Phil Gould believes Panthers No. 6 Jarome Luai is “a million-to-one” to recover in time from his shoulder injury and face the Storm in their preliminary final on Friday night.
Luai dislocated his shoulder in Round 26 and is trying to return against Melbourne just four weeks later, which is a fortnight ahead of schedule.
Gorden Tallis said on NRL 360 the injury cannot be “needled” while Gould declared it would be a “medical mystery” if he takes the field.
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“We’re on the outside here, we’re only going on the medical report that has been released.If the medical report is accurate and been released accurately that his shoulder was dislocated in that game a few weeks ago, then I think he’s a million-to-one of playing in this game,” Gould said on 100% Footy on Monday night.
“He’s certainly a million-to-one of being anywhere near 100 per cent if he dares to go on the field.
“From the vision, I’m confident he can’t take the field in this game, I just don’t see how that’s possible.
“Whether they’re throwing up a smokescreen… if he does, it’s a medical mystery and they should tell us how they did it because everyone would like to know how they got him ready in that short space of time.”
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Journalist Danny Weidler attended Panthers’ training on Sunday and said a final decision on Luai will likely be made following a contact session on Wednesday.
“I was out there on Sunday and had a look at him, we weren’t allowed to be there for the full session but I saw him doing their warm down and Jarome was holding his shoulder in close as he was jogging around,” Weidler said on BSB Radio on Tuesday.
“He did catch a couple of balls above his head and I brought that up on 100 per cent footy last night and said well that’s probably a good sign but I was shot down very quickly by Gus and Paul Gallen who said that’s not going to matter too much when Justin Olam is hitting you like a Mack truck.
“Gus said he’s a million-to-one to play if the injury was in fact the shoulder popping out, like they told us, to get back and play in time. He reckons it’s long odds which is going against what everybody else has been saying.
“From what we’re told he got through ok yesterday Jarome, I think Penrith have a day of rest today but on Wednesday they have more physical contact session and I guess he’d have to either get through that or be ruled out on that day.”
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