All late mail of round 18 of the NRL Telstra Premiership 2022.
NRL Late Mail: Round 18
Sea Eagles v Knights, Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at 4 Pines Park
Sea eagles: Home stars Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic are set to make a backup after Wednesday’s decision, while Josh Aloiai returns from a concussion and takes Taniela Paseka’s place on the team. . With Aloiai starting close, Toafofoa Sipley returns to the bench.
Gentlemen: Kalyn Ponga, Jacob Saifiti and Dane Gagai have been appointed to make a backup after Origin III. Center Bradman Best is down after suffering a new thumb injury in the loss to the Rabbitohs, while Kurt Mann has left the squad for Lachlan Fitzgibbon, who sees Mitch Barnett go on to block and Fitzgibbon start in the back row.
Leo Thompson was appointed to replace Pasami Saulo in the exchange when the squad was reduced to 19 players on Friday.
Titans v Broncos, Saturday 7.35pm at the Cbus Super Stadium
Titans: Patron Tino Fa’asuamaleaui will look back three days after Origin, while Philip Sami (knee) and Corey Thompson (knee) return to bolster a bottom line that also includes teen Sosefo Fifita in the band for his debut in the NRL. Tanah Boyd is the new five-eighth and Paul Turner goes to the bench; Aaron Booth will make his club debut as a hooker with Erin Clark on the bench.
Broncos: Home representatives Corey Oates and Pat Carrigan have been named among the reserves and may join the team later in the week after helping the Maroons get the series on Wednesday. Selwyn Cobbo suffered a concussion in the third game, but Brisbane rested him anyway, so he will stay on the sidelines, while Thomas Flegler will enter the side after the 18th man’s performances for Queensland.
Wests Tigers – Panthers, Sunday at 2pm at CommBank Stadium
Wests Tigers: Center James Roberts and winger David Nofoaluma left on Saturday with Asu Kepaoa and Junior Tupou joining the starting line-up.
Star creator Adam Doueihi moves to eight-eighths, Jackson Hastings will block and Joe Ofahengaue will prop up while Brett Kimmorley looks for a winning combination. Patron James Tamou returns to the deck after missing two games with a calf injury and also returns his veteran Ken Maumalo (knee). Stefano Utoikamanu is expected to miss 6-8 weeks with a fractured wrist.
Panthers: Spencer Leniu left the bench 24 hours before the start, his place was taken by Lindsay Smith. Home representatives Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Jarome Luai, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton and Api Koroisau are resting with Sean O’Sullivan and Kurt Falls taking over in the halves, Robert Jennings in the centers, Charlie Staines in the band and Mitch Kenny, Chris Smith and Matt Eisenhuth in the group.
Storm v Raiders, Sunday 16.05 at AAMI Park
Storm: Cameron Munster has been appointed to return to the eighth after COVID ruled him out of Origin, so Nick Meaney returns to the wing. Harry Grant will also make a backup after playing in Queensland. Felise Kaufusi has returned from personal leave and enters the second row with Chris Lewis falling to the reserves.
Raiders: Adam Elliott and James Schiller entered the opening game on Saturday with skipper Elliott Whitehead (knee) and Nick Cotric (leg). Corey Horsburgh has left the bench. Corey Harawira-Naera, Emre Guler and Albert Hopoate are the new faces of the exchange.
Maroons prop Josh Papali’i has been appointed and will be controlled after the home decision. Jack Wighton was part of the expanded NSW squadron, but will be on deck for the Green Machine.
Bulldogs – Rabbitohs, Sunday 6.15pm at Accor Stadium
Bulldogs: Aaron Schoupp (covid) will be replaced by Declan Casey, who himself returns from a head injury suffered on debut. Matt Burton was charged with his involvement in a melee during Wednesday’s third game, but he will escape with only a fine and should make a backup of the Bulldogs. Tevita Pangai jnr suffered an ankle injury against the Sharks in round 16, but is expected to be right.
Rabbitohs: Alex Johnston (quad) and Mark Nicholls (header) return after losing the Newcastle match, so Richie Kennar leaves and Kodi Nikorima returns to the bench. Home representatives Damien Cook and Cameron Murray have been appointed to make a backup, so Siliva Havili and Jed Cartwright return to the bench and Daniel Suluka-Fifita and Shaquai Mitchell fall to the reserves. Midfielder Lachlan Ilias (nod) has been named and is getting sick of playing.