Panthers in injury wars

PENRITH’S injury crisis has reached breaking point after forward Moses Leota was ruled out for at least eight weeks with a pectoral tear.

The Panthers revealed Leota suffered the injury in the first half of the NRL loss to North Queensland but played out the match.

Leota is the third player the Panthers have lost since their defeat to the Cowboys, after forward Trent Merrin (finger) and Jack Hetherington (ban).

It means 19 of their 30-man squad are now unavailable for Friday’s clash against Newcastle, however, youngster Tyrone May is expected to return from his ACL injury this week.

The Leota injury is the latest blow for coach Anthony Griffin, who is tipped to blood his fifth debutant this year in prop Nick Lui-Toso.