NRL Early Mail Round 21: Predicted team changes
The Panthers are desperately searching for a five-eighth for this weekend’s must-win clash against the Sharks with their three top options set to be unavailable.
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The Panthers are desperately searching for a five-eighth for this weekend’s must-win clash against the Sharks with their three top options set to be unavailable.
Veteran playmaker James Maloney is facing suspension, while backups Jarome Luai (eye) and Tyrone May (stood down) are out.
Nathan Cleary is certain to be named at halfback, but the Panthers only have one other realistic playmaking option on their books in 20-year-old Dean Blore.
Blore’s NSW Cup halves partner Matt Burton is well regarded but is likely far too raw to step into the top grade.
Maloney will be named in his customary No. 6 jumper but must beat a tripping charge at the judiciary, where he faces a one-match ban.
Meanwhile, young gun Luai has been ruled out indefinitely with an eye injury.
“Luai continues to suffer from double vision after being poked in the eye by Bulldogs prop Dylan Napa in the second half of Saturday’s game at Bankwest Stadium,” the Panthers said.
“He will receive specialist medical advice this week to help determine the best course of action for a full recovery.”
May remains unavailable after being stood down in March under the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy.
Hooker Wayde Egan suffered a recurrence of an ongoing shoulder issue on the weekend and has also been ruled out.
The Broncos are set to have Andrew McCullough on hand for the Queensland derby against the Cowboys despite a shoulder injury.
The tough hooker made it through just 21 minutes against the Storm on Friday before coming off with a “burner”.
However, the Broncos have cleared McCullough of serious injury and he is set to play in Round 21 as long as he gets through a contact session on Tuesday.
“He is looking really good,” said head of performance Paul Devlin. “We will see how he goes with some contact tomorrow (Tuesday). He got what is known as a ‘burner’, which is really a neural injury.
CASUALTY WARD: Weekend injury report
“It causes a loss of power and a loss of strength, and he was struggling to pass the ball, which is why he did not return to the field. They can be quite painful injuries, but settle very quickly and there is no longer-term damage in there.
“As long as he can tackle and do his job to pass the footy, we would hope he would get through everything tomorrow and be available to play.”
Meanwhile, Penrith star James Maloney will contest his tripping charge at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday in a bid to play in their crucial battle with Cronulla on Friday.
And South Sydney captain Sam Burgess will join him in an attempt to also avoid suspension and face ladder leaders Melbourne on Sunday.
Burgess was slapped with a grade-two careless high tackle charge stemming from his shot on Cronulla fullback Matt Moylan on Saturday.
The controversial incident came under the spotlight after the NRL admitted a technical glitch resulted in a belated head injury assessment for Moylan (WATCH FULL VIDEO ABOVE).
Burgess on Monday pleaded guilty to the charge, but will look for a downgrade at the judiciary that will result in a monetary fine.
He will then be free to play against the Storm on the Central Coast. However, should Burgess be found guilty the English international will be sidelined for two games and will instead be back for their round 23 clash with Brisbane.
Maloney is facing a one-game ban for his grade-one trip on Canterbury hooker Jeremy Marshall-King late in the Panthers’ loss on Saturday night.
JUST IN - James Maloney has been charged with tripping and due to carryover points is facing a one-week suspension with the early guilty plea.#pantherpride 🾠pic.twitter.com/b0qiNugcol
— Penrith Panthers (@PenrithPanthers) August 4, 2019
A grade-one charge normally attracts just 100 demerit points, however, a prior non-similar offence elevated the points to a minimum one-game ban.
Given a guilty plea would’ve resulted in a one-game ban anyway, it is a free shot for the Super League-bound playmaker.
Meanwhile, Parramatta forward Manu Ma’u is set to be fined for a grade-one careless high tackle in their win over St GeorgeIllawarra.
In other Early Mail, Gold Coast forward Jai Arrow is tracking to make his long-awaited return to the NRL in Saturday’s clash with the Dragons after suffering an ankle injury last month.
Arrow was hopeful of returning against the Roosters on Sunday, however he has given himself another week to get his ankle back to 100 per cent.
“I did a running session (on Thursday) which was the best running session I have had,” Arrow said.
“I hadn’t done any high-speed running until then which is good signs.
“I was looking at playing this week but I thought it was a bit too early.
“It is looking like I will play against the Dragons down there (in Sydney) next week.
“Hopefully if all goes well running on Monday, I will train with the boys on Wednesday and hopefully play.”
COWBOYS V BRONCOS
Thurs Aug 8, 1300SMILES Stadium, 7.50pm
Cowboys: No changes expected.
Broncos: Key forwards Tevita Pangai Jnr (suspension) and Matt Gillett (back/groin) are set to return. Hooker Andrew McCullough (shoulder) is free to play as long as he gets through a contact session on Tuesday. McCullough failed to finish last week due to a “burner”.
