The Warriors are sweating on skipper Tohu Harris who is no certainty to return from a knee injury.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary could pull a late switch with a NSW representative remaining on the bench.

Josh Schuster has failed to return from a quad injury, while the Panthers have two key forwards bidding to return from injury including Liam Martin.

The Bulldogs have been dealt a crushing blow for their NRL grudge match against the Eels with Viliame Kikau set to undergo surgery after suffering a torn pec in training.

It means coach Cameron Ciraldo will be forced into another pack reshuffle.

FRIDAY APRIL 14

 

Manly Sea Eagles vs Melbourne Storm at 4 Pines Park — 8:00pm AEST

Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Ray Tuaimalo-Vaega 6. Cooper Johns 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Jake Trbojevic 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Josh Aloiai 14. Kaeo Weekes 15. Ethan Bullemor 16. Aaron Woods 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Sean Keppie 19. Samuela Fainu

Players cut: 20. Ben Condon 21. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 22. Josh Schuster

Late Mail: Josh Schuster has failed in his bid to return from a quad injury after being named in the reserves with Cooper Johns set to partner Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves. “We named Josh in No.22 to see if he could play, but the medical staff have said the Tigers game, so we have a long turn around after this week and they feel he needs to do some reconditioning,” Manly coach Anthony Seibold said of Schuster. Tom Trbojevic is expected to overcome back spasms to take his place at fullback. Seibold said Trbojevic needed needles on a previous hip pointer injury, which prompted the back spasms, but he will be fit to take on the Storm. The update was labelled “possibly some of the most confusing injury info I’ve seen” by the NRL pysio.

Storm team: 1. Cameron Munster 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Jonah Pezet 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Bronson Garlick 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Tariq Sims 18. Grant Anderson 20. Tyran Wishart

Players cut: 19. Aaron Pene 21. Sualauvi Faalogo 22. Jack Howarth

Late Mail: Nick Meaney (concussion) is out, with Cameron Munster switching to fullback and Jonah Pezet partnering Jahrome Hughes in the halves.

SATURDAY APRIL 15

Warriors vs North Queensland Cowboys at Mat Smart Stadium — 3:00pm AEST

Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Edward Kosi 3. Viliami Vailea 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Dylan Walker 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Jackson Ford 12. Bayley Sironen 13. Tohu Harris 14. Taine Tuaupiki 15. Josh Curran 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Tom Ale 18. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 21. Demitric Sifakula

Players cut: 20. Ronald Volkman 22. Ali Leiataua 23. Zyon Maiu’u

Late Mail: Skipper Tohu Harris was named to return from a knee injury, but will need to pass a fitness test and is no certainty to play. “It’s a day-to-day thing,” Harris told the Sportstalk podcast. “I was very close last week but the call was made that it was just a little bit too risky, so hopefully that means I’m a little bit closer this weekend.” Dallin Watene-Zelezniak could be a late inclusion for either Edward Kosi or Marcelo Montoya after scoring four tries in NSW Cup last week. Jazz Tevaga will share the hooker duties with Freddy Lussick, with Wayde Egan sidelined.

Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Mitchell Dunn 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Coen Hess 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Jake Granville 15. Tomas Chester 16. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 17. Riley Price 18. Jack Gosiewski 19. Ben Hampton

Players cut: 20. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 21. Brendan Elliot 22. Taniela Sadrugu

Late Mail: Murray Taulagi has been named to return from an injury on the wing. Brendan Elliott was cut from the squad in the 24 hour update, in a sign Taulagi will be good to go.

Newcastle Knights vs Penrith Panthers at McDonald Jones Stadium — 5:30pm AEST

Knights team: 1. Lachlan Miller 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Daniel Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13. Mathew Croker 14. Kurt Mann 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Jack Johns 17. Brodie Jones 19. Dylan Lucas 20. Simi Sasagi

Players cut: 18. Enari Tuala 21. Hymel Hunt 22. Ryan Rivett

Late Mail: Phoenix Crossland has been named at hooker, but could switch back to the bench with Kurt Mann to share the dummyhalf duties. Tyson Gamble is back to partner Jackson Hastings in the halves, while Mat Croker is set to overcome a leg injury to start at lock.

Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Matt Eisenhuth 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Zac Hosking 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Soni Luke 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Tyrone Peachey 20. Liam Martin 21. Luke Garner 22. Thomas Jenkins

Players cut: 19. Jack Cogger 21. Luke Garner 22. Thomas Jenkins

Late Mail: Luke Garner has been cut from the team, with Liam Martin remaining among the reserves which could see Ivan Cleary pull a late switch. The NSW representative has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, but could be named in place of Scott Sorensen, who would shift back to the bench in place of Lindsay Smith.

Gold Coast Titans vs Brisbane Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium — 7:35pm AEST

Titans team: 1. Jayden Campbell 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Phillip Sami 6. Kieran Foran 7. Tanah Boyd 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. David Fifita 12. Joe Stimson 13. Isaac Liu 14. Kruise Leeming 15. Erin Clark 16. Jo Vuna 17. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 18. Klese Haas 19. Jojo Fifita 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Thomas Weaver 22. Sam McIntyre

Players cut:

Late Mail: Former Tigers prop Thomas Mikaele is set to make his club debut off the bench alongside fellow mid-season Super League recruit Kruise Leeming. Alofiana Khan-Pereira has retained his place on the wing with Jojo Fifita named among the reserves.

 

Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Cory Paix 15. Keenan Palasia 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Martin Taupau 18. Jordan Pereira 19. Brendan Piakura 20. Brendan Frei 21. Jock Madden 22. Xavier Willison

Players cut:

Late Mail: Kobe Hetherington takes the place of Thomas Flegler (concussion) on the bench, with Corey Jensen to start at prop.

SUNDAY APRIL 16

Canberra Raiders vs St George Illawarra Dragons at GIO Stadium — 2:00pm AEST

Raiders team: 1. Sebastian Kris 2. Nick Cotric 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Albert Hopoate 6. Jack Wighton 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papalii’i 9. Zac Woolford 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Tom Starling 15. Emre Guler 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Corey Harawira-Naera 18. Harley Smith-Shields 19. Trey Mooney 20. Peter Hola 21. James Schiller 22. Brad Schneider

Players cut:

Late Mail: Joseph Tapine returns at prop after missing the Broncos clash for the birth of his first child. Jarrod Croker retains his place in the centres.

 

Dragons team: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Tautau Moga 6. Talatau Amone 7. Ben Hunt 8. Zane Musgrove 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Blake Lawrie 11. Ben Murdoch-Masila 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack Bird 14. Moses Mbye 15. Jack de Belin 16. Toby Couchman 17. Josh Kerr 18. Michael Molo 19. Max Feagai 20. Jayden Sullivan 21. Jaiyden Hunt 22. Viliami Fifita

Players cut:

Late Mail: Tautau Moga starts on the wing for Mikaele Ravalawa, who is set to miss three weeks with a hamstring injury.

 

Parramatta Eels vs Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at CommBank Stadium — 4:00pm AEST

Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Haze Dunster 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Ryan Matterson 14. J’maine Hopgood 15. Brendan Hands 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Matt Doorey 20. Ofahiki Ogden 21. Jack Murchie 22. Waqa Blake

Players cut:

Late Mail: Co-captain Junior Paulo returns from suspension, with Wiremu Greig switching to the bench and Jack Murchie dropping out.

Bulldogs team: 1. Hayze Perham 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Jake Averillo 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Braidon Burns 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Tevita Pangai Junior 12. Jacob Preston 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 14. Josh Reynolds 15. Jayden Okunbor 16. Corey Waddell 17. Ryan Sutton 19. Karl Oloapu 20. Jackson Topine 21. Samuel Hughes 22. Declan Casey 23. Andrew Davey

Players cut: 11. Viliame Kikau

Late Mail: Cameron Ciraldo and the Bulldogs have been dealt a massive blow with Viliame Kikau suffering a torn pectoral. He is expected to miss the next eight-to-ten games.

Phil Gould revealed the news on Wednesday. “I’ve just got word through that Viliame Kikau has torn a pec muscle at training,” Gould said. “So he will be having surgery on Monday.

“That’s football... thunderbolts happen. You get a thunderbolt out of the blue.

“Surgery on Monday will probably determine his fate, but at the moment they’re hopeful of eight to 10 weeks (out) I suppose.” Ciraldo will now be forced to reshuffle his pack. Tevita Pangai Junior was named at prop for his first game of the season and could be shifted to lock with Raymond Faitala-Mariner replacing Kikau. It could mean Ryan Sutton comes off the bench to start.

 

Bye: Wests Tigers