In the lead-up to the NRL preliminary final between the Penrith Panthers and the Cronulla Sharks, there are several noteworthy developments. Notably, Panthers back-rower Scott Sorensen is poised to make his return after recovering from a hamstring injury that sidelined him during the qualifying final against the Roosters. Sorensen has been named on the extended bench and, should he be cleared to play, is expected to replace Luke Garner in the starting lineup. This would likely result in Matt Eisenhuth being omitted from the squad.
The Panthers are aiming for their fifth consecutive grand final appearance, fueled by the added motivation of co-captain Isaah Yeo becoming the club’s most-capped player. Additionally, fullback Dylan Edwards is set to celebrate his 150th NRL game, further energizing the team as they face a Sharks squad that remains unchanged from their previous win over the Cowboys. The Sharks will also mark a milestone, with halfback Nicho Hynes participating in his 100th game.
In contrast, the other preliminary final features the Roosters maintaining the same lineup that achieved a significant victory against Manly. Meanwhile, the Storm have retained the squad that dominated Cronulla in their qualifying match but have added speedster Sua Fa’alogo to the reserves, following his recovery from injury.
On the NRLW front, there’s positive news for the Roosters, as captain Isabelle Kelly has been cleared of serious elbow damage and will start in the upcoming semi-final against Newcastle. This development comes after concerns that her season might be in jeopardy. Additionally, fellow Jillaroos stars Jess Sergis and Tarryn Aiken have been named in the reserves, raising hopes for their potential return to the field.
The Newcastle Knights are also set to welcome back key players Nita Maynard and Rima Butler, both of whom have overcome their respective injuries, further strengthening their squad for the semi-final showdown.
As the teams prepare for this critical stage of the competition, the stakes are high, with players eyeing both personal milestones and team success. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation, and fans are eager to see how these returning players will influence the outcome of the matches.
