Sharks star Braydon Trindall will line up on Thursday night against the Eels despite receiving a breach notice from the NRL this week in an ‘uncomfortable’ situation.
Trindall is back in the starting side for the first time since failing roadside alcohol and illicit drug tests on April 22. He plead guilty to the charges this week and was fined $1100 and disqualified from driving for three months.
But having received a breach notice from the NRL on Tuesday, he is now awaiting the NRL to hand down its own punishment – likely next week – which leaves him free to play Thursday.
“It’s been a little bit uncomfortable, to be honest, with the ‘what if we put him back in? What if we don’t?’ and all that sort of stuff,” coach Graig Fitzgibbon said.
“We’ve landed on the fact that he’s playing this weekend and getting him as best as he can prepared for this game.
“What he has done behind the scenes is do everything possible to prove to the NRL that he’s learned a lesson, and a painful one at that. He’s working hard on himself and it won’t happen again.”
Here’s all the late mail for Round 13.
The only place to watch every game of every round LIVE with no ad-breaks during play is Fox League, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
Daley delivers the TAB R13 Forecast | 01:35
THURSDAY MAY 30
Parramatta Eels vs Cronulla Sharks 7.50pm AEST at CommBank Stadium
Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Joe Ofahengaue 14. Blaize Talagi 15. Shaun Lane 16. Makahesi Makatoa 17. Wiremu Greig 18. Daejarn Asi 22. Luca Moretti
Late mail:
Morgan Harper, Joey Lussick and Ryan Matterson, who has not recovered from the illness which has sidelined him for the Eels’ last two matches, were cut from Trent Barrett’s side in the 24-hour update on Wednesday. Otherwise, it’s 1-17 for the interim Parramatta coach as his side look to bounce back from their disappointing Round 12 loss to the last placed Rabbitohs. Mitch Moses and Clint Gutherson will make their long-awaited first grade returns.
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Braydon Trindall 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Jack Williams 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Toby Rudolf 16. Royce Hunt 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Mawene Hiroti 20. Billy Burns
Late mail:
Tuku Hau Tapuha, Niwhai Puru and Jayden Berrell have dropped out of Craig Fitzgibbon’s side at the 24-hour teamlist update. With captain Cam McInnes in Blues camp, Teig Wilton has been given the honouring of captaining the Sharks against the Eels. Braydon Trindall will line up in the halves despite his recent NRL breach notice, replacing Origin star Nicho Hynes.
MORE NRL NEWS
‘UNTOUCHABLE’: Blues Origin duo have been smashing QLD since they were teens
‘TICKING TIME BOMB’: The huge ‘concern’ facing Blues amid star’s no-show
MCINNES SPEAKS: Blues rookie opens up on sliding doors moment behind Origin rise
FRIDAY MAY 31
Newcastle Knights vs Canterbury Bulldogs 8pm AEST at McDonald Jones Stadium
Knights team: 1. David Armstrong 2. Enari Tuala 3. Dane Gagai 4. Krystian Mapapalangi 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Jack Cogger 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Kai Pearce-Paul 12. Dylan Lucas 13. Adam Elliott 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Tyson Frizell 16. Daniel Saifiti 17. Brodie Jones 18. Thomas Cant 19. Mathew Croker 20. Will Pryce 21. Jack Hetherington 22. Fletcher Sharpe
Late mail:
To come.
Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Blake Wilson 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Jacob Kiraz 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Drew Hutchison 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Jacob Preston 12. Jaeman Salmon 13. Kurt Mann 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Josh Curran 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Poasa Faamausili 19. Lipoi Hopoi 20. Blake Taaffe 21. Jake Turpin 22. Harry Hayes 23. Jeral Skelton
Late mail:
To come.
Is Taumalolo on the outer at Cowboys? | 03:18
SATURDAY JUNE 1
Penrith Panthers vs St George Illawarra Dragons 5.30pm AEST at 4 BlueBet Stadium
Panthers team: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Jesse McLean 6. Jack Cole 7. Brad Schneider 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Henry 13. Lindsay Smith 14. Trent Toelau 15. Preston Riki 16. Mavrik Geyer 17. Tyrone Peachey 18. Isaiah Iongi 19. Ativalu Lisati 20. Luron Patea 21. Luke Sommerton 22. Casey McLean
Late mail:
It must have been a nervy week for Penrith coach Ivan Cleary, with injuries and Origin duties depleting his sides halves stocks. But, according to the NRL Physio, rookie five-eighth Jack Cole has been cleared of a hamstring problem, with his early removal in Round 12 a precaution.
Brad Schneider partners Cole in the halves after returning a week ahead of schedule from an LCL tear in NSW Cup.
Dragons team: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Sione Finau 3. Moses Suli 4. Max Feagai 5. Mathew Feagai 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Jesse Marschke 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Jack de Belin 11. Luciano Leilua 12. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 13. Tom Eisenhuth 14. Blake Lawrie 15. Ben Murdoch-Masila 16. Toby Couchman 17. Ryan Couchman 18. Fa’amanu Brown 19. Michael Molo 20. Alec Tuitavake 21. Christian Tuipulotu 22. Mikaele Ravalawa
Late mail:
To come.
Leniu to be targeted after Vegas drama | 03:23
Dolphins vs Canberra Raiders 7.35pm AEST at Kayo Stadium
Dolphins team: 1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Euan Aitken 13. Max Plath 14. Josh Kerr 15. Kenny Bromwich 16. Ray Stone 17. Anthony Milford 18. Oryn Keeley 19. Sean O’Sullivan 20. Jarrod Wallace 21. Kurt Donoghoe 22. Edrick Lee
Late mail:
To come.
Raiders team: 1. Jordan Rapana 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Kaeo Weekes 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Danny Levi 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Ata Mariota 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Tom Starling 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Trey Mooney 17. Emre Guler 18. Albert Hopoate 19. Zac Woolford 20. Peter Hola 21. Michael Asomua 22. Hohepa Puru
Late mail:
To come.
Will Madge jump ship for Parra top job? | 06:02
SUNDAY JUNE 2
Sydney Roosters vs North Queensland Cowboys 4:05pm AEST at Allianz Stadium
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Fetalaiga Pauga 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Terrell May 11. Nat Butcher 12. Victor Radley 13. Naufahu Whyte 14. Sandon Smith 15. Siua Wong 16. Sitili Tupouniua 17. Michael Jennings 18. Zach Dockar-Clay 19. Blake Steep 20. Ethan King 21. Jake Elliott 22. Delasalle Vaa
Late mail:
To come.
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Tomas Chester 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Braidon Burns 6. Jake Clifford 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Jake Granville 10. Griffin Neame 11. Heilum Luki 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Thomas Mikaele 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Jamal Shibasaki 17. Jason Taumalolo 18. Kaiden Lahrs 19. Thomas Duffy 20. Marly Bitungane 21. Jai Hansen 22. Jaxon Purdue
Late mail:
To come.
Bye: Broncos, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles, Storm, Titans, Warriors, Tigers