It’s mostly bad news for Penrith as they try to hang onto second spot heading into the final three weeks of the season.
On top of star playmaker Nathan Cleary being out for at least three weeks with a shoulder injury, hooker Mitch Kenny is set to be suspended for Saturday’s trip to Canberra and second-rower Scott Sorensen is also unavailable due to his hamstring injury.
Daine Laurie or Jack Cole will switch to five-eighth with Jarome Luai taking over at halfback with Nathan Cleary nursing his shoulder injury. Sunia Turuva is likely to get a recall on the wing if Laurie gets the pivotal role for the premiers.
Soni Luke and Luke Sommerton both options to start at dummy half for Kenny. He will miss the subsequent match against South Sydney if he unsuccessfully challenges his charge at the judiciary.
Panthers star Nathan Cleary howls in pain after injuring his shoulder. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Blues forward Liam Martin returns from his one-game ban for grade-two dangerous contact in some good news for Ivan Cleary.
James Fisher-Harris has avoided a ban for a late hit but Kenny is facing 1-2 matches out for a high shot which floored Storm winger Grant Anderson.
Brisbane will be without star fullback Reece Walsh for their must-win home game against Parramatta on Friday after he suffered a hand fracture in their last-start win over North Queensland.
Five-eighth Ezra Mam will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on a syndesmosis injury, while prop Payne Haas (Lisfranc) and hooker Tyson Smoothy (ankle) are out for the next few weeks at least.
Parramatta prop Wiremu Greig is facing a two-match ban for the high tackle that left Connor Watson concussed in the Eels’ loss to the Sydney Roosters on Friday.
Already out of finals contention, Parramatta would risk that suspension going to three matches and ending Greig’s season if they fight the charge and lose.
Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson, Sydney Roosters back-rower Victor Radley and Warriors playmaker Chanel Harris-Tavita can accept fines for other charges out of Friday’s matches.
Gutherson was charged with grade-one dangerous contact for kicking at the ball and narrowly missing causing major damage to James Tedesco‘s head as the Roosters captain went to the ground.
Watson is set to miss this Sunday’s tussle with the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium while Maroons prop Moeaki Fotuaika will be back for the home side after he missed the clash against St George Illawarra through suspension.
Sharks half Nicho Hynes is pushing for a return from the ankle injury which has kept him out for the past six weeks.
Bulldogs forward Josh Curran suffered a shoulder injury in the win over the Dolphins in Bundaberg.
South Sydney veteran Cody Walker left the field late in their loss to Wests Tigers with a concussion, after copping an accidental knee and will be stood down for this weekend’s joust with the Knights.
“He’s struggling, can’t remember much. We’ve lost another one,” interim coach Ben Hornby said.
Rabbitohs centre Richie Kennar will be banned 3-4 matches unless he can prove otherwise at the judiciary for a high shot on Luke Laulilii.
Souths skipper Cameron Murray ($1000-$1500 for dangerous contact), Raiders duo Josh Papalii ($1800-$2500 for dangerous contact) and Emre Guler ($1000-$1500 for a dangerous throw) and Dolphins forward Felise Kaufusi ($1000-$1500 for dangerous contact) copped fines from Saturday’s matches.
Tigers forward Fonua Pole also failed to finish the Campbelltown clash with a knee injury and does not have much time to recover before Thursday’s Leichhardt meeting with Manly.
The Sea Eagles have a couple of concerns with interchange hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong (AC joint) and centre Tommy Talau (pectoral) injured in their win on Friday over the Warriors.
Manly have breathed a sigh of relief with centre Reuben Garrick able to pay a fine for a hip-drop tackle in their win over the Warriors.
At risk of a sudden shortage in their centres, Garrick was on Saturday hit with a grade-one dangerous contact charge for a hip-drop on Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
Dolphins prop Mark Nicholls and Raiders winger Jordan Rapana were ruled out last week due to concussions and are set to play this weekend.
Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona escaped suspension for a high shot that also collected his Storm teammate Cameron Munster.
Asofa-Solomona went to the sin bin at BlueBet Stadium but was only charged with a grade-one careless high tackle to cop a fine of $1800.
Round 25 teams
All times AEST
Wests vs Manly at Leichhardt Oval: 7.50pm, Thursday August 2
Tigers: Fonua Pole (knee) is a maybe after failing to finish the win over Souths at Campbelltown.
Sea Eagles: Tommy Talau (pectoral) and Gordon Chan Kum Tong (shoulder) with Ben Trbojevic set to fill in if needed at centre and Jamie Humphreys in line to be the new interchange utility.
Warriors vs Canterbury at Go Media Stadium: 6pm, Friday August 3
Warriors: Jackson Ford is a chance to return from his knee complaint but with their finals chances over and only two matches left, the club may shut him down for the season.
Bulldogs: Front-rower Josh Curran (shoulder) is Cameron Ciraldo’s main concern after he copped a knock during the big win at Bundaberg over the Dolphins.
Josh Curran (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Brisbane vs Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium: 8pm, Friday August 3
Broncos: They are rested after the bye but Reece Walsh (hand), Payne Haas (foot), Ezra Mam (ankle) and Tyson Smooth (ankle) are all out as last year’s runners-up fight to stay in the finals equation.
Eels: Clint Gutherson avoided suspension for dangerous contact for his kick which narrowly missed James Tedesco’s head but prop Wiremu Greig is facing a ban of 2-3 matches for a high tackle.
Canberra vs Penrith at GIO Stadium: 3pm, Saturday August 4
Raiders: Ricky Stuart was seething over his team’s capitulation against the Cowboys so he may swing the axe at the selection table.
Panthers: Daine Laurie or Jack Cole will switch to five-eighth with Jarome Luai taking over at halfback with Nathan Cleary nursing his shoulder injury. Sunia Turuva is likely to get a recall on the wing if Laurie gets the pivotal role.
James Fisher-Harris copped a fine for a late hit but Mitch Kenny is facing a ban of 1-2 matches for a high shot which floored Storm winger Grant Anderson.
Liam Martin returns from his one-game ban but Scott Sorensen (hamstring) is another couple of weeks away from returning.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona is tackled. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Melbourne vs Dolphins at AAMI Park: 5.30pm, Saturday August 4
Storm: Nelson Asofa-Solomona has avoided suspension despite being charged for a high shot on Daine Laurie that also collected his Storm teammate Cameron Munster. He will pay a fine of $1,800 fine.
Dolphins: Veteran prop Mark Nicholls (head knock) should be right to return.
South Sydney vs Newcastle at Accor Stadium: 7.35pm, Saturday August 4
Rabbitohs: Cody Walker (concussion) is the latest Souths player sidelined while Michael Chee Kam (calf) is unlikely to be back after missing the loss to Wests.
Knights: Former NSW prop Jacob Saifiti (calf) could be back for this must-win game for Newcastle’s playoff prospects.
Gold Coast vs Sydney at Cbus Super Stadium: 2pm, Sunday August 5
Titans: Maroons prop Moeaki Fotuaika will return after his one-game ban with Erin Clark likely to drop out of the starting side.
Roosters: Connor Watson (concussion) is unlikely to suit up after being flattened by Wiremu Greig’s high shot. Nat Butcher (rib cartilage) was a late withdrawal so he could be back while Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Michael Jennings are available after serving their suspensions.
St George Illawarra vs Cronulla at WIN Stadium: 2pm, Sunday August 5
Dragons: Moses Suli (knee) is a maybe at best after sitting out Sunday’s stoush with the Titans in Wollongong.
Sharks: Nicho Hynes is due to return from his ankle injury for the derby in a major boost to Cronulla’s hopes of securing a top-four spot.
Bye – North Qld
with AAP