Trent Robinson has provided the latest update on Sam Walker and defended his decision to rest a host of stars.
Elsewhere, the Sharks are set for a huge boost next week and Ivan Cleary has lifted the lid on Isaah Yeo’s “quite extraordinary” comeback bid.
Read below for all the latest team news ahead of Round 27!
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FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4
Gold Coast Titans vs Dolphins @ Cbus Super Stadium, 6pm
Titans Team: 1. Keano Kini 2. Sialetili Faeamani 4. AJ Brimson 12. Beau Fermor 5. Phillip Sami 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Kurtis Morrin 18. Josh Patston 13. Chris Randall 14. Klese Haas 15. Cooper Bai 16. Bodhi Sharpley 17. Sam Verrills 19. Sunny Kama 22. Adam Christensen
Players cut: 3. Jaylan De Groot 20. Tony Francis 21. Jett Liu
Late Mail: Beau Fermor moves to the centres with Jaylan De Groot out due to a knee complaint.
Dolphins Team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jack Bostock 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Tevita Naufahu 19. Brad Schneider 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Tom Gilbert 11. Max Plath 18. Brian Pouniu 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Kurt Donoghoe 15. Ray Stone 16. Francis Molo 17. Felise Kaufusi 20. Jake Averillo 21. Connelly Lemuelu
Players cut: 6. Kodi Nikorima 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 22. Sebastian Su’a
Late Mail: Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf wants to give a couple of his star players the week off and not play against the Titans on Friday. The Dolphins already have a top four spot locked in and don’t want to risk a few players who are carrying minor niggles. They didn’t name winger Selwyn Cobbo, and Kodi Nikorima and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, while named on Tuesday, will also drop out of this week’s team. Cobbo (ankle), Nikorima (hamstring) and Finefeuiaki (knee) will be given an extra week to get themselves right for the club’s first finals appearance next week. “Selwyn’s had a bit of an ankle injury that has just been pestering him for a little while so it was a good opportunity for us to rest that up,” Woolf said. “Kodi had a tight hamstring through the game the other day that we were worried about. The last thing we need is a soft tissue injury at this time of the year. (Finefeuiaki) had a little bit of a bad knee, but again, it was just smart not to aggravate that again,” Woolf said. The coach confirmed that Jake Averillo will replace Nikorima at six.
Briath Anasta steps down from agent role | 01:08
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Sydney Roosters @ Allianz Stadium, 8pm
Rabbitohs Team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Jack Wighton 5. Campbell Graham 23. Jai Arrow 7. Jayden Sullivan 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Brandon Smith 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Adam Elliott 13. Cameron Murray 6. Cody Walker 14. Matthew Dufty 15. Lachlan Hubner 16. Sean Keppie 17. Jamie Humphreys 18. Euan Aitken 19. Latrell Siegwalt
Players cut: 20. Liam Le Blanc 22. Peter Mamouzelos 21. Talanoa Penitani
Late Mail: Wayne Bennett has opted to start Jye Gray and Adam Elliott, with the Rabbitohs coach explaining he wanted both players match fit for the finals. Gray has been riding the bench since Matthew Dufty’s emergence while Elliott is back from a groin injury. Meanwhile, it is unlikely that Latrell Mitchell plays 80 minutes despite being named in the starting side. “We’re in the risk business, so I’m not thinking about the risk,” Bennett said. “I’m thinking about him getting out there and playing well and getting the job done. After that we’ll make some other decisions if he’s tired and can’t get through the 80 minutes because he’s been out so long. But I’m not thinking that we can’t risk him.”
Roosters Team: 1. Cody Ramsey 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Fetalaiga Pauga 4. Tommy Talau 5. Rex Bassingthwaighte 6. Reece Foley 7. Toby Rodwell 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Benaiah Ioelu 15. Taylor Losalu 11. Salesi Foketi 12. Egan Butcher 13. Connor Watson 14. Tom Rodwell 16. Delasalle Vaa 17. Aston Warwick 18. Jake Elliott 19. Hayden Barton 20. Lui Lee
Players cut: 10. Lindsay Collins 21. Max McCathie 22. Nat Butcher
Late Mail: Roosters coach Trent Robinson has provided an update on Sam Walker’s recovery while also explaining the decision to rest his stars from this week’s clash against the Rabbitohs. The Tricolours will field a very different line-up on Friday with Robinson opting to rest nine players, including new halves pairing Hugo Savala and Daly Cherry-Evans.
