Tigers playmaker Jarome Luai remains a strong chance of backing up just 48 hours after Wednesday’s State of Origin match in Perth after he sent a message to coach Benji Marshall simply telling him to “put me in” for the game against Canberra.
He got through the 26-24 loss unscathed and avoided a ban for an alleged eye gouge on Reuben Cotter and now wants to back up against Canberra as the Tigers look to stay in touch with the top eight.
“I’ll tell you exactly the conversation,” Tigers coach Benji Marshall replied when asked if Luai would play.
“I said ‘How’d you pull up?’ and he goes, ‘I’m good to go, coach, put me in’.
“You’ve got to trust your senior players, but at the same time we’ll get a medical done on him tonight when he gets back, massage, and see how he pulls up tomorrow.
“We’ve got back-up options if he doesn’t play and we’ve prepared all week like he’s not going to play. If he does play, it’s a bonus.”
If Luai is ruled out, then Latu Fainu will likely come into the halves to partner Heath Mason, who was elevated to the top 30 squad and signed an extension on Wednesday.
– Martin Gabor (NCA Newswire)
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Read on for all of the Round 16 Late Mail!
FRIDAY JUNE 20
Wests Tigers vs Canberra Raiders at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, 8:00pm AEST
Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To’a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Heath Mason 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Sione Fainu 16. Latu Fainu 17. Jack Bird 18. Tony Sukkar 19. Charlie Murray 20. Charlie Staines 21. Kit Laulilii 22. Izaac Tu’itupou
Players cut:
Late Mail:Jarome Luai is set to back up 48 hours after Origin Game II after telling Tigers coach Benji Marshall to “put me in”. Luai avoided a ban for an alleged eye-gouge and is free to play against Canberra.
Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota 18. Noah Martin 19. Chevy Stewart 20. Danny Levi 21. Ethan Sanders 22. Pasami Saulo
Players cut:
Late Mail: Hudson Young was one of the hardest working players on the field in Game II for the Blues (46 minutes, 109 metres, 31 tackles), but it appears he’ll back up for the Raiders. According to Canberra Times reporter David Polkinghorne, coach Ricky Stuart says Young pulled up OK and is set to play, although the back rower will be checked by the team’s medical staff in Sydney on Thursday night.
SATURDAY JUNE 21
New Zealand Warriors vs Penrith Panthers at Go Media Stadium, 3:00pm AEST
Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Moala Graham-Taufa 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Marata Niukore 11. Leka Halasima 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith 18. Samuel Healey 20. Bunty Afoa 21. Tanah Boyd 22. Edward Kosi 23. Eddie Ieremia
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Panthers team: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Thomas Jenkins 3. Izack Tago 4. Casey McLean 5. Paul Alamoti 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Brad Schneider 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Matt Eisenhuth 14. Trent Toelau 15. Liam Henry 16. Luron Patea 17. Luke Garner 18. Luke Sommerton 19. Jack Cole 20. Mavrik Geyer 21. Preston Riki 22. Austin Dias 23. Harrison Hassett 24. Jaxen Edgar
Players cut:
Late Mail: While Blues halfback Nathan Cleary wasn’t named for the Panthers to travel to New Zealand, NSW coach Laurie Daley provided an update on his groin injury in the press conference after game two. “He just felt a bit tight in his groin so we wanted to sort of limit the amount of force he put through there,” Daley said. “He’s a tough kid, Nathan. We know what a quality player he is but he’s tough.” Daley added that Cleary came through the game unscathed, even though he handed over the goalkicking duties to Zac Lomax. “His groin was tight but he got through OK,” Daley said. Along with Cleary, the Panthers have opted to rest Blues stars Dylan Edwards, Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o and Liam Martin. However, Lindsay Smith, who was named in the Blues’ squad, will play, given he wasn’t in the 18.
