Dolphins star Herbie Farnworth’s work at training suggests the strike centre is very close to a return from a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, Cowboys prop Jordan McLean has made a big announcement regarding his future.
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Read on for all of the Early Mail for Round 26!
THURSDAY AUGUST 28
Canterbury Bulldogs vs. Penrith Panthers at Accor Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerii 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Josh Curran 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 17. Reed Mahoney 19. Enari Tuala 20. Kurtis Morrin 21. Lipoi Hopoi 22. Jake Turpin 23. Toby Sexton
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Panthers team: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Jesse McLean 3. Sione Fonua 4. David Fale 5. Paul Alamoti 6. Jack Cole 7. Brad Schneider 8. Luron Patea 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Austin Dias 11. Zac Lipowicz 12. Maverick Geyer 13. Matthew Eisenhuth 14. Soni Luke 15. Preston Riki 16. Riley Price 17. Billy Phillips 18. Billy Scott 19. Niko Apelu 20. Asu Kepaoa 21. Riley Wake 22. Jaxen Edgar
Players cut:
Early Mail: Coach Ivan Cleary has explained the reasoning behind his decision to rest 16 of the 17 players who took part in last week’s loss to Canberra. “Every decision that I kind of make in my job has a lot of different ramifications,” Cleary said. “They’re not easy, but some come clearer than others, and this one was fairly clear.”
FRIDAY AUGUST 29
New Zealand Warriors vs. Parramatta Eels at Go Media Stadium, 6.00pm AEST
Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Rocco Berry 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Demitric Vaimauga 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 16. Tanner Stowers-Smith 17. Leka Halasima 18. Taine Tuaupiki 20. Samuel Healey 21. Bunty Afoa 22. Kalani Going 23. Edward Kosi
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Eels team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Will Penisini 4. Dylan Brown 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Josah Papalii 7. Mitchell Moses 8. J’maine Hopgood 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Jack Williams 13. Dylan Walker 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Matt Doorey16. Charlie Guymer 17. Jordan Samrani 18. Sean Russell 19. Dean Hawkins 20. Dan Keir 21. Toni Mataele 22. Joey Lussick
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Melbourne Storm vs. Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park, 8.05pm AEST
Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Kane Bradley 3. Marion Seve 4. Grant Anderson 5. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown 6. Cameron Munster 7. Tyran Wishart 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Alec MacDonald 11. Shawn Blore 12. Joe Chan 13. Trent Loiero 14. Jonah Pezet 15. Ativalu Lisati 16. Lazarus Vaalepu 17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 18. Sualauvi Faalogo 19. Josiah Pahulu 20. Will Warbrick 21. Keagan Russell-Smith 22. Angus Hinchey
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 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. Salesi Foketi 17. Siua Wong 18. Ethan King 19. Blake Steep 20. Toby Rodwell 21. Tom Rodwell 22. Taylor Losalu
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
SATURDAY AUGUST 30
Canberra Raiders vs. Wests Tigers at GIO Stadium, 3.00pm 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. Noah Martin 19. Manaia Waitere 20. Danny Levi 21. Trey Mooney 22. Ethan Sanders
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Taylan May 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Jarome Luai 7. Latu Fainui 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Sione Fainu 13. Alex Twal 14. Heath Mason 15. Royce Hunt 16. Charlie Murray 17. Tony Sukkar 18. Heamasi Makasini 19. Kit Laulilii 20. Krystian Mapalangi 21. Tristan Hope 22. Brent Naden
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
St George Illawarra Dragons vs. Manly Sea Eagles at Jubilee Stadium, 5.30pm AEST
Dragons team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Hayden Buchanan 4. Mathew Feagai 5. Tyrell Sloan 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Jacob Halangahu 12. Jayden Su’a 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Luciano Leilua 16. Hame Sele 17. Loko Pasifiki Tonga 18. Ben Murdoch-Masila 19. Corey Allan 20. Lachlan Ilias 21. Nathan Lawson
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Tommy Talau 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Matthew Lodge 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Corey Waddell 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jazz Tevaga 14. Aaron Schoupp 15. Caleb Navale 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Joey Walsh 19. Clayton Faulalo 20. Michael Chee Kam 21. Simione Laiafi 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
NQ Cowboys vs. Brisbane Broncos at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, 7.35pm AEST
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Semi Valemei 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Braidon Burns 6. Jake Clifford 7. Tom Dearden 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Zac Laybutt 15. Karl Lawton 16. Harrison Edwards 17. Thomas Mikaele 18. Kai O’Donnell 19. Marly Bitungane 20. Nicholas Lenaz 21. Jaxson Paulo 22. Kaiden Lahrs
Players cut:
Early Mail: This Sunday will be Jordan McLean’s final NRL game, with the veteran prop set to retire at season’s end. The Cowboys are on the bye in the final round so this Saturday’s QLD Derby will be the team’s final game of the 2025 season. McLean will run out for game 242 on Saturday, with 156 of those coming for the Cowboys since joining the club from the Storm in 2018.
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. Jaiyden Hunt 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Ben Talty 17. Brendan Piakura 18. Jesse Arthurs 19. Fletcher Baker 20. Delouise Hoeter 21. Jock Madden 22. Adam Reynolds
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
SUNDAY AUGUST 31
Cronulla Sharks vs. Newcastle Knights at Sharks Stadium, 2.00pm AEST
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Mawene Hiroti 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. Hohepa Puru 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Daniel Atkinson 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Samuel Stonestreet, 22. Niwhai Puru
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Knights team: 1. Dane Gagai 2. Dominic Young 3. James Schilleri 4. Bradman Best 5. Fletcher Hunt 6. Jakob Arthur 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Jermaine McEwen 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Mathew Croker 16. Thomas Cant 17. Elijah Salesa Leaumoana 18. Greg Marzhew 19. Jack Hetherington 20. Matthew Arthur 21. Connor Votano 22. Lachlan Crouch
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
Dolphins vs. Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp Stadium, 4.05pm AEST
Dolphins team: 1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 5. Tevita Naufahu 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Felise Kaufusi 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe
14. Aublix Tawha 15. Ray Stone 16. Mark Nicholls 17. Josh Kerr 18. Kenneath Bromwich 19. LJ Nonu 20. James Walsh 21. Peter Hola 22. Jon Fineanganofo
Players cut:
Early Mail: Dolphins superstar centre Herbie Farnworth is reportedly nearing a return from a hamstring injury earlier than expected. According to the AAP’s Joel Gould, the Dolphins hope Farnworth will play against the Raiders next week in what is the final game of the regular season. Gould reports that Farnworth was sprinting and changing direction at top speed at training. To make the finals, the Dolphins need to win their final two games and hope the Roosters drop at least one of their last two.
Titans team: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Jaylan de Groot 3. Brian Kelly 4. Jojo Fifita 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Keano Kini 15. Klese Haas 16. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 17. Josh Patston 18. Tukimihia Simpkins 19 Sean Mullany 20. Cooper Bai 21. Carter Gordon 22. Tony Francis
Players cut:
Early Mail: To come.
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