Penrith will roll the dice on five-eighth Jarome Luai‘s shoulder injury in Friday night’s preliminary final against Melbourne.
Luai is set to play after he pulled up well from a full-contact opposed session on Wednesday in a major boost to the Panthers’ chances with coach Ivan Cleary confirming on Thursday morning that the Samoan international was good to go.
“We’ve seen a lot of guys at this club do some pretty amazing things,” the coach said on Thursday. “From the moment we got the information the medical staff were very confident.
“He’s just put his head down, worked very hard and ticked every box every week. We just had to get to the game, which we’ve been able to do. It’s all systems go.”
Halves partner Nathan Cleary had already been cleared after suffering a finger injury in a training incident earlier in the week.
Panthers officials sent Cleary to hospital for precautionary scans but they cleared the 25-year-old of any significant injury.
After dislocating his shoulder four weeks ago against Parramatta, Luai has been named at five-eighth with Jack Cogger on the interchange.
Luai and Cleary have won 83 of 94 games they have started together in the halves since their days in U20s, having combined for both Penrith and NSW State of Origin.
Centre Izack Tago has also overcome a pectoral injury to be named ahead of Luke Garner.
Storm half Jahrome Hughes is pushing to make a return from a calf injury in the preliminary final showdown with Penrith but and Xavier Coates (ankle) is out again. They each sat out Friday night’s 18-13 semi-final thriller against the Sydney Roosters.
Hughes trained at AAMI Park on Thursday before Melbourne fly north for Friday night’s clash with the Panthers at Accor Stadium. “We’ll have to see how he pulls up but he got through most of it (the training) so we’re really confident he’ll be OK,” coach Craig Bellamy said.
“He didn’t do all of it but we didn’t plan for him to do all of it, either. All of it we planned for him to do he did.”
The Warriors and Broncos have no injury concerns for the their grand final qualifier at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
>>>> All you need to know about NRL Finals
Star half Shaun Johnson is on light training duties again after making it through the semi-final win over Newcastle unscathed when he made a comeback from a calf problem.
The NRL has dropped leading referee Ashley Klein after he received criticism for two pivotal calls in Melbourne’s semi-final defeat of the Sydney Roosters. He will not preside over either of the preliminary finals this week but has been listed as the bunker official for Brisbane’s match against the Warriors on Saturday.
Gerard Sutton will referee the Broncos vs Warriors game after Klein’s demotion while Adam Gee, who is now the favourite to control the Grand Final, will be the whistleblower for the Panthers vs Storm clash.
Preliminary finals teams
Penrith vs Storm – at Accor Stadium, 7.50pm on Friday, September 22
Odds: Panthers $1.18, Storm $4.85, courtesy of PlayUp
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Jack Cogger 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Spencer Leniu 17. Luke Garner 18. Tyrone Peachey 19. Matt Eisenhuth 20. Zac Hosking 21. Luke Sommerton 22. Thomas Jenkins
Jarome Luai (shoulder) making a return with coach Ivan Cleary confirming on Thursday morning that he’s in with Jack Cogger on the bench.
Nathan Cleary picked up a finger injury at training but he will be able to take on the Storm.
Young centre Izack Tago (pectoral) missed the qualifying final win over the Warriors but he has been named to replace Luke Garner out wide with the ex-Wests Tigers utility back on the interchange.
Zac Hosking and Tyrone Peachey have been relegated to the reserves.
Storm: 1. Nick Meaney 2. William Warbrick 3. Marion Seve 4. Justin Olam 5. Reimis Smith 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Tui Kamikamica 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Trent Loiero 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Josh King 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 17. Tariq Sims 18. Grant Anderson 19. Bronson Garlick 20. Sualauvi Faalogo 21. Tepai Moeroa 22. Chris Lewis
Kiwi half Jahrome Hughes (calf) is considered likely to play but Maroons winger Xavier Coates (ankle) and centre Young Tonumaipea (head wound) are still sidelined.
Tyran Wishart returns to the interchange with Hughes back, meaning Bronson Garlick is in the reserves.
Fiji prop Tui Kamikamica will need to pass the concussion protocols to play after copping a head knock late in the win over the Roosters.
Shaun Johnson scores a try. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Broncos vs Warriors – at Suncorp Stadium, 7.50pm on Saturday, September 23
Odds: Broncos $1.27, Warriors $3.80, courtesy of PlayUp
Broncos: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Jesse Arthars 3. Kotoni Staggs 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Ezra Mam 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Billy Walters 10. Payne Haas 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Jordan Riki 13. Patrick Carrigan 14. Tyson Smoothy 15. Brendan Piakura 16. Kobe Hetherington 17. Keenan Palasia 18. Corey Oates 19. Martin Taupau 20. Corey Jensen 21. Jock Madden 22. Tristan Sailor
Kevin Walters’ side is injury free so he is rolling out the same 17 who thrashed Melbourne in the first match of the finals.
