Benji confirms Tigers blow; Ponga pushes through pain barrier — Magic Round Late Mail

The Dolphins have suffered a double blow losing two players for their clash with the Roosters, forcing a reshuffle.

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The Rabbitohs have been forced into handing Englishman Lewis Dodd his first NRL start at Magic Round.

Meanwhile, the Tigers have lost an outside back, and a Sharks young gun has suffered yet another tragic injury blow while Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga faces a painful bid to play this week.

Read on for all of the Magic Round Late Mail!

FRIDAY MAY 2

Cronulla Sharks v Parramatta Eels, Suncorp Stadium, 6pm

Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. KL Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Billy Burns 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Daniel Atkinson 15. Siosifa Talakai 16. Braden Hamlin-Uele 17. Thomas Hazelton 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Jesse Colquhoun

Players cut: 18. Jayden Berrell 21. Hohepa Puru

Late Mail: Centre Mawene Hiroti will miss some time with an MCL injury. In some good fortune for Cronulla, Hiroiti’s setback comes as KL Iro is available for selection after recovering from a hamstring injury. It’s been a cruel few years for talented young gun Kade Dykes. The fullback suffered a ruptured patella tendon in NSW Cup last weekend which will end his season. It’s the third straight season-ending knee injury for Dykes, who has been touted a future Sharks fullback.

Eels team: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Sean Russell 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Jack Williams 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Charlie Guymer 12. Kitione Kautoga 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Dylan Walker 15. Luca Moretti 16. Matt Doorey 17. Sam Tuivaiti 19. Joash Papali’i 22. Jordan Samrani

Players cut: 18. Ryan Matterson 20. Dean Hawkins 21. Bryce Cartwright

Late Mail: Star outside back Zac Lomax is working hard behind the scenes to ready for a return to the field earlier than expected. Lomax has been sidelined with a foot injury which was meant to see him miss six weeks, but the 25-year-old is back training and eyeing off a return within a fortnight according to Code Sports. Lomax is hoping to return to be in the frame for Origin selection.

Sydney Roosters v The Dolphins, Suncorp Stadium, 8pm

Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Sandon Smith 7. Hugo Savala 8. Spencer Leniu 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Blake Steep 17. Egan Butcher 18. Ethan King 19. Taylor Losalu

Players cut: 20. Chad Townsend 21. Dominic Young 22. Makahesi Makatoa

Late Mail: To come

Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 13. Mark Nicholls 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Francis Molo 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Tom Gilbert 15. Ray Stone 14. Sean O’Sullivan 16. Connelly Lemuelu 17. Josh Kerr 20. Oryn Keeley 21. Harrison Graham 22. Max Feagai

Players cut: 8. Felise Kaufusi 14. Kurt Donoghoe 18. Kenny Bromwich

Late Mail: Felise Kaufusi and Kurt Donoghoe have been ruled out with Mark Nicholls switching to prop and Ray Stone starting at lock. Oryn Keeley is the new man on the bench.

SATURDAY MAY 3

South Sydney Rabbitohs v Newcastle Knights, Suncorp Stadium, 3pm

Souths team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 3. Euan Aitken 4. Campbell Graham 5. Isaiah Tass 7. Jayden Sullivan 19. Lewis Dodd 8. Sean Keppie 9. Peter Mamouzelos 10. Tevita Tatola 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Jai Arrow 14. Liam Le Blanc 15. Lachlan Hubner 16. Davvy Moale 17. Fletcher Myers 18. Thomas Fletcher 20. Joshua Schuster 21. Salesi Ataata 22. Nazareth Taua

Players cut: 6. Jack Wighton

Late Mail: Coach Wayne Bennett initially named Jack Wighton at No. 6 instead of high-priced recruit Lewis Dodd, who is listed on the extended bench. But Wighton has now been ruled out with a calf injury and Dodd will start in the halves. “It’s been a long time coming, it feels like,” Dodd told reporters at the airport on Thursday. “I didn’t think it was gonna be easy, I didn’t know if it was gonna go my own way. I wouldn’t have had it any other way – it will make me a better player and better person. At the end of the day, that’s all I can ask for.”

Fox League’s James Hooper, revealing the Wighton blow earlier in the week, said the Bunnies could not afford for Dodd to fail. “Jack Wighton is out for four weeks with a calf injury. Lewis Dodd is going to get a crack on the big stage starting in the halves, they paid a lot of money for him and they need to find a way to make it work,” he said. Dodd is expected to play halfback with ayden Sullivan to shift to five-eighth. Dodd gets Wighton, Latrell Mitchell (suspension), Jamie Humphreys (hamstring) and Cody Walker (calf) all sidelined.

Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. James Schiller 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Jack Cogger 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Tyson Frizell 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Mathew Croker 16. Adam Elliott 17. Brodie Jones 18. Thomas Cant 19. Tyson Gamble 20. Kyle McCarthy 21. Matthew Arthur 22. Tyrone Thompson

Players cut:

Late Mail: Superstar Kalyn Ponga is reportedly battling a painful injury but is still set to play, according to the Newcastle Herald’s Barry Toohey. The veteran reporter said on X, formerly Twitter, that Ponga suffered the injury in last week’s loss to the Warriors and would play this week after a pain-killing injection.

