Shock reveal over Origin star’s rare injury; Ciraldo’s blunt response to question: Late Mail

The Cowboys finals hopes have been dealt a major blow with a star playmaker sidelined indefinitely

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Benji Marshall, meanwhile, will make a shock halves call for the club’s must-win clash against Canberra and it has sparked drama with star halfback Adam Doueihi.

Read below for all your team news ahead of Round 21!

SATURDAY JULY 25

Canberra Raiders v Wests Tigers, 3pm @ GIO Stadium

Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Simi Sasagi 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Zac Hosking 18. Matt Nicholson 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Ata Mariota 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Daine Laurie 19. Sebastian Kris 20. Coby Black 21. Vena Patuki-Case

Players cut: 12. Noah Martin 22. Sione Finau

Early Mail: The Raiders have been dealt a big blow with Noah Martin ruled out after suffering a quad strain at training on Thursday afternoon. Matt Nicholson replaces him in the starting side.

Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Junior Tupou 3. Sunia Turuva 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Faaletino Tavana 6. Jarome Luai 7. Javon Andrews 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Ethan Roberts 13. Alex Twal 14. Jared Haywood 15. Sione Fainu 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Bunty Afoa 18. Starford To’a 19. Jock Madden 20. Heamasi Makasini

Players cut: 21. Latu Fainu 22. Adam Doueihi

Early Mail: Javon Andrews will debut in the halfback role after reports emerged on Thursday from CODE Sports that Adam Doueihi has refused to play. This is despite Adam Doueihi winning his judiciary battle. Andrews trained with the team at halfback and was named as starting halfback in Benji Marshall’s side. He has also already earned praise from Fox League analyst Luke Keary. “Andrews will start at seven,” Keary said. “You don’t name a young kid at seven for a debut and rip him out to put him on the bench. One of them will come off the bench but you you’re not naming a kid to debut and not (start) him.” “It’s a great point. You’re the first to bring that up,” Braith Anasta added. Meanwhile, Jock Madden has been ruled with injury, per CODE Sports. This has forced the NRL an exemption to bring in a replacement with 21-year-old Heath Mason firming as the frontrunner to come into the side.

Canterbury Bulldogs v NZ Warriors, 5:30pm @ Accor Stadium

Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Matt Burton 4. Enari Tuala 5. Jethro Rinakama 6. Stephen Crichton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Leo Thompson 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Sean O’Sullivan 15. Josh Curran 16. Harry Hayes 17. Lipoi Hopoi 19. Jed Reardon 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 21. Alekolasimi Jones

Players cut: 22. Jack Underhill 23. Bronson Xerri

Early Mail: Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has resisted the temptation to leave Sean O’Sullivan in the halves, instead opting for captain Stephen Crichton who will return in the No.6 this week after missing last week’s win with nerve damage. “No, Critta went pretty well against the Titans (last time he played), so pretty happy with that,” Ciraldo said on Friday. The coach was quizzed as to whether he may be tempted to swap Crichton and Lachlan Galvin’s roles in the playmaker spots. “I don’t know what you’re getting at, but yeah – Critta is the five eighth and Lachie is the halfback like he was at halfback last week. Yeah, it’s not that confusing,” Ciraldo bluntly stated.

Warriors team: 1. Taine Tuaupiki 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Te Maire Martin 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jacob Laban 13. Erin Clark 14. Samuel Healey 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Leka Halasima 18. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava 21. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 22. Luke Metcalf

Players cut: 20. Marata Niukore 23. Rocco Berry

Early Mail: To come.

