NRL preliminary finals teams 2020: Campbell Graham to miss with groin injury as Jed Cartwright gets the nod
Instead of being demoralised by losing a backline star on the eve of the big preliminary final showdown with Penrith, Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett was talking up his replacement. TEAMS HERE.
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Wayne Bennett has shown faith in the son of a Panthers legend to end Penrith’s golden run and help South Sydney clinch an NRL grand final berth.
Bennett will turn to six-game rookie Jed Cartwright following the scratching of star centre Campbell Graham (groin) for Saturday night’s preliminary final blockbuster at ANZ Stadium.
It will be Cartwright’s first NRL starting appearance in the grand final qualifier against his former club.
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Jed’s father John Cartwright is a 185-game Panthers legend while his late grandfather Merv was one of Penrith’s founding fathers.
A Gold Coast junior, Jed made his NRL debut for the Panthers last year but only managed one game before joining South Sydney midway through this season.
Bennett said the young Cartwright was a supremely talented player and backed him to rise to the occasion against the rampant Panthers who have won their past 16 games.
“I see a really good football player there actually,” said the Rabbitohs coach.
“He is well-skilled and has good attributes. I like what he brings. The players like playing with him, he’s reliable, we can trust him.
“He has been playing a fair bit there (centre) with us since we brought him into first grade, he’s played there nearly every week at some stage.
“We are pretty confident in him. He’s played a lot of centre in his football career.
“It (Cartwright) is a great name. His father was a wonderful player, I coached against him, and his grandfather was very instrumental in the building of the club.
“It’s 2020 now and he’s playing for Souths.”
John Cartwright was the foundation coach of the Gold Coast Titans from 2007-14.
At 194cm Jed Cartwright, 23, is a towering backrower like his father and came through renowned league nursery Palm Beach Currumbin.
He was part of the Titans’ development system before joining Penrith, but suffered multiple injuries during four years at the Panthers, including a broken back, and has flourished in a change of scenery at Redfern.
“He had a major injury every year in his first three years at Penrith,” said John.
“He had a broken bone in his back that kept him out for a fair while then osteitis pubis (groin and hip problem) for a whole year and then he dislocated his shoulder and needed a reconstruction.
“They were his first three years at Penrith. This year COVID hit and they had no football.
“When young guys are growing that’s when they’re most vulnerable to injury. Unfortunately he copped some pretty bad ones. He’s probably only just stopped growing.
“He’s got an opportunity he probably never thought he’d get this year. To his credit, he has gone out and made the most of it.
“Wayne put him on last week with 20 to go (against Parramatta) and they were only two points in front. The faith and confidence they’ve shown in him is something that players don’t forget.”
The “Cartwright” name is one of the most famous at the foot of the Blue Mountains and John admitted Jed may have struggled to live up to his reputation.
“He’s never admitted it and I’m not sure he thinks that way but there was an awful lot of pressure on him out there with his surname,” he said.
“Injuries can be depressing at times and there was an expectation he would play a bit of first grade out there.
“In hindsight, it was probably a good thing for him to get out of there and start afresh.
“They were good about it. He got a chance at Souths and they let him go. There is certainly no hard feelings anywhere.
“Wayne has definitely had an impact on him with the fact he’s shown a fair bit of faith in Jed.
“He’s only had a handful of first grade games but he’s brought him in late in the year and they’ve been in knockout semis for the last two weeks.
“That would fill him full of confidence.”
While John Cartwright will soon join the Brisbane Broncos as Kevin Walters’ assistant coach, the Panthers are a club he holds dear to his heart.
But there is no doubting where his allegiance will lie on Saturday night.
“I am 100 per cent behind the Bunnies,” he said.
“To see your kids fulfil their dreams…it’s hard to explain the feeling.
“You know how hard they’ve worked and the drama they’ve gone through to get to a point where they get a chance to do something like this.
“Every kid that’s played rugby league has run around the backyard at some point wishing they could play NRL. Only a very small percentage get to do it.
“You don’t get a chance to pick and choose where you play these days. You are a victim of circumstance on occasions.
“To see him playing first grade and how happy he is...if they were able to make a grand final it would be a fairy tale for him.
“It’s another adventure and he’s having the time of his life.”
FULL TEAMS
Melbourne Storm v Canberra Raiders
Fri October 16 2020, 7:50pm at Suncorp Stadium
Melbourne Storm
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Brenko Lee 4. Justin Olam 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith 10. Christian Welch 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Nicholas Hynes 18. Dale Finucane 19. Paul Momirovski 20. Ryley Jacks 21. Chris Lewis
Analysis: Cameron Munster (knee) retains his spot despite an injury scare. Dale Finucane (calf) is also a huge chance after being named on the extended bench. Tom Eisenhuth replaces Chris Lewis on the bench in the only change to the 17.
Canberra Raiders
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Semi Valemi 3. Jarrod Croker 4. Jordan Rapana 5. Nick Cotric 6. Jack Wighton 7. George Williams 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Iosia Soliola 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine 14. Siliva Havili 15. Dunamis Lui 16. Hudson Young 17. Corey Harawira-Naera 18. Sam Williams 19. Matthew Timoko 20. Ryan Sutton 21. Michael Oldfield
Analysis: Same 17 players. Ryan Sutton (knee) has been included in reserves despite fears his season was over.
