NRL daily boards

Marsters left injured with a likely calf injury; coach unsure of severity, so his availability is in doubt.

Esan Marsters, in form for the Cook Islands, was interchanged against New Zealand with what Karmichael Hunt called a likely calf injury: "it looks like he's done something to his calf... he tried to run it out but couldn't go any further." Hunt said they were sad to lose him.

Played all 80 minutes; coach wants him more involved and confident, a soft role signal. Squad has no new injuries.

Latu Fainu played all 80 minutes for Tonga after an earlier injury hiccup. Kristian Woolf: "I thought it was important when the injury was okay that he got another opportunity." He wants him to grow in confidence and get more involved. The squad came through with no injuries.

Ponga had surgery and is only 'week-to-week', not ruled out; Phoenix is cover if injuries occur.

Kalyn Ponga had surgery and stayed in Sydney, not Christchurch, but Stacey Jones hasn't ruled him out: "week-to-week." From New Zealand's media availability, Phoenix is understood to be "available if we get injuries." Casey McLean says his sore shoulder "rocked up really well."

Stowers-Smith could debut in Christchurch, but Jones says 'wait and see' and has no hesitation playing debutants.

"No hesitation to play players that haven't played a game," says New Zealand's Stacey Jones. Tanner Stowers-Smith could make a home debut in Christchurch, but Jones says that "doesn't come into thinking at all." Will he play? "We'll just wait and see."

Kini or Nicoll-Klokstad will cover Ponga at fullback with no starter named; Martin stays backup five-eighth.

Keano Kini or Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to cover Kalyn Ponga at fullback: New Zealand's Stacey Jones named both but no starter, adding Kini "did the job for us last year". Te Maire Martin stays backup five-eighth. No experimenting against the Cook Islands: "It's a Test match."

Walsh expects Tedesco to play against Fiji, but Walters is not settled on positions; Brailey is likely at hooker.

James Tedesco will play for Australia against Fiji and "make a headache" for Kevin Walters, Reece Walsh thinks. Walsh says Walters isn't "sold on anyone's position" and offered him hooker; he declined, saying Blayke Brailey "is good to get a game there".

Walsh is sore after his first game back and his role against Fiji is unknown; the ankle was checked.

Reece Walsh says "the body's a bit sore" after his first game back for Australia from a long layoff. Kevin Walters checked his ankle and promised him a chance once it was right. Walsh doesn't know his role against Fiji but will play wherever Walters needs him.

McDermott is open to changing England's 17 for France and will decide within 72 hours, naming nobody.

Changes to England's 17 for France after the Tonga loss? "It's never a no," Brian McDermott said. "I didn't wake up thinking that team needs to change." He will look at it over the next 72 hours, and expects a "stronger" France after their loss to Samoa.

Saifiti is back with Fiji after serving his suspension and is available, but no selection or role is confirmed.

Jacob Saifiti is back with Fiji after years away, his four-week suspension served. Mick Potter didn't see it coming: "It was fantastic. It was unexpected, but yeah, he's a great acquisition."

Marsters played through a partially ruptured Achilles and is still a few games from his best; the substitution was framed as tactical, not injury-related.

Esan Marsters came into the Cook Islands camp with a partially ruptured Achilles, Karmichael Hunt said, and is still a few games from his best. Taking him off around the 55th minute against Fiji "was really just about getting some fresher legs on there." New Zealand is next.

Niukore missed the Fiji loss with a groin and hip problem; his availability against New Zealand is not stated.

Marata Niukore, the Cook Islands co-captain, missed the loss to Fiji with the groin and hip problem he has been managing. Karmichael Hunt said: "to not have him available to come into camp, just from a pure presence point of view, it definitely hurt us."

Fainu was lost early against England with an unknown injury; Vaimauga stayed off with a split, and Woolf will wait and see before the Lebanon game.

Tonga lost Latu Fainu early against England, forcing a bench rethink. Kristian Woolf: "I'm not sure how bad that is just yet." Demitric Vaimauga passed his HIA but stayed off with a split. Woolf will "see how we go"; recovery comes first on the short turnaround to Lebanon.

Recap of Turuva's rehearsed fullback switch against Australia; no stated position or role for the New Zealand game.

Sunia Turuva's move to fullback against Australia was rehearsed. Fiji coach Mick Potter called it "a thing that we did practice at training a little bit of, just in case there was a plan B," and said Turuva's communication from the back helped. New Zealand are next.

England had no major injuries after France and may be eliminated; no named player or role change.

England came through France with "no major stuff", Brian McDermott said, though bumps forced a late reshuffle. He accepted they could be going home after Papua New Guinea, depending on other results: "I'm not sure what more we could have done."

Recap of edge errors and nerves expectation; no named player role change or selection information.

"We also made some changes on the edges, and we made a few errors on the back of that." Kristian Woolf said some of Tonga's edge players hadn't played for a while. Jason Taumalolo expects nerves against Samoa, with several players in their first Tonga-Samoa game.

Recap that Francis was fit for the last Test after rehabbing an injury; no stated effect on the next game.

Tupou Francis was fine to play in Lebanon's last Test, coach Michael Cheika said. Francis arrived at the World Cup carrying an end-of-season injury and rehabbed his way back rather than opting out: "he just had to rehab his injury through, that's all."

No new injuries 'as of yet' and an unchanged game plan; no named player or role change.

England have no injuries from the loss to Tonga, "none as of yet," Brian McDermott said, and the game plan isn't changing: "We just got to be more patient and not cough the ball up as much as we did." With two pool games left, "We've got to win the next 2 games."