Stilesy’s Late Mail – Round 25
What a marathon. The curve balls that this season threw at us will not be forgotten. But somehow we made it to the finish line – perhaps crawling – and likely more than a bit relieved.
For those with the luxury of trades, which for most dried up weeks ago, you may still be able to use the ins and outs as an advantage. For everyone else, I hope your side survives until the final siren. However, given the high chance for players to be rested out of nowhere, it is going to be a hugely evolving beast a the round progresses.
For the last time in 2022, I will update this article across Thursday evening/Friday morning and will have all the 24 hour and game day updates in Twitter @AStilesAuthor
But now, let’s enjoy one last round of SuperCoach. Thank you all for the support, interactions and sledges throughout the year and I’ll see you all in 2023!
EELS V STORM, THURSDAY 7:50PM
EELS: Not too much happening at Parramatta 24 hours out. Expecting the overall 17 to be unchanged and the usual Matterson/Niukore swap on game day.
24 hour cuts: Cartwright, Russell, Rodwell
STORM: Jahrome Hughes is out with calf tightness which is a major blow for owners such as myself. He is replaced at halfback by Cooper Johns. As is basically expected now, Tui Kamikamica likely starts on the edge and Brandon Smith at lock with Felise Kaufusi and Josh King dropping to the bench.
24 hour cuts: Hughes, MacDonald, Howarth
BULLDOGS V SEA EAGLES, FRIDAY 6:00PM
BULLDOGS: Can’t see much changing here unlesa Tevita Pangai finds his way into the starting side somehow.
24 hour cuts: Biondi-Odo, Alamoti, Thompson
SEA EAGLES: Brad Parker dropped out at first cut which sees Ben Trbojevic move to centre and James Roumanos join the interchange. They are low on cattle but always expect a swap in the forwards on game day.
24 hour cuts: Parker, Sykes, Humphreys
ROOSTERS V RABBITOHS, FRIDAY 7:55PM
ROOSTERS: Joseph Sua’ali’i has dropped out and has been replaced on the wing by Kevin Naiqama. Hard to say if there will be further changes on game day – Adam Keighran and Oliver Gildart remain on the extended bench.
24 hour cuts: Sua’ali’i, Thomas, Wong
RABBITOHS: Latrell Mitchell will play after heading home during the week. Another team that could be hard to predict, though nothing noteworthy happened 24 hours out.
24 hour cuts: Taaffe, Moale, Mansour
WARRIORS V TITANS, SATURDAY 3:00PM
WARRIORS: Shaun Johnson is in doubt here with a calf injury that NRL Physio can’t believe he’s been named with so surely at long odds here. Marcelo Montoya and Rocco Berry have already been ruled out and replaced by Viliami Vailea and Ed Kosi at centre and wing with Taniela Otukolo joining the extended bench.
TITANS: The Titans always love a game day shuffle in the forwards but outside that not expecting anything too noteworthy here.
DRAGONS V BRONCOS, SATURDAY 5:30PM
DRAGONS: Andrew McCollough is the main name standing out to me here on the extended bench but it seems a coin toss as to whether he comes in or not.
BRONCOS: Adam Reynolds seems on track to play as he progresses through concussion protocols. Zac Hosking has been training on the edge during the week in place of Jordan Riki so we likely see a late swap there and Corey Jensen may also be in doubt.
COWBOYS V PANTHERS, SATURDAY 7:35PM
COWBOYS: Tom Dearden is lurking on the extended bench and the Cowboys are hopeful he can return from something I never wish to go through. His inclusion would obviously cause a shuffle in the halves that I assume sees the Hammer drop to the bench.
PANTHERS: Jeez I’d hope there’s no changes on game day to this barely recognisable side. Expecting 1-17.
KNIGHTS V SHARKS, SUNDAY 2:00PM
KNIGHTS: As usual, expecting a game day swap between Jacob and Daniel Saifiti but can’t see much else changing here.
SHARKS: Dale Finucane is on the extended bench but hard to see them risking him with finals looming. Can’t see too much else changing at this stage.
TIGERS V RAIDERS, SUNDAY 4:05PM
TIGERS: Ken Maumalo is another who probably should sit out the final game after a string of injuries per NRL Physio but assuming he gets through captain’s run he’ll be good to go. Should be 1-17 at this stage.
RAIDERS: This one is a bit hard to predict based on what I’ve been reading about potential round outcomes and restings. If I had a Raiders player, I’d be a bit concerned until final teams are locked in, though with potentially no trades and it being the last game of the round it’s a roll of the dice.
I’ve heard Suaalii is out so I’m grateful Vailea comes into the side. Thanks for all your work over the season, Stilesy.
He is out mate, will update that one 24 hours out. My pleasure!
Thanks for all your work during the year.
thanks mate, appreciate it!
Cheers Stilesy. Your article and updates through the weekend are very much appreciated. Good luck during the last round and enjoy the off-season!
Thank you! Will be resting up this offseason for sure haha
Stilesy, thanks for all your efforts again in 2022. The benchmark for late mail and much appreciated.
Thanks Sally, high praise coming from another late mail guru
EELS: Niukore lock, Matterson bench; 18th man Cartwright
STORM: Hughes out, Johns halfback, Kamikamica lock, King bench; 18th man Tonumaipea 18th man
All games barring the Roosters-Rabbitohs is updated
Final game updated. Good luck for the final round everyone!