Broncos weigh up shock debut for prodigy as injury crisis deepens: Team Tips

Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maguire has a big selection headache on his hands as he attempts to keep his club’s season alive and could hand a highly-rated youngster his debut.

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Meanwhile, a Parramatta Eels outcast has delivered a statement in NSW Cup and is in line to replace Mitchell Moses in the halves.

FRIDAY JULY 3

Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs @ CommBank Stadium, 8pm

Last week’s Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Paul Alamoti 4. Izack Tago 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Freddy Lussick 16. Liam Henry 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Jack Cogger 15. Scott Sorensen 10. Lindsay Smith 17. Luke Garner 18. Billy Phillips 19. Billy Scott

Team Tips: There will be big changes for the Panthers, who will be without Origin stars Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin. Brian To’o’s surprise omission, however, is a big boost at club land for Penrith while the Panthers will also be glad to have fullback Dylan Edwards available given he has been in sensational form over the past month. Penrith’s backline will remain unchanged, with Casey McLean set to return from his quad injury after the Round 19 bye and the same goes for Mitch Kenny, who has been sidelined since breaking his leg in mid-April. Jack Cogger will come in for Cleary, while Penrith will field a new-look second row with both Martin and Isaiah Papali’i (concussion) unavailable. Look for Scott Sorensen and Luke Garner to line up there, while Lindsay Smith will replace Yeo as the ball-playing lock in the starting side. Billy Scott and Billy Phillips will both play important roles on the interchange along with Luron Patea, while Jack Cole will be the back-up option in the halves and Sione Fonua will be backline insurance on the bench. NSW Cup captain Kalani Going will likely be the other player to get a call-up onto the bench.

Last week’s Rabbitohs team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Siegwalt 4. Tallis Duncan 5. Edward Kosi 6. Cody Walker 7. Ashton Ward 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Brandon Smith 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Euan Aitken 13. Cameron Murray 14. Lachlan Hubner 15. Jamie Humphreys 16. Liam Le Blanc 17. John Radel 18. Jayden Sullivan 19. Dayne Jennings

Team Tips: The Rabbitohs are set to be bolstered by the return of Jack Wighton from his arm injury this week and it couldn’t come at a better time with Campbell Graham and Latrell Mitchell both sidelined, while Edward Kosi limped off before the end of Friday’s game and is in doubt with a thigh injury. It would be hard to move Tallis Duncan after his impressive showing in the centres last week, but Latrell Siegwalt is more naturally suited to the position and will likely retain his spot with Wighton bumping Duncan back to the edge and Euan Aitken to the bench. South Sydney will also be without Origin representative Cameron Murray, with Lachlan Hubner the likely candidate to replace him in the starting side.

SATURDAY JULY 4

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Wests Tigers @ Jubilee Stadium, 5:30pm

Last week’s Dragons team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Setu Tu 3. Mathew Feagai 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Tyrell Sloan 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 9. Damien Cook 10. Toby Couchman 11. Dylan Egan 12. Hamish Stewart 13. Ryan Couchman 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Emre Guler 16. Josh Kerr 17. Luciano Leilua 18. Jacob Halangahu 20. Lyhkan King-Togia

Team Tips: Don’t expect too many changes from interim head coach Dean Young given once again the Dragons were close to a rare win, only to just fall short in contentious circumstances against the Raiders. Kade Reed (finger) is still at least another week away, while the club has not provided a further update on when Moses Suli (hip) could be back in the frame. Blake Lawrie will also be sidelined for a month after fracturing his fibula in a training incident last week.

Last week’s Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Taylan May 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 15. Bunty Afoa 11. Tony Sukkar 12. Sione Fainu 16. Alex Seyfarth 10. Fonua Pole 14. Josese Lanyon 17. Latu Fainu 18. Heamasi Makasini 19. Mavrik Geyer 22. Faaletino Tavana

Team Tips: In a big blow, it looks like Taylan May’s season is over after the Tigers centre re-injured his shoulder in Sunday’s loss to Newcastle. Heamasi Makasini will likely come straight in for May for the rest of the season, although with the benefit of more time to adjust Benji Marshall could also opt to move Sunia Turuva back to the centres and promote Tino Tavana to the wing. Jock Madden should be back on deck after suffering a concussion in Round 16, which will likely see Josese Lanyon drop off the interchange while Alex Twal is firming to return from his knee injury, which would see Alex Seyfarth drop back to the bench. Samuela Fainu (foot) is still a week away while the club is yet to provide an expected return to play date for Patrick Herbert after he dislocated his shoulder in the loss to the Dolphins.

Brisbane Broncos vs Cronulla Sharks @ Suncorp Stadium, 7:35pm

Last week’s Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Grant Anderson 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Thomas Duffy 7. Ben Hunt 8. Preston Riki 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Xavier Willison 14. Blake Mozer 15. Ben Talty 16. Aublix Tawha 17. Jack Gosiewski 18. Hayze Perham 19. Josh Rogers

