Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has made good on his promise to relaxation a protracted listing of gamers for the journey to Townsville to tackle the Cowboys.
Eight of the common facet have been omitted solely: Jahrome Hughes, Harry Grant, Will Warbrick, Jack Howarth, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Shawn Blore, Eli Katoa and Tui Kamikamica. With Nick Meaney, Josh King and Trent Loiero on an prolonged reserves listing if any last-minute modifications are required.
Cam Munster and Ryan Papenhuyzen weren’t rested attributable to already lacking matches attributable to harm all year long.
Melbourne clinched the NRL minor premiership with two video games to spare after the win over the Dolphins and Bellamy has now turned his consideration to profitable finals.
The penultimate spherical of the NRL season has additionally been affected by the judiciary, which is inflicting havoc with group alternatives.
Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves pleaded responsible, that means he will probably be out for 3 weeks for his hit on Titans hooker Sam Verrills. JWH was going through 4 if he contested it and was discovered responsible on the judiciary.
Sharks centre Jesse Ramien has additionally taken the responsible plea and is out for one week for a excessive shot in Sunday’s win over the Dragons.
Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton and Manly ahead Corey Waddell earlier accepted one-game bans for prime tackles – however Souths skipper Cameron Murray is searching for a downgrade to get his two-game suspension diminished to a high-quality.
In the meantime, the Dolphins have an harm disaster forward of their most necessary sport of the season in opposition to derby rivals Brisbane.
Prop Tevita Pangai Jnr (hamstring) missed the 48-6 loss to Melbourne final week, didn’t practice on Tuesday and is rehabbing his harm.
Hooker Max Plath (calf) and center ahead Ray Stone (neck) are each racing the clock. Captain Jesse Bromwich and five-eighth Kodi Nikorima will each miss Saturday night time’s conflict with concussion.
The Dolphins and Broncos, each on 26 factors, are two factors behind eighth-placed St George Illawarra and searching for two wins within the last rounds to play finals.
Dolphins prop Mark Nicholls conceded it was nonetheless unknown what group would take the sphere, with the captain’s run on Friday to show decisive.
“We had a gathering this morning and we mentioned we don’t actually know who’s going to be enjoying and who isn’t,” Nicholls mentioned.
“We have been already going to be with out Kodi and Jesse. We realise how large this sport is for us. It’s do or die, identical for the Broncos, and our season is on the road.
“We’re simply going to have to attend till Friday to see which group goes to expire which isn’t very best nevertheless it makes the story higher if we win.”
The Dolphins have misplaced 5 of their previous six video games to slip out of the highest eight after showing assured of a finals berth two months in the past, and the membership has not overwhelmed Brisbane of their historical past.
“We have now had accidents. That occurs at each membership however we now have simply been a bit inconsistent with our performances,” Nicholls mentioned.
“We have now performed very well in patches and matched it in opposition to a few of the greatest groups and we now have had some shut losses which have harm us.”
Right here is how every group is shaping up for Spherical 26.
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Spherical 26 groups
All instances AEST
North Qld vs Melbourne at QCB Stadium: 7.50pm, Thursday August 29
Cowboys: Rested after the bye, Todd Payten welcomes again Jeremiah Nanai (concussion) and Jason Taumalolo (cheekbone).
Storm: Craig Bellamy has opted to relaxation 11 gamers for the journey to Townsville after Melbourne clinched the NRL minor premiership with two video games to spare: Jahrome Hughes, Harry Grant, Will Warbrick, Jack Howarth, Nick Meaney, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Josh King, Shawn Blore, Eli Katoa, Trent Loiero and Tui Kamikamica.
Grant Anderson returns and can accomplice Cam Munster within the halves, with Ryan Papenhuyzen additionally not rested as he missed a big chunk of time attributable to accidents earlier within the season. Xavier Coates remains to be lacking from the facet.
