Stilesy’s Late Mail – Round 21

Sadly, if you’re like me and the body count is high and the trades are low, you may not be able to do anything about late outs anyway apart from thrusting your AEs into the starting side! For those with the luxury of choice, read on.

As usual I’ll be updating this article across Thursday night/Friday morning and will be tweeting all the updates @AStilesAuthor

ROOSTERS V BRONCOS, THURSDAY 7:50PM

ROOSTERS: No changes expected for the Roosters after an uneventful 24 hour cut.

24 hour cuts: Keighran, Atoni, Wong

Final side: 1-17; Baker 18th man

BRONCOS: The Broncos look to be similarly 1-17 this round.

24 hour cuts: Willison, Hoeter, Paix

Final side: Turpin hooker, Walters bench; Martin 18th man

STORM V TITANS, FRIDAY 6:00PM

STORM: Grant Anderson and Chris Lewis both dropped out Thursday night. Anderson has been replaced at centre by Young Tonumaipea, and Xavier Coates is still on the extended bench which could cause further backline shuffles on game day. Lewis’ bench spot has been taken by Alex MacDonald. Tim Williams also has the scoop that Cameron Munster has been training at fullback with Cooper Johns likely joining the halves.

24 hour cuts: Anderson, Lewis, Jordan Grant

TITANS: Not much doing on the Gold Coast, should be 1-17.

24 hour cuts: Sexton, Khan-Pereira, Turner

SEA EAGLES V EELS, FRIDAY 7:55PM

SEA EAGLES: Morgan Boyle dropped off the bench 24 hours out and has been replaced by Ethan Bullemor. Josh Schuster is on the extended bench but I’m unsure if he makes his way into the side at this stage.

24 hour cuts: Boyle, Weekes, Parker

EELS: No changes expected here and the 24 hours cuts reflect it.

24 hour cuts: Ogden, Perham, Hands

RABBITOHS V WARRIORS, SATURDAY 3:00PM

RABBITOHS: Izaac Thompson is being touted to have earned his debut this round, apparently in place of Taane Milne. Bunnies fans seem excited so I’m keen to see what he can do should the change eventuate. No other changes expected.

WARRIORS: There were absolute late mail scenes the last time Euan Aitken was named in the centres with him eventually moving back to the edge, however this time I imagine they stay the course and run out as is.

RAIDERS V PANTHERS, SATURDAY 5:30PM

RAIDERS: NRL Physio has Adam Elliott in his casualty ward after copping a cork last weekend, with some concerns for in game aggravation. I imagine he needs to make it through captain’s run to get the green light. Outside this, the rest of the side seems settled.

PANTHERS: Penrith fans seem to think Ivan is having a laugh with the makeup of the bench and the majority seem to think that Kurt Falls will come into the halves if he’s fit with Jaemon Salmon moving to bench utility and Staines dropping out. There is also speculation Matt Eisenhuth or even Sunia Turuva could replace Staines if Falls isn’t good to go.

SHARKS V DRAGONS, SATURDAY 7:35PM

SHARKS: NRL Physio has Royce Hunt as a potential round 21 return however he would have a higher risk of reaggravation so may be kept on ice. No other changes expected.

DRAGONS: The Dragons’ 17 seems worry free so I’m expecting an unchanged lineup here.

BULLDOGS V COWBOYS, SUNDAY 2:00PM

BULLDOGS: Raymond Faitala-Mariner is lurking on the extended bench but as with the Royce Hunt situation, Physio has him rated as a higher chance of in game aggravation so he may be given more time off.

COWBOYS: Reuben Cotter is an outside chance to earn his starting spot back after making it through last week’s return successfully, with no other changes likely at this stage.

TIGERS V KNIGHTS, SUNDAY 4:05PM

TIGERS: Nobody named seems in any doubt so expecting another 1-17 here.

KNIGHTS: Is this the week we finally see Kurt Mann again? Maybe. I can basically copy and paste last week’s mail but he could be a late inclusion either on the bench or at lock. The rest of the side looks like it will be unchanged.