Sharks make call on Hynes charge; axed Broncos star’s brutal finals reality — Team Tips

The Storm are reeling with three of their biggest stars out forcing a reshuffle, while the Sharks face a halves crisis and the Broncos have a looming selection headache.

Read on for the Team Tips for Finals week 1.

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Second Qualifying Final:Melbourne Storm (2nd) vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (3rd) at AAMI Park, 7.50pm AEST

Last week’s Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Grant Anderson 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 16. Tui Kamikamica 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Ativalu Lisati 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 17. Joe Chan. 18th man: 18. Marion Seve

Team Tips: Jahrome Hughes is out for potentially the whole finals series with a fractured forearm, with Tyran Wishart and Jonah Pezet vying to partner Cameron Munster in the halves. One of them will wear the No.7 and the other will be the bench utility with Wishart’s experience making him the favourite to start. Ryan Papenhuyzen has been ruled out with concussion, with Nick Meaney expected to go back to fullback. Sualauvi Fa’alogo is another option to play fullback, but he could also come into a reshuffled backline for Meaney. Jack Howarth returns from a groin injury, with centre Grant Anderson to make way, unless Menaey is in the No.1, which would see him hold his spot. Another option would be to put Munster to fullback and play Wishart and Pezet in the halves, but that seems unlikely, given Munster’s importance as a playmaker without Hughes. Nelson Asofa-Solomona was hit with a three game ban for a shoulder to the head of Ben Talty and won’t play again until the grand final if the Storm lose to the Bulldogs and make it to the decider. Tui Kamikamica is likely to start at prop with Lazarus Vaalepu coming onto the bench. In a big boost the Storm welcome back skipper Harry Grant from suspension, with Bronson Garlick to make way.

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Last week’s Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Enari Tuala 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 16. Josh Curran 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 10. Samuel Hughes 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 17. Reed Mahoney. 18th man: 22. Jethro Rinakama

Team Tips: Marcelo Montoya has been ruled out with an ankle injury from the tackle that saw Nicho Hynes suspended. Jacob Kiraz is due back from a foot injury and should be a straight swap with Montoya. Bronson Xerri has been ruled out with a head knock, with Enari Tuala likely to shift to centre and Jethro Rinakama coming onto the wing. Harry Hayes is pushing for a return from a hamstring injury and could come onto the bench. Given the disappointing loss to the Sharks, Cameron Ciraldo may look to start with Reed Mahoney at hooker and move Bailey Hayward back to the bench, which he has been unwilling to do in recent weeks.

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SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 13

Second Elimination Final:New Zealand Warriors (6th) vs Penrith Panthers (7th) at Go Media Stadium, 5.30pm AEST

Last week’s 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. Samuel Healey 10. Tanner Stowers-Smith 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima. 18th man: 18. Taine Tuaupiki

Team Tips: Wayde Egan is due back from a hip injury with Samuel Healey likely to make way. Centre Rocco Berry and second-rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava suffered shoulder injuries against Manly and are in doubt. Jacob Laban is due back from a leg injury and will likely come into the 17. Laban or Leka Halasima could start in the second row, with Marata Niukore switching to the front row and Tanner Stowers-Smith dropping out. Jackson Ford (suspension) and Freddy Lussick (ankle) will also come into consideration for a spot in the 17. The Warriors have struggled with Tanah Boyd at halfback and may opt to bring Te Maire Martin into the halves.

Last week’s Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Paul Alamoti 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Luke Garner 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Brad Schneider 15. Liam Henry 16. Isaiah Papali’i 18. Daine Laurie. 18th man: 19. Mavrik Geyer

Team Tips: Brian To’o was rested last week and will come onto the wing, with Paul Alamoti likely to make way. Daine Laurie was a late inclusion last week with Matt Eisenhuth dropping out, but they could switch back next week. The Panthers are the only team in the finals who have no injury concerns as they bid for a five-peat from seventh spot.

