Stars return from injury forcing Sharks reshuffle; Dolphins tweak bench after enforced ruled out

The Rabbitohs have been forced into multiple changes and the Dolphins have lost a key forward.

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Read below for the NRL Late Mail for Round 3!

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SATURDAY MARCH 21

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Wests Tigers at Polytec Stadium, 7:35pm AEDT

Rabbitohs team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Jack Wighton 19. Moala Graham-Taufa 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Cameron Murray 14. Peter Mamouzelos 16. Sean Keppie 17. Jayden Sullivan 20. Thomas Fletcher 21. Latrell Siegwalt 22. Liam Le Blanc

Player cuts: 5. Campbell Graham 15. Euan Aitken 18. Lachlan Hubner

Late Mail: There are multiple changes for South Sydney, with Campbell Graham, Euan Aitken and Lachlan Hubner all ruled out of Saturday’s game through injury. Aitken will miss the match in Gosford due to a “pretty severe cork” that has hampered him all week, while Graham has a shoulder issue. He’s expected to be back for the round 5 blockbuster against the Bulldogs.

“He’s got a shoulder problem so he won’t play tomorrow,” Bennett said when asked about Graham’s fitness. “It happened in the game (last week) but it just hasn’t recovered well enough, so he’s not fit enough. He should be right after the bye.”

It means Tom Fletcher and Liam Le Blanc will join the bench while Moala Graham-Taufa makes his club debut in place of Graham on the right wing.

“We’ve recruited him from the Warriors,” Bennett said of Graham-Taufa. “We were short of outside backs and he’s been great to work with here. They did a great job with him at the Warriors. He’s highly skilled, so we’re very confident in what he can bring.”

Elsewhere, Jamie Humphreys returns from suspension at halfback, pushing Jayden Sullivan to the bench.

“He played with us last year and did a really good job for us, but then he got a two-week suspension in the last game of the season,” Bennett said.

“Jamie knows what we want and I know what he can bring. The players are confident in him, which is important. We’re only two weeks into the season, but it’s good to have him back.”

Meanwhile, big news from Bennett on NZ Test hooker Brandon Smith: he should return from his latest injury setback in time for Round 5 — the blockbuster Good Friday clash against the Bulldogs.

Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Jeral Skelton 4. Heamasi Makasini 5. Luke Laulilii 6. Jarome Luai 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Alex Twal 14. Jock Madden 15. Sione Fainu 16. Royce Hunt 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Tristan Hope 19. Patrick Herbert

Player cuts: 20. Bunty Afoa 21. Faaletino Tavana 22. Tony Sukkar

Late Mail: The Tigers are 1-17. Jeral Skelton starts at centre alongside teen freak Heamasi Makasini after Taylan May’s shoulder injury.

‘It’s a long way back’ Riccio on Broncos | 05:08

SUNDAY MARCH 22

Parramatta Eels v St. George Illawarra Dragons at CommBank Stadium, 4:05pm AEDT

Eels team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Jordan Samrani 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Mitchell Moses 8. J’maine Hopgood 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Jack Williams 14. Dylan Walker 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Matt Doorey 17. Tallyn Da Silva 19. Joash Papali’i 20. Charlie Guymer 21. Brian Kelly

Player cuts: 18. Jack de Belin 22. Luca Moretti

Late Mail: Jack de Belin has been dropped for the clash against his former side after he was cut 24 hours before kick-off. Given he’s in the No. 18 jersey, he appears to have fallen below a few forwards in the pecking order. According to Code Sports, other than J’maine Hopgood returning from suspension, coach Jason Ryles has liked what he’s seen from Sam Tuivaiti and Matt Doorey with the pair set to earn more playing time than De Belin against the Dragons injuries permitting.

Dragons team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Setu Tu 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Daniel Atkinson 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. Toby Couchman 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Hamish Stewart 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Josh Kerr 16. Blake Lawrie 17. Ryan Couchman 18. Hame Sele 19. Mathew Feagai 20. Lyhkan King-Togia

Player cuts: 21. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 22. Tyrell Sloan

Late Mail: Jacob Liddle is on track to make his return from a hamstring injury and take his place on the bench. Damien Cook is set to start at hooker after passing his HIA last week. In welcome news, Dragons youngster Loko Pasifiki-Tonga was cleared on any serious injury after being taken to hospital after a neck concern on Thursday. The rugby league world held their breath when images of the forward being taken to hospital with a neck brace circulated after a training incident. After being picked up by an ambulance as a precautionary measure and being sent for scans, he returned to their training facility later in the afternoon with the all-clear.

NQ Cowboys v Gold Coast Titans at QLD Country Bank Stadium, 6:15pm AEDT

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

Player cuts:

Late Mail: Zac Laybutt is a chance to come into the centres after serving a suspension, with Tom Chester the man likely to make way. The Cowboys could be weighing up a shock spine move which would see Jaxon Purdue shifted to fullback. Purdue is still out of contract at the end of the season and the Cowboys want to do everything in their power to keep him, which could include moving him to the back which is the young gun’s preference. “Late last year we picked up mail that Scott Drinkwater was being shopped. Nothing eventuated but clearly there’s an appetite to play Purdue at fullback,” Dave Riccio said on NRL360. Drinkwater has been battling a rib issue suffered in Vegas but is expected to be right to play against the Titans.

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

Player cuts:

Late Mail: Jayden Campbell is set to return from a hamstring injury and could come into the starting side, with Lachlan Ilias likely to make way.

Bye – Manly Sea Eagles