NRL Casualty Ward: James Segeyaro, Dean Whare eye Round 8 return for Panthers

PENRITH stars James Segeyaro and Dean Whare are eyeing returns, while a host of other NRL players have been struck down by injury.

James Segeyaro during a Panthers training session at Pepper Stadium .Picture Gregg Porteous

PENRITH stars James Segeyaro and Dean Whare are eyeing returns, while a host of other NRL players have been struck down by injury.

In the latest NRL injury updates:

* Penrith stars James Segeyaro (arm) and Dean Whare (calf) are both aiming to return in Round 8;

* Centre Sione Mata’utia (concussion) will miss Newcastle’s clash with the Tigers on Sunday;

* The Knights have also confirmed Robbie Rochow will be sidelined for 8-10 weeks after fracturing his arm at training;

* Playmaker Benji Marshall (hamstring) was a late withdrawal from the Dragons’ loss to the Broncos on Thursday night;

* Raiders forward Sia Soliola is out until Round 11 with a broken arm;

* Bulldogs centre Chase Stanley’s horror injury luck has returned and he’ll miss at least a couple of weeks with a hamstring strain;

* Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston (hamstring) is aiming for a return next week;

* Titans young gun Nathan Davis (shoulder) will return this week via the Queensland Cup, while halfback Tyrone Roberts (knee) hopes to be back next week;

Titan Nathan Davis will play Queensland Cup after recovering from a shoulder injury.

* Eels back-up half Luke Kelly will miss the rest of the year after rupturing his ACL;

* Storm centre Cheyse Blair (thigh) returns this week via Queensland Cup.

Panthers star Segeyaro has yet to commence contact work since breaking his arm against Canberra in round one, however Whare has shown considerable improvement after aggravating a calf strain in round two.

Panthers coach Anthony Griffin said both players had been making steady progress in their recoveries and could be back in time to face the Sharks.

“Whare had a really good run today, and `Chicko’, it’s just a matter of waiting until the break heals. It’s getting closer every week,” Griffin said ahead of Saturday’s match against North Queensland.

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James Segeyaro is on the comeback trail from a broken arm. Picture: Gregg Porteous

The return of Segeyaro would present the former Brisbane mentor with a serious selection dilemma after the rise of young gun Te Maire Martin at five-eighth and the surprise form of Peter Wallace at hooker.

Having been forced into a makeshift spine following the early-season injury crisis, Griffin said he didn’t want to speculate what he would do once his first-choice No. 9 comes back.

“Pete’s doing a good job there and our team’s functioned really well at the moment,” he said.

“It’s important we don’t get ahead of ourselves. A month ago we wouldn’t have thought our formation would look like it did now. You never know what it’s going to look like in a month’s time.”

Skipper Matt Moylan will play just his second game in almost a year after making a strong impression in his comeback game at fullback against the Eels last week.

“Particularly for his first game in such a long time, he did everything he could to get himself into the game. He’s obviously a little bit rusty at the moment but I was very happy with him,” Griffin said.

Forward Tyrone Peachey is also certain to play despite copping a knock to the head last week.

NRL CASUALTY WARD

BRONCOS

No injuries

RAIDERS

Jeff Lima (Hand, Round 10)

Sia Soliola (Broken arm, Round 11)

BULLDOGS

Chase Stanley (Hamstring, Round 8)

Brett Morris (Knee, Round 16)

SHARKS

Connor Tracey (ACL, Season)

TITANS

Nathaniel Peteru (Knee, Round 7)

Nathan Davis (Shoulder, Round 7)

Matt Srama (Knee, Season)

Kane Elgey (ACL, Season)

David Hala (Elbow, Round 12)

David Shillington (Hip flexor, Round 6)

Ashley Taylor (Shoulder, Round 6)

Oshae Tuiasau (MCL, Round 8)

Tyrone Roberts (Knee, Round 7)

SEA EAGLES

Jayden Hodges (ACL, Season)

Daly Cherry-Evans (Ankle, Round 9)

Jamie Buhrer (Broken thumb, Round 9)

Jake Trbojevic (Knee, Round 6)

Tom Symonds (Calf, Round 6)

Tim Moltzen (Knee, Indefinite)

Isaac John (Pectoral, Round 16)

STORM

Matthew White (Calf, Round 6)

Cheyse Blair (Thigh, Round 6)

Curtis Scott (Broken leg, Round 11)

Marika Koroibete (Suspension, Round 6)

Billy Slater (Shoulder, Season)

WARRIORS

Thomas Leuluai (ACL, Round 6)

Ben Henry (Knee, Indefinite)

Bodene Thompson (Ribs, Indefinite)

Nathaniel Roache (Ankle, Indefinite)

Manu Vatuvei (Hamstring, Indefinite)

Ligi Sao (Dislocated shoulder, Round 7)

KNIGHTS

David Bhana (Ankle, Round 10)

Chanel Mata’utia (Knee, Round 8)

James McManus (Concussion, Season)

Tariq Sims (Suspension, Round 6)

Daniel Saifiti (Knee, Round 6)

Sione Mata’utia (Concussion, Round 7)

Kade Snowden (Various, Round 7)

Jake Mamo (Ankle, Round 7)

Danny Levi (Back, Round 6)

COWBOYS

Tautau Moga (ACL, Round 6)

Ray Thompson (Broken leg, Round 10)

Kane Linnett (Shoulder, Round 7)

EELS

John Folau (Foot, Round 7)

Nathan Peats (Dislocated elbow, Round 6)

Tim Mannah (Shoulder, Round 8)

Luke Kelly (ACL, Season)

Anthony Watmough (Knee, Indefinite)

Matt Woods (Hamstring, Round 9)

Bevan French (Elbow, Round 10)

PANTHERS

Dean Whare (Calf, Round 8)

Viliame Kikau (Ankle, Indefinite)

James Segeyaro (Broken arm, Round 8)

Brendan Atwood (Arm, Indefinite)

RABBITOHS

John Sutton (Pectoral, Round 18)

Adam Reynolds (Broken jaw, Round 8)

Zane Musgrove (Wrist, Indefinite)

Angus Crichton (Groin, Round 8)

Bryson Goodwin (Groin, Round 6)

Alex Johnston (Hamstring, Round 7)

DRAGONS

Dylan Farrell (Back, Indefinite)

Benji Marshall (Hamstring, Round 7)

Yaw Kiti Glymin (Hamstring, Indefinite)

Ben Creagh (Knee, Indefinite)

Kurt Mann (Ankle, Indefinite)

Sebastine Ikahihifo (Ankle, Round 7)

Mose Masoe (ACL, Season)

ROOSTERS

Mitchell Pearce (Disciplinary, Round 9)

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (ACL, Indefinite)

Vincent Leuluai (Knee, Round 10)

Dale Copley (Pectoral, Round 20)

Ian Henderson (Broken leg, Indefinite)

Boyd Cordner (Pectoral, Round 8)

WESTS TIGERS

Matt Ballin (ACL, Round 10)

Justin Hunt (Back, Round 7)

Curtis Sironen (Hamstring, Round 6)

Tim Simona (Suspension, Round 9)

Originally published as NRL Casualty Ward: James Segeyaro, Dean Whare eye Round 8 return for Panthers