July 19, 2022 media 0

Walsh dropped, Katoa out for year, Rapana banned, Foxx OK, Turbo sidelined

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Reece Walsh has been dropped to the interchange by interim coach Stacey Jones in a major surprise for the Warriors’ squad to face Canberra on Saturday.

Walsh, who was a member of Queensland’s extended State of Origin squad for game two before he was ineligible for the decider after contracting COVID-19, has lost his fullback spot to Chanel Harris-Tavita with Daejarn Asi to slot in at five-eighth.

The rising star recently secured a release to return to the Broncos next year.

Canberra will be without winger Jordan Rapana for the next two games as they gear up for a late push for the NRL finals.

The 32-year-old has taken an early guilty plea on his grade two careless high tackle on Melbourne’s Marion Seve in Sunday’s 20-16 win over the Storm.

It means Rapana will sit out games against the Warriors and Gold Coast as the 10th-placed Raiders aim to use a favourable draw to push into the top eight.

Rapana’s ban will however give coach Ricky Stuart a selection headache with fellow backs Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (hamstring) and James Schiller (ankle) in doubt for this weekend’s game while the timeframe on Nick Cotric‘s leg injury is yet to be disclosed.

As well as his ban, Rapana was also hit with a $3000 fine for a separate incident with Seve, a shoulder charge in the 40th minute of the game.

Meanwhile, Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona has accepted a $1800 fine after a careless high tackle on Rapana in the same game.

Rapana was sent for a HIA but Asofa-Solomona will be free to face South Sydney on Saturday.

Cronulla have announced winger Sione Katoa tore a pectoral muscle in Friday’s win over the Cowboys and has undergone surgery which will put him out for at least 12 weeks, meaning he has likely played his last match for the season.

Manly forward Jake Trbojevic is out of Manly’s team for Friday’s clash with the Dragons after testing positive to COVID-19. The NSW forward had been taking every measure to avoid getting the virus, earning plenty of ribbing from his teammates, but has tested positive.

Jake Trbojevic looks to pass the ball during game two of the State of Origin series between New South Wales Blues and Queensland Maroons at Optus Stadium, on June 26, 2022, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Jake Trbojevic. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Canterbury have been handed a big boost with star winger Josh Addo-Carr a strong chance to play this weekend after being cleared of serious injury.

Addo-Carr went off in Sunday’s NRL loss to South Sydney with fears he had suffered a glute tear that might have meant he was unable to finish the season.

The injury would have also prevented the winger from pressing his case to earn Australian Test selection for the Rugby League World Cup later this year. Addo-Carr was overlooked by NSW in the 2-1 State of Origin series defeat.

But the Bulldogs have confirmed the winger’s sole concern is a troublesome ankle problem and he could line up for Sunday’s game against Gold Coast. If he isn’t cleared to play the Titans, the Bulldogs expect their winger, who has 11 tries in 16 games, will be fit for their game with Newcastle the following Sunday.

The Dogs also have English international Luke Thompson available after the prop complained of delayed concussion symptoms and missed their last six games.

The Titans, meanwhile, expect livewire fullback Jayden Campbell to return on Sunday after being sidelined since round 13 with a hamstring injury.