Entering Round 7, some NRL clubs are set to receive significant boosts to their team, while others have lost key players as they look to clinch the two points.
Some big additions this week include Lachlan Galvin, James Tedesco, Reuben Garrick and Nelson Asofa-Solomona, while the losses are headlined by Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Sione Katoa, and Jayden Campbell.
Teams will be named on Tuesday at 4pm (AEST), but here is all the latest in news and rumours.
Gold Coast Titans vs Manly Sea Eagles
Unfortunately for the Gold Coast Titans, Jayden Campbell is likely to spend some time on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury late in the game against the Raiders.
Coincidentally, it is the same knee that sidelined the fullback for the first three rounds of the season and injured last season.
Zero Tackle understands that if Campbell is ruled out, Keano Kini will wear the number one jersey, with AJ Brimson remaining in either the halves or centres.
Brimson was a late change in the halves for Tanah Boyd and could remain there after a hard-fought effort last round.
In good news for Titans fane, Keenan Palasia (quad) should make his return to the NRL this week and will take a spot on the interchange bench with Josiah Pahulu the likely player to make way.
Jayden Campbell off with a left knee injury - reportedly carried it into the game. Mechanism video not great - appears to be somewhat non-contact.
His season ending patellar dislocation in 2023 was to his right knee - tho could be underlying risk factors that affect both knees. pic.twitter.com/3aIXD5os4n
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) April 14, 2024
Projected Round 7 Team: 1. Keano Kini 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Harley Smith-Shields 5. Jojo Fifita 6. AJ Brimson 7. Kieran Foran 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Chris Randall 10. Jaimin Jolliffe 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Isaac Liu 14. Sam Verrills 15. Erin Clark 16. Klese Haas 17. Keenan Palasia
The Manly Sea Eagles will be sweating on the availability of Ben Trbojevic for this week after he sustained a hamstring injury against the Warriors and failed to return to the field.
However, after he was switched to the centres last week, it is expected that he will be directly replaced by Reuben Garrick (concussion), who will return from the 11-day stand-down period.
Prop Josh Aloiai will also miss the game after being hit with a Grade 2 Dangerous Contact charge and is facing one to two weeks on the sidelines.
It is understood that Toafofoa Sipley also had a knee issue during the match. Lachlan Croker may be unavailable due to a different injury after going off for a HIA.
"Our club doctor assured me there was no head knock there," Seibold said.
Seibold also confirmed post-match that Jason Saab (hamstring), Matt Lodge (knee) and Nathan Brown (knee) are all on track to make their returns this week.
Lachlan Croker was removed from the field for a HIA by the independent Dr after this incident.
The Sea Eagles Dr indicated the concern was for Croker’s right shoulder and that all concussion testing had been passed. Croker had surgery on his left shoulder this offseason. pic.twitter.com/MY2Lk2qITA
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) April 13, 2024
Project Round 7 Team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Matt Lodge 11. Haumole Olakau'atu 12. Corey Waddell 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Karl Lawton 15. Ethan Bullemor 16. Aaron Woods 17. Nathan Brown
