Canberra captain Elliott Whitehead is in doubt for Sunday’s NRL clash with Penrith after needing emergency surgery following a head clash in training.
Whitehead had plastic surgery on his mouth and a teeth realignment after the heavy impact with teammate Ata Moriata on Tuesday.
The Raiders will make a call on the 32-year-old’s availability after their captain’s run on Saturday morning, but say he is in doubt to take the field for the trip to Penrith. They could do with all the help they can get with the 2-4 Raiders long odds to upset the surging Panthers, particularly at a venue the premiers haven’t lost at since 2019.
Hudson Young played 80 minutes and scored a try in NSW Cup at the weekend after missing previous NRL action with a toe injury, and would appear the likely candidate to fill in for Whitehead after being named at No.18.
Canterbury are facing a significant player shortage after Jake Averillo, Ava Seumanufagai and Brent Naden each tested positive to COVID-19.
In a massive dent to the Bulldogs’ hopes against Brisbane, the trio tested positive on Wednesday morning — just 24 hours before the squad’s flight north. The cases prompted Canterbury to seek a special exemption from the NRL to bring extra players from outside their 24-man squad, fearing they won’t meet touring requirements.
Canterbury now have four players ruled out of their backline, with Averillo and Naden unable to line up at centre and on the wing respectively after Braidon Burns and Corey Allan were injured last week.
It’s likely to mean Jayden Okunbor will make a return to the 17, with Reece Hoffman and uncapped rookie Jacob Kiraz among other options.
Seumanufagai, meanwhile, was only listed on the bench, but of greater concern to the Bulldogs will be the fact they have no big men listed in their reserves.
Jackson Topine could therefore loom as the best option, unless an uncapped player from their reserve grade Mounties side earns a call up.
Te Maire Martin. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Former Kiwi international Te Maire Martin will complete a remarkable return from premature retirement when he lines up for Brisbane against Canterbury, almost three years to the day since the 26-year-old’s last match.
Martin suffered bleeding on the brain after a heavy knock playing for the Cowboys but has worked his way back into the NRL after gaining a medical clearance to resume his career. He replaces Tesi Niu at fullback after he suffered a hamstring tear last Friday in Penrith.
Front-rowers Payne Haas and Tom Flegler are also back at the Broncos after serving suspensions for off-field incident and dangerous contact respectively.
The Warriors have been given a boost for their Anzac Day showdown in Melbourne with prop Matt Lodge (side strain) and lock Jazz Tevaga (suspension) back in the squad.
Eels prop Junior Paulo is another star returning from suspension, a welcome addition for Sunday’s joust with the Knights after missing the upset loss to the Wests Tigers.
Round 7 teams
Thursday
Cronulla v Manly at PointsBet Stadium, 7.50pm
Sharks: Dale Finucane is out after failing his HIA in the loss to Melbourne while fellow forward Braden Hamlin-Uele (pectoral) is potentially out for several weeks. Cameron McInnes has been switched to lock for Finucane while Aiden Tolman will start for Hamlin-Uele. Sione Katoa is back from a knee problem on the wing while Briton Nikora (COVID) has been named to return in the second row.
1. Will 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. Aiden Tolman 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes
Interchange: 14. Braydon Trindall 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Lachlan Miller 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Matt Ikuvalu 21. Jesse Colquhoun 22. Kayal Iro 23. Thomas Hazelton 24. Franklin Pele
Sea Eagles: Morgan Harper is back after missing a week due to COVID, sending young centre Tolutau Koula out of the 17. Josh Aloiai has been sidelined with a shoulder complaint so Taniela Paseka will start at prop. Etan Bullemor has been added to the interchange along with Kurt De Luis with Sean Keppie (concussion) out.
1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Taniela Paseka 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Andrew Davey 13. Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 14. Dylan Walker 15. Karl Lawton 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Kurt De Luis 18. Ben Trbojevic 19. Tolutau Koula 20. Jorge Taufua 21. Kaeo Weekes 22. James Roumanos 23. Viliami Fifita 24. Jacob Sykes
Friday
Brisbane v Canterbury at Suncorp Stadium, 7.55pm
Broncos: Former Kiwi international Te Maire Martin will complete a remarkable return from premature retirement when he lines up for Brisbane on Friday night against Canterbury, almost three years to the day since his last match. Martin suffered bleeding on the brain after a heavy knock playing for the Cowboys but has worked his way back into the NRL after gaining a medical clearance to resume his career. He replaces Tesi Niu at fullback after he suffered a hamstring tear last Friday in Penrith.