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Marata Niukore 13. Tohu Harris 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jazz Tevaga 16. Bayley Sironen 17. Josh Curran 18. Freddy Lussick 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Bunty Afoa 22. Ali Leiataua 23. Edward Kosi
Shaun Johnson will be on limited training duties but is a near certainty to play. Josh Curran dislocated his finger and Marate Niukore copped a bump to his knee in the win over Newcastle but they are good to go.
with AAP
Morz
Roar Rookie
Not to mention the Wahs bodyclocks is actually 10pm for them when the Wahs V Broncs game kicks off
Morz
Roar Rookie
My opinion - Gerard Sutton is the best NRL referree out their by some distance. That he is not down to be the Grand Final favourite for Ref over Gee is a little concerning.
Cam
Roar Rookie
NAS might have something to say about that shoulder.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Wonder if he will do the big dive on to the top of a pack celebrating a try?
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
Gee has the Penrith game so wont risk a close game as Sutton would so a win for Penrithr
Succhi
Roar Rookie
All the money is on the Broncos and Panthers, and I reckon the TV and NRL execs would be hoping for the same - a QLD & NSW audience. Wahs and Storm, with the time difference in NZ would be a catastrophe for the TV ratings. But….Up the Wahs!
Bernie Vinson
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure how Kamakemitha ? is playing . He went off with serious HIA in last 4 minutes and presumably snuck in on an alleged clearance - is anyone asking this????
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
You and the rest of the free world.
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
Maxtruck thinks he knows more about the demographics than the well trained TV execs who maximise profit and ratings by ensuring they set matches at times that maximise eyeballs.
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
Why do people in the bush dictate the start time of a match? Why do the weekend workers with an early start? Both are significant minorities of both the in person attendance and the TV audience. Grow up. Games aren't starting at 4:30pm so the Bakers and newspaper delivery truck drivers can get some good kip.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Like most seasons there is a massive amount riding on what unfolds over the next two weeks particularly regarding the legacy and reputation of the coaches. If The Storm can somehow snare a famous victory against the Pennies and enter the GF with a healthyish squad , they stand a great chance of snaring another title against opponents who may or may not handle the GF pressure. Bellamy's legacy is raised even another notch. Coach Cleary would begin the decade just like Jack Gibson did in the 80's and lay claim to being the master coach of this decade. Wins by Walters or Webster would defy much of the talk about the importance of having a super coach at the helm. A win by Websters lot would go down as one of the best in history , all things being considered, but it's a real long shot I suspect. A win by the Broncos would show that winning a spoon isn't the tragedy it's made out to be. They've already shown that. Having talent and keeping it is more important than how any individual season pans out.
SSTID
Roar Rookie
Well I will concede that you are a better troller than me. :laughing:
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I know what you said about Cleary. Yet as a backhander , you introduced the old SOO chat. Maybe you forgot? So I’d say that I’m then free to run with that . At no time did I say that Cleary is the finest SOO half. Nor did I say that he’s the best halfback of all time. If somehow you think that I believe that? You said that Ilias is a good halfback that’s only going to get better over time. I put the same measure to him, as you were looking to do with Cleary ,with SOO. Only at an easier club level. Maybe it’s you that should take comprehension lessons?
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Not sure how you came to comment on forward passes . Maybe Walker & Cook do a lot of them? So you know all about them? I don’t remember walking up capital hill ? Maybe you are just going over the top , with your anarchy chat?
SSTID
Roar Rookie
I am starting to concur with your mate Brandon - you seem to have trouble comprehending what is said. I never said Ilias was a great player, but a good player. So you are comparing apples with oranges in your reply. I believe that Penrith Valley School specialises in "targeted opportunities to improve comprehension, literacy, reading and numeracy are part of everyday school," so maybe night classes will be available. Of course I am only making a comment.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Andrew Johns had a 56.52% winning record in SOO from 23 games, for NSW. That record doesn’t speak of just how good Johns was . I wouldn’t rate Cleary , as being anywhere near the talent level of an Andrew Johns. Cleary is a very hard worker. Getting Penrith as far as he’s helped to do over 4 consecutive seasons . When they’ve had a worse line up , as those years have gone by. Regardless of where they finish this year, he’s alright. Then Ilias wasn’t great when put under real pressure at ‘club’ level just recently. Maybe people should just measure every player the same way?
SSTID
Roar Rookie
I obvious don't agree with your comment and yes you are free to make comments till the cows come home. But to paraphrase someone else talking about the politics of America "you are free to your opinions, but you are not free to your own reality". Those are the rules and whenever we do away with the rules then it all goes out the window. Using your logic you would have no problems with blatant forward passes, because you believe it is OK (rules are just something to pick and chose whether you support it or not).
Panthers
Roar Rookie
A comment is just a comment. You can agree with it or disagree with it? Doesn’t really make any difference, as I like you don’t makes the rules . Doesn’t stop me from commenting on what I see as an unequal playing field. Same as it doesn’t stop South’s supporters from pointing out many things, that they don’t see as having been fair. Just comments about whatever it happens to be , ‘with sport’. Wont lead to ‘total anarchy’ , yet it’s interesting that you think that they will.
Stewy76
Roar Rookie
and it will be a longer trip home.. We'll be watching those little piggies go wah, wah wah.. all the wah home.. :stoked:
Stewy76
Roar Rookie
Just pushing your buttons mate. Cleary obviously has the runs on the board for his consistency. He does seem to go missing in the big games though.. It'll be interesting to see if he ever mounts a good 80 minutes at Origin level. He should do, he's a class player. Just needs to keep his chin down and his bum up and he'll get there.