That is despite the game presenting a valuable opportunity for Savala and Cherry-Evans to work on their combination before the finals, with Walker racing the clock to be fit to play any part in the post-season. “He’s just recovering,” Robinson said of Walker, who suffered a syndesmosis injury in the loss to the Dolphins. “He got operated on on Sunday afternoon. There’s not much to do in the initial sort of phase of recovery there, and then he’ll get going pretty quickly. They heal quite quickly those injuries.” When asked about the possibility of Walker returning in time for the grand final, Robinson simply replied that the timeline is “as quick as possible”. “There are some pretty clear signposts along the way about games and stuff like that around what’s possible. We just need to push it as far as he can handle it and see where we get to,” he added.
Robinson made a contentious call this week to rest a host of big names, although the Roosters coach said in the end it was the “best thing for the club”. “The scenario was pretty clear that we were third or fourth, and then trying to pick what was going to happen in one and two… it was all really clear what was the best thing for us this week and what players had played either Origin or a fair amount of time leading up to that game,” he explained. “That was the clear point, and we have clear belief in what we can achieve tomorrow night with the team. They’re all Roosters players, they’ve been in our system for a long time. We’re also really clear about the following week as well.” As for Savala and Cherry-Evans resting, Robinson said the decision was between either both playing or resting and that like a lot of the other players missing this week’s game, Savala has “played a lot” and deserved the freshen up before the finals. Speaking of the finals, Robinson confirmed Victor Radley (concussion) is in a “really good place” and “on track” to return next week and that Angus Crichton (foot) is “still progressing but on track”. “So, that’ll be a next week decision,” Robinson added on Crichton.
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‘Forever in debt to Ricky Stuart’ | 00:46
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 5
New Zealand Warriors vs Manly Sea Eagles @ Go Media Stadium, 3pm
Warriors Team: 18. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Adam Pompey 3. Ali Leiataua 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Te Maire Martin 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Samuel Healey 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark 14. Makaia Tafua 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Morgan Gannon 20. Kayliss Fatialofa 21. Jett Cleary
Players cut: 4. Leka Halasima 22. Jye Linnane 23. Haizyn Mellars
Late Mail: To come.
Sea Eagles Team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Josh Feledy 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Clayton Faulalo 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Simione Laiafi 9. Brandon Wakeham 10. Nathan Brown 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 16. Corey Waddell 17. Caleb Navale 18. Onitoni Large 19. Fletcher Baker 20. Blake Wilson 22. Jackson Shereb
Players cut: 15. Nicholas Lenaz 21. Hugo Hart
Late Mail: To come.
NQ Cowboys vs Canberra Raiders @ Queensland Country Bank Stadium, 5:30pm
Cowboys Team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Tomas Chester 5. Robert Derby 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Coen Hess 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. John Bateman 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Soni Luke 15. Sam McIntyre 16. Thomas Mikaele 17. Kaiden Lahrs 18. Kai O’Donnell 19. Ethan King 22. Liam Sutton
Players cut: 20. Mason Kira 21. Ronald Philitoga
Late Mail: To come.
Raiders Team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Simi Sasagi 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Coby Black 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Owen Pattie 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Noah Martin 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Ata Mariota 14. Malachi Smith 15. Joseph Roddy 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Vena Patuki-Case 18. Tom Starling 19. Daine Laurie 20. Ethan Sanders
Players cut: 21. Mark Tuialii 22. Jesse Milin
Late Mail: To come.
Cronulla Sharks vs Melbourne Storm @ Ocean Protect Stadium, 7:35pm
Sharks Team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Riley Jones 4. Michael Gabrael 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Riley Pollard 7. Niwhai Puru 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Hohepa Puru 10. Jesse Colquhoun 11. Briton Nikora 12. Billy Burns 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Toby Rudolf 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Jayden Berrell 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Liam Ison 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. KL Iro
Players cut:
Late Mail: The Sharks are set for a huge boost in the finals, with coach Craig Fitzgibbon revealing if all things go to plan Braydon Trindall will return from his shoulder injury next week.“He’ll be all right for next week,” Fitzgibbon said. “I don’t want to declare that just yet. You’ve still got to get through plenty of training next week and all that, but if all things going well and he gets through training, then we’re looking at getting him back.” It is welcome news for the Sharks, who should be well-rested with a host of big names including halfback Nicho Hynes and hooker Blayke Brailey sitting out this week’s game. “That was really difficult because there’s a host of different reasons,” Fitzgibbon said of the decision to rest players. “Obviously we we haven’t had a bye in 10 weeks, so some guys need need it, other guys are a bit sick. There were circumstances for all of them to be perfectly honest and it just felt right for that week and then ultimately too the Jets are playing an elimination semi-final, so we really wanted them to do well, so next week when they walk in the door everyone’s here for a very deliberate reason. So we had to take a few of those Jets boys out of the side, but not too many to leave them a strong outfit as well.”
