Origin stars facing hefty bans, Cleary comeback confirmed, Broncos, Bunnies get major boosts
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Eels star Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui are facing lengthy bans in what could be hammer blows to their team’s finals chances.
Campbell-Gillard could be banned for five matches after he was charged with grade-three dangerous contact for dropping his knees into Gold Coast hooker Chris Randall during Sunday night’s one-point win at CommBank Stadium.
He could get the ban reduced to four games with an early guilty plea while teammate Maika Sivo is facing 3-4 weeks out for a grade-two careless high tackle on rival winger Jojo Fifita.
Fa’asuamaleaui will be rubbed out 3-4 matches as well for a shoulder charge on Campbell-Gillard unless he can prove his innocence.
Dolphins prop Jarrod Wallace is staring down the barrel of the same time out for the same offence for a hit on Spencer Leniu in Penrith’s 24-14 win at Redcliffe on Sunday.
All five players have been punished more severely because it’s the third time or more that they’ve been found guilty of an offence.
The impending bans could not have come at a worse time for the Eels, who face an arduous end to the season with games against Melbourne, Brisbane and Penrith.
Parramatta are in seventh spot and on Saturday travel to play a North Queensland side breathing down their necks for a spot in the top eight.
Brad Arthur’s side is without two of their most important players, with five-eighth Dylan Brown (suspended) and hooker Josh Hodgson (neck) also sidelined.
Ivan Cleary announced what all Penrith supporters wanted to hear after his team’s win over the Dolphins.
“He will be right next week,” coach Cleary said of his son and champion playmaker Nathan Cleary, who has not played since Round 14.
Nathan was on track to play against the Dolphins in Redcliffe on Sunday but an extra week of recovery and training will do wonders for his injured hamstring. The Panthers got the job done without him. Top of the table Penrith host Canterbury on Sunday.
“We always slated this week for (Nathan’s) return but it was probably affected a bit by the bye last week where everybody was off,” Ivan said. “This week he actually did a lot of team training, probably a bit too much, so we decided it wasn’t worth the risk. Next week he goes into a full week with no doubts about it, so that will be good.”
Penrith rested their NSW quartet of Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton and Liam Martin against the Dolphins. They are all fresh and will be ready to play the Bulldogs.
Broncos star Reece Walsh is available for Round 21 after the Broncos successfully applied for Origin III to count as part of his three-game ban for abusing a referee while fellow rep stars Payne Haas (ankle) and Patrick Carrigan (calf) are also set to return this Friday for the blockbuster with the Bunnies on the Sunshine Coast.
Maroons prop Tom Flegler is a maybe as he nears a comeback from a foot problem.
“Patty is on track to play against Souths and Payne will be fine,” coach Kevin Walters told AAP ahead of Friday night’s clash. “Flegler we will have to monitor. We will see how the week goes because he is not over the line just yet.”
There were no concerns over the fitness of Adam Reynolds after he was seen holding his wrist before leaving the field in the 70th minute against the Bulldogs.
Souths have Campbell Graham (sternum), Jacob Host (suspension), Latrell Mitchell (calf) and Jai Arrow (ankle) on the comeback trail for the showdown with their fellow title contenders.
Roosters repeat offenders Victor Radley and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves were charged with dangerous contact after incidents in Saturday night’s loss to the Storm at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
They can each cop a $3000 fine to avoid a two-game ban.
Manly fullback Reuben Garrick was charged with tripping Cowboys centre Valentine Holmes in the 26th minute and will be fined $750-$1000 while Warriors centre Rocco Berry ($1000-$1500 for a dangerous throw) will also be lighter in the hip pocket.
Cronulla are set to be without second-rower Teig Wilton after he injured his knee in Sunday’s loss to the Warriors in Auckland although they do have fellow forward Dale Finucane returning from suspension this Sunday against Manly.
Dragons duo Jaydn Su’A (shoulder) and Jayden Sullivan (hamstring) are unlikely to play again this year while Knights centre Dane Gagai should be right to return from his foot injury this Saturday against the Storm.
