Bradman hit for six, Munster back to monster Eels, Sharks to call up debutant

The Knights’ flagging finals chances have copped a huge hit with NSW centre Bradman Best’s hamstring injury worse than the initial diagnosis.

Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien had been hopeful after Saturday night’s clash in Newcastle that the injury was not too severe as it was on the opposite leg to the hamstring injury the rep star suffered earlier this year.

However, scans have revealed significant damage and Best may not play again until the final round or two and the Knights could be out of the playoff picture by then.

Storm star Cameron Munster is all but certain to make his return from a long-term groin injury when the competition leaders travel to Parramatta on Friday night.

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy joked that he may bring his representative five-eighth back through the Queensland Cup 

Munster has not played since the Storm smashed the Eels 48-16 in Round  and it will be just be the sixth time this year that Bellamy will be able to field his first-choice spine.

Storm winger Grant Anderson hyper-extended his knee in the closing stages of Saturday’s 18-10 win over the Roosters but the club medicos are confident he will not be out for more than just a few weeks. 

Manly winger Lehi Hopoate will also be out for the short term after suffering a suspected fractured eye socket in his team’s big win over the Titans on Sunday while Panthers utility back Paul Alamoti (broken arm) will also be sidelined in the lead-up to the finals. 

Lehi Hopoate is expected to miss at least 4 weeks after suffering an eye socket fracture.

Telling moment – he blew his nose & eye swelled up significantly. Effectively confirms a fracture. The puffing up is air that builds up in the nose/sinuses & escapes through the fracture. pic.twitter.com/5jrbjH2bKz

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 22, 2024

Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon must now weigh up whether to throw rookie Liam Ison into the No.1 jersey for Saturday’s meeting with the Cowboys after Will Kennedy was controversially suspended for his referee bump. 

Kade Dykes, who would have been the natural replacement, is out for the season with an ACL tear while utility Daniel Atkinson is deputising for Nicho Hynes in the halves so the 19-year-old is poised to make his debut.

On the judiciary front, Wests Tigers’ discipline issues have been laid bare with Aidan Sezer copping the club’s seventh ban of the season.

Sezer was on Saturday sin-binned for a hip-drop tackle on South Sydney fullback Jye Gray, before being hit with a grade-two dangerous contact charge on Sunday. He will miss two matches after putting in an early guilty plea, rather than risking a third match if he had fought the charge at the judiciary.

The suspension marks the third time Sezer has been in strife for a hip-drop tackle, after copping a four-game ban for one on Josh Curran in May and an $1800 fine in round five for an incident on Jesse Bromwich.

Tigers players have now collected 22 separate charges this season, with Sezer accounting for five of those on his own. They have have also paid up $22,850 in fines.

Melbourne interchange player Joe Chan is also facing a two-game ban for a high tackle on Victor Radley.

Chan was also charged with dangerous contact on Dom Young in the Storm’s win over the Sydney Roosters, and accepted an $1800 fine.

Roosters star Joseph Suaalii was also charged for a knee lift in his return match from a four-game ban, and has also accept an $1800 fine.

Dolphins utility Max Plath ($1800-$2500) and Manly centre Reuben Garrick ($1000-$1500) have also been stung for dangerous contact.

Round 20 Casualty Ward: Warriors – Taine Tuaupiki (concussion), Adam Pompey (knee); Storm – Grant Anderson (knee); Broncos – Brendan Piakura (groin); Rabbitohs – Richie Kennar (concussion); Sea Eagles – Lehi Hopoate (eye socket); Knights – Bradman Best (hamstring); Panthers – Paul Alamoti (arm).

Round 21 teams

All times AEST

Warriors vs Wests at Go Media Stadium: 6pm, Friday July 26

Warriors: Shaun Johnson (Achilles) and Marcelo Montoya (groin) are maybes.

Tigers: Second-rower Isaiah Papali’i (ankle) is close to a return from injury while Api Koroisau (calf) should be right after missing the loss to Souths. Veteran half Aiden Sezer is set to be banned for a hip-drop tackle.

Parramatta vs Melbourne at CommBank Stadium: 8pm, Friday July 26

Eels: With Mitchell Moses out for the rest of the season with a biceps rupture, Clint Gutherson could be switched to the halves with Blaize Talagi getting a run at fullback or the teenager could be switched to the halves alongside Dylan Brown. 

Storm: Nelson Asofa-Solomona (hamstring) missed Saturday’s stoush with the Roosters while Cameron Munster is rated a strong chance of playing after two months out with a groin complaint.

Brisbane vs Canterbury at Suncorp Stadium: 3pm, Saturday July 27

Broncos: Selwyn Cobbo was rested last round after Origin duty while Brendan Piakura (groin) is likely to sit out this weekend at least.

Bulldogs: Josh Addo-Carr and Drew Hutchison are close to returning from their hamstring injuries. 

North Qld vs Cronulla at QCB Stadium: 5.30pm, Saturday July 27

Cowboys: Murray Taulagi is close to being fit after the hamstring strain which kept him out of Origin III.

Sharks: Siosifa Talakai is back after a one-game suspension but fullback Will Kennedy will serve his controversial ref bump ban in this match with teenager Liam Ison in the mix for a first-grade debut.

Sydney vs Manly at Allianz Stadium: 7.35pm, Saturday July 27

Roosters: Joseph Manu is an outside chance of returning from his broken hand while fellow outside back Junior Pauga has one more match to serve for his high tackle suspension.

Sea Eagles: Rookie winger Lehi Hopoate will be out with a facial fracture but Corey Waddell (ankle) will be available to bolster the pack.

St George Illawarra vs Penrith at WIN Stadium: 2pm, Sunday July 28

Dragons: Raymond Faitala-Mariner (back) and Ben Hunt (head knock) are likely to suit up but Mat Feagai (shoulder) is out.

Panthers: Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Liam Martin and Jarome Luai sat out Sunday’s thrilling win over the Dolphins after Origin III while Dylan Edwards’ knee injury is not as bad as first feared and he should be back on deck early next month.

Dolphins vs Gold Coast at Suncorp Stadium: 4.05pm, Sunday July 28

Dolphins: Wayne Bennett is likely to stick with the same 17 who nearly toppled the Panthers.

Titans: AJ Brimson (groin) should be right to make his comeback after it has been delayed twice over the past fortnight.

Canberra vs South Sydney at GIO Stadium: 6.15pm, Sunday July 28

Raiders: Corey Horsburgh is available again after serving a ban for a brawl in the NSW Cup but he is unlikely to get a recall to the NRL squad following a season marred by injuries and judiciary dramas.

Rabbitohs: Cameron Murray (suspended) has one more game to sit out from his Origin III brawl charge while Latrell Mitchell (foot) is at least another week away from returning as well.

Bye – Knights

with AAP