North Queensland Cowboys
v
Melbourne Storm
NRL : Head To Head
Thu, 29 Aug 2024, 19:50
Canterbury Bulldogs
v
Manly Sea Eagles
NRL : Head To Head
Fri, 30 Aug 2024, 18:00
Penrith Panthers
v
South Sydney Rabbitohs
NRL : Head To Head
Fri, 30 Aug 2024, 20:00
Parramatta Eels
v
St. George Illawarra Dragons
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 31 Aug 2024, 15:00
Dolphins
v
Brisbane Broncos
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 31 Aug 2024, 17:30
Cronulla Sharks
v
New Zealand Warriors
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 31 Aug 2024, 19:35
Newcastle Knights
v
Gold Coast Titans
NRL : Head To Head
Solar, 1 Sep 2024, 14:00
Sydney Roosters
v
Canberra Raiders
NRL : Head To Head
Solar, 1 Sep 2024, 16:05
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Canterbury vs Manly at Accor Stadium: 6pm, Friday August 30
Bulldogs: Stephen Crichton has taken a ban after smashing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck excessive within the win over the Warriors. The Bulldogs centre risked a second sport on the sideline in opposition to North Queensland in spherical 27 if he took on the judiciary.
Crichton may have been going through extra time on the sideline had the match assessment committee deemed the hit to be a shoulder cost. However the contact with Tuivasa-Sheck’s head was as an alternative thought-about a excessive deal with, permitting him to return for the ultimate home-and-away spherical with an early plea. He was not sin-binned for the hit which got here at an important level within the Bulldogs’ 34-18 win.
Veteran lock Kurt Mann is out for the remainder of the 12 months with a fractured collarbone and fellow ahead Josh Curran has been named on the interchange bench regardless of his shoulder downside.
Sea Eagles: Taniela Paseka and Haumole Olakau’atu have been fined however Corey Waddell, who was sin-binned late for a excessive shot on Solomon Alaimalo within the loss to the Tigers, has been suspended this week for the grade-two offence.
Centre Tommy Talau (pectoral) will make a comeback into the beginning centres after lacking the final spherical.
Penrith vs South Sydney at BlueBet Stadium: 8pm, Friday August 30
Panthers: Mitch Kenny will return at hooker from his one-game excessive deal with ban, changing Luke Sommerton. Winger Sunia Turuva and centre Paul Alamoti re-join the backline, whereas Scott Sorensen (hamstring) stays out of the facet.
Rabbitohs: Cody Walker (concussion) returns after per week off within the concussion protocols. Cameron Murray (excessive deal with) may very well be handing the captaincy over to Walker until he can show his innocence for a excessive deal with.
Murray’s NRL season may very well be over with the South Sydney captain going through a two-match ban for the excessive deal with that floored Newcastle’s Tyson Frizell. Within the newest blow to the Rabbitohs’ nightmare season, Murray was sin-binned in Saturday night time’s 36-16 loss earlier than being charged.
The Souths lock will miss two matches after he opted if he loses in his bid for a downgrade. Initially positioned on report for the hit, Murray was sin-binned when Frizell left the sphere for a HIA in the identical stoppage.
Parramatta vs St George Illawarra at CommBank Stadium: 3pm, Saturday August 31
Eels: Luca Moretti comes onto the interchange bench after overcoming a thigh harm whereas Reagan Campbell-Gillard has evaded a ban, copping a high-quality for a excessive deal with within the slender loss to Brisbane.
Dragons: Mosese Suli (knee) has been named on an prolonged reserves listing, that means he may return to the centres for this very important match to the group’s possibilities of snaring eighth spot. Max Faegai has been named within the beginning line-up, regardless of getting therapy for a shoulder harm in Sunday’s stoush with the Sharks.
Dolphins vs Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium: 5.30pm, Saturday August 31
Dolphins: Jeremy Marshall-King is closing in on a return from a foot harm in what can be an enormous increase to Wayne Bennett’s group for his or her battle with Brisbane and has been named within the prolonged reserves. Tevita Pangai jnr can also be outdoors the 17-man squad, however nonetheless pushing for a return from a hamstring pressure.
