Round 18 Team Lists: Donoghoe, Horsburgh cop hefty ban, Coates out of Origin, Turbo switch, Manu out a month

01/07/2024

Dolphins utility Kurt Donoghoe is facing a four-game ban for his high shot on Dragons prop Francis Molo in Sunday’s loss at Kogarah.

Donoghoe was sin-binned and lucky not to be sent off for the hit in the 65th minute and due to his poor judiciary record, he can only get a downgrade to three matches with an early guilty plea.

Cowboys centre Jaxon Purdue tripping, $1000-$1500), Roosters forward Nat Butcher (dangerous contact, $1000-$1500) and Tigers duo Adam Doueihi (dangerous contact, $750-$1000) and John Bateman (careless high tackle, $1000-$1500) were fined for incidents in the other Sunday matches.

Raiders forward Corey Horsburgh has been banned for three games for headbutting and punching in a reserve-grade game, further denting the Canberra forward’s hopes of an NRL comeback.

Horsburgh’s brain snap against Jacob Laban sparked a melee during the Raiders’ 24-18 NSW Cup loss on Saturday and led to him joining Warriors forwards Laban and Tom Ale in being sent off.

On Monday, the NSW Rugby League match review committee handed Horsburgh two separate striking charges, one a grade-one offence and the other a grade-two over his headbutt and punching. Horsburgh has accepted one-game and two-game suspensions as early guilty pleas for his respective offences.

Queensland will need to find a new winger for the State of Origin decider after scans confirmed Xavier Coates tore his right hamstring against Canberra.

Kurt Donoghoe. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The Melbourne flyer suffered the injury as he unsuccessfully attempted to dive on the ball for a try in the second half of Saturday night’s 16-6 win.

Coates played no further part at AAMI Park, needing assistance to leave the field. Scans on Sunday revealed a low-grade tear in Coates’ right hamstring that will keep him out 6-8 weeks.

With Origin III scheduled for July 17, Queensland coach Billy Slater is now searching for a new right winger as his side looks to bounce back from a big 38-18 loss in game two.

League

Selwyn Cobbo is the obvious candidate to come into the Queensland backline with Kurt Capewell retained as the bench utility.

Knights veteran Dane Gagai is another option to come into the Maroons’ backline, having been selected in the extended squad for game two.

Alofiana Khan-Pereira, who entered round 17 as the NRL’s leading tryscorer, and his Gold Coast teammate Phil Sami are out-of-the-box choices.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has been cleared to play in Origin III after scans confirmed the Dolphins speedster suffered a grade-one AC joint injury to his shoulder in Queensland’s game-two loss.

With utility back Nick Meaney (calf) expected to return for the Storm on Saturday, Grant Anderson could be shifted to the wing to cover for Coates against Wests Tigers.

Sua Fa’alogo is likely to remain at fullback as long as Ryan Papenhuyzen is sidelined with a foot issue.

Adding to Craig Bellamy‘s backline headaches, centre Jack Howarth suffered a glute strain against the Raiders and will be sidelined for between one and two weeks.

Tom Trbojevic. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Manly marquee Tom Trbojevic is poised to return in Round 18, with the star fullback to switch to centre.

Trbojevic hasn’t played since round 10 – due to yet another hamstring injury, which has plagued the promising back throughout his career.

Young guns Tolu Koula and Lehi Hopoate are in line for the No.1 jersey

Turbo will most likely partner Reuben Garrick, returning from a concussion, in the centres on Saturday for the road clash with the Cowboys.

He has played 12 games at centre, including at national level for the Kangaroos in the World Cup.

Roosters centre Joey Manu faces a disrupted end to to his time in rugby league after a suffering a fractured hand in the Sydney Roosters’ 40-6 drubbing of Wests Tigers.

Manu immediately pulled up in pain after attempting to fend off Adam Doueihi during the first half on Sunday night, clutching at his left hand as he left the field. The rugby-bound star has suffered a double fracture, ruling him out for at least a month.

The Roosters are light on for centres with Junior Pauga and Joseph Suaalii suspended and Billy Smith and Robert Toia out injured and Michael Jennings not quite right after hamstring dramas.

Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga (foot) is closing in on his return and is ahead of schedule so he could be a surprise selection for Sunday’s trip to Canberra.

The Dolphins have the bye in Round 18 but will anxiously await scans on a foot injury suffered by hooker Jeremy Marshall-King during Sunday’s loss to St George Illawarra.

Marshall-King limped off in the first half at Kogarah after awkwardly catching his foot under a Jack de Belin tackle.

St George Illawarra winger Mat Feagai also didn’t last long, replaced in the first half with a shoulder problem.