NQ Cowboys v Brisbane Broncos, 7:35pm @ QLD Country Bank Stadium

Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Braidon Burns 4. Tomas Chester 18. Zac Laybutt 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Jake Clifford 3. Jaxon Purdue 8. Thomas Mikaele 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Soni Luke 15. Griffin Neame 16. Matthew Lodge 17. Coen Hess 19. Ethan King 20. Sam McIntyre 22. Liam Sutton

Players cut: 7. Tom Dearden 21. Kaiden Lahrs

Early Mail: The Cowboys have been dealt a big blow with Tom Dearden ruled out indefinitely with a fresh injury. The halfback only returned last round after being sidelined since round 10 with a syndesmosis injury.. “Dearden suffered a high-grade peroneal muscle avulsion tear on the opposite leg to the syndesmosis injury, which had sidelined the 25-year-old since Round 10,” the club confirmed in a statement on Friday. “After consultation with Cowboys medical staff, Dearden will attempt to rehab the injury to return late in the season. There is currently no specific timeframe for his return.” Speaking with reporters on Friday Payten indicated it could be a three week layoff. “A bit of a hiccup during the week, Tommy Dearden has been ruled out for the next three weeks, he’ll be back after the bye,” Payten confirmed. “He’s torn a muscle in his shin on his good leg. As a club we’ll be releasing a medical statement with all of the proper terms but that’s as simple as I can put it. “He did it just after halftime and managed to finish the game, which again highlights his toughness.

“It was through some discovery through the week, and some concern from Tommy, that we were able to get to the bottom of it.” Jaxon Purdue would likely switch to the halves in Dearden’s absence. Zac Laybutt would come into the starting side at centre. It’s a major blow to Todd Payten’s finals hopes with the Cowboys currently sitting in eighth spot on the NRL ladder.

Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Josiah Karapani 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Deine Mariner 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Preston Riki 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Xavier Willison 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Ben Hunt 15. Ben Talty 16. Va’a Semu 17. Grant Anderson 18. Billy Walters 19. Luke Gale 20. Hayze Perham

Players cut: 21. Jesse Arthars 22. Joshua Coric

Early Mail: Coach Michael Maguire indicated on Friday that there will be no changes to his side named earlier in the week. “They’re all healthy, they’re all fit and well,” Maguire said. Hooker Billy Walters is primed for his first NRL game since suffering an ACL injury in last year’s finals series. Walters has played three Queensland Cup games with Souths Logan to build his fitness.

SUNDAY JULY 26

St. George-Illawarra Dragons v Gold Coast Titans, 2pm @ Jubilee Stadium

Dragons team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Setu Tu 3. Mathew Feagai 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Tyrell Sloan 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. Jacob Liddle 15. Luciano Leilua 16. Josh Kerr 17. Jacob Halangahu 18. Moses Suli 19. Lyhkan King-Togia 20. Emre Guler 21. Christian Tuipulotu 22. Jacob Webster

Players cut:

Early Mail: To come.

Titans team: 1. Keano Kini 2. Dean Ieremia 3. Jojo Fifita 4. Jaylan De Groot 5. Phillip Sami 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Zane Harrison 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Oliver Pascoe 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Arama Hau 12. Beau Fermor 13. Chris Randall 14. Kurtis Morrin 15. Josh Patston 16. Klese Haas 17. Cooper Bai 18. Sam Verrills 19. Lachlan Ilias 20. Michael Molo 21. Sialetili Faeamani 22. Adam Christensen

Players cut:

Early Mail: Jaylan De Groot comes into the centres in place of AJ Brimson who suffered a Category 1 head knock against the Sea Eagles last week, Coach Josh Hannay resisting the urge to ask the NRL for clearance from the mandatory stand down period, and opting for player welfare instead. “It’s based on the player’s symptoms and we’ve checked in with AJ on the Monday, and he was suffering from mild headaches so that was enough for us to go ‘it’s not worth it’.”

Manly Sea Eagles v Cronulla Sharks, 4:05pm @ 4 Pines Park

Sea Eagles team: 1. Lehi Hopoate 2. Jason Saab 3. Josh Feledy 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Tolutau Koula 6. Joey Walsh 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Simione Laiafi 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Nicholas Lenaz 15. Nathan Brown 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Ethan Bullemor 18. Fletcher Baker 19. Blake Wilson 20. Onitoni Large 21. Aaron Schoupp 22. Zaidas Muagututia

Players cut:

Early Mail: To come.

Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Thomas Hazelton 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jesse Colquhoun 15. Billy Burns 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Oregon Kaufusi 18. Hohepa Puru 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Samuel Stonestreet 22. Niwhai Puru

Players cut:

Early Mail: To come.