NRL finals casualty ward: Nathan Cleary facing fitness test; Oregon Kaufusi back for Sharks

Cronulla will regain the services of a key forward enforcer for their final against the Storm, while Penrith have revealed their plans to test Nathan Cleary’s injured shoulder. See all the injury news ahead of finals.

The Sharks will receive a major boost to their forward muscle with impressive prop Oregon Kaufusi set to return for a qualifying final clash with the Storm.

After starting every match in the front row for Cronulla this season, Kaufusi was rested from the Sharks dominant last round victory over the Sea Eagles last Sunday.

The front-rower has an outstanding work rate and dangerous offload with the most (27) of any Sharks forward this season.

Kaufusi will return to the Sharks 1-17 to tackle Melbourne at AAMI Park on Saturday afternoon, leaving Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon with a tough decision to make on who misses out from the team that secured fourth-spot last weekend.

Oregon Kaufusi of the Sharks. Picture: NRL Imagery

PANTHERS TO PUNISH CLEARY IN FINALS TEST

Nathan Cleary’s shoulder will have to survive a gauntlet of Penrith’s big men before the championship halfback is given the all clear to take the field against the Sydney Roosters on Friday night.

Cleary is racing the clock to overcome a shoulder injury suffered in round 24 in a bid to take the field as Penrith’s push for a history-making fourth-straight title heats up.

Halves partner Jarome Luai suffered a similar injury late last year and was forced to test the stability of his shoulder against the side’s forward pack, including the likes of James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota and Spencer Leniu.

Luai is expecting Cleary to undergo the same decisive fitness test during the week.

“For me last year, I needed to get my confidence before I knew I was ready. I appreciate Ivan (Cleary) for giving me that say,” Luai said.

“I just had the cubs and the big boys lining up coming at me … I could not have gotten any better practice.

“They put me through a good fitness test, when I got through that I was sweet. It’s more of a mental challenge than a physical one.”

Luai’s shoulder survived last year’s preliminary final before it was dislocated again in a tackle during the grand final with only 20 minutes left on the clock.

He is hoping Cleary does not suffer a similar fate this time around.

“Nah, mine was worse. I’ve been saying to him mine was 10 times worse,” Luai joked when asked about the severity of Cleary’s shoulder dislocation.

The Panthers shielded Nathan Cleary from finals media duties. Picture: Matt Blyth/Getty Images

“He’s ticking all the tight boxes, he’ll do whatever he can to get back.

“I got needled at halftime when I redid it. I didn’t last too long. Hopefully he doesn’t need a needle.”

Roosters rugby convert Mark Nawaqanitawase will make way for Dominic Young (calf) on the right wing, while Junior Pauga will be replaced by veteran Daniel Tupou (rested) on the left wing. Queensland forward Lindsay Collins was also given a break against South Sydney but will return to start alongside Spencer Leniu at prop.

It comes as Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans declared superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic was “ready to roll” for Sunday’s elimination final against Canterbury.

Tom Trbojevic is ready for to return to the field according to captain Daly Cherry-Evans. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Trbojevic missed Manly’s 40-20 home loss to North Queensland after picking up an AC joint shoulder injury that will likely require needling and pain management to get through the finals series.

Cherry-Evans warned his side could not afford to take the Bulldogs lightly, even though Trbojevic’s timely injection will be a shot in the arm to Manly’s chances at Accor Stadium.

“It’s a trap, it’s a trap for sure,” Cherry-Evans said.

“It’s really important for us not to fall into that. It is nice to have him back and we want him to play because he is a great player but, ultimately, there is going to have to be 12 other players out there to do their job for Tommy to shine. We know that. We have had Tommy in and out enough to know that when he is in, we can’t rely on him but he is a great inclusion for us.”

The return of Jason Saab remains uncertain. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Manly flyer Jason Saab is still a week-to-week proposition as he recovers from an ankle injury and is in doubt to take the field.

Canterbury’s hopes of bouncing back from a late-season form slump will be given a boost by the return of five-eighth Matt Burton (concussion), in place of Drew Hutchison. Winger Josh Addo-Carr (ankle) and centre Bronson Xerri (suspension) will return with last week’s debutants Eli Clark and Johnathan Sua to drop out of the side.

Boom back Jacob Kiraz is awaiting scan results on a shoulder injury suffered in a collision with Valentine Holmes in Saturday’s 44-6 loss to North Queensland.

Title favourites Melbourne will name a full-strength outfit in the first qualifying final against Cronulla at AAMI Park with Ryan Papenhuyzen (bone bruising) and Christian Welch (illness) to play.

The Sharks have their own injury concerns with prop cult hero Tom Hazelton in serious doubt with a knee injury, while centre Jesse Ramien is racing the clock to overcome an ankle issue.

Originally published as NRL finals casualty ward: Nathan Cleary facing fitness test; Oregon Kaufusi back for Sharks