A sickening head clash at training has sidelined Elliott Whitehead, with the Raiders skipper undergoing emergency surgery on Wednesday.

Whitehead needed to have his teeth realigned and required plastic surgery on his mouth after colliding with rookie prop Ata Moriata.

Meanwhile, Roosters centre Paul Momirovski remains under an injury cloud and a backup has been training in his spot.

Elsewhere, the Bulldogs’ have finally received some good news with club boss Phil Gould confirming 19 players tested negative for Covid on Thursday.

Sharks

It comes after quartet Jake Averillo, Ava Seumanufagai, Reece Hoffman and Brent Naden all tested positive ahead of Dogs clash against the Broncos on Friday night.

Read below for latest team news in NRL Late Mail for Round 7.

THURSDAY APRIL 21

Cronulla Sharks vs Manly Sea Eagles at PointsBet Stadium, 7.50pm AEDT

Sharks team: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aiden Tolman 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Braydon Trindall 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 17. Andrew Fifita 18. Lachlan Miller 19. Mawene Hiroti

Players cut: 20. Matt Ikuvalu 21. Jesse Colquhoun 22. Kayal Iro 23. Thomas Hazelton 24. Franklin Pele

Late Mail: Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon confirmed Nicho Hynes will wear the captaincy arm band against the Sea Eagles. Regular captain Dale Finucane is sidelined under concussion protocols. Speaking to the media on Wednesday Fitzgibbon said Hynes was the “logical choice”. “Nicho is steering the team around quite qwell at the moment,” he said.

“He’s going to be talking to the team and referees anyway so it made sense. He’s earned the right through his leadership throughout the pre-season and the way that he’s taken control of the team and the way that he values his own leadership.” Briton Nikora (Covid protocols) has been named to return and is expected to play.

Sea Eagles team: 1. Reuben Garrick 2. Jason Saab 3. Brad Parker 4. Morgan Harper 5. Christian Tuipulotu 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Toafofoa Sipley 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Taniela Paseka 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Andrew Davey 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Dylan Walker 15. Karl Lawton 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Kurt De Luis 18. Ben Trbojevic 19. Tolutau Koula

Players cut: 20. Jorge Taufua 21. Kaeo Weekes 22. James Roumanos 23. Viliami Fifita 24. Jacob Sykes

Late Mail:Morgan Harper returns from Covid protocols with rookie Tolutau Koula shifting to the reserves list.

FRIDAY APRIL 22

Brisbane Broncos vs Canterbury Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium, 7.55pm AEDT

Broncos team: 1. Te Maire Martin 2. Corey Oates 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Tyson Gamble 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Corey Jensen 9. Cory Paix 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. Billy Walters 15. Rhys Kennedy 16. Thomas Flegler 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Delouise Hoeter 19. Jordan Pereira 20. TC Robati 21. Brenko Lee 22. Ezra Mam 23. Ethan Quai-Ward 24. Logan Bayliss-Brow

Players cut:

Late Mail: The Broncos have changed their halves again with Tyson Gamble replacing Billy Walters who shifts to the bench. Cory Paix is the hooker with Te Maire Martin coming in for the injured Tesi Niu at fullback.

Bulldogs team: 1. Matt Dufty 2. Brent Naden 3. Aaron Schoupp 4. Jake Averillo 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Luke Thompson 9. Jeremy Marshall-King 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Corey Waddell 12. Tevita Pangai Junior 13. Josh Jackson 14. Brandon Wakeham 15. Joe Stimson 16. Max King 17. Ava Seumanufagai 19. Bailey Biondi-Odo 20. Jackson Topine 21. Reece Hoffman 22. Jayden Okunbor 23. Corey Allan 24. Josh Cook 25. Tuipulotu Katoa

Players cut:

Late Mail: Jake Averillo, Ava Seumanufagai, Reece Hoffman and Brent Naden are all out after they positive upon their arrival at training on Wednesday. But club boss Phil Gould confirmed 19 players tested negative on Thursday and they will be able to field a team.

In injury news, young gun centre Aaron Schoupp has been drafted in to replace Braidon Burns for their clash against the Broncos. Burns suffered a hamstring injury and will be sidelines until Round 15. Corey Waddell will also come into the starting side, taking Chris Patolo’s backrow spot. The 20-year-old suffered a nasty head knock, colliding with veteran Josh Jackson. Patolo was clearly concussed and stayed on the ground for minutes before going off in a medicab. Jackson sustained a cut on his head but has been deemed fit to play this week.

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SATURDAY APRIL 23

North Queensland Cowboys vs Gold Coast Titans at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, 5.30pm AEDT

Cowboys team: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Coen Hess 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Jake Granville 15. Tom Gilbert 16. Reuben Cotter 17. Griffin Neame 18. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 19. Brendan Elliot 20. Riley Price 21. Jordan Lipp 22. Emry Pere 23. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 24. Tomas Chester

Players cut:

Late Mail: TBC

Titans team: 1. Jamayne Isaako 2. Phillip Sami 3. Brian Kelly 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Greg Marzhew 6. AJ Brimson 7. Toby Sexton 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Erin Clark 10. Isaac Liu 11. David Fifita 12. Beau Fermor 13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 14. Will Smith 15. Sam Lisone 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Jarrod Wallace 18. Paul Turner 19. Kevin Proctor 20. Sam McIntyre 21. Tanah Boyd 22. Sosefo Fifita 23. Corey Thompson 24. Jayden Campbell

Players cut:

Late Mail: TBC

Wests Tigers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs at CommBank Stadium, 7.35pm AEDT