First Elimination Final:Cronulla Sharks (5th) vs Sydney Roosters (8th) at Shark Park, 4.05pm AEST

Last week’s Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 18. Daniel Atkinson 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Toby Rudolf 11. Billy Burns 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jesse Colquhoun 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Thomas Hazelton 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 21. Oregon Kaufusi. 18th man: 19. Mawene Hiroti

Team Tips: Nicho Hynes has been suspended for a hip drop tackle, with the Sharks contesting the grading in a bid to get him off at the judiciary, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. The Bulldogs’ chief medical officer wrote to the NRL to advise that Marcelo Montoya’s ankle injury is not as bad as first feared. But they risk a two game ban if they lose. Braydon Trindall is bidding to return from an ankle injury that saw him be a late scratching last week, with Daniel Atkinson to make way if Hynes and Trindall play. Hohepa Puru dropped off the bench with Oergan Kaufusi a late inclusion against the Bulldogs and is expected to hold his spot. Briton Nikora returns from suspension with Billy Burns likely to make way, but he could grab a spot on the bench.

Last week’s 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 14. Benaiah Ioelu 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Victor Radley 13. Naufahu Whyte 9. Connor Watson 15. Egan Butcher 16. Blake Steep 17. Siua Wong. 18th man: 18. Ethan King

Team Tips: The Roosters are expected to keep the same 17, with Nat Butcher their only frontline player sidelined with injury. However Salesi Foketi could be an option to come onto the bench. Connor Watson is again expected to be named at No.9, despite dropping back to the bench for Benaiah Ioelu for the last couple of months of the season.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 14

First Qualifying Final:Canberra Raiders (1st) vs Brisbane Broncos (4th) at GIO Stadium, 4.00pm AEST

Last week’s Raiders team: 1. Chevy Stewart 2. Savelio Tamale 4. Sebastian Kris 16. Manaia Waitere 5. Michael Asomua 6. Adam Cook 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Owen Pattie 10. Ata Mariota 11. Noah Martin 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Danny Levi 15. Trey Mooney 17. Joseph Roddy 18. Kain Anderson. 18th man: 19. Vena Patuki-Case

Team Tips: The Raiders rested most of their stars last week, with all of them set to return for their final against the Broncos. Kaeo Weekes and Jed Stuart will come in for Chevy Stewart and Michael Asomua, while Matthew Timoko will replace Manaia Waitere at centre. Ethan Strange and Jamal Fogarty will come in for Adam Cook and Ethan Sanders in the halves. Josh Papalii and Joe Tapine return in the front row, with Tom Starling back at No.9 and Owen Pattie shifting to the bench. Corey Horsburgh will shift to lock with Ata Mariota and Morgan Smithies moving to the bench. Hudson Young and Zac Hosking return in the second row, with Noah Martin and Matt Nicholson making way, but one of the two will likely get the last bench spot. Albert Hopoate is due back from a knee injury in the finals, but is unlikely to force his way into the 17.

Last week’s Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Deine Mariner 5. Jesse Arthars 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. 18th man: 18. Delouise Hoeter

Team Tips: Gehamat Shibasaki was dropped last week for breaking a booze ban and is no gaurantee to return with Deine Mariner playing well at centre and Jesse Arthars strong on the wing. “I think that’s something there I’ve seen within the team, is that you can’t give up your spot because there’s people there ready to go,” Maguire said. If Shibasaki returns, Mariner will likely shift to the wing with Arthars making way. Skipper Adam Reynolds is unlikely to return until week two of the finals, with Ben Hunt to play No.7 for another week at least, according to The Daily Telgraph’s Phil Rothfield. Ezra Mam and Selwyn Cobbo ran last week, but are likely another week away from returning. The Broncos will be keen to win through to the preliminary final to give their injured stars more time to return. However, the return of Reynolds and Mam has the potential to upset the rhythm of the side, with Ben Hunt and Reece Walsh in red hot form without them. Jack Gosiewski is bidding to return from a shoulder injury and could join the bench for Jaiyden Hunt. Xavier Willison is also bidding to return from a broken arm in the finals series, but won’t be rushed back with the team in such good form.