Team Tips: Brisbane’s depth will be tested this week and it could see highly-rated forward Tupou Francis make his NRL debut according to Code Sports. The teenage prodigy, who has been earmarked as a future star in the making and long-term option to help fill the void of Payne Haas, could get the shock call-up with Xavier Willison (concussion), Aublix Tawha (ankle) and Jack Gosiewski (ribs) all banged up. Tawha underwent surgery on Monday night. Only adding to Brisbane’s woes, the club has stood down Josiah Karapani after the winger was caught speeding and drink driving over the weekend. He won’t play this weekend. With Deine Mariner back, he’ll take Karapani’s place on the flank. Elsewhere, there is mixed news on the injury front for the Broncos, who will be without Origin representatives Reece Walsh,Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan. In better news, according to Code SportsMariner is pushing to return from the thigh injury that he suffered in Round 9 against the Roosters. It required limb-saving surgery, with initial fears that Mariner may not play again this year but he is now firming to return against the Sharks, which could spark a backline reshuffle. Mariner could slot in on the wing in a simple swap for Jesse Arthars, but the other option would be to shift Arthars to fullback to cover for Walsh. Otherwise, Hayze Perham would be the man to fill in there. Billy Walters also impressed in his first game in 287 days as he suited up for the South Logan Magpies in Queensland Cup and could force his way back into the fold, although it is more likely he would make his return off the bench than in the starting role. Otherwise, Adam Reynolds (hamstring) and Ezra Mam (AC joint) are both a chance of returning but will need to pass fitness tests throughout the week. If Reynolds and Mam both return, Reynolds would be a straight swap for Hunt, who would presumably drop back to the bench, although that would spark an interesting headache for Maguire if Walters is fit too. He can carry both on the bench, but it would not make much sense to use both since Hunt had previously been deputising as the back-up hooker.

Round 16 Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 22. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 21. Blayke Brailey 10. Jesse Colquhoun 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 7. Niwhai Puru 14. Billy Burns 15. Oregon Kaufusi 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Mawene Hiroti

Team Tips: The Sharks are fresh off the bye and will be without three key Origin stars. Addin Fonua-Blake, Blayke Brailey and Briton Nikora will all be away on Origin duty, meaning Hohepa Puru will slot in at hooker while Billy Burns will start in the second row. Toby Rudolf would have been the obvious choice to replace Fonua-Blake but he is sidelined with a knee injury so either Oregon Kaufusi or Tom Hazelton will join the starting side.

SUNDAY JULY 5

Parramatta Eels vs Manly Sea Eagles @ CommBank Stadium, 2pm

Last week’s Eels team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Brian Kelly 3. Jordan Samrani 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Ronald Volkman 7. Mitchell Moses 15. Sam Tuivaiti 17. Harrison Edwards 10. Jack Williams 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Jack de Belin 8. Luca Moretti 9. Tallyn Da Silva 14. Dylan Walker 16. Teancum Brown 18. Joash Papali’i 19. Charlie Guymer

Team Tips: Jason Ryles was filthy after Parramatta’s loss to South Sydney last week, declaring they wouldn’t have “beat a park football side”. The unfortunate reality for him is that a mounting injury toll means there are limited options for him to pick from. Charlie Guymer had a big game in reserve grade last week and could be one candidate to join an underperforming forward pack, with Kelma Tuilagi a potential option to be dropped after poor defensive efforts in the loss to the Rabbitohs. Of course, one definite change will be the omission of Mitchell Moses, who is on Origin duty. Joash Papali’i could fill in as he did previously when Moses was unavailable but Jonah Pezet continues to push for a recall in NSW Cup, running for 112 metres on the weekend and setting up a try.

Last week’s Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Josh Feledy 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jake Simpkin 16. Simione Laiafi 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 10. Ethan Bullemor 14. Joey Walsh 16. Nathan Brown 17. Aaron Schoupp 18. Blake Wilson 20. Hugo Hart

Team Tips: Unfortunately Luke Brooks is out for the season with a torn ACL, which will see Joey Walsh start the rest of the season in the halves. Tolutau Koula and Haumole Olakau’atu are off to Suncorp for the Origin decider, so Blake Wilson will likely come into the side on the wing if Clayton Faulalo (hamstring) isn’t right to return. In welcome news, Reuben Garrick should be back after suffering a concussion in Round 16 and will replace Josh Feledy.

Newcastle Knights vs Dolphins @ McDonald Jones Stadium, 4:05pm

Last week’s Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Dylan Brown 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Mathew Croker 14. Sandon Smith 15. Tyson Frizell 16. Cody Hopwood 17. Thomas Cant 18. Lachlan Crouch 19. Fletcher Hunt

Team Tips: The Knights will look to continue their winning ways but will be without their Origin stars, which now includes Bradman Best after he was called up for the Suncorp decider along with teammates Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Lucas. Fletcher Hunt will likely return to the centres to replace Best with Fletcher Sharpe moving to fullback and Sandon Smith starting at five-eighth alongside Dylan Brown. Harrison Graham, who has been unlucky to miss out on a spot in Newcastle’s full-strength squad, will be the back-up hooker on the bench with Smith starting.

Last week’s Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jack Bostock 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Francis Molo 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Max Plath 15. Kurt Donoghoe 16. Ray Stone 17. Felise Kaufusi 18. Brad Schneider 20. Tevita Naufahu

Team Tips: The Dolphins will look very different for Sunday’s crucial clash, which could go a long way to deciding each team’s top-four hopes. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Jack Bostock, Selwyn Cobbo, Tom Flegler and Max Plath will all be on Origin duty while Isaiya Katoa (fractured wrist) is out for the foreseeable future. Trai Fuller will run out at the starting fullback, while Brad Schneider is the obvious option to replace Katoa. Beyond then, the Dolphins’ impressive depth will be tested. Tevita Naufahu will replace Cobbo on the wing while Brian Pouniu is in line to play his second NRL game after debuting against the Raiders earlier this year in the centres. Up front, look for Felise Kaufusi to start in place of Flegler while Oryn Keeley typically has got the call-up to round out the interchange but is Melbourne-bound.

Bye: Bulldogs, Cowboys, Raiders, Roosters, Storm, Titans, Warriors

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