NRL Early Mail: Crushing Dogs blow revealed; teammates’ shock as Broncos star ‘lucky to be alive’

Cameron Ciraldo and the Bulldogs will be without a key forward for an extended period of time.

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Meanwhile Broncos forward Corey Jensen returned to training this week after a major health scare with his appearance leaving teammates stunned.

Read on for the latest team news ahead of Round 9.

FRIDAY 1ST MAY

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs. NQ Cowboys @ Accor Stadium, 6pm AEST

Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jonathan Sua 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Enari Tuala 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Samuel Hughes 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Leo Thompson 11. Sitili Tupouniua 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Josh Curran 16. Lipoi Hopoi 17. Jake Turpin 19. Marcelo Montoya 20. Alekolasimi Jones 21. Sean O’Sullivan 22. Logan Spinks 23. Jethro Rinakama

Early Mail: The Bulldogs have been dealt a crushing blow with Viliame Kikau reportedly ruled out for up to three months. Kikau suffered a pectoral injury against the Broncos but incredibly returned to the field. Scans, however, revealed the extent of the injury.

Second rower Jacob Preston will switch to the right edge in Kikau’s absence.

Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Tomas Chester 5. Zac Laybutt 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Coen Hess 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Soni Luke 15. Sam McIntyre 16. Thomas Mikaele 17. Griffin Neame 18. Matthew Lodge 19. Mason Barber 20. Kai O’Donnell 21. Kaiden Lahrs 22. Robert Derby

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Early Mail:To come.

Dolphins vs. Melbourne Storm @ Suncorp Stadium, 8pm AEST

Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Trai Fuller 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Brad Schneider 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Tom Gilbert 9. Max Plath 10. Francis Molo 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Ray Stone 15. Thomas Flegler 16. Felise Kaufusi 17. Oryn Keeley 18. Lewis Symonds 19. Tevita Naufahu 20. John Fineanganofo 21. Kurt Donoghoe 22. Jack Bostock

Early Mail:To come.

Storm team: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Hugo Peel 6. Cameron Munster 7. Tyran Wishart 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Ativalu Lisati 13. Alec MacDonald 14. Trent Toelau 15. Joe Chan 16. Davvy Moale 17. Trent Loiero 18. Cooper Clarke 19. Manaia Waitere 20. Josiah Pahulu 21. Moses Leo 22. Jack Hetherington

Early Mail: To come.

SATURDAY 2ND MAY

Gold Coast Titans vs. Canberra Raiders @ Cbus Super Stadium, 3pm AEST

Titans team: 1. Keano Kini 2. Sialetili Faeamani 3. Jojo Fifita 4. AJ Brimson 5. Phillip Sami 6. Lachlan Ilias 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Kurtis Morrin 9. Sam Verrills 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Arama Hau 12. Beau Fermor 13. Chris Randall 14. Oliver Pascoe 15. Cooper Bai 16. Moeaki Fotuaika 17. Klese Haas 18. Jaylan De Groot 19. Josh Patston 20. Zane Harrison 21. Adam Christensen 22. Bodhi Sharpley

Early Mail: To come

Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Sebastian Kris 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jed Stuart 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Ata Mariota 12. Simi Sasagi 13. Jayden Brailey 14. Chevy Stewart 15. Daine Laurie 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Joseph Roddy 18. Owen Pattie 19. Jordan Uta 20. Ethan Alaia 21. Jake Clydsdale 22. Sione Finau

Early Mail: To come

Parramatta Eels vs. New Zealand Warriors @ CommBank Stadium, 5:30pm AEST

Eels team: 1. Joash Papali’i 2. Brian Kelly 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Ronald Volkman 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Luca Moretti 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Charlie Guymer 12. Jack Williams 13. Jack de Belin 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Saxon Pryke 16. Toni Mataele 17. Dylan Walker 18. Kelma Tuilagi 19. Lorenzo Talataina 20. Jordan Samrani 21. Teancum Brown 22. Araz Nanva

Early Mail: To come

Warriors team: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 4. Adam Pompey 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Leka Halasima 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Erin Clark 14. Samuel Healey 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Jacob Laban 18. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 20. Luke Metcalf 21. Kayliss Fatialofa 22. Te Maire Martin 23. Makaia Tafua

Early Mail: To come

Sydney Roosters vs. Brisbane Broncos @ Allianz Stadium, 7:35pm AEST

Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Hugo Savala 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Connor Watson 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Nat Butcher 17. Salesi Foketi 18. Cody Ramsey 19. Tommy Talau 20. Benaiah Ioelu 21. Egan Butcher 22. Blake Steep

Early Mail: To come

Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Ben Talty 9. Cory Paix 10. Jack Gosiewski 11. Xavier Willison 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Josh Rogers 15. Jaiyden Hunt 16. Va’a Semu 17. Aublix Tawha 18. Jesse Arthars 19. Hayze Perham 20. Luke Gale 21. Thomas Duffy 22. Antonio Verhoeven

Early Mail: Reece Walsh has been given the all clear from a surgeon to take his part on Saturday night. He’ll play if he gets through Wednesday’s captain’s run. Broncos forward Corey Jensen was reportedly told he is ‘lucky to be alive’ after being diagnosed with a clot on the lung. Jensen returned to training on Tuesday and shocked his teammates after losing 10kg during the major health incident. He had one litre of fluid drained from his long and faces a three month recovery with no guarantee he will play rugby league again. Nine months ago the 32-year-old suffered a clot in his calf with the Broncos now referring him to a specialist. Fellow Bronco Jack Gosiewski opened up on Jensen’s health battle when speaking to the media on Tuesday. “He’s going to be on blood thinners for a fair period of time with no contact in that time,” he said. “He was apparently lucky to make it through that game with nothing seriously bad happening to him. Gosiewski said the team were taken aback by Jensen’s appearance when he returned to Red Hill. “It was a bit of a shock to everyone. He’s lost a lot of weight. He’s a very big and muscly bloke, he’s probably one of our best in the gym so it was weird to see him looking like that. He’s down to around 97 kilos, so he’s lost a fair bit of weight. I think they drained a lot of fluid out of his lungs so I think he can start doing some light stuff next week and slowly build himself up.”