The final round of the NRL season has a huge bearing on certain team’s finals hopes, but with the top four locked in three teams are set to rest a host of players.
The Broncos, Storm and Panthers will reportedly all sideline their key spine players in a bid to enter the finals as fit as possible after several horror injury blows in Round 26.
Melbourne were handed a huge scare when Jahrome Hughes hobbled down the tunnel and he will sit out alongside several other players according to general manager of football Frank Ponissi.
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“Hughesy has pulled up well in the last couple of days but will miss this week along with a few players who have been carrying niggling injuries that will benefit from a week off before the finals,” Ponissi said in a club statement.
“It is a long and tough season so we will take the opportunity to freshen up a number of the boys before we head into our finals campaign.
“We also get the chance to give some other players more NRL game time which will be important for our preparation for finals footy.”
Bellamy looks likely to be without Hughes, Cameron Munster and Harry Grant while Ryan Papenhuyzen could be handed an opportunity to start after returning after 13 months sidelined.
Multiple players could be handed their NRL debuts, including schoolboy prodigy Jack Howarth who signed a mammoth $500,000 per-season five-year deal in 2022.
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The Storm’s move could have major ramifications in the minor premiership race, facing the Broncos who sit two points clear in the final game of the year.
According to The Courier Mail, Kevin Walters is also set to rest five players in Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo, Ezra Mam, Herbie Farnworth and Payne Haas.
Adam Reynolds (calf) and Pat Carrigan (foot) were also already confirmed outs due to injury, while Kotoni Staggs was suspended for one game.
Brisbane haven’t beaten the Storm in their last 13 appearances, and a win could see Walters side face Bellamy’t outfit in Round 27 and the first week of finals.
That gives the Panthers a huge opportunity to snatch the minor premiership with a win against the Cowboys, but veteran rugby league reporter Phil Rothfield has urged Ivan Cleary to take a similar approach to his rivals.
“They can’t afford to be lose another key player, what is it for Penrith? They are guaranteed a home semi final anyway,” Rothfield said on NRL360 on Monday night.
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“Put it this way, Penrith do not need the $200,000 cheque for winning a minor premiership, what they need is Cleary (fit).
“They are guaranteed a home final, absolutely I rest Cleary. If anything happens to him, they can’t win the comp.
“What happens if he does his hamstring again, it is their season (on the line). There is nothing on the result.”
“I think you rest him as well, the minor premiership is an honour and you try and win it when you can,” The Daily Telegraph’s Brent Read said.
“But it’s too big a risk, when you’ve almost lost Jarome and you’re putting Nathan in the firing line.”
Penrith’s potential loss against the Cowboys could have major ramifications in the finals race, with the Raiders then needing to win to finish in the top eight.
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