Just days out from the biggest game since the 2016 grand final the Cronulla Sharks have been dealt a major injury blow with two stars racing the clock to be fit.
So significant are the injuries that the Sharks have removed two players from their NSW Cup grand final as cover.
Meanwhile, Ivan Cleary is “hopeful” a star back rower will be fit to return.
Read on for all your preliminary finals early mail!
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FRIDAY
Melbourne Storm vs Sydney Roosters, 7:50pm AEST at AAMI Park
Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 5. Xavier Coates 6. Cameron Munster 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Shawn Blore 12. Eliesa Katoa 13. Trent Loiero 14. Tyran Wishart 15. Christian Welch 16. Tui Kamikamica 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Grant Anderson 20. Lazarus Vaalepu
Players cut: 19. Kane Bradley 21. Joe Chan 22. Sualauvi Faalogo
Late Mail: To come.
Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dominic Young 6. Luke Keary 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Victor Radley 14. Spencer Leniu 15. Naufahu Whyte 16. Nat Butcher 17. Terrell May 18. Zach Dockar-Clay 19. Siua Wong
Players cut: 20. Fetalaiga Pauga 21. Jake Elliott 22. Michael Jennings
Late Mail: To come.
Will Ivan Cleary enter coaching royalty? | 05:25
SATURDAY
Penrith Panthers vs Cronulla Sharks, 7:50pm AEST at Accor Stadium
Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To’o 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. James Fisher-Harris 11. Luke Garner 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Brad Schneider 15. Lindsay Smith 16. Liam Henry 17. Matt Eisenhuth 18. Casey McLean 19. Trent Toelau 20. Scott Sorensen 21. Daine Laurie 22. Luke Sommerton
Players cut:
Late Mail: Ivan Cleary has revealed he’s “hoping” but not “expecting” Scott Sorensen to be fit to take the field in his side’s preliminary finals clash with the Sharks. Sorensen has been sidelined since Round 27, having been ruled out of the qualifying final against the Roosters due to a hamstring injury. If he returns, Luke Garner will shift to the bench and Matt Eisenhuth to 18th man.
Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Kayal Iro 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Braydon Trindall 7. Nicho Hynes 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Oregon Kaufusi 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Cameron McInnes 14. Siosifa Talakai 15. Jack Williams 16. Royce Hunt 17. Thomas Hazelton 18. Daniel Atkinson 19. Braden Hamlin-Uele 20. Mawene Hiroti 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Samuel Stonestreet
Players cut:
Late Mail: According to the SMH, Craig Fitzgibbon has been dealt a major blow days out from Cronulla’s prelim clash with Penrith. Star centre Jesse Ramien is in serious doubt to play due to an ankle issue, while his centres partner Kayal Iro is dealing with a biceps strain that could end his impressive rookie season. Siosifa Talakai is expected to replace Ramien in the centres, just as he did in the first week of the finals, while Mawene Hiroti has been pulled from Newtown’s NSW Cup grand final in the event Iro is unable to take the field against Penrith. Daniel Atkinson has also been pulled from that clash. He is expected to take Talakai’s place on Fitzgibbon’s bench.
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