Tigers team: 1. Daine Laurie 2. David Nofoaluma 3. James Roberts 4. Starford To’a 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jackson Hastings 8. James Tamou 9. Jake Simpkin 10. Zane Musgrove 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Joe Ofahengaue 14. Jock Madden 15. Alex Twal 16. Thomas Mikaele 17. Luke Garner 18. Alex Seyfarth 19. Jacob Liddle 20. Oliver Gildart 21. Tyrone Peachey 22. Tukimihia Simpkins 23. Austin Dias 24. Junior Tupou

Players cut:

Late Mail: TBC

Rabbitohs team: 1. Blake Taaffe 2. Alex Johnston 3. Taane Milne 4. Campbell Graham 5. Josh Mansour 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Hame Sele 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Thomas Burgess 15. Jacob Host 16. Davvy Moale 17. Liam Knight 18. Siliva Havili 19. Isaiah Tass 20. Peter Mamouzelos 21. Richard Kennar 22. Dean Hawkins 23. Terrell Kalo Kalo 24. Jaxson Paulo

Players cut:

Late Mail: TBC

SUNDAY APRIL 24

Newcastle Knights vs Parramatta Eels at McDonald Jones Stadium, 2.00pm AEDT

Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Enari Tuala 6. Jake Clifford 7. Adam Clune 8. David Klemmer 9. Chris Randall 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Brodie Jones 13. Kurt Mann 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Leo Thompson 17. Sauaso Sue 18. Simi Sasagi 19. Pasami Saulo 20. Tex Hoy 21. Hymel Hunt 22. Jack Johns 23. Dylan Lucas 24. Jaron Purcell

Players cut:

Late Mail: TBC

Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Hayze Perham 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Tom Opacic 5. Bailey Simonsson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Nathan Brown 14. Makahesi Makatoa 15. Ryan Matterson 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Jakob Arthur 18. Bryce Cartwright 19. Mitch Rein 20. Wiremu Greig 21. Ky Rodwell 22. Samuel Loizou 23. Elie El Zakhem 24. Zac Cini

Players cut:

Late Mail: TBC

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Penrith Panthers vs Canberra Raiders at BlueBet Stadium, 4.05pm AEDT

Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Charlie Staines 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Taylan May 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Matt Eisenhuth 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Mitch Kenny 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Robert Jennings 19. Chris Smith 20. J’maine Hopgood 21. Lindsay Smith 22. Soni Luke 23. Christian Crichton 24. Sean O’Sullivan

Players cut:

Late Mail:

Raiders team: 1. Jordan Rapana 2. Nick Cotric 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Semi Valemei 5. Xavier Savage 6. Jack Wighton 7. Brad Schneider 8. Josh Papalii’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Corey Harawira-Naera 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Ryan Sutton 14. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 15. Harry Rushton 16. Adam Elliott 17. Corey Horsburgh 18. Hudson Young 19. Matt Frawley 20. Jarrod Croker 21. Emre Guler 22. Trey Mooney 23. James Schiller 24. Peter Hola

Players cut:

Late Mail:Elliott Whitehead (head) has been ruled out following a heavy head clash at training on Wednesday. Hudson Young is expected to fill the void of Whitehead in the forwards for coach Ricky Stuart. It’s yet another body blow for Canberra who have been battling on this season without star halfback Jamal Fogarty (knee), hooker Josh Hodgson (knee) and Harley Smith-Shields (knee).

MONDAY APRIL 25

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Sydney Roosters at Sydney Cricket Ground, 4.00pm AEDT

Dragons team: 1. Moses Mbye 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Moses Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Jack Bird 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Andrew McCullough 10. Josh Kerr 11. Tariq Sims 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Talatau Amone 15. Blake Lawrie 16. Josh Mcguire 17. George Burgess 18. Tautau Moga 19. Jackson Ford 20. Aaron Woods 21. Tyrell Sloan 22. Cody Ramsey 23. Tyrell Fuimaono 24. Jayden Sullivan

Players cut:

Late Mail: TBC

Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Joseph Manu 5. Joseph Suaalii 6. Sam Walker 7. Luke Keary 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Sam Verrills 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley 14. Drew Hutchison 15. Fletcher Baker 16. Nat Butcher 17. Siosiua Taukeiaho 18. Lachlan Lam 19. Daniel Suluka-Fifita 20. Kevin Naiqama 21. Naufahu Whyte 22. Adam Keighran 23. Renouf Atoni 24. Ben Marschke

Players cut:

Late Mail: Paul Momirovski remains under an injury cloud and Adam Keighran has been training in the centres throughout the week.

Melbourne Storm vs Warriors at AAMI Park, 7.00pm AEDT

Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Nick Meaney 3. Reimis Smith 4. Justin Olam 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harry Grant 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenny Bromwich 13. Josh King 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tyran Wishart 16. Trent Loiero 17. Tepai Moeroa 18. Chris Lewis 19. Marion Seve 20. Alec MacDonald 21. Jordan Grant 22. Jack Howarth 23. Bronson Garlick 24. Cooper Johns

Players cut:

Late Mail: TBC

Warriors team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Jesse Arthars 4. Adam Pompey 5. Edward Kosi 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Matt Lodge 11. Euan Aitken 12. Bayley Sironen 13. Josh Curran 14. Kodi Nikorima 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Aaron Pene 17. Eliesa Katoa 18. Taniela Otukolo 20. Jazz Tevaga 21. Viliami Vailea 22. Rocco Berry 23. Valingi Kepu 24. Junior Ratuva 25. Garrett Smith

Players cut:

Late Mail: TBC

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