The game’s best prop is back on deck for the defending champs with Payne Haas cleared to return against the Gold Coast.
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Questions raised over Flano extension | 03:31
SATURDAY APRIL 4
St George Illawarra Dragons vs. NQ Cowboys at Jubilee Stadium, 5.30pm AEDT
Dragons: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. David Fale 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 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. Blake Lawrie 16. Jacob Halangahu 17. Hame Sele 18. Josh Kerr 19. Tyrell Sloan 21. Kade Reed
Players cut: 20. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 22. Setu Tu
Late Mail: Despite the injury to five-eighth Kyle Flanagan, Dragons coach Shane Flanagan will likely resist the temptation to call up young gun Kade Reed, despite the 20-year-old being named on the extended bench. “I like him as a player, but he also has some areas of his game to work on.“When he is ready I will use him, trust me – but I also have a duty of care to look after the long-term development of Kade. His time will come,” Flanagan told the SMH. Regarding his son’s health following a brutal head knock against the Titans, Flanagan says Kyle will likely miss at least two games. After the Cowboys, the Dragons play Manly on Friday the 10th in Round 6. We have two games in 12 days, he’ll be cleared to play a day before the Manly game, but it’s highly unlikely we’ll risk it,” Flanagan said.
“You still got juice in your legs?” | 03:10
Cowboys: 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. Griffin Neame 16. Thomas Mikaele 17. Matthew Lodge 18. Harrison Edwards 19. Zac Laybutt 20. Kai O’Donnell
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Players cut: 21. Kaiden Lahrs 22. Robert Derby
Gold Coast Titans vs. Brisbane Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium, 7:35pm AEDT
Titans: 1. Keano Kini 2. Sialetili Faeamani 3. Jojo Fifita 4. AJ Brimson 5. Phillip Sami 6. Lachlan Ilias 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Klese Haas 9. Sam Verrills 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Arama Hau 12. Beau Fermor 13. Chris Randall 14. Kurtis Morrin 15. Cooper Bai 16. Moeaki Fotuaika 17. Oliver Pascoe 18. Max Feagai 19. Jett Liu 20. Jaylan De Groot
Players cut: 21. Adam Christensen 22. Jenson Taumoepeau
Late Mail: The Titans could be without halfback Jayden Campbell who is awaiting the birth of his first child, Campbell’s partner Teagan is already overdue (Tuesday). “I’m hoping he gets here before the game,” Campbell told reporters.“It was a pretty stressful time going up to Townsville. Being close to the due date and flying up to Townsville for a few nights was pretty stressful.
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Deine Mariner 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Brendan Piakura 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Ben Hunt 15. Xavier Willison 16. Ben Talty 17. Aublix Tawha 18. Jaiyden Hunt 19. Antonio Verhoeven 20. Blake Mozer
Players cut: 21. Thomas Duffy 22. Va’a Semu
Late Mail: Payne Haas has been cleared to play against the Titans. He missed last week’s game against the Dolphins because of a shoulder issue but after training strongly over the past few days, the star prop is ready to go as Brisbane chase a third straight win. Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds has revealed it was the club’s leadership group that made the decision to drop Josiah Karapani. The wingers was slapped with a fine by Queensland police over an incident last weekend. He was not named in Michael Maguire’s side to face the Titans. “We’re all across it,” Reynolds said. “(We had) lengthy discussions … obviously we’re a bit disappointed. (Karapani) fell a little bit below team standards there. Josiah knows he made an error there and it’s unfortunate for him. We’re obviously disappointed from a player point of view. Obviously, our team standards and our team culture comes first and that was the decision. He’s fully aware of the mistakes he’s made. He’s really apologetic towards the group and I’m sure he won’t make that mistake again.”
Josiah Karapani has been dropped over his incident with police. Picture: NRL PhotosSource: Supplied
Veteran Ben Hunt, meanwhile, has expressed his frustration at his role this season. Hunt has been in and out of the starting side with the 36-year-old making it clear he wants to win the starting hooker spot from Corey Paix, who this week signed a two-year extension.
“I’m used to it and as frustrating as it is doing that, it’s something that, like I said, I’m used to and I just have to get on with it,” he told the media. “Mate, I’d hope it happens,” Hunt said of his hope to be Brisbane’s starting hooker. The way it’s going, I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see. You know, I’m not the coach. I’m not in the performance staff and all that. I’m not pulling the strings. I’m just here to do my job and wherever I’m asked to go that week, I’ll go and do the best I can.”
SUNDAY APRIL 4
Cronulla Sharks vs. New Zealand Warriors at Ocean Protect Stadium, 2:00pm AEST
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet 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. Siosifa Talakai 15. Thomas Hazelton 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Mawene Hiroti 19. Hohepa Puru 20. Jayden Berrell 21. Michael Gabrael 22. Briton Nikora
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 4. Adam Pompey 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jackson Ford 11. Leka Halasima 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark 14. Samuel Healey 15. Marata Niukore 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith 18. Chanel Harris-Tavita 20. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 21. Morgan Gannon 22. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 23. Ali Leiataua
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Newcastle Knights vs. Canberra Raiders at McDonald Jones Stadium, 4:05pm AEST
Knights: 1. Fletcher Hunt 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Mathew Croker 14. Harrison Graham 15. Tyson Frizell 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Thomas Cant 18. Tyson Gamble 19. Wilson De Courcey 20. Cody Hopwood 21. Francis Manuleleua 22. James Schiller
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Simi Sasagi 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Noah Martin 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Zac Hosking 16. Ata Mariota 17. Morgan Smithies 18. Chevy Stewart 19. Matthew Timoko 20. Owen Pattie 21. Jed Stuart 22. Daine Laurie
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
‘Haven’t seen Mitch at his best’ | 01:18
MONDAY APRIL 6
Parramatta Eels vs. Wests Tigers at CommBank Stadium, 4:05pm AEST
Eels: 1. Joash Papali’i 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Brian Kelly 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. Dylan Walker 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Sam Tuivaiti 16. Charlie Guymer 17. Luca Moretti 18. Jack de Belin 19. Apa Twidle 20. Ronald Volkman 21. Teancum Brown 22. Araz Nanva
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Faaletino Tavana 3. Sunia Turuva 4. Heamasi Makasini 5. Luke Laulilii 6. Jock Madden 7. Adam Doueihi 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Alex Twal 14. Latu Fainu 15. Sione Fainu 16. Royce Hunt 17. Alex Seyfarth 18. Bunty Afoa 19. Jeral Skelton 20. Tristan Hope 21. Tony Sukkar 22. Patrick Herbert
Players cut:
Late Mail: He may not have been named in the NRL squad this week but centre Starford To’a will make his return to the field from injury via the NSW Cup this weekend. This will give coach Benji Marshall another option in the outside backs in the coming weeks with Taylan May (shoulder) still sidelined until Round 8.
