Parramatta forward Shaun Lane has been ruled out for 6-8 weeks after he limped off with a hamstring injury in Saturday night’s loss to Canberra in a massive blow to Brad Arthur’s hopes of kick-starting his team’s spluttering campaign.
The Eels are mired in 14th with a 4-7 record and take on the red-hot Rabbitohs this Friday night at Allianz Stadium.
They will get halfback Mitchell Moses (concussion) for their crucial clash while prop Junior Paulo is free to play after he was charged with dangerous contact for a cannonball tackle on Joseph Tapine in the 29th minute of Parramatta’s 26-18 loss in Canberra. He has submitted an early guilty plea for a fine of $1800.
Souths duo Tom Burgess (back) and Jed Cartwright (concussion) are under a cloud.
The Roosters’ hopes of getting their season back on track after their Panthers humiliation have nosedived with three stars facing stints on the sidelines.
(Matt King/Getty Images)
Veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves strained a pectoral muscle and five-eighth Joey Manu injured his ankle in the 48-4 caning at Penrith on Friday night while back-up halfback Sam Walker is out for a couple of weeks after straining his ACL on NSW Cup duty.
Utility Drew Hutchison is likely to partner Luke Keary in the halves for Friday’s trip to Kogarah to face the Dragons.
Rep winger Daniel Tupou is still a couple more weeks away from a return from a hamstring injury while centre Paul Momirovski won’t be back until the final month of the season due to his shoulder damage.
Dragons forward Jaydn Su’A was charged with a grade-one careless high tackle from a hit on Murray Taulagi during the Dragons’ 42-22 loss in Townsville and risked a two-match ban if he took on the judiciary. He has copped a $3000 fine to ensure he is available for Queensland selection.
Rookie teammate Toby Couchman became the latest player charged with a hip-drop tackle, fined the lesser amount of $1000 due to his clean record.
Manly lock Josh Aloiai is set to be out for a lengthy spell after he suffered a dislocated shoulder in the first half of Sunday’s loss to Cronulla while second-rower Kelma Tuilagi fractured his cheekbone and will also miss at least a month.
Front-rower Taniela Paseka was charged with a grade-one careless high tackle on Sione Katoa and was slugged $1800. Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold said Jake Trbojevic (calf) and Josh Schuster (thigh) should be right to face the Raiders on Sunday in Canberra.
Raiders hooker Zac Woolford was concussed against Parra so he will sit out Sunday’s stoush with the Sea Eagles.
Brisbane have ruled out injured captain Adam Reynolds against Penrith with playmaker Jock Madden set to step into the halfback role.
Reynolds was cleared of any serious neck injury in last Thursday night’s 24-16 loss to Melbourne after he was taken from the field at AAMI Park on a medicab. He was ruled to also have sustained a category two concussion and will need to go through NRL protocols to take his place against the Panthers on Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium, which is highly unlikely.
Reynolds trained on Monday away from the main group but the Broncos are set to err on the side of caution. Brisbane fullback Reece Walsh has been fined $1500 for a shoulder charge on Storm centre Justin Olam.
CLICK HERE for a seven-day free trial for your favourite sport on KAYO
Cronulla duo Siosifa Talakai (neck) and Oregon Kaufusi (illness) missed the win over Manly but should be right this Saturday for the Coffs Harbour assignment against Newcastle.
Teams will be officially announced at 4pm on Tuesday.
Round 12 teams
Broncos vs Panthers, at Suncorp Stadium – 7.50pm, Thursday, May 18
Broncos: Adam Reynolds (neck) is out while Reece Walsh (shoulder charge) is free to line up after copping a fine. Jock Madden is set to come in at half for the skipper.
Panthers: Second-rower Liam Martin made an encouraging return from his hamstring problem last week while Spencer Leniu will be out for a couple of weeks after suffering a ruptured testicle in a training mishap.
