Warriors $900k dilemma as halves headache emerges; Souths’ big Latrell blow — Team Tips

The Warriors have a tough decision to make when it comes to who replaces in-form star Tanah Boyd, with Luke Metcalf’s selection up in the air.

Meanwhile, Origin call-ups are set to wreak havoc across the NRL, with a host of coaches left scrambling to fill their teams.

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Read on for the Team Tips for Round 12.

THURSDAY MAY 21

Canberra Raiders vs Dolphins at GIO Stadium, 7.50pm AEST

Round 10 Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Sebastian Kris 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Jed Stuart 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Simi Sasagi 17. Morgan Smithies 13. Jayden Brailey 14. Owen Pattie 15. Daine Laurie 16. Ata Mariota 18. Chevy Stewart 19. Jordan Uta

Team Tips: The Raiders will be forced into at least one change due to injury from their Round 10 team, with Simi Sasagi (shoulder) undergoing scans and subsequently ruled out for the next four to six weeks. Meanwhile, back-rower Hudson Young is also unavailable due to Origin commitments, meaning Ricky Stuart needs to fill two back row spots. Zac Hosking is likely to return on one edge, with Ata Mariota filling the other. Elsewhere, Ethan Strange has also been picked for NSW, meaning Daine Laurie will likely join the starting side in the No.6 jersey. Stuart will have to dig deep into his squad to fill the remaining bench spots, with the likes of Jake Clydsdale, Vena Patuki-Case and Myles Martin in the frame.

Last week’s Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jack Bostock 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Max Plath 17. Felise Kaufusi 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Jeremy Marshall-King 15. Ray Stone 16. Tom Gilbert 18. Oryn Keeley 22. Kurt Donoghoe 21. Tevita Naufahu

Team Tips: Kodi Nikorima suffered a hamstring niggle in his side’s win over the Rabbitohs, with coach Kristian Woolf revealed he was unsure if it would sideline his five-eighth. If he is out, Brad Schneider will likely fill his slot in the halves, while Francis Molo is also due to return after he was a late omission in Magic Round due to an ankle injury. His inclusion will be a big boost with the quartet of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Selwyn Cobbo, Max Plath and Tom Flegler all named for Queensland. Molo offsets Flegler’s departure from the prop position, while Kurt Donoghoe will be promoted to lock. At fullback, expect to see Trai Fuller included while Tevita Naufahu will claim the vacant wing spot. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki will be free to take the field for the Dolphins after being named in the No.20 jersey for Queensland. Expect to see names like Brian Pouniu, Lewis Symonds and John Fineanganofo fill the vacant bench spots.

FRIDAY MAY 22

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Storm at Accor Stadium, 8.00pm AEST

Last week’s Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jonathan Sua 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Enari Tuala 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Leo Thompson 11. Sitili Tupouniua 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 16. Harry Hayes 17. Alekolasimi Jones 19. Jethro Rinakama 20. Lipoi Hopoi 25. Jack Underhill

Team Tips: Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton has retained his spot in the NSW Blues line-up, ruling him out of their clash against the Storm. Jacob Kiraz is due to return from a knee injury and could slot straight in, while no other changes are expected for the Bulldogs.

Last week’s Storm team: 1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Moses Leo 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Ativalu Lisati 13. Trent Loiero 14. Trent Toelau 15. Cooper Clarke 16. Davvy Moale 17. Joe Chan 18. Stanley Huen 20. Josiah Pahulu

Team Tips: The Storm will be without Cameron Munster, Trent Loeiro and Harry Grant after their inclusion in Billy Slater’s Queensland side. Trent Toelau could partner Jahrome Hughes with Tyran Wishart sidelined due to an ankle injury, but with the No.9 jersey also up for grabs, young gun Keagan Russell-Smith or Eli Morris could get a call-up. In the forwards, Lazarus Vaalepu or Preston Conn could be included on the bench, with Cooper Clarke a chance to slot in at lock. Moses Leo also left the field late due to a knee injury and it remains to be seen if he will be fit to take the field.

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SATURDAY MAY 23

St George Illawarra Dragons vs New Zealand Warriors at Jubilee Stadium, 5.30pm AEST

Last week’s Dragons team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Setu Tu 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 9. Damien Cook 10. Toby Couchman 11. Dylan Egan 12. Hamish Stewart 13. Ryan Couchman 14. Luciano Leilua 15. Emre Guler 16. Josh Kerr 17. Blake Lawrie 19. Lyhkan King-Togia 20. Hayden Buchanan

Team Tips: The Dragons were the walking wounded in Round 11, with Clint Gutherson, Moses Suli and Hamish Stewart all carrying injuries into their clash against the Panthers. Suli didn’t finish the clash and was replaced by Hayden Buchanan during the game, with that switch likely to remain this week if Suli is unable to take the field. Elsewhere, no changes are expected with Tyrell Sloan sidelined with a groin injury.

