Despite missing all of 2023 with an ACL injury, a Titans forward is being tipped by a teammate for big things this season.
Craig Bellamy has provided a big update on star five-eighth Cameron Munster, revealing he has a deadline to prove his fitness.
Meanwhile, the Roosters are set to unleash veteran enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in NSW Cup this week to get minutes under his belt.
Read below for all the latest team news in Early Mail!
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THURSDAY MARCH 7
Newcastle Knights vs. Canberra Raiders at McDonald Jones Stadium, 8.00pm AEDT
Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott 14. Jack Cogger 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Kai Pearce-Paul 18. Jed Cartwright 19. Thomas Jenkins
Early Mail: In the 24-hour update, the Knights have dropped their squad to 19 with no real surprises. Newcastle won’t yet unleash exciting UK import Will Pryce, who impressed in the pre-season.
Players cut: 20. Will Pryce 21. Brodie Jones 22. Thomas Cant
Raiders team: 1. Jordan Rapana 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Albert Hopoate 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Danny Levi 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Ata Mariota 17. Pasami Saulo 18. Kaeo Weekes 19. Simi Sasagi
Early Mail: The Raiders will be led on the field by Joe Tapine with Elliott Whitehead set to miss the next three-four weeks with a calf injury. This opens up a starting role in the back row, which will be filled by former Panther Zac Hosking in his club debut.
Players cut: 20. Zac Woolford 21. James Schiller 22. Trey Mooney
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FRIDAY MARCH 8
New Zealand Warriors vs. Cronulla Sharks at Go Media Stadium, 6.00pm AEDT
Warriors team: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Tohu Harris 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Tom Ale 16. Bunty Afoa 17. Dylan Walker 18. Adam Pompey 20. Jazz Tevaga 21. Te Maire Martin 22. Ali Leiataua 23. Jacob Laban
Early Mail: To come.
Players cut:
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Oregon Kaufusi 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Dale Finucane 15. Jack Williams 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Kayal Iro 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Daniel Atkinson 21. Mawene Hiroti 22. Jayden Berrell
Early Mail: To come.
Players cut:
Melbourne Storm vs. Penrith Panthers at AAMI Park, 8.05pm AEDT
Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Joe Chan 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Christian Welch 16. Chris Lewis 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Shawn Blore 19. Kane Bradley 20. Jonah Pezet 21. Marion Seve 22. Sualauvi Faalogo
Early Mail: Coach Craig Bellamy has revealed Cameron Munster will have until Thursday to prove his fitness. The gun five-eighth suffered a groin injury after doing the splits following a slip in the shower.
“We are still hopeful that he’s a chance, it’s been a little up and down,” Bellamy said on NRL 360 on Tuesday night.
“Obviously since the incident over in Fiji. Some days we think he will play for sure, others he goes down ill a bit.
“We will check him out on Thursday and see where he’s at. Obviously we aren’t taking any chances with him.”
Players cut:
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Taylan May 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Matt Eisenhuth 18. Daine Laurie 19. Soni Luke 20. Brad Schneider 21. Preston Riki 22. Mavrik Geyer
Early Mail: To come.
Players cut:
SATURDAY MARCH 9
Parramatta Eels vs. Canterbury Bulldogs at CommBank Stadium, 5.30pm AEDT
Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Morgan Harper 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Brendan Hands 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Joe Ofahengaue 17. Kelma Tuilagi 18. Ofahiki Ogden 19. Daejarn Asi 20. Luca Moretti 21. Makahesi Makatoa 22. Blaize Talagi
Early Mail: To come.
Players cut:
Bulldogs team: 1. Blake Taaffe 2. Blake Wilson 3. Jacob Kiraz 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Poasa Faamausili 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Samuel Hughes 16. Josh Curran 17. Kurtis Morrin 19. Bronson Xerri 20. Toby Sexton 21. Jake Turpin 22. Connor Tracey 23. Kitione Kautoga
Early Mail: To come.
Players cut:
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Gold Coast Titans vs. St George Illawarra Dragons at Cbus Super Stadium, 7.35pm AEDT
Titans team: 1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. AJ Brimson 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Klese Haas 12. Beau Fermor 13. Keenan Palasia 14. Sam Verrills 15. Isaac Liu 16. Erin Clark 17. Jaimin Jolliffe 18. Joe Stimson 19. Jojo Fifita 20. Jacob Alick 21. Harley Smith-Shields 22. Josiah Pahulu
Early Mail: Titans star AJ Brimson has revealed that back rower Beau Fermor is ready for a “big year” under new coach Des Hasler, and could even press for rep honours.
Fermor missed all of 2023 after rupturing his achilles. The season prior, he was one of Gold Coast’s best players with his form resulting in selection in Queensland’s extended squad for Game 2, 2022.
“Beau Fermor is looking good. Obviously he was out all last year with his knee injury and he had a massive 2022,” Brimson said.
“I’m hoping he can have a big year for us and possibly even for the Maroons… I reckon he’ll be playing 80 minutes.”
Players cut:
Dragons team: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Zac Lomax 3. Moses Suli 4. Jack Bird 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Tom Eisenhuth 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Connor Muhleisen 15. Michael Molo 16. Viliami Fifita 17. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 18. Ben Murdoch-Masila 19. Christian Tuipulotu 20. Jesse Marschke 21. Ryan Couchman 22. Mathew Feagai
Early Mail: To come.
Players cut:
SUNDAY MARCH 10
Dolphins vs. North Queensland Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, 4.05pm AEDT
Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Tesi Niu 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Connelly Lemuelu 13. Ray Stone 14. Josh Kerr 15. Max Plath 16. Kenny Bromwich 17. Mark Nicholls 18. Jarrod Wallace 19. Jake Averillo 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Euan Aitken 22. Isaiya Katoa
Early Mail: To come.
Players cut:
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Zac Laybutt 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 18. Tomas Chester 19. Thomas Mikaele 20. Semi Valemei 21. Jack Gosiewski 22. Jake Clifford
Early Mail: To come.
Players cut:
Bye: Wests Tigers
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