Dragons vs Roosters, at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium – 6pm, Friday, May 19
Dragons: Zac Lomax played strongly in NSW Cup on the weekend so he is a chance to regain his spot in the NRL squad.
Jaydn Su’A was charged with a grade-one careless high tackle and rookie teammate Toby Couchman for a hip-drop tackle but they escaped with fines.
Roosters: Veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves strained a pectoral muscle and five-eighth Joey Manu injured his ankle in the 48-4 caning at Penrith on Friday night while back-up halfback Sam Walker is out for a couple of weeks after straining his ACL on NSW Cup duty.
Utility Drew Hutchison is likely to partner Luke Keary in the halves. Second-rower Egan Butcher (failed HIA) is available for selection after missing the loss to the Panthers.
Rabbitohs vs Eels, at Accor Stadium – 8pm, Friday, May 19
Rabbitohs: Forwards Tom Burgess (back) and Jed Cartwright (concussion) are doubtful starters this weekend.
Eels: Mitchell Moses (concussion) will regain his halfback spot from Jakob Arthur while second-rower Shaun Lane (hamstring) is likely to be out for a few weeks.
NSW prop Junior Paulo was charged with dangerous contact for a cannonball tackle on Joseph Tapine in the loss to Parramatta and was fined $1800.
Siosifa Talakai. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Sharks vs Knights, at C.ex Coffs International Stadium, Coffs Harbour – 3pm, Saturday, May 20
Sharks: Representative centre Siosifa Talakai (neck) and Oregon Kaufusi (illness) were late withdrawals from Sunday’s win over Manly but coach Craig Fitzgibbon was confident they would be right to tackle Newcastle.
Knights: Adam O’Brien will likely stick with the 17 players who toppled the Titans with no injuries in his squad apart from those on the long-term list.
Tigers vs Cowboys, at Leichhardt Oval – 5.30pm, Saturday, May 20
Tigers: No changes likely from Tim Sheens after an encouraging effort against Souths before their classier opponents ran away with the match in the final stages.
Cowboys: Jason Taumalolo is not expected back for a few more weeks from his knee surgery. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (head knock) will need to pass the concussion protocols to take on the Tigers.
Dolphins vs Storm, at Suncorp Stadum – 7.35pm, Saturday, May 20
Dolphins: Utility forward Ray Stone is due back from a concussion break while debutant Valynce Te Whare is likely to remain in the starting side with fellow centre Euan Aitken struggling with a hamstring complaint.
Jesse Bromwich (hamstring), Mark Nicholls (thumb) and Brenko Lee (hamstring) all should be right to face the Storm.
Storm: Nelson Asofa-Solomona injured his ribs in the win over Brisbane and is in some doubt.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Bulldogs vs Titans, at Accor Stadium – 2pm, Sunday, May 21
Bulldogs: Josh Addo-Carr will be right to make a return from an ankle injury as the winger tries to make a belated bid for an Origin recall with NSW. He delayed his comeback the day before last week’s loss to the Warriors.
Titans: Erin Clark (finger) and Toby Sexton (wrist) are a chance of making comebacks this weekend.
Raiders vs Sea Eagles, at GIO Stadium – 4.05pm, Sunday, May 21
Raiders: Zac Woolford (concussion) will be out so Tom Starling will likely be elevated to the starting side. Fellow hooker Danny Levi is close to a return from a broken jaw.
Sea Eagles: Jake Trbojevic (calf) and five-eighth Josh Schuster (thigh problem and reconditioning work) are likely to be right, according to coach Anthony Seibold.
However, forwards Josh Aloiai (shoulder) and Kelma Tuliagi (facial fracture) were casualties from the loss to the Sharks.
Bye – Warriors
Five-eighth Ronald Volkman played on with a compound broken finger in the win over Canterbury and is doubtful for their next game when they host Brisbane in Napier next Saturday.
Veteran forward Mitch Barnett has been out with a neck injury since Round 3 but the club is confident he will be back in a couple of weeks.
with AAP
