Shaun Johnson’s calf muscle is commanding far less attention at Warriors HQ this week, while at the Panthers and Storm hopes are high that they’ll welcome back key playmakers for their preliminary final showdown.
Penrith five-eighth Jarome Luai and Storm No.7 Jahrome Hughes have been named to face each other on Friday night in Sydney after both taking part in team training on Sunday, but will need to pass through more demanding tests later in the week before they are declared certain starters.
In Luai’s case that is likely to include having to prove his injured shoulder can handle tackling some of his side’s hulking middle forwards in an opposed session on Wednesday.
His inclusion would be a huge boost alongside the likely return of centre Izack Tago from a pectoral complaint.
Continuing to progress through running work will be the key to Hughes returning from the calf injury which ruled him out of week two, after saying on Monday that he “ran really well” at training on Sunday and was hopeful of taking part in Tuesday’s session.
But the Kiwi Test half admits the final call on his availability will likely have to be made by club medical staff, as was the case last week after he tried in vain to convince them he was OK to face the Roosters.
“I was probably giving the physio a bit of a headache last week because I told him I was sweet, but he obviously didn’t think so,” Hughes said.
The thing that I don’t want to do is go out there underdone and [then] if I don’t get through the game it puts my team under pressure.
Jahrome Hughes
“I feel pretty good, but I will leave it up to our physios to decide what percentage I am at.”
If he isn’t declared fit Tyran Wishart is almost certain to be the man handed the job at halfback again, after he impressed last week in a performance that included a brilliant solo effort for the opening try.
One rep star who won’t be present for Melbourne is Maroons wing Xavier Coates, who has failed to overcome a high ankle injury picked up in week one and is replaced by Reimis Smith.
Forward Tui Kamikamica is named to play after undergoing a head injury assessment in the final 15 minutes of last week’s match, but there’s no Young Tonumaipea (facial cut) or Alec MacDonald (hamstring).
The news is much better in Auckland, with coach Webster not anticipating any late changes despite Marata Niukore picking up a knee injury last week and the lingering concern over Johnson’s calf.
While he joined Niukore and Mitchell Barnett in missing parts of Tuesday’s training, Johnson pulled up well the day after the game and is set to have a more settled week after only being declared fit to play the day before the game in week two.
Josh Curran will be fine to play as well after dislocating his finger against the Knights.
The Broncos have easily the healthiest roster among the remaining four sides, with forward Xavier Willison their only notable absentee, allowing Kevin Walters to field the same side who overpowered the Storm in week one of the finals.
Source: NRL.com