Last week’s Warriors team: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Tanah Boyd 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Leka Halasima 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Erin Clark 14. Samuel Healey 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Jacob Laban 18. Tanner Stowers-Smith 20. Te Maire Martin

Team Tips: After Tanah Boyd suffered a suspected ACL injury, the Warriors have a halves headache on their hands. Luke Metcalf “hasn’t done any football drills at all” due to his ongoing contract situation according to Andrew Webster, while Te Maire Martin was impressive when he slotted in at Magic Round. While Metcalf has signed a three-year contract worth a reported $900,000 per-season to join the Dragons, ending the speculation surrounding his future, there’s no certainty he will be ready to take the field for his current team. “I don’t know if he’ll be available for selection next week,” Webster said. “But he’s available for the rest of the year. We’ve just got to tidy up his contract. He hasn’t trained, he hasn’t done one rep at footy because of the bye and because of this whole contract negotiation for the last probably two weeks. So we need to get him back doings reps because we don’t want to throw him back in and then he gets an injury. But he’ll be eligible for selection as soon as he’s fit and ready to go and done football. He’s been running and he’s fit, but he hasn’t done any football drills at all. It’s bad for footy to have people out there training in harm’s way and when they’re going through so much emotion stuff, you don’t want to have them doing football drills and putting them in front of collisions and stuff. We know how he’s important because if he wasn’t important to us, we’d ask him to leave now. We want him to stay. We want him this year. He becomes important to answer your question. But we’ve got Te Maire Martin. We’ve got Luke Hanson, we’ve got Jett Cleary.” Martin will likely remain in the position, while Jackson Ford will return to the starting side in place of Mitch Barnett, who has been named for NSW.

Manly Sea Eagles vs Gold Coast Titans at 4 Pines Park, 7.35pm AEST

Last week’s Sea Eagles team: 1. Clayton Faulalo 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Taniela Paseka 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 10. Ethan Bullemor 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 9. Jake Simpkin 15. Nathan Brown 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Jackson Shereb 18. Blake Wilson 19. Joey Walsh

Team Tips: It’s a good problem to have but the Sea Eagles will now be without Tolu Koula and Haumole Olakau’atu after they were named for NSW. Jackson Shereb could fill the vacant edge slot, while Josh Feledy or Hugo Hart could join the backline in Koula’s centre spot. Add to the equation a one-game suspension for Lehi Hopoate after he made contact with referee Grant Atkins, and Kieran Foran has some decisions to make. Blake Wilson will be the man to slot onto the wing.

Last week’s Titans team: 1. Keano Kini 2. Jenson Taumoepeau 3. Jojo Fifita 4. AJ Brimson 5. Phillip Sami 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Zane Harrison 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Oliver Pascoe 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Cooper Bai 14. Kurtis Morrin 15. Klese Haas 16. Josh Patston 17. Arama Hau 18. Jaylan De Groot 19. Luke Sommerton

Team Tips: The Titans will be without Jojo Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui after they were both named for Queensland, with Kurtis Morrin likely to slot into the starting side at prop. Tuki Simpkins is due to return from a knee injury and will be named on the bench if fit. Chris Randall is also sidelined due to a head knock, with either Josh Patston or Arama Hau set to take his edge spot. In the outside backs, expect Jaylan de Groot to take the vacant spot, with Phil Sami a chance to shuffle into the centres.

SUNDAY MAY 24

North Queensland Cowboys vs South Sydney Rabbitohs at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, 4.05pm AEST

Last week’s Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Tomas Chester 5. Zac Laybutt 6. Liam Sutton 7. Jake Clifford 8. Thomas Mikaele 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Heilum Luki 12. Sam McIntyre 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Xavier Kerrisk 15. Griffin Neame 16. Robert Derby 17. Coen Hess 18. Wiremu Greig 19. Ethan King

Team Tips: Braidon Burns suffered a hamstring injury and is in doubt for their clash against the Rabbitohs, while Reuben Cotter has also been named to play for Queensland. Griffin Neame will likely join the starting side, with Murray Taulagi due to return from a head knock in a timely boost. Elsewhere, Jason Taumalolo could slot back in after sitting out last week, and could return via the bench.

Last week’s Rabbitohs team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Campbell Graham 5. Edward Kosi 6. Cody Walker 7. Ashton Ward 8. Keaon Koloamatangi 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Sean Keppie 11. Euan Aitken 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Cameron Murray 14. Matthew Dufty 15. Lachlan Hubner 16. Tevita Tatola 17. Adam Elliott 18. Jayden Sullivan 19. Latrell Siegwalt

Team Tips: Latrell Mitchell will not take the field this week after ruling himself out of Origin selection due to a back injury, while Cameron Murray has also been picked for NSW. Lachlan Hubner will slot in at lock, while Latrell Siegwalt will be the man to start in the centres.. David Fifita is also due to return from a hamstring injury, which could see Euan Aitken drop to the bench.

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