Storm Team: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown 3. Tyran Wishart 4. Nick Meaney 5. Moses Leo 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Trent Loiero 14. Trent Toelau 15. Cooper Clarke 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Angus Hinchey 19. Hugo Peel 20. Davvy Moale 21. Manaia Waitere 22. Hayden Watson
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
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‘It was crazy’ Pearce on infamous bender | 00:46
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 6
St George Illawarra Dragons vs Parramatta Eels @ WIN Stadium, 2pm
Dragons Team: 1. Daniel Atkinson 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Tyrell Sloan 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Dylan Egan 12. Hamish Stewart 13. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 14. Connor Muhleisen 15. Ryan Couchman 16. Josh Kerr 17. Jacob Halangahu 18. Jacob Webster 19. Setu Tu 20. Ryan Hutchinson 21. Kade Reed 22. Nicholas Tsougranis
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Eels Team: 1. Apa Twidle 2. Brian Kelly 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Jordan Samrani 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Ronald Volkman 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Luca Moretti 9. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Junior Paulo 11. Jack Williams 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Saxon Pryke 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Jack de Belin 16. Teancum Brown 17. Dylan Walker 18. Tyrese Lokeni 19. Sean Russell 20. Kelma Tuilagi 21. Jonah Pezet 22. Ryley Smith
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Penrith Panthers vs Wests Tigers @ CommBank Stadium, 4:05pm
Panthers Team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Luke Garner 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Jack Cole 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Liam Henry 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Liam Martin 13. Lindsay Smith 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Luron Patea 17. Billy Phillips 18. Blaize Talagi 19. Billy Scott 20. Kalani Leuluai-going 21. Jesse McLean 22. Isaah Yeo 23. John Farragher
Players cut:
Late Mail: The Panthers could welcome Isaah Yeo back from the pectoral injury that threatened to end his season, with coach Ivan Cleary declaring the co-captain’s reocvery has been “quite extraordinary”. “It’s definitely a chance”, Cleary said of Yeo playing on Sunday. “We have to get through the next couple of days, but it has been a pretty good process so far in terms of trying to get him back and being able to play. To this point, everything has been going ok. (We) just have to get through the next couple of days. “It’s quite extraordinary at this point,” Cleary added of Yeo’s recovery.“Our culture has been built on many things, and being resilient is one of those things. Just over the years, guys have found their way to get themselves back on the field, so this could be another one of those stories, but as I said, he still needs to get through a couple things.”
Tigers Team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Junior Tupou 3. Solomane Saukuru 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Jarome Luai 7. Jock Madden 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Sione Fainu 13. Alex Seyfarth 14. Latu Fainu 15. Vaka Aho 16. Ethan Roberts 17. Bunty Afoa 18. Heath Mason 19. Sunia Turuva 20. Tristan Hope 21. Charlie Murray 22. Faaletino Tavana
Players cut:
Late Mail: Benji Marshall confirmed Jarome Luai will line up despite being under an injury cloud, but added that the outgoing five-eighth will probably only play half of the game as he wants to also give Latu Fainu an opportunity to get a run before the end of the season.
Bye: Newcastle Knights
Late Mail: Francis Manuleleua suffered a dislocated elbow in his side’s loss to the Warriors in Round 26, but in a big boost has been cleared of any fractures according to Code Sports. Therefore, the gun backrower could return in time for Newcastle’s first finals appearance is given clearance by the club’s medical staff. But while Justin Holbrook has been handed one boost, he is now set to be without both of his regular starting props. Jacob Saifiti has been handed a four-game suspension, ruling him out of the entire finals series after an ugly high shot on Luke Laulilii. Now it has been revealed Trey Mooney suffered a fractured scalpula against the Warriors, also ending his season.