NRL casualty ward round 24: Penrith caretaker coach Cameron Ciraldo hoses down Peter Wallace recall rumours
FORGET the change of coach, the Penrith Panthers are in the midst of an injury crisis as the finals loom.
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PENRITH caretaker coach Cameron Ciraldo says it would be “extremely unlikely” for him to recall retired hooker Peter Wallace despite the club’s injury crisis.
On top of slipping to sixth position with one regular season round remaining, the mountain men suffered two serious injuries to Dean Whare and Wayde Egan.
Whare season is over after he broke his arm against the Warriors while Egan picked up a suspected medial ligament injury and will undergo scans.
Dean Whare X-ray. Feel for him. Great player and club man. pic.twitter.com/Rv2MKIoMsl
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) August 25, 2018
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Five-eighth Tyrone Peachey also battled through Friday’s loss to the Warriors with a knee injury.
These injuries could leave Penrith without a starting hooker — sparking speculation the club will send an SOS to Wallace.
According to coach Ciraldo, though, it won’t happen.
“No not at this stage,” Ciraldo said about playing Wallace, who has moved into assistant coaching at Penrith since retiring in June.
“It hasn’t been spoken about and it would be extremely unlikely.”
Penrith’s chances of finishing in the top four to secure a home final look over.
The Panthers must beat the Storm in Melbourne on Friday and hope other results go their way to claim a top four position.
In a major boost, playmaker James Maloney will be fit to face Melbourne, while Jack Hetherington will again be available for selection after serving a two-match suspension.
* Kalyn Ponga (ankle) was a pre-game withdrawal for the Knights. He is also expected to miss next week, which would mean his season is over.
* Euan Aitken (hamstring) and Rhyse Martin (knee) limped off in the Dragons v Bulldogs clash, while the career of Jason Nightingale (dislocated elbow) could be over. Cameron McInnes (concussion) also failed to finish.
* Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough suffered a serious concussion in a controversial tackle from Dylan Napa. He also suffered a cut to the mouth but was cleared of any fracture. Napa (dangerous contact) is facing 3-4 weeks for the hit.
Thanks to everyone for the amazing msgs I’m slowly getting back to each and everyone of you, Dylan has apologised numerous amount of times, he’s a quality guy and I will be alrightðŸ™ðŸ‘ have a fantastic Sunday!! Exciting times ahead
— Andrew McCullough (@AndrewMac999) August 26, 2018
* Parramatta prop Siosaia Vave and North Queensland’s Jake Granville (both dangerous contact) can escape suspension with early guilty pleas.
* Paul Vaughan will miss the rest of the season after suffering a foot injury at training during the week.
* Warriors back Gerard Beale (hamstring) and Cowboys fullback Te Marie Martin (ankle) and Cronulla five-eighth Matt Moylan (leg) were pre-game withdrawals.
* Lachlan Fitzgibbon (concussion) failed to finish for the Knights.
FULL NRL CASUALTY WARD
BRONCOS
Andrew McCullough (Concussion, TBC)
Andre Savelio (ACL, Season)
Matt Gillett (Broken neck, Season)
Payne Haas (Shoulder, Season)
Jack Bird (Sternum, Indefinite)
Jaydn Su’A (Leg/foot, Season)
BULLDOGS
Kieran Foran (Foot, Season)
Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Hand/Knee, Season)
Marcelo Montoya (Hamstring, Season)
Rhyse Martin (Knee, TBC)
COWBOYS
Te Marie Martin (Ankle, TBC)
Sam Hoare (ACL, Season)
Michael Morgan (Bicep, Season)
Josh Chudleigh (Knee, Season)
Antonio Winterstein (Knee, Retired)
DRAGONS
Gareth Widdop (Shoulder, Indefinite)
Paul Vaughan (Foot, Season)
Euan Aitken (Hamstring, TBC)
Jason Nightingale (Dislocated elbow, TBC)
Cameron McInnes (Concussion, TBC)
EELS
Tony Williams (ACL, Season)
Beau Scott (ACL, Season)
Manu Ma’u (Cheekbone, Season)
Josh Hoffman (Shoulder, Season)
Kaysa Pritchard (Shoulder, Season)
Daniel Alvaro (Concussion/knee, Round 25)
Nathan Brown (Knee, Season)
Will Smith (Hamstring, Round 25)
KNIGHTS
Kalyn Ponga (Ankle, Season)
Slade Griffin (Knee, Season)
Tautau Moga (ACL, Season)
Jacob Saifiti (Shoulder, Indefinite)
Nathan Ross (Groin, Indefinite)
Jacob Lillyman (Abdominal, Indefinite)
Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Concussion, TBC)
PANTHERS
Tyrone Peachey (Knee, TBC)
Dean Whare (Broken arm, Season)
Wayde Egan (Knee, TBC)
Sam McKendry (ACL, Season)
Tim Browne (Ruptured bowel, Retired)
Dylan Edwards (Shoulder, Season)
Peter Wallace (Shoulder, Retired)
Jarome Luai (Ankle, Season)
Jack Hetherington (Suspension, Round 25)
James Maloney (Neck/knee, Round 25)
RABBITOHS
Robert Jennings (Hamstring, Finals)
Adam Doueihi (ACL, Season)
Mark Nicholls (Fractured fibula, Indefinite)
Richie Kennar (Foot, Indefinite)
RAIDERS
Ata Hingano (Ankle, Season)
Jack Wighton (Disciplinary, Season)
Jarrod Croker (Knee, Season)
Michael Oldfield (Knee, Season)
Aidan Sezer (Hamstring, Round 25)
Joseph Tapine (Broken thumb, Season)
ROOSTERS
Bernard Lewis (ACL, Season)
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Ribs, Finals)
Dylan Napa (Facing suspension, TBC)
SEA EAGLES
Apisai Koroisau (Foot, Season)
Curtis Sironen (ACL, Season)
Lachlan Croker (ACL, Season)
Akuila Uate (Ankle, Season)
SHARKS
Matt Moylan (Leg, Round 25)
Jack Williams (Pectoral, Season)
Jesse Ramien (Ankle, Round 25)
Ricky Leutele (Knee, Finals)
STORM
Ryan Hoffman (Hamstring, Season)
Jahrome Hughes (Knee, Round 25)
Will Chambers (Suspension, Finals week 2)
Suliasi Vunivalu (Hamstring, Round 25)
Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Ankle, Finals week two)
Brandon Smith (Knee, Finals week one)
TITANS
Dale Copley (Hamstring, Season)
Max King (Shoulder, Season)
Morgan Boyle (Shoulder, Season)
Michael Gordon (Wrist, Indefinite)
Tyrone Roberts-Davis (Neck, Season)
WARRIORS
Nathaniel Roache (Back, Season)
Blake Green (Corked thigh, Round 25)
Gerard Beale (Hamstring, Round 25)
WESTS TIGERS
Josh Reynolds (Shoulder, Season)
Corey Thompson (Ankle, Season)
Elijah Taylor (Cork, Round 25)