The Panthers will be without star prop Moses Leota for Friday’s clash with the Cowboys, while the Bulldogs have a big hole to fill.
Matt Burton has been rushed into Origin camp to be New South Wales’ new 18th man after Stephen Crichton was promoted to the centres to cover for the injured Latrell Mitchell.
It means Burton won’t play in the Bulldogs’ clash with the Sharks on Sunday, which could open the door for Kyle Flanagan to return to the NRL for the first time since Round 8.
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Flanagan scored four tries in the Dogs’ NSW Cup win last week — although he has been playing hooker since being dropped.
But the 24-year-old has spent almost all of his career as a halfback and could slot straight in for Burton. Alternatively, Ciraldo could promote rookie Khaled Rajab to the starting side and bring Flanagan onto the bench.
Meanwhile, the Eels face a halves dilemma with their two front line stars Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown unavailable for different reasons.
Blues star Moses hinted the Eels could fill his position by committee with Daejarn Asi shifting to halback.
“Gutho might have to chuck the No.7 jersey on,” Moses told The Daily Telegraph.
“He’s played in the No.6 before, that’s where he got his nickname ‘The King’. Gutho is a competitor, you put him anywhere.”
Ryan Matterson was named at five-eighth, but it is his first game back from injury and the Eels have other options in their squad.
“Maybe Matto (Matterson) if he’s back from his calf injury. We’ve got Bryce Cartwright there too, he can play five-eighth,” Moses said.
“We’ve had injuries, suspensions, head knocks in the last few weeks and whoever has come in has done a good job.”
Read on for the Late Mail for Round 16.
Tino escapes ban for Koroisau incident | 03:45
FRIDAY JUNE 16
North Queensland vs Penrith Panthers at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, 8:00pm AEDT
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Peta Hiku 5. Semi Valemei 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Jake Granville 10. Coen Hess 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Heilum Luki 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Griffin Neame 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 18. Brendan Elliot 19. Riley Price
Players cut: 20. Mitchell Dunn 21. Thomas Duffy 22. Jake Bourke
Late Mail: Jason Taumalolo (knee) returns in a timely boost with Reuben Cotter, Reece Robson, Valentine Holmes, Murray Taulagi and Jeremiah Nanai on Origin duty. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki joins the bench with mid-season signing Sam McIntyre, who will make his club debut. Zac Laybutt replaces Holmes atcentre, with Jake Granville replacing Robson at hooker and Kyle Feldt returns on the wing for Taulagi.
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Tyrone Peachey 5. Thomas Jenkins 6. Jaeman Salmon 7. Jack Cogger 16. Spencer Leniu 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Zac Hosking 13. Matt Eisenhuth 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 17. Luke Garner 19. Liam Henry 18. Jack Cole 20. Mavrik Geyer
Players cut: 8. Moses Leota 21. Eddie Blacker 22. Jesse Maclean
Late Mail: Star prop Moses Leota will miss the game due to the birth of his third child. Spencer Leniu will start at prop with Liam Henry joining the bench. The Panthers have also been decimated by Origin with Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, Liam Martin, Isaah Yeo and Brian To’o all on NSW duty. Jaeman Salmon replaces Luai to partner Jack Cogger in the halves, while Tyrone Peachey starts at centre for Crichton and Thomas Jenkins comes onto the wing for To’o. Matt Eisenhuth starts at lock for Yeo and Luke Garner joins the bench. Zac Hosking returns after being rested in Round 15.
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SATURDAY JUNE 17
Newcastle Knights vs Sydney Roosters at McDonald Jones Stadium, 3:00pm AEDT
Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Adam Elliott 14. Kurt Mann 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 18. Jack Johns 19. Simi Sasagi 20. Brodie Jones 21. Lachlan Miller 22. Adam Clune
Players cut:
Late Mail: Lachlan Fitzgibbon (calf) returns in a timely boost with Tyson Frizell on NSW Origin duty. Enari Tuala coming in on the wing for Greg Marzhew, who was dropped for missing a team bus.
Roosters team: 1. Joseph Manu 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Corey Allan 4. Billy Smith 5. Junior Pauga 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Jake Turpin 10. Nat Butcher 11. Egan Butcher 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Naufahu Whyte 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Nathan Brown 16. Terrell May 17. Angus Crichton 18. Siua Wong 19. Zach Dockar-Clay 20. Jaxson Paulo 21. Tuipulotu Katoa 22. Elie El Zakhem
Players cut:
Late Mail: Joey Manu shifts from five-eighth to fullback for James Tedesco who is on Origin duty. Luke Keary shifts to No.6 with youngster Sandon Smith coming in at No.7. With Lindsay Collins on Maroons duty, Nat Butcher moves to prop, Sitili Tupouniua to second row and Naufahu Whyte comes in at lock. Centre Billy Smith returns after he was a late withdrawal from the Panthers game, with Drew Hutchison moving back to the bench. Terrell May is the new face on the bench with Matt Lodge out.
