Jacob Kiraz is a chance to to come into the Bulldogs’ side after surving the 24-hour cut, with Cameron Ciraldo set to make a final call based on the Bulldogs’ captain’s run.
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Toby Sexton will reportedly be recalled to the Bulldogs’ 17 for the qualifying final against the Storm on Friday night at AAMI Park.
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He’s set to be included on the bench, replacing Reed Mahoney who will be dropped while the Storm could be set to receive a huge boost in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the extent of Josh Papalii’s ankle injury has been revealed with an ugly image.
Read below for the full NRL Late Mail!
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12
Second Qualifying Final: Melbourne Storm (2nd) vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (3rd) at AAMI Park, 7.50pm AEST
Storm team: 1. Nick Meaney 2. Will Warbrick 3. Grant Anderson 4. Joe Chan 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Tyran Wishart 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Ativalu Lisati 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Jonah Pezet 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Bronson Garlick 19. Marion Seve 20. Jack Howarth
Players cut: 18. Kane Bradley 21. Sualauvi Faalogo 22. Lazarus Vaalepu
Late Mail: After fracturing his wrist during the Storm’s Round 27 clash with the Broncos, Jahrome Hughes’ season looked to be over. However, the star halfback has revealed that he could return as early as the second week of finals after explaining he had a quick and successful surgery on the 167 Podcast. “I had surgery on the wrist, fractured my wrist, (the surgeon), he rocked up (in) golf kit, he just got off the course,” Hughes explained. “He only got to play like 10 holes or something, fully had his polo and golf hat on. I said ‘how are you going?’ and he was like ‘I was having one of my best rounds ever’. “No way he has brushed his golf game to come and do me, so I was super grateful for that, got surgery… hopefully a chance in the next two weeks maybe.”
Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jethro Rinakama 3. Enari Tuala 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Blake Wilson 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Josh Curran 21. Toby Sexton 22. Harry Hayes 23. Jacob Kiraz
Players cut: 17. Reed Mahoney 19. Jake Turpin 20. Kurtis Morrin
Early Mail:Jacob Kiraz is a chance to return from an ankle injury after surviving the 24-hour cut. Kiraz was set to be given until after the captain’s run on Thursday to prove his fitness, with Jethro Rinakama likely to make way if he is ruled fit to take his place on the wing. Toby Sexton will come into the 17 for the Bulldogs on the interchange, replacing Reed Mahoney. Sexton hasn’t played for the Bulldogs since their Round 19 win over the Cowboys. The Bulldogs have won 12 of their 16 games this season with Sexton at halfback. Mahoney has fallen out of favour under Cameron Ciraldo, losing his starting spot to Bailey Hayward. Now he will slip out of the 17. Mahoney has signed to join the Cowboys and the talented No.9 may have played his final game in the famous blue and white jersey.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13
Second Elimination Final:New Zealand Warriors (6th) vs Penrith Panthers (7th) at Go Media Stadium, 5.30pm AEST
Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Kurt Capewell 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Leka Halasima 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith 18. Taine Tuaupiki 20. Samuel Healey 21. Kalani Going 22. Bunty Afoa 23. Edward Kosi
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Paul Alamoti 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Brian To’o 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Brad Schneider 15. Liam Henry 16. Isaiah Papali’i 17. Luke Garner 18. Thomas Jenkins 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Daine Laurie 21. Mavrik Geyer 22. Trent Toelau
Players cut:
Late Mail: The Panthers are expected to be 1-17 with Mitch Kenny (hamstring) a week-to-week proposition. “We took Mitch off at half-time last week as more of a precaution, but he was definitely feeling something,” Ivan Cleary said on Wednesday. “It’s a little bit worse than what we initially thought, but it’s still only a minor strain. But that’s bad enough for him to not be able to play at his absolute best this week, and that’s what we need. It’s a fair out because Mitch has been critically important to us for a long period of time. We’re trying to not focus on who’s out but who’s in, and ‘Sommo’ comes in and for two seasons has been good for us every time he’s come in.” Meanwhile, Cleary also addressed the tough call to drop Tom Jenkins despite him being named the club’s Members Player of the Year on Tuesday night. “It’s not a fun part of the job, but it’s one of those things around finals time where you can’t pick everyone,” he said, with Paul Alamoti recalled on the wing. “Tom is having an amazing year and is one of the best stories of our season, so he’ll be ready when he’s needed.”
‘Leaked 70 points with me as captain’ | 02:32
First Elimination Final: Cronulla Sharks (5th) vs Sydney Roosters (8th) at Shark Park, 4.05pm AEST
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3 Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jesse Colquhoun 14. Oregon Kaufusi 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Daniel Atkinson 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Briton Nikora 22. Hohepa Puru
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Hugo Savala 7. Sam Walker 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Victor Radley 13. Naufahu Whyte 14. Benaiah Ioelu 15. Egan Butcher 16. Blake Steep 17. Siua Wong 18. Ethan King 19. Salesi Foketi 20. Sandon Smith 21. Tom Rodwell 22. Makahesi Makatoa
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14
First Qualifying Final:Canberra Raiders (1st) vs Brisbane Broncos (4th) at GIO Stadium, 4.05pm AEST
Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Jed Stuart 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota 18. Matt Nicholson 19. Danny Levi 20. Ethan Sanders 21. Noah Martin 22. Trey Mooney
Players cut:
Late Mail: A photo of Josh Papalii’s injured right ankle has been revealed by Code Sports, putting to bed suggestions the Raiders were playing mind games with their opponents. Papalii suffered the ugly injury after rolling his ankle during a training session, with Broncos bosses reportedly cynical regarding the veteran enforcer’s potential to miss the clash. However, initial fears were Papalii had suffered a broken ankle, such was the pain he was in. “I thought it was broken,” Papalii told the SMH. “I legitimately tripped over my own foot. I rolled the left ankle and rolled the right ankle inwards at the same time. The main issue was the left ankle. There were no breaks, just a lot of swelling.” Papalii will reportedly be given until the captain’s run to prove his fitness.
Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Billy Walters 7. Ben Hunt 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Ben Talty 17. Jaiyden Hunt 18. Jesse Arthars 19. Fletcher Baker 20. Delouise Hoeter 21. Jack Gosiewski 22. Jock Madden
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
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