Stilesy’s Late Mail – Round 7

With all the injury carnage over Easter it will be nice to have an on-paper straightforward round for a change but let’s see if that’s what the SC gods also have on the cards. Likely not, but hoping for a few 1-17s here.

As usual, the updates across the weekend will be on Twitter @AStilesAuthor though PSA, I’ll be on a buck’s day Saturday (best man, so I’ve organised it) so the updates could/will get pretty dicey. I will however be at the Broncos v Titans game so if you see me, yell and and come have a beer! I’m 6’5″ and will be in a Broncs jersey so pretty hard to miss.

DOLPHINS V RABBITOHS, THURSDAY 7:50PM

DOLPHINS: No changes seem likely here for the highflying Dolphins. Ray Stone is in jersey 16 but was named at prop which caught me out at the 24 hour mail, but should remain in the starting side after switching there on game day last week.

24 HOUR CUTS: Teague, Edrick Lee, Te Whare

RABBITOHS: Izaac Tu’iupou Thompson has succumbed to his ankle injury and dropped out at first cut. He’s been replaced on the wing by Taane Milne. As usual I’ll expect some sort of swap in the forwards but the rest of the side looks settled.

24 HOUR CUTS: Thompson, Chee Kam, Duncan

SHARKS V ROOSTERS, FRIDAY 6:00PM

SHARKS: Can’t see any changes here unless the Sharks opt for a more traditional utility on the bench for cover.

24 HOUR CUTS:

ROOSTERS: The Roosters have a stack of returning cavalry and will likely be unchanged on game day. Angus Crichton is also not far off his first grade return and is not expected to need much time in ressies before he’ll be ready to go.

24 HOUR CUTS:

SEA EAGLES V STORM, FRIDAY 8:00PM

SEA EAGLES: Josh Schuster is on the extended bench but apparently he is now eying a round 8 return against the Tigers. Brutal for anyone who brought him in early. Not expecting any other changes, with Weekes named on the bench and Cooper Johns in the halves as a reverse to last round. Tom Trbojevic required needling on a hip pointer injury (leading to his back spasms) but will be good to go here.

24 HOUR CUTS:

STORM: Another side I’d expect to run out as named.

24 HOUR CUTS:

WARRIORS V COWBOYS, SATURDAY 3:00PM

WARRIORS: Tohu Harris has been a punishing tease for owners, having dropped out the last two rounds, but if he ticks all the boxes he should be good to go and plays earlier in the round this time. Josh Curran was a late swap into the starting side last round in place of Bayley Sironen and could do again.

COWBOYS: 1-17 likely here for the Cowboys.

KNIGHTS V PANTHERS, SATURDAY 5:30PM

KNIGHTS: The main watch here for me is Phoenix Crossland and Kurt Mann, who could swap around on game day and as usual, it would not surprise to see the lock position shuffle around on game day.

PANTHERS: Both Liam Martin and Luke Garner are on the extended bench. Liam Martin is the more likely of the two, and I expect he would replace Scott Sorensen, with Zac Hosking holding his position regardless of Garner’s status.

TITANS V BRONCOS, SATURDAY 7:35PM

TITANS: Despite dropping off the extended bench last week, Jojo Fifita will again haunt Khan-Pereira owners until 24/1 hour out depending on how the cuts fall.

BRONCOS: Another 1-17 likely here and hopefully another win.

RAIDERS V DRAGONS, SUNDAY 2:00PM

RAIDERS: Expecting 1-17 here, with Sticky holding firm on his usual game day forward swaps so far this season.

DRAGONS: No real changes expected, though I can’t see Jack De Belin remaining on the bench for long so this could be the round he swaps into the starting pack on game day.

EELS V BULLDOGS, SUNDAY 4:05PM

EELS: No changes expected here for the Eels.

BULLDOGS: Viliame Kikau has suffered a pectoral injury at training and will undergo surgery next week, meaning for now he is out indefinitely. This could trigger any number of changes, though I feel that Raymond Faitala-Mariner could easily switch to the edge with Ryan Sutton moving into lock. Tevita Pangai Jr has confirmed he will remain in the prop rotation and won’t be the man the move.