South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou has ruled star winger Alex Johnston out of their preliminary final against Penrith, with the club’s record tryscorer unable to recover from a hip flexor injury in time for Saturday’s game.
Richie Kennar will come into the squad for just his second game of the season. He previously appeared against Newcastle in an Origin-affected game, scoring a hat trick, and has been a consistent performer in NSW Cup, albeit predominantly as a centre.
Parramatta will be without centre Tom Opacic for their trip to North Queensland after he failed to recover from his hamstring injury in time.
Bailey Simonsson has been elevated to the starting 13 as a result and named at centre though it is likely that he will switch with Waqa Blake on gameday.
Opacic was one of four first-half tryscorers for the Eels but came off as the hour-mark approached and was Parramatta’s only injury concern from the 40-4 defeat of Canberra.
Eels utility Marata Niukore slotted into the left centre spot when Opacic left the field, and scored two late tries. Niukore started last season in the centres for the Eels but has been starting at lock of late, rotating with Ryan Matterson.
Bryce Cartwright has been elevated to the interchange at the expense of Makahesi Makatoa.
Souths have lost Siliva Havili for their clash with Penrith on Saturday night after he failed to recover from a calf injury.
Demetriou confirmed that Havili, who has featured both as a cover for hooker and as a middle rotation option, will not make it in time.
He was boosted, however, by confirmation Jai Arrow will recover from his groin problem in time for the Preliminary Final.
Souths forward Tevita Tatola is free to play in Saturday’s showdown with Penrith despite his chicken wing tackle on Cronulla winger Ronaldo Mulitalo. Tatola twisted Mulitalo’s arm into a dangerous position midway through the second half of the Rabbitohs’ 38-12 semi-final defeat of Cronulla on Saturday night.
For his grade one dangerous contact charge, Tatola has accepted a $1800 fine. The Rabbitohs are already missing front-rower Thomas Burgess, who is this weekend serving the second game of his two-match suspension for his high tackle on James Tedesco.
(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Panthers winger Taylan May will serve his one-match ban for a high tackle on Eels centre Will Penisini with Charlie Staines his replacement. Origin hooker Api Koroisau could again start from the bench with Mitch Kenny in the run-on side. Brian To’o may switch from the right wing to the left to accommodate Staines.
The Cowboys are well rested after having the week off following their 93-minute extra-time epic against the Sharks. Coen Hess had a slight training mishap on Monday with his knee but is unlikely to be in any doubt.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Friday
Preliminary Final: (3) Cowboys vs (4) Eels 7.50pm at QCB Stadium
Cowboys: 1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Valentine Holmes 4. Peta Hiku 5. Murray Taulagi 6. Tom Dearden 7. Chad Townsend 8. Jordan McLean 9. Reece Robson 10. Reuben Cotter 11. Tom Gilbert 12. Jeremiah Nanai 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 15. Luciano Leilua 16. Coen Hess 17. Griffin Neame 18. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 19. Tomas Chester 20. Jake Granville 21. Brendan Elliot 22. Ben Hampton
Ready and raring to go after a week off. Todd Payten has no injury concerns in his team apart from a minor knee issue to prop Coen Hess and they are likely to field the same line-up which just got home against the Sharks.
Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Tom Opacic 5. Waqa Blake 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Bryce Cartwright 15. Jakob Arthur 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Marata Niukore 18. Makahesi Makatoa 19. Bailey Simonsson 20. Nathan Brown 21. Ofahiki Ogden 22. Ky Rodwell
Experienced centre Tom Opacic (hamstring) is out so coach Brad Arthur has replaced the former Cowboy with Bailey Simonsson. Marata Niukore or Waqa Blake could also slot in at centre but the team won’t be finalised until an hour before kick-off.
Bryce Cartwright has been elevated to the interchange at the expense of Makahesi Makatoa.
Saturday
Preliminary Final: (1) Panthers vs (7) Rabbitohs, 7.50pm at Accor Stadium
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Charlie Staines 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Mitch Kenny 15. Scott Sorensen 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Jaeman Salmon 18. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. J’maine Hopgood 21. Sunia Turuva 22. Chris Smith
Rookie winger Taylan May will serve his one-match ban – no, not the two-game suspension for assault which was controversially delayed until next year – the one he received for a high tackle on Eels centre Will Penisini. Charlie Staines is May’s replacement on the wing. Brian To’o may switch from the right wing to the left to accommodate Staines.