Veteran duo Kodi Nikorima and Jesse Bromwich will probably be stood down attributable to concussion protocols after failing HIAs within the loss to the Storm.
Broncos: Kobe Hetherington (concussion) will miss the derby whereas Kevin Walters has named star prop Payne Haas (foot) among the many reserves. The Broncos hope Reece Walsh (hand) may even be within the body to play earlier than the top of the season.
North Queensland Cowboys
v
Melbourne Storm
NRL : Head To Head
Thu, 29 Aug 2024, 19:50
Canterbury Bulldogs
v
Manly Sea Eagles
NRL : Head To Head
Fri, 30 Aug 2024, 18:00
Penrith Panthers
v
South Sydney Rabbitohs
NRL : Head To Head
Fri, 30 Aug 2024, 20:00
Parramatta Eels
v
St. George Illawarra Dragons
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 31 Aug 2024, 15:00
Dolphins
v
Brisbane Broncos
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 31 Aug 2024, 17:30
Cronulla Sharks
v
New Zealand Warriors
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 31 Aug 2024, 19:35
Newcastle Knights
v
Gold Coast Titans
NRL : Head To Head
Solar, 1 Sep 2024, 14:00
Sydney Roosters
v
Canberra Raiders
NRL : Head To Head
Solar, 1 Sep 2024, 16:05
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Cronulla vs Warriors at PointsBet Stadium: 7.35pm, Saturday August 31
Sharks: Nicho Hynes may very well be set to return from his ankle harm, with the Sharks naming him on the prolonged reserves listing, whereas winger Sione Katoa (concussion) has been named to return however Ronaldo Mulitalo (knee) has been overlooked.
Siosifa Talakai (calf) returns to the centres after additionally lacking the win over the Dragons on Sunday in Wollongong which may very well be well timed provided that Jesse Ramien is out with a one-game ban for a careless excessive deal with.
Warriors: Shaun Johnson will convey down the curtain on his profession enjoying in opposition to his former membership with the Warriors having the bye within the last spherical. Second-rower Jackson Ford is unlikely to return from his knee grievance with the group’s finals possibilities lengthy gone.
Centres Adam Pompey (knee) and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (concussion) are out whereas Jazz Tevaga and Addin Fonua-Blake are free to play after solely copping fines for harmful contact costs.
Newcastle vs Gold Coast at McDonald Jones Stadium: 2pm, Sunday September 1
Knights: Former NSW prop Jacob Saifiti (calf) has been overlooked once more, and is simply an outdoor probability of enjoying once more within the common season.
Tyson Frizell is about to overlook the conflict with the Titans after being concussed by a Cameron Murray excessive shot. Murray was first positioned on report for the hit, earlier than being sin-binned by referee Chris Butler as soon as Frizell left the sphere for a HIA.
Fellow second-rower Kai Pearce-Paul was hospitalised after copping a nasty gash to his shin within the win over the Rabbitohs.
Newcastle welcomes NSW State of Origin centre Bradman Greatest again from a hamstring harm.
Titans: With little to play for aside from delight, Des Hasler may attempt a couple of rookies within the last couple of rounds with a view to subsequent season.
Sydney vs Canberra at Allianz Stadium: 4.05pm, Sunday September 1
Roosters: NSW utility Connor Watson (concussion) will swimsuit up after sitting out per week whereas Brandon Smith (calf) can also be proper to return.
Joseph Suaalii is lacking attributable to a shoulder harm suffered whereas tackling David Fifita whereas Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, in his first sport again from a four-match suspension, was pinged on assessment by the Bunker for forceful contact to the pinnacle of Titans hooker Sam Verrills.
Resulting from his prior offences, he was given a grade two cost by the match assessment committee and a three-game ban with an early plea.
Raiders: Rookie five-eighth Ethan Unusual has been overlooked once more, after lacking Spherical 25 with a calf harm.
Bye – Wests Tigers
with AAP
