NRL 2020: Sonny Bill Williams ruled out of Roosters-Panthers clash
The Roosters have suffered another blow ahead of their clash against the Panthers, with another star joining Jake Friend on the sidelines. Here’s how every team will line up.
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Sonny Bill Williams, one of rugby league’s biggest drawcards, is a shock withdrawal from the Sydney Roosters side on the eve of this season’s NRL finals.
Williams had a neck injury flare up over the past 48 hours and withdraw from the side to play Penrith at Panthers Stadium on Friday night.
“Sonny Bill Williams has been ruled out for the Roosters this weekend due to the flare up of a neck complaint,” said NRL physio.
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“There was some increased injury concern considering SBW’s lack of game play in recent months. Neck not the most common location for acclimation injury though.”
It is a significant blow to the Roosters side and the match’s attraction. Williams’ withdraw has forced Roosters coach Trent Robinson into a late and irritating reshuffle.
The former All Black has been building nicely in his much-hyped return to the NRL.
It is expected he will miss just the one game.
Williams’ late withdrawal will further damage the Roosters’ chances of snapping Penrith’s unbelievable 15-game winning streak.
Roosters forward Nat Butcher has been promoted to the interchange bench while Matt Ikuvalu has been withdrawn from the squad.
The Roosters bench is now Butcher, Lachlan Lam, Lindsay Collins and Angus Crichton.
Veteran Mitch Aubusson and rookie Poasa Faamausili are the remaining reserves in jumpers 19 and 20.
Williams spoke to the media on Sunday and gave no indication he was in any doubt for the big match.
Reflecting on the Roosters’ horror 60-8 loss to Souths last Friday night, Williams said: “It was the wake-up we needed.
“This week will be massive challenge but if we can remove the emotions and take the loss on the chin, because Souths were awesome. Everything they seemed to touch turned to gold.
“It was a tough night, embarrassing. But, I think you guys know my approach to life, there’s more to life than footy – the glass half full, always. But it was one of those nights. We let the boys down, let the club down and everyone in it.”
PANTHERS V ROOSTERS
Friday 2 October, Panthers Stadium, Penrith, 7.50pm
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 (C) 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo.
Interchange: 14. Tyrone May 15. Kurt Capewell 16. Moses Leota 17. Zane Tetevano
Reserves: 18. Mitch Kenny 19. Dean Whare 20. Matt Burton 21. Spencer Leniu
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Team news: Back to full-strength with Dylan Edwards, Viliame Kikau and Stephen Crichton all returning after being rested. Edwards replaces Daine Laurie at fullback. Kikau replaces Kurt Capewell on the left edge. Crichton replaces Tyrone May at centre, with May dropping to the bench and Matt Burton dropping out. Winger Brian To’o is racing the clock due to an ankle injury.
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Josh Morris 4. Joey Manu 5. Brett Morris 6. Luke Keary 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Boyd Cordner (C) 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Isaac Liu
Interchange: 14. Nat Butcher 15. Lachlan Lam 16. Lindsay Collins 17. Angus Crichton
Reserves: 18. Matt Ikuvalu 19. Daniel Fifita 20. Lachlan Lam 21. Poasa Faamausili 22. Mitch Aubusson
Team news: Jake Friend and Sonny Bill Williams have been ruled out of the clash. Centre Joey Manu, winger Brett Morris and middle forwards Lindsay Collins and Isaac Liu return after being rested.
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RAIDERS V SHARKS
Saturday 3 October, GIO Stadium, Canberra, 5.40pm
Raiders: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Semi Valemi 3. Jarrod Croker (C) 4. Jordan Rapana 5. Nick Cotric 6. Jack Wighton 7. George Williams 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Dunamis Lui 11. John Bateman 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Joseph Tapine
Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili 15. Sia Soliola 16. Hudson Young 17. Corey Harawira-Naera
Reserves: 18. Sam Williams 19. Kai O’Donnell 20. Michael Oldfield 21. Matthew Timoko
Team news: All the big guns are back after nine players were rested last week - Jack Wighton, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, George Williams, Jarrod Croker, John Bateman, Jordan Rapana, Josh Papali’i, Elliott Whitehead and Joe Tapine. Forward Ryan Sutton will miss the rest of the season after scans confirmed an MCL injury that will keep him sidelined for 6-8 weeks.
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Josh Dugan 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Connor Tracey 7. Chad Townsend 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham (C) 13. Toby Rudolf.
Interchange: 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Andrew Fifita 17. Jack Williams
Reserves: 18. Teig Wilton 19. Braydon Trindall 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Bryson Goodwin
Team news: Chad Townsend (suspension) is back from a three-game ban and slots straight into the halves, allowing Wade Graham to revert to his favoured position on the edge. Six players return after being rested last week - Sione Katoa, Josh Dugan, Jesse Ramien, Blayke Brailey, Siosifa Talakai and Toby Rudolf.
STORM V EELS
Saturday 3 October, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 7.50pm
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 (C) 10. Christian Welch 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
Interchange: 14. Brandon Smith 15. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 16. Tom Eisenhuth 17. Nicho Hynes
Reserves: 18. Darryn Schonig, 19. Isaac Lumelume, 20. Albert Vete, 21. Ryley Jacks
Team news: Back to full strength after playing a near-reserve grade team last week, with big guns Cameron Smith and Cameron Munster among the cavalry. Suliasi Vunivalu (hamstring) will be named and is hopeful of playing.
Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson (C) 2. Maika Sivo 3. Michael Jennings 4. Waqa Blake 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Ryan Matterson 13. Nathan Brown
Interchange: 14. Will Smith 15. Andrew Davey 16. Kane Evans 17. Marata Niukore
Reserves: 18. Ray Stone 19. Brad Takairangi 20. Oregon Kaufusi 21. Daniel Alvaro
Team news: Star five-eighth Dylan Brown (ankle) has been named in the starting side in a massive boost for the Eels, while Michael Jennings and Reagan Campbell-Gillard are big inclusions after sitting out last week. Marata Niukore (ribs) also returns.
RABBITOHS v KNIGHTS
Sunday 4 October, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, 4.05pm
Rabbitohs: 1. Corey Allan 2. Alex Johnston 3. Campbell Graham 4. Dane Gagai 5. Jaxson Paulo 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds (C) 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Jaydn Su’A 12. Bayley Sironen 13. Cameron Murray
Interchange: 14. Mark Nicholls 15. Liam Knight 16. Jed Cartwright 17. Keaon Koloamatangi
Reserves: 18. Steve Marsters 19. Hame Sele 20. Troy Dargan 21. Patrick Mago
Team news: No significant changes following their thrashing of two-time defending premiers the Roosters, although Jaydn Su’A (suspension) returns in the back row and Tevita Tatola gets a start ahead of Liam Knight in the front row.
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Enari Tuala 4. Bradman Best 5. Hymel Hunt 6. Mason Lino 7. Mitchell Pearce (C) 8. David Klemmer 9. Kurt Mann 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 12. Aidan Guerra 13. Mitchell Barnett
Interchange: 14. Chris Randall 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Herman Ese’ese 17. Sione Mata’utia
Reserves: 18 Josh King 19. Gehamat Shibasaki 20. Tex Hoy 21. Brodie Jones
Team news: Lachlan Fitzgibbon (groin) returns in the back row in the only change. Sione Mata’utia drops to the bench with Brodie Jones making way. Mitchell Barnett is expected to be named despite racial abuse allegations made by Tyrone Peachey. The matter is expected to be resolved by the end of the week.