Brisbane are confident young halfback Tom Dearden hasn’t suffered a serious ankle injury after he was taken from the field in Wynnum Manly’s 18-2 win over Easts Tigers on Saturday. Dearden was left clutching at his ankle after reeling out of a tackle in the 39th minute and had to be assisted from the field at Langlands Park.
Serious concerns were held for the 18-year-old, who was playing his first game back from a serious ankle injury in Brisbane’s 26-18 loss to the Titans in June. The halfback underwent surgery to his ankle on June 11 and was being eased back to full fitness at Red Hill before being sent to the Intrust Super Cup for match fitness on the weekend. The Broncos were on Sunday confident the youngster had avoided any serious damage to his ankle, despite not returning to the field in the second half.
Full story by Chris Honnery here
Horrible passage of play for halfback injuries in #IntrustSuperCup today. As Tom Dearden was being assisted from the field with an ankle injury, Easts half Josh Ralph went down with a serious right knee injury (concern for ACL rupture). Hopefully both not as bad as they looked pic.twitter.com/5eROx7ntSG
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) August 3, 2019
WARRIORS V SEA EAGLES
Fri Aug 9, Mt Smart Stadium, 6pm
Warriors: To come ...
Sea Eagles: Des Hasler’s side are set to have their top 17 on the park again after Api Koroisau (ankle) was a late inclusion last week.
PANTHERS V SHARKS
Fri Aug 9, Panthers Stadium, 7.55pm
Panthers: Five-eighth James Maloney (tripping) will front the judiciary on Tuesday in the hope of playing. Given a guilty plea would’ve resulted in a one-game ban anyway, it is a free shot for the Super League-bound playmaker. Jarome Luai (eye) and Wayde Egan (shoulder) are unavailable. Viliame Kikau (suspension) returns with Frank Winterstein to make way.
Sharks: No changes expected with Sosaia Feki (leg) to remain sidelined after a late withdrawal last week.
DRAGONS V TITANS
Sat Aug 10, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 3pm
Dragons: No changes. Paul Vaughan (dislocated finger) will be named despite an injury against the Eels on Sunday. Zac Lomax (hamstring) is at long odds after going down in the warm up.
Paul Vaughan’s dislocated finger was reduced (put back into place) by Dragons medical staff in the sheds last night. No mention of associated fracture & he is not expected to miss next week pic.twitter.com/4goGEKm5aU
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) August 5, 2019
Titans: Origin forward Jai Arrow (ankle) will be named and is set to return.
EELS V KNIGHTS
Sat Aug 10, Bankwest Stadium, 5.30pm
Eels: Parramatta forward Nathan Brown came from the field late against the Dragons with a knee/ankle issue. His injury is not considered serious and he’s expected to be named.
Knights: To come ...
BULLDOGS V TIGERS
Sat Aug 10, ANZ Stadium, 7.35pm
Bulldogs: No changes expected following an upset win over the Panthers. Kieran Foran (hamstring/calf) is set to miss another week.
Tigers: No changes.
RAIDERS V ROOSTERS
Sun Aug 11, GIO Stadium, 2pm
Raiders: Three months ago, Joey Leilua woke up in Westmead Private Hospital after delicate and life-changing spinal surgery.On Tuesday, the Canberra Raiders strike centre will be named to appear in his 200th first-grade game.
In a big boost to the premiership aspirations of the second-placed Raiders, coach Ricky Stuart is poised to select Leilua in his 21-man squad for one of the games of the year against the Sydney Roosters at GIO Stadium next Sunday.
Exclusive story by David Riccio here
Roosters: International forward Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (suspension) returns with Poasa Faamausili or Lindsay Collins to miss out. Boyd Cordner and Sio Siua Taukeiaho (both calf) are set to sit out another week.
RABBITOHS V STORM
Sun Aug 11, Central Coast Stadium, 4.05pm
Rabbitohs: Star forward Sam Burgess (high tackle) is challenging his charge at the judiciary. If successful, he is available to play this week. If unsuccessful, he will be suspended for two weeks. Coach Wayne Bennett is fuming over his star forward’s discipline and gave him a huge spray after the game. Burgess will be named on Tuesday with Ethan Lowe on standby to start and Jaydn Su’A and Dean Britt to be named as bench cover.
Damien Cook is free to play despite sending a scare through camp when he copped a knock to his elbow on the weekend. “It was a weird feeling,” Cook said. “I copped a knock in the funny bone and my whole arm went dead. I was freaking out.”
“That was a bit of a weird feeling. I copped it right on the funny bone, right on the nerve in my elbow and my whole arm went dead for a second. I started freaking out but it’s all good.†@DamienCook91 @SSFCRabbitohs #NRL #NRLSharksSouths https://t.co/YQFqnbkcaO 📷 @rtuck17 pic.twitter.com/9AGXxmD5UO
— ABC Grandstand (@abcgrandstand) August 3, 2019
Storm: Origin forward Christian Welch (ACL) has been ruled out for the season with Tui Kamikamica to come onto the bench.
Originally published as NRL Early Mail Round 21: Predicted team changes
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