NRL round 2 casualty ward and Early Mail: All the latest team, injury and suspension news
A young gun is set to be thrust into a starting spot in the Sydney Roosters’ halves following yet another sickening concussion to Luke Keary.
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Sandon Smith could be thrust into a starting spot in the Sydney Roosters’ halves for Friday night’s blockbuster against South Sydney after Luke Keary was forced from the field with a head knock late in his side’s loss to Manly against Manly on Sunday afternoon.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson said Keary was in a “fairly good way” in the dressing rooms after the game but the classy five-eighth has a history of concussion that means the club may err on the side of caution.
If they do, Smith looms as the next in line, although Joey Manu has played five-eighth before and handled himself with aplomb.
The Roosters have options which mean they don’t have to take chances with Keary - centre Billy Smith is also back in contention and could slot in the centres if Manu is moved to the No.6 jersey.
“I haven’t got to him individually yet, but he was in there in a fairly good way there,” Robinson said of Keary.
Keary was forced off late in the Roosters’ loss to Manly at 4Pines Park after chasing through a kick and copping a knock to the head from Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic.
He stayed down before leaving the field. While Keary has had issues with head knocks in the past, he looked clear-headed as he walked around the outer side of the field and later as he left 4Pines Park with his teammates.
Given his recent history, the Roosters may be reluctant to push him to play on Friday night in what shapes as an emotional game against their bitter rivals South Sydney at Allianz Stadium — teammate Jared Waera-Hargreaves will play his 300th first grade game on Friday night.
SCHUSTER, CRICHTON MAKE COMEBACKS
Josh Schuster needed the outing where in contrast Angus Crichton looks prime for an NRL return.
The high profile duo were among a host of big names who took part in a NSW Cup fixture between Manly’s feederclub Blacktown and the Roosters on Sunday afternoon.
Schuster, Crichton, Aaron Woods, Michael Jennings, and Jake Arthur were among the players who played.
Crichton was a clear standout as one of the best on the paddock. The former NSW and Kangaroos forward set-up two tries and helped laid on another and was clearly a class above on the Roosters’ left edge.
By contrast, the path back to first grade might take a little longer for Schuster. He till looks like he needs to spend time at the second-tier level after his outing for the season after an off-season plagued by injuries.
The pair played 80 minutes and Schuster’s performance included his trademark early tackle kicks and no-look passes, but he was poor defensively. The Roosters finished 34-12 winners.
LUKI FACES UP TO SIX WEEKS
Heilum Luki is set to write another chapter into his extensive history of recovery after suffering an injury setback that threatens to derail his sensational start to the season.
Cowboys general manager of football Michael Luck confirmed Luki would travel to Brisbane on Monday as he prepares to go under the knife for a syndesmosis injury picked up against the Knights.
While the outlook is still vague for the Cowboys forward, the extent of the injury will be assessed during the procedure and a worse-case scenario would see Luki miss about six weeks.
Heilum Luki ruled out for the rest of the game with a left ankle injury. Video of mechanism not great, but direction of force (out to in) suggests medial/high ankle sprain most likely.
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 16, 2024
Moderate-high grade injury a concern - would be multi-week recovery (4-8 weeks) if confirmed. pic.twitter.com/mh5Q6k4gNA
FISHER-HARRIS INJURY OPENS DOOR FOR YOUNG GUNS
Monday looms as D-day for archrivals Penrith and Parramatta as the fallout from Friday night’s blockbuster between the bitter western Sydney rivals continues.
Penrith are fearing the worst for powerhouse prop James Fisher-Harris, who was sent for scans on a shoulder injury on Sunday.
Results of the scan won’t be available until Monday but already coach Ivan Cleary is resigned to losing the key forward with some club officials privately fearing Fisher-Harris could be sidelined long-term.
“He did it early in the game and he was losing power,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said after the match.
Fisher-Harris only lasted 25 minutes of Friday night’s clash before heading straight up the tunnel and failing to return in the Panthers’ 26-18 victory over the Eels.
Lindsay Smith is likely to be promoted into the starting side from the bench in Fisher-Harris’ absence. That opens a bench spot for the likes of Preston Riki, Jordan Grant and Ativalu Lisati.
It’s a similar predicament for the Eels with the club also sweating on results of scans taken on Sunday to assess the extent of Kelma Tuilagi’s shoulder injury.
At this stage, it’s doubtful that Tuilagi will be available to play against his former club Manly next Sunday.
Tuilagi suffered what is believed to be a shoulder dislocation in a monster hit described in commentary as the ‘tackle of the season’ on Penrith enforcer Liam Martin in the 51st minute.
Eels back Bailey Simonsson is progressing well through return to play protocols and is a chance of being available against the Sea Eagles.
Simonsson did not return to the field after failing a head injury assessment following a high shot from Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai just two minutes into the game.
HUGHES FACES BAN FOR REF CONTACT
Melbourne halves stocks have taken a huge blow with Jahrome Hughes facing a two-game ban for making illegal contact with referee Chris Butler in the Storm’s thrilling over the Warriors on Saturday night.
Hughes can be seen to shove Butler, who goes crashing to the ground, while the halfback is attempting to defend a Warriors attacking play in the 58th minute.
The incident was viewed as comical by some commentators and pundits alike but the match review committee took the opposite view, charging Hughes with grade two contrary conduct on Sunday.
Hughes will cop one week with an early plea.
The charge could not have come at a worse time for coach Craig Bellamy as the side prepares to take on Newcastle next Sunday.
Mystery continues to surround five-eighth Cameron Munster, who is yet to take the field in 2024 with a troublesome groin injury.
Youngster Jonah Pezet was called in to replace Munster, and now faces the responsibility of leading the side around against the Knights.
Last year, Penrith five-eighth Jarome Luai escaped a ban for shoving touch judge Chris Sutton in the back.
At the time Luai said it was an innocent mistake. Like Hughes, Luai was charged with contrary conduct but was hit with a $1,800 fine rather than a suspension over the incident in May.
DOG PACK FORCED INTO CHANGE
The Bulldogs will also be forced to make a change in their pack due to the loss of hard-running prop Poasa Faamausili.
Canterbury head home to Belmore next Saturday against the Titans, but will be without Faamausili due to HIA protocols.
Faamausili lasted just 40 seconds after being concussed from the opening carry of the match against the Sharks.
Dogs coach Cameron Ciraldo will look to either Chris Patolo, Kitione Kautoga or Zane Tetevano as replacements in his pack.
BRONCOS ESCAPE DISASTER WITH REYNOLDS
Brisbane’s premiership revenge mission has received a massive boost with champion skipper Adam Reynolds cleared of a ruptured anterior-cruciate ligament injury.
Scan results on Friday showed the Broncos halfback sustained only minor damage to his medial-cruciate ligament after Reynolds hobbled off in the 70th minute of Brisbane’s 28-18 defeat of the Rabbitohs.
Reynolds first took a hit to his knee against the Roosters in Las Vegas last Sunday week and the MCL aggravation leaves him racing the clock to be fit for next Thursday night’s grand-final replay against the Panthers at Penrith.
“The scans show Adam got a knock to a low-grade MCL strain that he sustained in round 1,” Broncos high-performance chief Dave Ballard said.
“We’ll see how he pulls up over the next 24 hours before mapping out a rehab program for the coming days.
“Adam is tough and looks after his body but we still have a full season ahead of us so our priority is ensuring he is ready to go when he returns.”
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