Tupou comeback

SYDNEY Roosters have confirmed winger Daniel Tupou will return from injury in today’s NRL qualifying final against Brisbane. Tupou will make his comeback from a groin problem, which has kept him out for the past month. Coach Trent Robinson said forwards Aidan Guerra and Dylan Napa would take the field after being rested from the Roosters’ final regular season game last week.

Extension bad news

COACHES should no longer fear receiving the dreaded “full support of the board”, according to Wayne Bennett. But the Brisbane master mentor joked that even he would be nervous about his future if he was offered a new contract right now after a “crazy” NRL season. Bennett said there was a new telltale sign that a coach was in trouble after South Sydney’s Michael Maguire became the latest casualty. “I am just worried if they give me an extension of my contract,” the veteran said. “The last couple who just lost their jobs had their contracts extended. Maybe that’s the new way in the game.” He is not off contract until 2019.

Cowboys like Allianz

Cowboys enforcer Jason Taumalolo says Cronulla will be disadvantaged by hosting Sunday’s elimination final at Allianz Stadium rather than Shark Park. The Cowboys have won just once in seven finals at the Sydney venue. But Taumalolo said North Queensland would benefit from playing the Sharks away from their home ground. “Where they finished on the ladder you would expect to play at your home ground in the finals so that helps us a bit,” he said.