun prop Tohu Harris is
“in contention to play” according to a club statement. Head of performance Balin Cupples said he was showing “positive signs” and could take the field after being named at lock. If he is ruled out Jazz Tevaga could slot into the lock role, with Josh Curran coming onto the bench.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs North Queensland Cowboys 6.15pm at Accor Stadium
Bulldogs team: 1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Ryan Sutton 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 14. Josh Reynolds 15. Corey Waddell 16. Franklin Pele 17. Jayden Okunbor 19. Jackson Topine 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Karl Oloapu 22. Braidon Burns 23. Jayden Tanner
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Cowboys team: 1. Tomas Chester 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Brendan Elliot 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Griffin Neame 11. Coen Hess 12. Heilum Luki 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Jake Granville 15. Mitchell Dunn 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Riley Price 18. Zac Laybutt 19. Taniela Sadrugu 20. Jack Gosiewski 21. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 22. Ben Hampton
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Bye: Gold Coast Titans