Dolphins vs Newcastle Knights at HBF Park, Perth, 5:30pm AEST
Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Francis Molo 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Kurt Donoghoe 14. Harrison Graham 15. Connelly Lemuelu 16. Ray Stone 17. Josh Kerr 18. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Max Feagai 20. Aublix Tawha 21. Trai Fuller 22. Peter Hola
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Mathew Croker 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Phoenix Crossland 14. Brodie Jones 15. Thomas Cant 16. Jermaine McEwen 17. Elijah Leaumoana 18. James Schiller 19. Jackson Hastings 20. Fletcher Hunt 21. Kyle McCarthy 22. Jack Hetherington
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Ponga: ‘I’d like that moment back!’ | 02:07
South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Melbourne Storm at Accor Stadium, 7:35pm AEST
Rabbitohs team: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Jack Wighton 4. Isaiah Tass 5. Tyrone Munro 6. Lewis Dodd 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Jai Arrow 9. Siliva Havili 10. Davvy Moale 11. Euan Aitken 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Lachlan Hubner 14. Ryan Gray 15. Sean Keppie 16. Liam Le Blanc 17. Tevita Tatola 18. Salesi Ataata 19. Keaon Koloamatangi 20. Cody Walker 21. Campbell Graham 22. Jacob Host
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Grant Anderson 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Bronson Garlick 18. Ativalu Lisati 19. Alec MacDonald 20. Sualauvi Faalogo 21. Joe Chan 22. Lazarus Vaalepu 23. Keagan Russell-Smith 24. Kane Bradley
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Munster proud of the Maroons’ resilience | 02:42
SUNDAY JUNE 22
Brisbane Broncos vs Cronulla Sharks at Suncorp Stadium, 2:00pm AEST
Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 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. Billy Walters 15. Kobe Hetherington 16. Xavier Willison 17. Jack Gosiewski 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Selwyn Cobbo 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Deine Mariner 22. Blake Mozer 23. Ben Talty
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Jesse Colquhoun 16. Toby Rudolf 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Billy Burns 19. Hohepa Puru 20. Niwhai Puru 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Chris Veaila
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Sydney Roosters vs North Queensland Cowboys at Allianz Stadium, 4:05pm AEST
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Lindsay Collins 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Salesi Foketi 14. Benaiah Ioelu 15. Zach Dockar-Clay 16. Blake Steep 17. Spencer Leniu 18. Ethan King 19. Makahesi Makatoa 20. Tom Rodwell 21. Taylor Losalu 22. Chad Townsend 23. Xavier Va’a 24. Jake Elliott
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Zac Laybutt 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jaxon Purdue 7. Tom Dearden 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Harrison Edwards 15. Sam McIntyre 16. Griffin Neame 17. Thomas Mikaele 18. Jake Clifford 19. Karl Lawton 20. Kai O’Donnell 21. Kaiden Lahrs 22. Braidon Burns 23. Thomas Duffy 24. Marly Bitungane
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
Mann: I thought it was all a bit past me | 01:49
Parramatta Eels vs Gold Coast Titans at CommBank Stadium, 6:15pm AEST
Eels team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Joash Papali’i 7. Dean Hawkins 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Dylan Walker 15. Matt Doorey 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Jordan Samrani 18. Joey Lussick 19. Charlie Guymer 20. Dan Keir 21. Ronald Volkman 22. Samuel Loizou
Players cut:
Late Mail: Blues winger Zac Lomax copped a grade one dangerous contact charge after collecting Maroons forward Trent Loeiro with his forearm in the first half of game two in Perth. But Lomax can escape with a $2100 fine with an early plea and will be available for the Eels to take on the Titans.
Titans team: 1. AJ Brimson 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Jojo Fifita 4. Phillip Sami 5. Allan Fitzgibbon 6. Kieran Foran 7. Jayden Campbell 8. Jaimin Jolliffe 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Klese Haas 14. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 15. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 16. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 17. Moeaki Fotuaika 18. David Fifita 19. Tukimihia Simpkins 20. Sean Mullany 21. Tom Weaver 22. Brian Kelly
Players cut:
Late Mail: To come.
