Anthony Seibold is set to receive a huge boost for the first week of the finals with Tom Trbojevic expected to return from a shoulder injury against the Bulldogs.
However, Nathan Cleary is no certainty to return from a shoulder injury of his own, while Trent Robinson has a halves headache of his own heading into the finals.
Read on for all the team news ahead of week one of finals.
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Penrith Panthers v Sydney Roosters, 7:50pm AEST at BlueBet Stadium
Last week’s Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To’o 6. Brad Schneider 7. Jarome Luai 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Trent Toelau 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Luke Garner 20. Casey McLean
Team Tips: All eyes are on Nathan Cleary, who just needs to get through one more opposed session this week to prove his fitness. The Panthers playmaker has ramped up his training in recent days and looked good at Monday’s session when he had to tackle some other squad members. Cleary hasn’t played since the round 24 loss to the Storm when he experienced a recurrence of the shoulder instability he had earlier in the year. Cleary will be named on Tuesday but has to prove his fitness at another major session, with Jarome Luai having to do something similar before last year’s grand final as he battled a shoulder injury that he says was “10 times worse” than this one.
“For me, I knew I needed to get my confidence here (at training) before I knew I was ready,” the five-eighth told reporters on Monday.
“I appreciate Iv for giving me that say. A lot of the Cup boys were lining up to run at me, and they’re big boys as well, so I don’t think I could have had any better practice.
“I don’t know if he’ll go through that as well, but they put me through a good fitness test, and once I got through that, I knew I was sweet.
“That’s the mental barrier. I think it’s more a mental challenge than a physical one, because once you do the reps here and you feel good, then you feel sweet on the weekend.”
— Martin Gabor, NCA Newswire
Last week’s Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Fetalaiga Pauga 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 20. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Connor Watson 17. Terrell May 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Naufahu Whyte 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Siua Wong 16. De La Salle Va’a 19. Blake Steep 18. Michael Jennings
Team Tips: The Roosters will need to wipe last week’s poor outing behind them against the reigning premiers. Playing into Trent Robinson’s hands is a trio of significant ins this week with Dom Young, Daniel Tupou, Lindsay Collins and Nat Butcher set to return this week. Fetalaiga Pauga and Mark Nawaqanitawase will drop out of the 17, while Naufahu Whyte will return to the bench. Debutant De La Salle Va’a and Blake Steep are shaping as the men to drop from Robinson’s bench to accommodate Butcher and Collins. With Sandon Smith and Luke Keary failing to gel against Souths the jury is still out on Robinson’s new halves pairing, with Fox League’s James Graham calling on the Roosters coach to shift Joey Manu into five-eighth to bring him closer to the action.
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Ponga leads Newcastle into finals | 02:30
SATURDAY
Melbourne Storm v Cronulla Sharks, 4:05pm at AAMI Park
Last week’s Storm team: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 22. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Alec MacDonald 20. Lazarus Vaalepu 5. Grant Anderson
Team Tips:Sualauvi Faalogo failed to finish the Storm’s big win over the Broncos with a hamstring injury and will miss at least the first week of finals as a result. However, in a big boost for Craig Bellamy star No.1 Ryan Papenhuyzen is set to return. Xavier Coates got through his first game since Round 17 unscathed, but was removed from the contest early as a precaution. Christian Welch missed Round 27 with illness but should return against the Sharks, with Lazarus Vaalepu the man to drop out.
Last week’s Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 16. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jack Williams 17. Thomas Hazelton 19. Siosifa Talakai 20. Jayden Berrell
Team Tips: Prop Oregon Kaufusi was rested against the Knights after playing every game this year and will return for week one of the finals. With Kaufusi back on deck, Royce Hunt will likely return back to the bench, which should compensate for the potential loss of Thomas Hazelton, who suffered a knee injury against the Sea Eagles, with Craig Fitzgibbon stating post game it will be a matter of “wait and see” if the prop is fit this week. Siosifa Talakai returned from injury via the bench and will likely retain his place. Jesse Ramien was placed on report against the Sea Eagles but has avoided suspension and is set to line up against the Storm this weekend.
Fitzgibbon chats short turnaround finals | 06:52
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North Queensland Cowboys v Newcastle Knights, 7:50pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium
Last week’s Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 14. Sam McIntyre 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 15. Thomas Mikaele 16. Harrison Edwards 17. Griffin Neame 20. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 18. Jaxon Purdue
Team Tips: Prop Jordan McLean was a late out against the Bulldogs with a hamstring complaint though should be right to face the Knights. “If this is a final, we’d roll him out,” Todd Payten told media late last week. With the veteran back on deck, Sam McIntyre will revert to the bench with either Thomas Mikaele or Harrison Edwards to drop out of the 17. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki got through his injury return unscathed and will continue off the bench in the finals.
Last week’s Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Fletcher Sharpe 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jack Cogger 7. Phoenix Crossland 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott 14. Tyson Gamble 15. Mathew Croker 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Brodie Jones 18. Thomas Cant
Team Tips: Edge forward Tyson Frizell left the field with a HIA during the Knights’ crucial win over the Dolphins but was able to return in a big boost for Adam O’Brien. Kai Pearce-Paul is a “strong chance” to return from a leg cut during the first week of the finals, though the game may come too early for Jacob Saifiti. Pearce-Paul could be eased back via the bench in place of Brodie Jones. If O’Brien feels he is ready to start, Dylan Lucas will be the man to join the bench.
Manly miss out on home final | 02:35
SUNDAY
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Manly Sea Eagles, 4:05pm at Accor Stadium
Last week’s Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 21. Eli Clark 3. Jacob Kiraz 4. Stephen Crichton 23. Jonathan Sua 6. Drew Hutchison 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Harry Hayes 17. Josh Curran 19. Blake Taaffe
Team Tips: Debutants Eli Clark and Jonathan Sua were strong in the Bulldogs’ big loss to the Cowboys but are expected to drop out of Cameron Ciraldo’s 17 to accommodate returning duo Bronson Xerri and Josh Addo-Carr. Matt Burton will also be back on deck, pushing Drew Hutchinson to the reserves. There was a scare with Jacob Kiraz going down late with a shoulder injury, though Ciraldo indicated the winger would be fit for the finals. “He’s alright. He did go down there for a bit. He’ll be alright for next week,” Ciraldo said post-game. Should Kiraz not recover in time expect Jeral Skelton to return on the wing for the Bulldogs. Canterbury got bullied through the middle, but are light on experienced forwards, leaving Ciraldo little wriggle room if change is what he desires.
Last week’s Sea Eagles team: 1. Tolutau Koula 2. Clayton Faulalo 3. Tommy Talau 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Karl Lawton 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown18. Toafofoa Sipley
Team Tips: In a big boost for the Sea Eagles’ final chances Tom Trbojevic will return from a shoulder injury against the Bulldogs, pushing Tolutau Koula from the fullback role. However, Koula may find himself on the wing, with Anthony Seibold stating post-game he doesn’t think Jason Saab will play. Corey Waddell will be back on deck after serving his two match suspension but could struggle to force his way back into Seibold’s 17.
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