Front-rowers Payne Haas and Tom Flegler are also back at the Broncos after serving suspensions for off-field incident and dangerous contact respectively. Tyson Gamble is the new five-eighth with Billy Walters benched while Cory Paix has taken over at hooker from Jake Turpin.
1. Te Maire Martin 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington
Interchange: 14. Billy Walters 15. Rhys Kennedy 16. Thomas Flegler 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Delouise Hoeter 19. Jordan Pereira 20. TC Robati 21. Brenko Lee 22. Ezra Mam 23. Ethan Quai-Ward 24. Logan Bayliss-Brow
Bulldogs: Centre Braidon Burns (hamstring) and forward Chris Patolo (head knock) have been replaced by Aaron Schoupp and Corey Waddell. COVID dramas have caused concern at the club with several players undergoing tests on Wednesday morning and the Dogs are likely to have to bring in other squad members for game day.
1. Matt Dufty 2. Brent Naden 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Jake Averillo 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Luke Thompson 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Corey Waddell 12. Tevita Pangai Junior 13. Josh Jackson
Interchange: 14. Brandon Wakeham 15. Joe Stimson 16. Max King 17. Ava Seumanufagai 19. Bailey Biondi-Odo 20. Jackson Topine 21. Reece Hoffman 22. Jayden Okunbor 23. Corey Allan 24. Josh Cook 25. Tui Katoa
Saturday
North Queensland v Gold Coast at QCB Stadium, 5.30pm
Cowboys: Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was named in the reserves bench so he may make an early return from a knee injury.
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. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14. Jake Granville 15. Tom Gilbert 16. Reuben Cotter 17. Griffin Neame 18. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 19. Brendan Elliot 20. Riley Price 21. Jordan Lipp 22. Emry Pere 23. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 24. Tomas Chester
Titans: Young fullback Jayden Campbell could also be a late inclusion as he tries to make a return from a rib injury which has kept him out for a month.
1. Jamayne Isaako 2. Phillip Sami 3. Brian Kelly 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Greg Marzhew 6. AJ Brimson 7. Toby Sexton 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Erin Clark 10. Isaac Liu 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
Interchange: 14. Will Smith 15. Sam Lisone 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Jarrod Wallace 18. Paul Turner 19. Kevin Proctor 20. Sam McIntyre 21. Tanah Boyd 22. Sosefo Fifita 23. Corey Thompson 24. Jayden Campbell
Wests Tigers v South Sydney at CommBank Stadium, 7.35pm
Tigers: Jake Simpkin’s ankle injury is not as bad as it looked when he limped off late in Monday’s win over Parramatta so he has been retained in an otherwise unchanged 17.
1. Daine Laurie 2. David Nofoaluma 3. James Roberts 4. Starford To’a 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jackson Hastings 8. James Tamou 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Zane Musgrove 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Joe Ofahengaue
Interchange: 14. Jock Madden 15. Alex Twal 16. Thomas Mikaele 17. Luke Garner 18. Alex Seyfarth 19. Jacob Liddle 20. Oliver Gildart 21. Tyrone Peachey 22. Tukimihia Simpkins 23. Austin Dias 24. Junior Tupou
Rabbitohs: Young forward Davvy Moale is back on the bench with rookie centre Isaiah Tass dropping out of the game-day squad.
1. Blake Taaffe 2. Alex Johnston 3. Taane Milne 4. Campbell Graham 5. Josh Mansour 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Hame Sele 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray
Interchange: 14. Thomas Burgess 15. Jacob Host 16. Davvy Moale 17. Liam Knight 18. Siliva Havili 19. Isaiah Tass 20. Peter Mamouzelos 21. Richard Kennar 22. Dean Hawkins 23. Terrell Kalo Kalo 24. Jaxson Paulo
Sunday
Newcastle v Parramatta at McDonald Jones Stadium, 2pm
Knights Adam Clune will make a comeback from a knee problem at halfback while winger Hymel Hunt has been named on the reserves as he tries to make a return from the same injury.
1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Jake Clifford 7. Adam Clune 8. David Klemmer 9. Chris Randall 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Brodie Jones 13. Kurt Mann
Interchange: 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Leo Thompson 17. Sauaso Sue 18. Simi Sasagi 19. Pasami Saulo 20. Tex Hoy 21. Hymel Hunt 22. Jack Johns 23. Dylan Lucas 24. Jaron Purcell
Eels: Junior Paulo is back from suspension at prop, Marata Nikuoke (leg) is out while Reagan Campbell-Gillard is hopeful of overcoming an ankle problem.