Parramatta Eels vs Manly Sea Eagles at CommBank Stadium, 5:30pm AEDT
Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Ryan Matterson 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Ofahiki Ogden 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Andrew Davey 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Luca Moretti 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Matt Doorey 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Haze Dunster 19. Jack Murchie 20. Ky Rodwell 21. Waqa Blake 22. Shaun Lane
Players cut:
Late Mail: Daejarn Asi replaces Mitchell Moses (Origin) at halfback, with Ryan Matterson named at five-eighth. However, Matterson is only just returning from a calf injury, so it he is unlikely to play 80 minutes with Clint Gutherson a chance to spend time in the halves. Second-rower Bryce Cartwright could also spend time in the halves at some stage throughout the game. With Junior Paulo away with the Blues, Ofahiki Ogden will start and Joe Ofahengaue joins the bench. Hooker Josh Hodgson (neck) remains sidelined after he was a late withdrawal from the Bulldogs game with Brendan Hands starting at hooker and Luca Moretti on the bench.
Sea Eagles team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Josh Schuster 7. Jakob Arthur 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Toafofoa Sipley 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Sean Keppie 14. Karl Lawton 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Ben Condon 18. Aaron Woods 19. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 20. Morgan Harper 21. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 22. Zac Fulton
Players cut:
Late Mail: Jake Arthur replaces Daly Cherry-Evans (Origin) at halfback against his old club. Kaeo Weekes takes over from Tom Trbojevic (Blues) at fullback. Samuela Fainu starts in the back row, with Ethan Bullemor on the bench but the pair could swap roles on game day as they did against the Dolphins.
Wests Tigers vs Melbourne Storm at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, 7:35pm AEDT
Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Brent Naden 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Junior Tupou 6. Starford To’a 7. Brandon Wakeham 8. Fonua Pole 9. Jake Simpkin 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. Shawn Blore 13. John Bateman 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Tommy Talau 16. Alex Twal 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Will Smith 19. Justin Matamua 20. Aistasi James 21. Brandon Mansfield 22. Triston Reilly
Players cut:
Late Mail: Luke Brooks (hamstring) is out, with Brandon Wakeham shifting to No.7 and Starford To’a named at five-eighth, with Brent Naden returning in the centres. Asu Kepaoa also comes into the centres with Tommy Talau shifting to the bench. With Api Koroisau (jaw) also out, Jake Simpkin startsat hooker and teenager Tallyn Da Silva coming onto the bench for his NRL debut. Stefano Utoikamanu (Blues) is replaced by Fonua Pole at prop, while Alex Seyfarth joins the bench.
Storm team: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Marion Seve 5. George Jennings 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Trent Loiero 12. Tariq Sims 13. Josh King 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Alec MacDonald 17. Aaron Pene 18. Justin Olam 19. Grant Anderson 20. Sualauvi Faalogo 21. Chris Lewis 22. Kane Bradley
Players cut:
Late Mail: Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Xavier Coates are on Queensland Origin duty, while Christian Welch (suspended) is also out forcing changes for Craig Bellamy. Reimis Smith (hamstring) has been named in the centres, with Justin Olam (head knock) bidding to return after being named 18th Man. Eliesa Katoa (eye) is out so Tariq Sims starting in the back row. George Jennings comes in on the wing for his first game of 2023 and Jonah Pezet is the No.6. Bronson Garlick starts at hooker, Nelson Asofa-Solomona starts at prop and Aaron Pene and Alec MacDonald join the bench.
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‘Worth the risk’ Freddy backs in gamble | 12:27
SUNDAY JUNE 18
Cronulla Sharks vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at PointsBet Stadium, 4:05pm AEDT
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Wade Graham 16. Jack Williams 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Connor Tracey 19. Braydon Trindall 20. Toby Rudolf 21. Daniel Atkinson 22. Jesse Colquhoun
Players cut:
Late Mail: Craig Fitzgibbon has resisted swinging the axe, despite a horror performance against the Storm. Royce Hunt (ankle) is out, with Thomas Hazelton comes onto the bench. Oregon Kaufusi starts at prop alongside Braden Hamlin-Uele in the front row.
Bulldogs team: 1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Braidon Burns 6. Karl Oloapu 7. Matt Burton 8. Chris Patolo 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 11. Jayden Okunbor 12. Jacob Preston 13. Harrison Edwards 14. Khaled Rajab 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Max King 17. Corey Waddell 19. Jeral Skelton 20. Kyle Flanagan 21. Fa’amanu Brown 22. Jackson Topine 23. Franklin Pele
Players cut:
Late Mail: Star playmaker Matt Burton will not play after being called into the NSW Origin squad as 18th man. Coach Cameron Ciraldo could turn to Kyle Flanagan as a replacement at No.7, or promote young gun Khaled Rajab to the run-on side and bring Flanagan onto the bench. Alternatively, the Bulldogs could apply for an exemption to bring Josh Reynolds into the 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner (illness) and Luke Thompson (foot) remain sidelined. Braidon Burns comes in on the wing for Blues flyer Josh Addo-Carr. Chris Patolo starts at prop after being a late inclusion against the Eels.
Byes: Broncos, Dolphins, Dragons, Rabbitohs, Raiders, Titans, Warriors.
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