Penrith Panthers v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Sat October 17 2020, 7:50pm at ANZ Stadium
Penrith Panthers
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Josh Mansour 3. Brent Naden 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. James Tamou 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Tyrone May 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Moses Leota 17. Zane Tetevano 18. Mitch Kenny 19. Dean Whare 20. Matt Burton 21. Jack Hetherington
Analysis: Kurt Capewell starts for Viliame Kikau (suspension). Spencer Leniu joins the bench.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
1. Corey Allan 2. Alex Johnston 16. Jed Cartwright 4. Dane Gagai 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Jaydn Su’A 12. Bayley Sironen 13. Cameron Murray 14. Mark Nicholls 15. Liam Knight 17. Keaon Koloamatangi 18. Steven Marsters 19. Hame Sele 20. Troy Dargan 21. Patrick Mago
Analysis: Campbell Graham comes out with a groin injury, and Jed Cartwright comes on to face his old team. Hame Sele moves onto the bench.
ORIGIN GUNS FIRM FOR STORM
Melbourne Storm star Dale Finucane is bullish about being cleared to face Canberra Raiders in Friday night’s preliminary final despite missing nine weeks with a torn calf.
Finucane completed a modified session, including some contact, on Monday. He has been named on an extended bench.
Premiership lock Finucane was on track to get back a fortnight ago but a calf relapse thwarted those plans.
“I only really kicked on a little bit towards the back end of last week, what I was able to do on the field and specific football-related things at training,” Finucane said.
“I only made a progression onto that Sunday, I did some contact stuff this morning and I’ll try and integrate completely with the team.
“Once I get through all those things it will give me a lot more confidence, I’m optimistic and confident I’ll be involved in the game.”
Finucane pinged the calf just days after the Round 14 win over Sydney Roosters.
The risk of coming back too soon and potentially missing out on a grand final, should Storm get by the Raiders at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, does not faze the Origin lock.
“Nothing is in concrete,” Finucane said.
“Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be a lot more volume, the most volume I’ve done the past few weeks, it will all be dependent on how I get through that work whether or not I play.
“I got through a contact component of training today (Monday) … I didn’t have any issues with any of the contact or running the ball and getting tackled.
“The biggest thing for me, obviously, would be the load, or the lack of running I haven’t done.”
Despite the setback, Finucane, a noted workhorse in the gym, has managed to stay match fit with cardio-focused weights circuits as well as time spent on a grinder, bike and rowing machine.
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The relapse on the eve of the finals only sharpened Finucane’s focus to work harder.
“I was never really putting a time frame on (the injury) myself,” Finucane said.
“My main thinking or mentality of it was if I do all my rehab right, icing and compressions, do everything right then that (comeback) will take care of itself.
“Obviously, it is out of my control what happens (at selection) … hopefully I get through all my tests this week and I’ll be OK to play.”
Finucane joined the chorus of Storm personnel backing captain Cameron Smith’s public silence about his future.
“He’s still thriving,” Finucane said.
“It’s not as if he’s someone on the way out in terms of his playing ability.
“He’s earned the right to do whatever he likes in terms of the time he takes to make his decision.”
— Gilbert Gardiner
MUNSTER IN NO DOUBT DESPITE KNEE DRAMA
Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster is in “no doubt” of playing in Friday’s preliminary final against the Raiders in a do-or-die clash for a spot in this year’s grand final.
Munster has been nursing a minor knee injury for the past week - suffered in their 36-24 qualifying final win over Parramatta.
It was feared his season was over when he limped off in the 70th minute of the match, throwing away his mouthguard in frustration as he made his way to the sideline.
However, Storm officials are confident their five-eighth is fit enough to take on the Canberra Raiders in Friday’s blockbuster clash at Suncorp Stadium.
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Melbourne football manager Frank Ponissi confirmed the news on Sunday, revealing Munster will return to full contact training this week.
“(Munster) is expected to fully train with the team,” Ponissi said.
“There are no doubts on him whatsoever”.
Melbourne’s week off has come as a huge advantage, allowing players such as Munster and Fijian winger Suliasi Vunivalu to freshen up from niggling injuries.
It sets up for an enticing blockbuster against the Raiders in a rematch of last year’s semi-final clash where the Green Machine overcame Melbourne to book a spot in the grand final.
However, Munster’s return this week is no clear indication whether he will don a Maroons jersey in this year’s Origin series.
As revealed by The Courier-Mail on Friday, Munster could be the eighth Queensland player to be rubbed out of this year’s series through injury.
It comes as Michael Morgan, Kyle Feldt, David Fifita, Moses Mbye, Corey Oates and Ash Taylor have all been scratched from the Maroons train-on squad because of injury.
Ponissi last week said the club would give Munster the green light to play Origin but conceded he needed a break.
“If he needed surgery or playing on was risking further injury then we would definitely be having a discussion with him,” he said.
“But the medical staff are very happy for him (to play Origin).
“The ligaments are fine but there’s a little bursa behind the knee and when he gets a whack on the knee it gets swollen. He needs a good rest and to rehab it and he’s not going to get that until after Origin.”
— Chris Honnery
Originally published as NRL preliminary finals teams 2020: Campbell Graham to miss with groin injury as Jed Cartwright gets the nod