GAME ON Young Shark in drug test strife
the side to take on the Gold Coast Titans on Friday night will go to Mitch Dunn, while Shane Wright will fill the void on the interchange.
Green said Cooper ( pictured) had only just resumed full, unrestricted training so at this stage rushing him back was not worth the risk.
He backed 23-year-old Dunn to make the most of his opportunity to impress in the No.11 jersey.
“I think we’ve all seen glimpses of Dunny, he’s played in the halves as a kid growing up so he brings an element of skill to that position,” Green said.
“He’s young and enthusiastic so he gets his chance and it’s up to him to make the most of it.”
With skipper Michael
Morgan sidelined after shoulder surgery during the coronavirus hiatus, Jake Clifford will step up to the scrumbase with five-eighth Scott Drinkwater.
Even without Morgan, Green has plenty of leadership within the starting 17.
Jordan Mclean will step up to captain the side, with Tonga leader Jason Taumalolo acting as his deputy.
Along with the likes of Josh Mcguire and Justin O’neill, there is plenty of experience for Green to call upon.
With several new guidelines and game-day protocols to influence how each match operates, Green said it would take some adjusting. But he said it would not be an excuse for poor performance.
THE NRL has been rocked with teenage Cronulla star Bronson Xerri facing a possible four-year ban after testing positive to a banned performance-enhancing drug.
Just two days out from the season restart, 19-year-old Xerri was provisionally suspended by the NRL yesterday after it was revealed he tested positive for an anabolic steroid on November 25.
It’s understood both the NRL and Cronulla were notified of the positive sample by the Australian Sports AntiDoping Authority (ASADA) yesterday morning, before swift action was taken.
“The Sharks have today been made aware of the provisional suspension handed down to Bronson Xerri under the NRL’S Anti-doping Policy,” Cronulla said in a statement.
“Bronson has been stood down from training and playing responsibilities while the process runs its course, which under the policy includes the opportunity to have his B-sample analysed.
“The club has been in contact with Bronson.”
Xerri has played just 22 NRL matches but is considered one of the sport’s most exciting young stars.
Just two months ago Cronulla let representative veteran Josh Morris go, with Xerri and fellow youngster Jesse Ramien seen as their future in the centres. Renowned as one of the quickest players in the league, Xerri was due to make his return from a shoulder injury for Cronulla against the Wests Tigers on Saturday.
The Cronulla junior has not played since the Test in November, and the six-month gap between providing the positive sample and being notified is not considered unusual.
It was only on Monday that an excited Xerri told reporters how he had improved his sprint times during the coronavirus shutdown. The Cronulla centre said he had been working alongside one of the country’s best sprint coaches, Roger Fabri, three times a week to improve his speed.
“Basically that whole period off I was just doing sprint training and working on my game,” Xerri said.
“He (Fabri) helped me a lot. “I think he timed me from my first session to my last session, and it was a massive improvement.
“Even in my technique, Roger said my technique was unreal and how much I have improved.”
In that same interview, Xerri was asked about his prospects of playing State of Origin.
“It’s unreal just to be mentioned in that way,” he said. “Origin is at the end of the year and if that comes it’s unreal, that’s a goal of mine.”
The players’ association said it was working with Xerri and his management regarding legal representation and support for the youngster.