Watene- Zelezniak returning on wing to face the Roosters
Penrith star Bryce Cartwright will miss his side’s NRL clash with the Roosters tonight but Kiwi wing Dallin Watene- Zelezniak will return for the Panthers.
Watene- Zelezniak recently underwent minor knee surgery and comes in for impressive rookie Dylan Edwards on the right wing, setting up a sizzling individual match- up with in- form Roosters flyer Daniel Tupou.
In other late mail, Cowboys coach Paul Green has reshuffled his pack following New Zealand test star Jason Taumalolo’s suspension, with Ethan Lowe moving to lock and Coen Hess starting at second- row. Lowe has massive shoes to fill with the loss of Taumalolo likely to cost the Cowboys dearly tonight against Manly.
Taumalolo is serving a two- match ban for a shoulder charge, with the Cowboys also to be without test prop Matt Scott ( knee), fullback Lachlan Coote ( calf ) and Kiwi winger Antonio Winterstein ( broken arm) against the under- fire Sea Eagles.
New Zealander Valentine Holmes will return for the Sharks against the Dragons tomorrow night after recovering from a hamstring injury and is likely spend plenty of time on the wing as he is eased back.
“He’ll start on Sunday, he got through last night 100 per cent,” Sharks coach Shane Flanagan said of Holmes. “We could have pushed him last week but these sorts of injuries with athletes like Val, if he tears it again it’s six weeks.”
Outside back, New Zealander Gerard Beale, is still a week away from returning from a hamstring strain for Cronulla.
Meanwhile, Brisbane forward Sam Thaiday has been handed a maximum $ A2100 fine after copping a grade one contrary conduct charge for squeezing Melbourne prop Jesse Bromwich’s injured thumb in Thursday night’s 14- 12 loss to the Storm.
Thaiday can reduce the fine to $ A1550 with an early guilty plea for the second- half incident in which he grabs hold of Bromwich’s bandaged right thumb he dislocated in round one.
He’ll be free to line up in the Broncos’ next match against Canberra on Friday.
In other league news, Fiji coach Mick Potter has become the second coach this week to shut the door on Semi Radradra for the representative round of test matches.
Australian coach Mal Meninga said he will not consider Radradra for selection this year given his plans to switch to rugby.
However, Gold Coast star Jarryd Hayne is set to play for Fiji after signalling his interest to take on the Cook Islands in an international tripleheader in May.
Hayne’s chances of representing the Bati improved after Australia coach Mal Meninga this week criticised players who hinted at possible moves to another code.
The Titans fullback last month revealed French rugby was an option as he contemplates whether to take up an option in his contract to remain on the Gold Coast in 2018.
Potter, an assistant coach at Newcastle, said he had been in contact with Hayne about playing for Fiji during the Knights’ win over the Titans last week.
“I’ve spoken to Jarryd and he’s pretty keen. Obviously that’ll be subject to anything with Australia at this stage,” Potter said. “But if he’s available, he certainly sounded like he was pretty interested. He was keen to come to Samoa [ last December] but he had a couple of commitments already planned. I’ll give him a call in the next week or so to see how he’s going with his ankle injury.”
While the likely availability of Hayne will be a major drawcard for the international, Potter admitted he won’t be considering rugby- bound Radradra in a World Cup year.
He said he’d much rather take a look at the likes of Waqa Blake, Suliasi Vunivalu and the Jennings brothers, George and Robert, against the Cook Islands.
“It’d certainly be a highlight for the fans to watch him but I don’t think it’s going to help us for the World Cup if we play Semi there,” Potter said.
“That’s just [ taking] up a spot where we’re not going to be able to observe one of the potentials for the World Cup. As soon as the season finishes for Parra, he’ll be shooting off to rugby union anyway.”