Storm enforcer's late switch; Warriors prepping for shock backline ...

Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona will line up in his first NRL game of the season, but he’ll begin the game on the bench in a late switch from coach Craig Bellamy.

The Warriors have made a shock call regarding their bench, with a second outside back added to the 17.

Meanwhile, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has revealed how he will use Blake Taaffe off the bench after deciding to persist with Connor Tracey in the fullback role.

Read on for the Late Mail for Round 7.

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THURSDAY APRIL 18

Sydney Roosters v Melbourne Storm, 7:50pm @ Allianz Stadium

Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Michael Jennings 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 6. Connor Watson 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Brandon Smith 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Nat Butcher 12. Angus Crichton 13. Victor Radley 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Egan Butcher 17. Terrell May 18. Fetalaiga Pauga

Players cut: 19. Dylan Napa 20. Max McCathie 21. Benaiah Ioelu 22. Sam Walker

Late Mail: Sam Walker has failed in his bid to return from concussion protocols via the reserves. “He tried to train yesterday, but just didn’t quite get there so he was ruled out today. He didn’t pass one of the stages so it just puts you back,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.

Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Reimis Smith 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 15. Christian Welch 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 14. Tyran Wishart 16. Joe Chan 17. Alec MacDonald 19. Jack Howarth

Players cut: 18. Grant Anderson 20. Kane Bradley 21. Jonah Pezet 22. Chris Lewis

Late Mail: Nelson Asofa-Solomona comes in for his first game of the season at prop for sidelined star Tui Kamikamica due to a calf injury. However, he’ll come off the bench, with former captain Christian Welch to start in a late switch.

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FRIDAY APRIL 19

St George Illawarra Dragons vs New Zealand Warriors, 6:00pm @ WIN Stadium

Dragons team: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Christian Tuipulotu 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Hame Sele 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Tom Eisenhuth 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Jack de Belin 17. Ben Murdoch-Masila 18. Michael Molo 19. Mathew Feagai 22. Fa’amanu Brown

Players cut: 14. Jesse Marschke 20. Toby Couchman 21. Viliami Fifita

Late Mail: New signing Fa’amanu Brown has been listed among the reserves and could be a late inclusion for Jesse Marschke on the bench. Marschke drops out of the side, and for now, Brown is on the extended reserves list but appears every chance to be named on the pine when the final teams are announced an hour before kickoff.

Warriors team: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Tohu Harris 15. Tom Ale 16. Jacob Laban 17. Adam Pompey 21. Ali Leiataua 18. Zyon Maiu’u 23. Paul Roache

Players cut: 14. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 20. Taine Tuaupiki 22. Edward Kosi

Late Mail: One-gamer Ali Leiataua has joined the bench in a shock move. He’s the second centre on the four-man bench for Andrew Webster alongside Adam Pompey. This could mean a backline change could be in the works for the visitors. Chanel Harris-Tevita drops out of the side.

Parramatta Eels vs the Dolphins, 8:00pm @ TIO Stadium, Darwin

Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Morgan Harper 5. Sean Russell 6. Daejarn Asi 7. Dylan Brown 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Luca Moretti 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Joe Ofahengaue 17. Blaize Talagi 18. Brendan Hands 19. Kelma Tuilagi 20. Wiremu Greig 21. Makahesi Makatoa 22. Maika Sivo

Players cut:

Late Mail: To come.

Dolphins team: 1. Trai Fuller 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Tesi Niu 5. Jack Bostock 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Kenny Bromwich 12. Euan Aitken 13. Max Plath 14. Josh Kerr 15. Sean O’Sullivan 16. Ray Stone 17. Jarrod Wallace 18. Oryn Keeley 19. Edrick Lee 20. Mason Teague 21. Valynce Te Whare 22. Jeremiah Simbiken

Players cut:

Late Mail: To come.

SATURDAY APRIL 20

Penrith Panthers vs Wests Tigers, 3:00pm @ Carrington Park, Bathurst

Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Taylan May 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Brad Schneider 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Daine Laurie 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Luke Garner 18. Jack Cole 19. Mavrik Geyer 20. Matt Eisenhuth 21. Paul Alamoti 22. Tyrone Peachey

Players cut:

Late Mail: Jarome Luai is expected to play after recovering from a knee injury over the bye.

Tigers team: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Charlie Staines 3. Brent Naden 4. Justin Olam 5. Junior Tupou 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Aidan Sezer 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Isaiah Papali’i 12. John Bateman 13. Fonua Pole 14. Latu Fainu 15. Alex Twal 16. Alex Seyfarth 17. Samuela Fainu 18. Justin Matamua 19. Asu Kepaoa 20. Solomon Alaimalo 21. Jake Simpkin 22. Sione Fainu

Players cut:

Late Mail: To come.