Origin hooker Api Koroisau could again start from the bench with Mitch Kenny in the run-on side.
Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Isaiah Tass 4. Campbell Graham 5. Taane Milne 6. Cody Walker 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Damien Cook 10. Mark Nicholls 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Kodi Nikorima 15. Hame Sele 16. Michael Chee Kam 17. Jed Cartwright 18. Davvy Moale 19. Blake Taaffe 20. Josh Mansour 21. Richard Kennar 22. Jacob Host
While prop Tevita Tatola (chicken wing fine) free to play, the Bunnies have lost utility forward Siliva Havili to a calf concern while winger Alex Johnston and second-rower Jai Arrow (hip) are under a cloud. Jed Cartwright comes onto the bench after being out for more than a month with a hamstring tear.
Tom Burgess is serving the second and final match of his ban for a high tackle on Roosters star James Tedesco.
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Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Alex Johnston out, Kennar in. He's is a solid replacement and safe pair of hands, he scored a hat-trick against the Knights in round 17 . He wont let Souths down. As JD commented “We’ll get the job done and he'll (AJ) be back next week.”
Johnny
Roar Rookie
I have to disagree this time Rob :happy: . Drinkwater has improved a lot at full back and is safer than HTF imho. Plus his creativity and involvement in attack and creating breaks is streets ahead. The final 20 is probably when HTF comes on but he needs to be a lot more involved in the middle trying to get offloads from the Cowboys forwards.
Get_real
Roar Rookie
Jai Arrow must be a worry for South's fans too.
Danno
Roar Rookie
You are right Dwayne , don’t know what’s going on with Nathan Brown and Bryce Cartwright and the coach Brad Arthur but those two would get a start with any team
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
PVL made that happen with his brain explosion...
Albo
Roar Rookie
May's suspension was more to do with the ruckus about the 2 week suspension for the off field incident last year, that was allowed to be served next year, that had the media frothing at the mouth. So he had no chance of escaping any incident that week !
Rob
Guest
I hope you’re right. Maybe I’m still impressed by what Hammer did to the (at the time) unstoppable Turbo in Origin or when they were leading Manly until Hammer left the field last year. I’ve seen enough of Drinkwater and Hammer to realise who is the better catcher and defender at the especially under pressure against quality opposition. The sharks put on 30 last week and I didn’t see Drinkwater stop anyone?
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
I think Hammer is just as capable of errors, if not more. He also won't provide the same ball playing ability in attack. The Guzzler will be fine.
Rob
Guest
Hammer came off the bench in Darwin. Personally I’d put Drinkwater on the bench and Hammer at fullback to strengthen the defence. I fear Drinkwater is capable of making errors that will gift the Eels points. Not unlike Savage did last weekend, especially with diffusing kicks or open field breaks.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I cannot go against my Panthers :stoked: I agree about the suspensions not being in alliance, but I am not surprised with the inconsistencies. :unhappy:
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Not a particular fan of the Panthers atm, but looking at Milne's hit on JS and May's hit and it's hard to see why one was a suspension worse than the other.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Cows have a seriously good bench...
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Ba ha haaa gold CJ, pure gold..
Griffo 09
Roar Rookie
Does that bring Granville into the picture to replace Hammer on the bench?
Rob
Guest
Reece has played a huge part in the Cowboy’s success this season, especially defensively (making 1000 tackles) along with 1700m in attack. Robson hits hard in defence and also leads the defence line around the ruck. His tanks were on empty last weekend before extra time kicked in. I hope the extra week off has filled up his tanks and he’s ready to go. The Cowboys need him at his best.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I hope that it is nothing serious and that his recovery goes well Albo… :thumbup:
Albo
Roar Rookie
100%. Havili will be missed far more than many appreciate. The Panthers pack requires 80 minutes of full time opposition attention to remain competitive against them.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
No surprise that May will miss the game due to a one match ban, he needs to get his tackling sorted out pronto. Havili is a big loss for South’s, he is still underrated with what he brings off the ball.
Tony
Roar Guru
They're just finalising Dwanye's 5 year contract...
souvalis
Roar Rookie
There's talk Reece Robson didn't pull up well after the Sharks game. Big worry.