NRL 2023 Casualty Ward: Dolphins star Jeremy Marshall-King could miss rest of season
A makeshift hooker is firming to stand-in for a patched-up Dolphins side reeling from the news that star rake Jeremy Marshall-King could be gone for the season.
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Ray Stone is in the frame to play at hooker for a patched-up Dolphins side reeling from the news that star rake Jeremy Marshall-King could be gone for the season with a shoulder injury.
Bennett used lock Stone at hooker in round 14 against the Warriors when Marshall-King was unavailable after suffering the AC joint injury a week earlier against the Dragons.
Stone could replace Marshall-King in the No.9 jumper next Sunday against the Gold Coast Titans with Jarrod Wallace, who can slot in at lock, due back from suspension this week.
Bennett said Marshall-King had battled through the shoulder injury in Saturday’s 24-16 loss to the Brisbane Broncos at the Gabba.
“He did (play well) but he’s still got a bit of a shoulder problem so I don’t know how long we’ll have him back for,” Bennett said.
“Looks like it might be a bit ongoing that one.
“He’s a wonderful player and we probably had him at about 75 per cent tonight and we may have to go the rest of the season without him, I’m not sure.”
“It’s the same [shoulder]. He’s hurt it again.”
The injury had initially sidelined Marshall-King for a week, but the dummy-half only managed 40 minutes when he returned in round 15 against Manly.
The 27-year-old courageously lasted the 80 minutes on Saturday night to play through the pain barrier but that could come at a cost for the Dolphins.
“These things are about pain and what you can and what you can’t handle, so we just have to wait and see,” Bennett said.
Utility playmaker Kodi Nikorima is another option at dummy-half.
But Nikorima is being used at fullback with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow moved into the centres as cover for thinning outside back stocks.
“Hamiso is one of the best fullbacks in the game but we have a problem with our centres at the moment and we had to do something about it,” Bennett said.
Losing Marshall-King on the run home is a blow to the Dolphins’ finals chances, with the side slumping to four straight losses.
Bennett’s men will also drop four points outside of the top eight by the end of the weekend.
The crafty Kiwi’s work from dummy half, and defensive efforts, would be sorely missed if he is ruled forced to sit out the rest of the season.
The hooker’s relentless attitude helped the Dolphins nudge their noses in front against the Broncos on Saturday with a try in the 64th minute, keeping them in the contest.
Playmaker Anthony Milford is also due back this week from suspension.
Back-rower Felise Kaufusi could be in doubt for the Titans after he suffered a head knock on Saturday.
Centre Brenko Lee is out indefinitely with a leg injury, while Queensland forward Tom Gilbert is out for the season with a shoulder injury.
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Originally published as NRL 2023 Casualty Ward: Dolphins star Jeremy Marshall-King could miss rest of season
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