Gold Coast Titans vs Manly Sea Eagles, 5:30pm @ Cbus Super Stadium

Titans team: 1. Phillip Sami 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. Klese Haas 14. Sam Verrills 15. Erin Clark 16. Isaac Liu 17. Josiah Pahulu 18. Joe Stimson 19. Keano Kini 20. Tanah Boyd 21. Tony Francis 22. Jacob Alick-Wiencke

Players cut:

Late Mail: Matt Lodge (ACL), Reuben Garrick (concussion), Nathan Brown (knee) and Jason Saab (hamstring) are all set to return from injury in a huge boost.

Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Tommy Talau 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Corey Waddell 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Karl Lawton 15. Ethan Bullemor 16. Aaron Woods 17. Nathan Brown 18. Jakob Arthur 19. Dean Matterson 20. Jaxson Paulo 21. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 22. Aitasi James

Players cut:

Late Mail: To come.

Brisbane Broncos vs Canberra Raiders, 7:35pm @ Suncorp Stadium

Broncos team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Selwyn Cobbo 5. Jesse Arthars 6. Ezra Mam 7. Jock Madden 8. Corey Jensen 9. Billy Walters 10. Fletcher Baker 11. Jaiyden Hunt 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Xavier Willison 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Tristan Sailor 18. Martin Taupau 19. Benjamin Te Kura 20. Jordan Pereira 21. Blake Mozer 22. Josiah Karapani

Players cut:

Late Mail: Young behemoth Ben Te Kura could be a late inclusion for Tristan Sailor if Kevin Walters opts for a bigger bench to combat the Raiders’ pack.

Raiders team: 1. Chevy Stewart 2. James Schiller 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Danny Levi 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Ata Mariota 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Tom Starling 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Trey Mooney 17. Pasami Saulo 18. Kaeo Weekes 19. Emre Guler 20. Zac Woolford 21. Nick Cotric 22. Peter Hola

Players cut:

Late Mail: To come.

SUNDAY APRIL 21

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs Newcastle Knights, 2:00pm @ Accor Stadium

Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Drew Hutchison 8. Samuel Hughes 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Chris Patolo 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jaeman Salmon 13. Josh Curran 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Poasa Faamausili 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Blake Taaffe 19. Toby Sexton 20. Liam Knight 21. Jake Turpin 22. Max King 23. Kitione Kautoga

Players cut:

Late Mail: Cameron Ciraldo has revealed how he will use Blake Taaffe off the bench after keeping Connor Tracey in the No.1 jersey. “It’s a nice insurance policy to have Blake on the bench as a backup if we do lose one of our outside backs, which has happened a number of times this year,” Ciraldo told NCA Newswire. “In the modern game with HIAs, it’s probably important that you have someone like that. I still think he can create something in the last part of the game. He can get on and play that super sub sort of role anywhere, and he’s open to that. If you’re a tired defensive line, you wouldn’t want to see Blake Taaffe coming off the bench fresh on the field.” Liam Knight and Max King have both been named among the reserves and could return in place of Poasa Faamausili on the bench.

Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Greg Marzhew 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Jack Cogger 7. Jackson Hastings 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Leo Thompson 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Kai Pearce-Paul 13. Adam Elliott 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Daniel Saifiti 16. Jack Hetherington 17. Mathew Croker 18. Jed Cartwright 19. Brodie Jones 20. Tyson Gamble 21. David Armstrong 22. Thomas Jenkins

Players cut:

Late Mail: Kalyn Ponga is set to play despite a hip injury, but could hand the goal kicking duties to Jackson Hastings or Dane Gagai.

Cronulla Sharks vs North Queensland Cowboys, 4:05pm @ Pointsbet Stadium

Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Samuel Stonestreet 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Thomas Hazelton 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Jack Williams 15. Toby Rudolf 16. Siosifa Talakai 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Daniel Atkinson 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha 20. Kade Dykes 21. Billy Burns 22. Mawene Hiroti

Players cut:

Late Mail: Craig Fitzgibbon could tweak his front row on game day with Toby Rudolf and Braden Hamlin-Uele a chance to start in place of Thomas Hazleton and Oregon Kaufusi.

Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Tomas Chester 5. Semi Valemei 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter 14. Jake Granville 15. Griffin Neame 16. Sam McIntyre 17. Jack Gosiewski 18. Jake Clifford 19. Thomas Mikaele 20. Marly Bitungane 21. Jamal Shibasaki 22. Viliami Vailea

Players cut:

Late Mail: Thomas Mikaele has again been named among the reserves and could be a late inclusion.

Bye: South Sydney Rabbitohs