NRL 2026, Finals week 2, late mail, injuries, updates, 90 mins, 24 hours, late changes

NRL Late Mail Finals Week 2 - Lucas in the mix

Author: NRL.com
Timestamp: Thu 17 Sep 2026, 06:01 PM

Newcastle star Dylan Lucas has until Saturday to prove his fitness for a sudden-death clash with the Warriors as he looks to complete a shock return from a broken ankle.

The NSW Origin forward suffered the injury in Round 21 and has been listed in the Knights' extended squad for this weekend's semi-final at a sold-out Eden Park in Auckland.

Talking to the media on Thursday afternoon, Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook said a final decision on Lucas' fitness will be made on Saturday.

"Everyone trained well, obviously Dyl Lucas is the one we will see how he pulls up and we won’t make a decision on him until Saturday," Holbrook told reporters.

"Credit to the medical staff and Dylan, the day he got injured he wanted to fast track himself and do everything right. If he gets there on Sunday we will all be happy for Dyl."

See all the late mail, official team news and updates for Week 2 of the 2026 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series.

NRL Late Mail: Finals Week 2

Roosters v Sharks, Saturday 7.50pm at Allianz Stadium

Finals Week 2 - Finals Week 2 - Saturday 19 Sep

9:50 am

Roosters

Sharks

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Roosters is number 1 James Tedesco

Fullback for Sharks is number 1 William Kennedy
Winger for Roosters is number 2 Daniel Tupou

Winger for Sharks is number 2 Sione Katoa
Centre for Roosters is number 3 Billy Smith

Centre for Sharks is number 3 Riley Jones
Centre for Roosters is number 4 Robert Toia

Centre for Sharks is number 4 KL Iro
Winger for Roosters is number 5 Mark Nawaqanitawase

Winger for Sharks is number 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo
Five-Eighth for Roosters is number 6 Hugo Savala

Five-Eighth for Sharks is number 6 Braydon Trindall
Halfback for Roosters is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans

Halfback for Sharks is number 7 Nicho Hynes

Forwards

Prop for Roosters is number 8 Naufahu Whyte

Prop for Sharks is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
Hooker for Roosters is number 9 Reece Robson

Hooker for Sharks is number 9 Blayke Brailey
Prop for Roosters is number 10 Lindsay Collins

Prop for Sharks is number 10 Jesse Colquhoun
2nd Row for Roosters is number 11 Salesi Foketi

2nd Row for Sharks is number 11 Briton Nikora
2nd Row for Roosters is number 12 Siua Wong

2nd Row for Sharks is number 12 Teig Wilton
Lock for Roosters is number 13 Victor Radley

Lock for Sharks is number 13 Cameron McInnes

Interchange

Interchange for Roosters is number 14 Connor Watson

Interchange for Sharks is number 14 Siosifa Talakai
Interchange for Roosters is number 15 Spencer Leniu

Interchange for Sharks is number 15 Billy Burns
Interchange for Roosters is number 16 Nat Butcher

Interchange for Sharks is number 16 Oregon Kaufusi
Interchange for Roosters is number 17 Angus Crichton

Interchange for Sharks is number 17 Thomas Hazelton
Interchange for Roosters is number 18 Cody Ramsey

Interchange for Sharks is number 18 Jayden Berrell
Interchange for Roosters is number 19 Tommy Talau

Interchange for Sharks is number 19 Toby Rudolf

Reserves

Reserve for Roosters is number 20 Taylor Losalu

Reserve for Sharks is number 20 Niwhai Puru
Reserve for Roosters is number 21 Benaiah Ioelu

Reserve for Sharks is number 21 Samuel Stonestreet
Reserve for Roosters is number 22 Toby Rodwell

Reserve for Sharks is number 22 Mawene Hiroti

Angus Crichton
Benaiah Ioelu
Taylor Losalu
Toby Rodwell

Jayden Berrell
Mawene Hiroti
Samuel Stonestreet

Egan Butcher

Match Officials

Referee: Adam Gee
Touch Judge: Matt Noyen
Touch Judge: Daniel Luttringer
Senior Review Official: Wyatt Raymond

Last updated: 9/16/2026 3:46:02 AM

Roosters: Sam Walker's comeback from an ankle injury remains on ice for another week but star back-rower Angus Crichton is on track to return from a long-term foot injury. The departing forward was a late withdrawal last weekend but is set to come off the bench for Saturday's sudden-death semi-final. Young talent Salesi Foketi is set to start in the backrow after coming off the bench last week, with Egan Butcher unavailable due to a concussion.

Sharks: No late changes are expected for Cronulla, with coach Craig Fitzgibbon boasting a settled squad. Jayden Berrell is the only new face on the six-man bench while Mawene Hiroti remains in the reserves as he looks to return from a rib injury.

Warriors v Knights, Sunday 4.05pm (AEST), 6.05pm (local time) at Eden Park

Finals Week 2 - Finals Week 2 - Sunday 20 Sep

6:05 am

Warriors

Knights

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Taine Tuaupiki

Fullback for Knights is number 1 Kalyn Ponga
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Winger for Knights is number 2 Dominic Young
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua

Centre for Knights is number 3 Dane Gagai
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey

Centre for Knights is number 4 Bradman Best
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Alofiana Khan-Pereira

Winger for Knights is number 5 Greg Marzhew
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Five-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Fletcher Sharpe
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Te Maire Martin

Halfback for Knights is number 7 Sandon Smith

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris

Prop for Knights is number 8 Tyson Frizell
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Knights is number 9 Phoenix Crossland
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett

Prop for Knights is number 10 Cody Hopwood
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell

2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Jermaine McEwen
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jacob Laban

2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Francis Manuleleua
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark

Lock for Knights is number 13 Mat Croker

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Sam Healey

Interchange for Knights is number 14 Harrison Graham
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tanner Stowers-Smith

Interchange for Knights is number 15 Lachlan Crouch
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga

Interchange for Knights is number 16 Pasami Saulo
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Interchange for Knights is number 17 Thomas Cant
Interchange for Warriors is number 18 Jett Cleary

Interchange for Knights is number 18 Fletcher Hunt
Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Morgan Gannon

Interchange for Knights is number 19 Toby Winter

Reserves

Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Makaia Tafua

Reserve for Knights is number 20 Kyle McCarthy
Reserve for Warriors is number 22 Leka Halasima

Reserve for Knights is number 21 Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
Reserve for Warriors is number 23 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Reserve for Knights is number 22 Dylan Lucas

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
Leka Halasima
Makaia Tafua
Morgan Gannon

Dylan Lucas
Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
Kyle McCarthy

Jackson Ford

Match Officials

Referee: Ashley Klein
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Touch Judge: Tyson Brough
Senior Review Official: Chris Butler

Last updated: 9/17/2026 4:01:02 AM

Warriors: Centre Leka Halasima and winger Dalin Watene-Zelezniak have been named in the extended squad as they look to return from injury. Coach Andrew Webster revealed on Tuesday that Watene-Zelezniak is a chance of coming into the team closer to kick-off, however Halasima is unlikely to play. Morgan Gannon comes on to the bench to replace Jackson Ford, who injured his ankle last week in his comeback game from a pectoral tear.

Knights: Dylan Lucas remains in the reserves and has until Saturday to prove his fitness in his bid to make a shock return from a broken ankle. “Everyone trained well, obviously Dyl Lucas is the one we will see how he pulls up and we won’t make a decision on him until Saturday," coach Justin Holbrook said on Thursday. Backrower Francis Manuleleua will likely shift to the interchange if Lucas comes into the side. No other late changes are expected as Newcastle chase an upset at Eden Park.

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