Parramatta Eels v South Sydney Rabbitohs

2.00

1.80

NRL : Head To Head Thu, 4 Jul 2024, 19:50 Cronulla Sharks v Gold Coast Titans

1.40

2.95

NRL : Head To Head Fri, 5 Jul 2024, 18:00 Brisbane Broncos v Penrith Panthers

2.30

1.62

NRL : Head To Head Fri, 5 Jul 2024, 20:00 Canterbury Bulldogs v New Zealand Warriors

1.50

2.60

NRL : Head To Head Sat, 6 Jul 2024, 15:00 Wests Tigers v Melbourne Storm

4.10

1.24

NRL : Head To Head Sat, 6 Jul 2024, 17:30 North Queensland Cowboys v Manly Sea Eagles

1.77

2.05

NRL : Head To Head Sat, 6 Jul 2024, 19:35 Sydney Roosters v St. George Illawarra Dragons

1.26

3.85

NRL : Head To Head Sun, 7 Jul 2024, 14:00 Canberra Raiders v Newcastle Knights

1.90

NRL : Head To Head Sun, 7 Jul 2024, 16:05 * Odds Correct At Time Of Posting. Check PlayUp Website For Latest Odds Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au

Round 18 teams

All times AEST

Parramatta vs South Sydney at CommBank Stadium: 7.50pm, Thursday July 4

Eels: Maroons forward J’maine Hopgood is out for the rest of the year due to the back injury which ruled him out of Origin II.

Rabbitohs: Rested after the bye, Siliva Havili (calf) is pushing for a return against the Eels.

Cronulla vs Gold Coast at C.ex Coffs Harbour Stadium: 6pm, Friday July 5

Sharks: Front-rower Oregon Kaufusi was charged with a crusher tackle offence after Friday night’s loss to Canterbury at Accor Stadium but will not be banned, facing a fine of $1000-$1500.

Titans: Well rested after having the bye following their 66-6 flogging of the Warriors, they will be without Jayden Campbell after he fractured his hand in the record-breaking win. AJ Brimson (groin) could return to replace him at five-eighth.

Reece Walsh. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Brisbane vs Penrith at Suncorp Stadium: 8pm, Friday July 5

Broncos: Origin trio Reece Walsh, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan will return after being rested from the loss to the Warriors in NZ. Second-rower Jack Gosiewski won’t play again until the finals after breaking his arm and prop Fletcher Baker is out 4-6 weeks with knee damage.

Kotoni Staggs was fined $1000 for dangerous contact on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

Panthers: Nathan Cleary’s comeback has been delayed until Round 20 but Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o, Jarome Luai and Liam Martin will return after being rested for Sunday’s stoush with the Cowboys.

Canterbury vs Warriors at Accor Stadium: 3pm, Saturday July 6

Bulldogs: Halfback Toby Sexton (crusher tackle) and second-rower Viliame Kikau (high tackle) are facing fines of $1000-$1500 while Connor Tracey (head knock), Jacob Preston (foot) and Kurt Mann (suspension) are due to return.

Warriors: No changes likely after their face-saving win over the Broncos.

Wests vs Melbourne at Leichhardt Oval: 5.30pm, Saturday July 6

Tigers: Justin Olam (knee) and Latu Fainu (hamstring) are maybes after recent injury layoffs.

Storm: Harry Grant is set to return from a facial cut but Maroons teammate Xavier Coates is out 6-8 weeks with a hamstring tear. Nick Meaney (calf) is likely to play after missing the win over Canberra while Ryan Papenhuyzen’s heel problem will keep him out another week.

Harry Grant. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

North Qld vs Manly at QCB Stadium: 7.35pm, Saturday July 6

Cowboys: Todd Payten will bring back his six Origin players who were rested from Sunday’s trip to Penrith.

Sea Eagles: Tom Trbojevic is set to play centre in his return from his latest hamstring tear. Tolu Koula is likely to get the nod at fullback ahead of Lehi Hopoate. Reuben Garrick (concussion) and Josh Aloiai (suspension) are also on the comeback trail.

Sydney vs St George Illawarra at Allianz Stadium: 2pm, Sunday July 7

Dragons: Young winger Mat Feagai is set to be sidelined with a shoulder problem from the first half of Sunday’s win over the Dolphins with the return of Zac Lomax from a knee injury to offset his absence.

Roosters: Michael Jennings could be available for selection after a few weeks out with a hamstring problem which could be timely with fellow centre Joey Manu out for a month with a hand injury.

Canberra vs Newcastle at GIO Stadium: 4.05pm, Sunday July 7

Raiders: Corey Horsburgh’s NRL return will be delayed after he copped a three-game ban for his part in a wild brawl in the NSW Cup which led to him being sent off on Saturday.

Elliott Whitehead and Albert Hopoate were fined for grade-one offences in the loss to Melbourne.

Knights: Leo Thompson (achilles) and Dylan Lucas (hamstring) are maybes while Kalyn Ponga (foot) is closing in on his return and is ahead of schedule so he could be a surprise selection.