Round 21 teams
Dragons vs Tigers, at WIN Stadium – 7.50pm, Thursday, July 20
Dragons: Jayden Sullivan (hamstring) and Jaydn Su’A (shoulder) have likely been sidelined for the rest of the season after aggravating previous injuries.
Tyrell Sloan (calf) and Jacob Liddle (concussion) should be available this week.
Tigers: Charlie Staines is set to make a return after a lengthy layoff due to a perforated bowel to give Wests much-needed strikepower out wide but Luke Brooks (hamstring) is still a week or two away.
Warriors vs Raiders, at Go Media Stadium – 6pm, Friday, July 21
Warriors: Shaun Johnson failed to finish the win over the Sharks due to a bump to his ankle but he won’t miss any more time.
Marate Niukore returns from a three-game high tackle ban while centre Rocco Berry ($1000-$1500 for a dangerous throw) was fined for a tackle on Will Kennedy.
Raiders: Coming off the bye, the Raiders should have props Pasami Saulo (concussion) and Josh Papali’i (hamstring) available for their crucial clash with the Warriors.
Payne Haas. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Rabbitohs vs Broncos, at Sunshine Coast Stadium – 8pm, Friday, July 21
Rabbitohs: There are a host of stars returning for the rested Rabbitohs after their bye week with Campbell Graham (sternum), Jacob Host (suspension), Latrell Mitchell (calf) and Jai Arrow (ankle) on the comeback trail.
Broncos: Reece Walsh (suspension), Patrick Carrigan (rest), Payne Haas (hamstring) and Tom Flegler (foot) headline a quartet of stars boosting the Brisbane side.
Corey Oates (knee) is likely to miss a couple more weeks.
Titans vs Roosters, at Cbus Super Stadium – 3pm, Saturday, July 22
Titans: AJ Brimson will slot back in at fullback after he was rested after Origin III while Joe Stimson (concussion) will also return but fellow forward Jaimin Jolliffe (hand) is out another fortnight.
Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui will be rubbed out 3-4 matches for a shoulder charge on Reagan Campbell-Gillard unless he can prove his innocence at the judiciary.
Roosters: James Tedesco will be back from his post-Origin layoff while Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Victor Radley are set to take fines rather than risk two-game bans for dangerous contact charges.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Knights vs Storm, at McDonald Jones Stadium – 5.30pm, Saturday, July 22
Knights: Veteran centre Dane Gagai (foot) will return after delaying his comeback in last Thursday’s triumph over the Tigers.
Storm: No changes likely for Craig Bellamy’s team which trounced the Roosters but Ryan Papenhuyzen is getting closer to a return after a year out with a fractured kneecap.
Cowboys vs Eels, at QCB Stadium – 7.35pm, Saturday, July 22
Cowboys: Heilum Luke is a week away from a return after his facial fracture so Todd Payten is likely to keep the same 17 who downed Manly.
Eels: The Eels have no injury concerns but the judiciary has them in disarray for their trip north. Blues prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard faces a ban of 4-5 matches after he was charged with grade-three dangerous contact for dropping his knees into Gold Coast hooker Chris Randall while winger Maika Sivo is facing 3-4 weeks out for a grade-two careless high tackle on Jojo Fifita.
Nathan Cleary clutches at his hamstring in Round 14. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
Panthers vs Bulldogs, at BlueBet Stadium – 2pm, Sunday, July 23
Panthers: Brian To’o, Liam Martin, Stephen Crichton and Isaah Yeo were rested after and Nathan Cleary (hamstring) is a confirmed starter this Sunday so not much good news for Bulldogs fans there.
Bulldogs: Braidon Burns suffered an abdominal strain and Toby Sexton copped a head knock in the loss to Brisbane while Josh Addo-Carr’s hamstring strain from Origin will keep him out until Round 23.
Sharks vs Sea Eagles, at PointsBet Stadium – 4.05pm, Sunday, July 23
Sharks: Teig Wilton is likely to miss time after limping off with a knee injury in the loss to the Warriors while Dale Finucane returns from his two-game ban.
Sea Eagles: Reuben Garrick has been fined for tripping but is free to play.
Bye – Dolphins
with AAP
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