Canterbury back-rower Viliame Kikau will miss up to six weeks with a fractured finger in a blow to the Bulldogs heading into this week’s clash with the Knights.
The Bulldogs will hit the road to Newcastle on Friday without first-choice five-eighth Matt Burton and captain Stephen Crichton on Origin duty.
It leaves Reed Mahoney shaping as a likely fill-in skipper ahead of his reunion with hot-headed Knights prop Jack Hetherington after they were involved in a set-to in the tunnel after Mahoney had goaded Hetherington and the duo were sent to the sin bin.
Hetherington shaped up like a boxer before shoving Mahoney in the chest, earning himself a week-long suspension.
The Bulldogs No.9, who avoided a ban, said then Hetherington had “big-man syndrome”, while the Newcastle forward returned serve by labelling Mahoney a “smart arse”.
(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
State of Origin is causing havoc team lists all round in Round 13 with Penrith, the Roosters and Cowboys having a heavy representation in the NSW and Queensland squads.
The Panthers host the Dragons, while the Roosters are at home to North Queensland in another match which will be affected in a major way by player unavailability on rep duty.
Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Brian To’o, Jarome Luai and Dylan Edwards will be missing for the premiers against St George Illawarra, who have Jaydn Su’A in the Queensland squad and Zac Lomax making his NSW debut.
The Roosters will be without Spencer Leniu, Lindsay Collins, Angus Crichton and Joseph Suaalii while the Cowboys will need to find replacements for their Maroons contingent of Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai, Valentine Holmes and Murray Taulagi, as well as Blues hooker Reece Robson.
In the silver lining to James Tedesco’s surprise omission from NSW, the Roosters skipper will be able to suit up against the Cowboys. Luke Keary is on standby for the Blues as part of their extended squad with a call to be made later in the week whether he can play for the Roosters, depending on Nicho Hynes’ calf injury.
Roosters forward Egan Butcher will not play again this year – he will undergo surgery on Thursday after scans confirmed he tore his ACL during the win over Canberra. Victor Radley was charged from Saturday’s victory, copping a fine of $1000 for a high tackle.
Holmes was charged with grade-one dangerous contact after a hip-drop tackle on Isaiah Papali’i which was partially a result of contact from Dearden in Friday’s win over the Tigers. He has copped a fine of $1800 to be free for Queensland selection.
Star fullback Latrell Mitchell escaped with a fine for a hip-drop tackle in South Sydney’s NRL win over Parramatta.
Mitchell was sin-binned late in the first half of the Rabbitohs’ 42-26 victory on Saturday, after being pulled up by the bunker for a tackle on Eels centre Sean Russell.
Valentine Holmes (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
He was handed a grade-one charge after the match review on Sunday morning, but is able to escape with a $3000 fine if he pleads guilty.
Meanwhile, the Wests Tigers’ spiralling season has copped another hit with veteran prop David Klemmer copping a three-match ban for an ugly hip-drop tackle.
Klemmer was put on report, but not sin-binned for the tackle on Cowboys forward Kulikefu Finefuiaki and was charged with a grade-two offence. Due to his poor judiciary record, he could have been hit with another week if he had challenged the verdict.
Parramatta are hoping Mitchell Moses can make his return from foot ligament damage when the Eels open the truncated round against Cronulla on Thursday night at CommBank Stadium.
He failed in his bid to come back early to be in the frame for NSW Origin selection and interim coach Trent Barrett said Moses would need to get through a full week of training before he would be allowed to play again.
Parramatta Eels
v
Cronulla Sharks
NRL : Head To Head
Thu, 30 May 2024, 19:50
Newcastle Knights
v
Canterbury Bulldogs
NRL : Head To Head
Fri, 31 May 2024, 20:00
Penrith Panthers
v
St. George Illawarra Dragons
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 1 Jun 2024, 17:30
Dolphins
v
Canberra Raiders
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 1 Jun 2024, 19:35
Sydney Roosters
v
North Queensland Cowboys
NRL : Head To Head
Sun, 2 Jun 2024, 16:05
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Round 13 teams
All times AEST
Parramatta vs Cronulla at CommBank Stadium: 7.50pm, Thursday May 30
Eels: Mitchell Moses is a chance to return from his damaged foot ligament but interim coach Trent Barrett will not rush him back on the field if he is not ready. Clint Gutherson could also make an early comeback for the Eels with Ryan Matterson and Will Penisini hopeful of playing after illness ruled them out of Saturday’s loss to Souths.
Sharks: Braydon Trindall is set to return to the NRL for the first time since being stood down for his drink-driving arrest to replace Nicho Hynes, who will be in the NSW camp. Cameron McInnes is also away on Origin duty.
Newcastle vs Canterbury at McDonald Jones Stadium: 8pm, Friday May 31
Knights: Daniel Saifiti will return from a ban for a careless high tackle next week while Bradman Best is out after suffering a hamstring injury in the last-start win over Gold Coast.
Bulldogs: Stephen Crichton and Matt Burton are away with NSW, opening the door for the likes of Blake Taaffe, Drew Hutchison and Blake Wilson to get a recall. Viliame Kikau is looking at six weeks out with a broken finger.
Matt Burton. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Penrith vs St George Illawarra at BlueBet Stadium: 5.30pm, Saturday June 1
Panthers: Mavrik Geyer, Soni Luke, Jesse McLean and Tyrone Peachey are in contention for spots with Origin tearing the heart out of Penrith’s side. Matt Eisenhuth (concussion) and Jack Cole (hamstring) are maybes, along with Luke Garner (leg).
Dragons: Shane Flanagan indicated he was likely to wield the axe when selecting this week’s side after their second-half surrender to Canterbury. He will need to find replacements for centre Jack Bird (ankle) and forward Hame Sele (shoulder) as well as rep duo Zac Lomax and Jaydn Su’A..
Dolphins vs Canberra at Kayo Stadium: 7.35pm, Saturday June 1
Dolphins: The NRL’s newest side faces a tough turnaround to prepare to face the Raiders after Sunday’s Warriors clash in Auckland. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow will be in Queensland camp so Herbie Farnworth is likely to get a run at fullback or Trai Fuller could be recalled.
Felise Kaufusi is also in the Maroons squad while utility back Tesi Niu could be back from an ankle complaint.
Raiders: Josh Papalii will return from a ban for a hip drop while Corey Horsburgh may be back from his groin injury.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Sydney vs North Qld at Allianz Stadium: 7.35pm, Saturday June 1
Roosters: Junior Pauga, Nat Butcher, Siua Wong and Zach Dockar-Clay are in line for recalls with Trent Robinson’s team weakened by Origin duty but James Tedesco will lead the depleted side after he was punted by the Blues.
Victor Radley was charged with a Grade 1 Careless High Tackle and will be fined $1000-$1500. Egan Butcher (torn ACL) is out for the year.
Cowboys: Valentine Holmes has escaped a ban for his hip drop tackle and will join Tom Dearden, Reuben Cotter, Jeremiah Nanai and Murray Taulagi in Maroons camp while Reece Robson is away with the Blues.
Byes: Broncos, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Storm, Titans, Warriors, Tigers
with AAP