NRL Finals Late Mail: Jeremiah Nanai cleared for Cowboys, Victor Radley set to play for Roosters vs Manly clash

Injured Cowboys star Jeremiah Nanai is set to play through the pain, while the Roosters are hoping enforcer Victor Radley can make a miracle recovery. See all team changes for finals Week Two.

Injured Cowboys star Jeremiah Nanai is set to receive a painkilling injection after the Queensland Origin forward was given the green light to play in Friday night’s finals blockbuster against the Sharks.

‘Air Nanai’ has been cleared for takeoff by doctors and this masthead understands the classy back-rower will have a needle in his damaged shoulder to play through the pain barrier at Allianz Stadium.

Nanai has been carrying the injury for several months and came from the field in the 66th minute of North Queensland’s 28-16 finals elimination of Newcastle last Saturday night in Townsville.

Injured Cowboys star Jeremiah Nanai is set to receive a painkilling injection and play through the pain against the Sharks. Picture: NRL Imagery

There were fears Nanai could be ruled out of the Sharks clash, but Cowboys medicos have assessed the 21-year-old and deemed he can do no further damage to his injured AC joint.

Nanai’s brilliance on the edge could break open a tense semi-final at Allianz Stadium and the tryscoring back-rower will have painkilling assistance to get him through the sudden-death affair.

Cowboys coach Todd Payten confirmed Nanai will be a certain starter against the Sharks and says while his strike weapon is under duress, his battered shoulder won’t require surgical repair.

“Jeremiah is like many others at this time of year, they are all carrying something,” Payten said.

“The reports from the physio are that they (Nanai and winger Murray Taulagi) are good to go.

“Jeremiah is one of a few at the moment playing hurt, but that’s what we have to do.

“He had a bit of ice on his body after the (Knights) game but he understands what it will take if he wants to keep playing.

“Jeremiah won’t need surgery, he just needs a rest.”

—Peter Badel

ROOSTERS REVEAL RADLEY PLAN

—Michael Carayannis

The Roosters are privately confident that Victor Radley will make his return from a serious shoulder injury to play the Sea Eagles on Saturday.

Provided there are no setbacks it is expected that Radley will make his comeback from the interchange bench to play the Sea Eagles on Saturday night.

If he does play, Siua Wong would be the player most likely omitted from the bench.

The Roosters are following a similar blueprint to the one they used to help nurse Cooper Cronk through the 2018 decider. It is understood Radley’s injury is not as significant.

The Roosters are hoping Victor Radley can make a miracle recovery from injury. Picture: NRL Photos

NRL FINALS WEEK TWO TEAMS

SHARKS vs COWBOYS

Friday, 7:50pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Sharks

1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 22. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes

Interchange: 3. Siosifa Talakai 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 17. Thomas Hazelton

Reserves: 14. Daniel Atkinson

Cut: 18. Braden Hamlin-Uele 19. Tuka Hau Tapuha 21. Samuel Stonestreet 20. Jayden Berrell

Cowboys

1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Viliami Vailea 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Jake Clifford 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Jason Taumalolo 11. Heilum Luki 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Reuben Cotter

Interchange: 14. Sam McIntyre 15. Harrison Edwards 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 17. Griffin Neame

Reserves: 18. Jaxon Purdue

Cut: 19. Chad Townsend 20. Thomas Mikaele 21. Braidon Burns 22. Tom Chester

ROOSTERS vs SEA EAGLES

Saturday, 7:50pm, Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Roosters

1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Naufahu Whyte

Interchange: 14. Siua Wong 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Nat Butcher 17. Terrell May

Reserves: 18. Zach Dockar-Clay 19. Fetalaiga Pauga 20. Blake Steep 21. Michael Jennings 22. Victor Radley

Sea Eagles

1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Tommy Talau 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Matthew Lodge 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Karl Lawton 13. Jake Trbojevic

Interchange: 14. Ben Trbojevic 15. Josh Aloiai 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Nathan Brown

Reserves: 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Jamie Humphreys 20. Toafofoa Sipley 21. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 22. Corey Waddell

Originally published as NRL Finals Late Mail: Jeremiah Nanai cleared for Cowboys, Victor Radley set to play for Roosters vs Manly clash