New Zealand Warriors v North Queensland Cowboys, Suncorp Stadium, 5:30pm

Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Rocco Berry 4. Ali Leiataua 5. Adam Pompey 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. Marata Niukore 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Leka Halasima 13. Erin Clark 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Bunty Afoa 18. Tanner Stowers-Smith 20. Samuel Healey 21. Tanah Boyd 22. Eddie Ieremia 23. Edward Kosi

Players cut:

Late Mail: To come

Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Robert Derby 3. Jaxon Purdue 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. John Bateman 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Griffin Neame 17. Coen Hess 18. Zac Laybutt 19. Karl Lawton 20. Kai O’Donnell 21. Kaiden Lahrs 22. Thomas Mikaele

Players cut:

Late Mail: To come

Wests Tigers v St. George-Illawarra Dragons, Suncorp Stadium, 7:45pm

Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 5. Brent Naden 23. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Royce Hunt 16. Jack Bird 17. Sione Fainu 18. Tony Sukkar 19. Heath Mason 20. Kit Laulilii 21. Solomona Faataape 22. Tristan Hope

Players cut:

Late Mail: Tigers centre Starford To’a may miss as many as two games after sustaining a neck injury in their golden point win over the Sharks on Sunday at Leichhardt Oval.

But in a promising sign, coach Benji Marshall said the 24-year-old may only be absent from their Magic Round game against the Dragons on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.

Charlie Staines will come into the team on the wing, and will play his first NRL game this season, with Brent Naden shifting from the wing into the centres.

“It’s not serious. Just had a scan off the back of last week’s game and the specialist said he probably needs one to two weeks,” Marshall said in his press conference on Friday.

“Hopefully one, but whatever is necessary to get him right we’ll do.

“That was a bit of a late curve ball for us, but Charlie Staines comes into the fold there, playing on the wing, so it’s a good experience for him coming in.”

Staines has just recovered from a hamstring injury, after starting the season with the Wests Magpies in the NSW Cup.

Dragons team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Tyrell Sloan 3. Moses Suli 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Corey Allan 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Lyhkan King-Togia 8. Toby Couchman 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Dylan Egan 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Hamish Stewart 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Jack de Belin 16. Emre Guler 17. Luciano Leilua 18. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 19. Nathan Lawson 20. Blake Lawrie 21. Lachlan Ilias 22. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

Players cut:

Late Mail: To come

SUNDAY MAY 4

Gold Coast Titans v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Suncorp Stadium, 1:50pm

Titans team: 1. Jaylan De Groot 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Phillip Sami 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Tom Weaver 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 11. Chris Randall 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Klese Haas 15. Iszac Fa’asumaleaui 16. Arama Hau 17. Josiah Pahulu 18. Tony Francis 19. David Fifita 20. Jacob Alick-Wiencke 21. Tukimihia Simpkins 22. Allan Fitzgibbon

Players cut:

Late Mail: To come

Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Bailey Hayward 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Harry Hayes 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Blake Taaffe 19. Lipoi Hopoi 20. Blake Wilson 21. Jake Turpin 22. Luke Smith 23. Drew Hutchison

Players cut:

Late Mail: To come

Penrith Panthers v Brisbane Broncos, Suncorp Stadium, 4:05pm

Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Paul Alamoti 3. Izack Tago 4. Luke Garner 5. Thomas Jenkins 6. Blaize Talagi 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Liam Henry 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Trent Toelau 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Lindsay Smith 17. Mavrik Geyer 18. Daine Laurie 19. Luron Patea 20. Casey McLean 21. Billy Scott 22. Jack Cole

Players cut:

Late Mail: To come

Broncos team: 1. Selwyn Cobbo 2. Deine Mariner 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Gehamat Shibasaki 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ben Hunt 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Patrick Carrigan 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Xavier Willison 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Cory Paix 15. Corey Jensen 16. Brendan Piakura 17. Jaiyden Hunt 18. Tyson Smoothy 19. Martin Taupau 20. Josiah Karapani 21. Jock Madden 22. Benjamin Te Kura

Players cut:

Late Mail: To come

Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders, Suncorp Stadium, 6:25pm

Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Sualauvi Faalogo 3. Grant Anderson 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Alec MacDonald 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Joe Chan 18. Ativalu Lisati 19. Lazarus Vaalepu 20. Kane Bradley 21. Keagan Russell-Smith 22. Nelson Asofa-Solomon

Players cut:

Late Mail: To come

Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Zac Hosking 16. Josh Papali’i 17. Ata Mariota 18. Simi Sasagi 19. Manaia Waitere 20. Pasami Saulo 21. Trey Mooney 22. Danny Levi

Players cut:

Late Mail: To come