1. Clint Gutherson 2. Hayze Perham 3. Will Penisini 4. Tom Opacic 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Nathan Brown
Interchange: 14. Makahesi Makatoa 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Jakob Arthur 18. Bryce Cartwright 19. Mitch Rein 20. Wiremu Greig 21. Ky Rodwell 22. Samuel Loizou 23. Elie El Zakhem 24. Zac Cini
Penrith v Canberra at BlueBet Stadium, 4.05pm
Panthers: Nathan Cleary was lucky to escape suspension for his tackle on Billy Walters in last week’s win over Brisbane so he has retained his spot after copping a fine in an unchanged Panthers line-up.
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Charlie Staines 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Taylan May 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Matt Eisenhuth 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo
Interchange: 14. Mitch Kenny 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Robert Jennings 19. Chris Smith 20. J’maine Hopgood 21. Lindsay Smith 22. Soni Luke 23. Christian Crichton 24. Sean O’Sullivan
Raiders: After blowing up about his players last Thursday night following the loss to North Queensland, coach Ricky Stuart has resisted the urge to make mass changes. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has been dropped by Canberra coach Ricky Stuart with Jordan Rapana named at fullback with young gun Xavier Savage elevated to the wing.
Elliott Whitehead is in doubt after a head clash at training.
1. Jordan Rapana 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Semi Valemei 5. Xavier Savage 6. Jack Wighton 7. Brad Schneider 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Corey Harawira-Naera 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Ryan Sutton
Interchange: 14. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 15. Harry Rushton 16. Adam Elliott 17. Corey Horsburgh 18. Hudson Young 19. Matt Frawley 20. Jarrod Croker 21. Emre Guler 22. Trey Mooney 23. James Schiller 24. Peter Hola
Monday
St George Illawarra v Sydney Roosters at SCG, 4pm
Dragons: After getting a win over Newcastle in Wollongong, coach Anthony Griffin has stuck with the same line-up.
1. Moses Mbye 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Jack Bird 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Josh Kerr 11. Tariq Sims 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin
Interchange: 14. Talatau Amone 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Josh Mcguire 17. George Burgess 18. Tautau Moga 19. Jackson Ford 20. Aaron Woods 21. Tyrell Sloan 22. Cody Ramsey 23. Tyrell Fuimaono 24. Jayden Sullivan
Roosters: Connor Watson is out for a month with a throat injury in a blow to the Roosters’ stocks. Paul Momirovski has taken Kevin Naiqama’s wing spot while Siosiua Taukeiaho (calf) is expected to play.
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Sam Walker 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Sam Verrills 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley
Interchange: 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Nat Butcher 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho 18. Lachlan Lam 19. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 20. Kevin Naiqama 21. Naufahu Whyte 22. Adam Keighran 23. Renouf Atoni 24. Ben Marschke
Melbourne v NZ Warriors at AAMI Park, 7pm
Storm: Jesse and Kenny Bromwich are out of COVID protocols while fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen is expected to play despite a nasty ankle twist in the win over Cronulla.
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Nick Meaney 3. Reimis Smith 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. Josh King
Interchange: 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tyran Wishart 16. Trent Loiero 17. Tepai Moeroa 18. Chris Lewis 19. Marion Seve 20. Alec MacDonald 21. Jordan Grant 22. Jack Howarth 23. Bronson Garlick 24. Cooper Johns
Warriors: The Warriors have been given a boost for their Anzac Day showdown with prop Matt Lodge (side strain) and lock Jazz Tevaga (suspension) back in the squad. Lodge starts with Aaron Pene back in the interchange while Tevaga is on the extended reserves but could come into the game-day 17.
1. Reece Walsh 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Jesse Arthars 4. Adam Pompey 5. Edward Kosi 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake (c) 9. Wayde Egan 10. Matt Lodge 11. Euan Aitken 12. Bayley Sironen 13. Josh Curran.
Interchange: 14. Kodi Nikorima 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Aaron Pene 17. Eliesa Katoa 18. Taniela Otukolo 20. Jazz Tevaga 21. Viliami Vailea 22. Rocco Berry 23. Valingi Kepu 24. Junior Ratuva 25. Garrett Smith