Cronulla’s horror run looks set to get even worse, with Nicho Hynes suffering an ankle injury at training.
According to Nine’s Sam Djodan, the Sharks star was carried off the field on Monday morning after appearing to sustain a serious injury, and was sent straight for scans.
The incident is a further sour note on what has been a horror patch for Hynes and the Sharks, with the team having lost five of their last six and the 28-year old unceremoniously dumped from NSW’s State of Origin team for Mitchell Moses after the Blues’ Game 1 loss.
Hynes also came under fire for a simple missed field goal in the Sharks’ heartbreaking loss to the Bulldogs.
Manly will have to weigh up whether to fast track Tom Trbojevic back into the No.1 jersey after pocket rocket Tolu Koula was ruled out for up to a month.
Koula pulled up sore with a knee injury after the Sea Eagles’ golden-point win over North Queensland on Saturday night and is now expected to miss close to four weeks. The excitement machine had only just been moved to the fullback role, in order to allow Trbojevic to return from a hamstring injury at centre.
Koula had been among Manly’s best in the win, running for 289 metres and busting seven tackles, setting up a second-half try with a bust down field. Manly do have options at the back.
Lehi Hopoate had impressed at the back in the month prior to Trbojevic’s return, and came off the bench as a utility on Saturday night.
Manly were also hopeful winger Jason Saab will be fit to face Newcastle on Sunday, after his calf issues were only believed to be cramps against the Cowboys.
New Sydney Roosters games record holder Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has been ‘rewarded’ for his record-breaking 307th game for the Roosters with a hefty suspension for a high shot on Dragon Max Feagai.
Waerea-Hargreaves was sin-binned for the incident in the 17th minute of the Roosters’ win, and has subsequently been slampped with a grade two careless high tackle charge from the judiciary.
He was sin-binned for the incident, and because of his poor record, he will cop a three-game ban even if he enters an early guilty plea, or risk four if he challenges the charge.
Dragons back-rower Jaydn Su’A and Roosters veteran Michael Jennings were each fined $1000-$1500 for careless high tackles.
Jai Arrow says the birthday gift he wants the most this year is the chance to delay season-ending shoulder surgery and continue South Sydney’s unlikely charge towards a place in the NRL’s top eight.
After playing through most of the season with a tear in his supraspinatus tendon, Arrow, who turns 29 on Friday, is booked to go under the knife after the Rabbitohs’ meeting with the Dolphins on Thursday.
Arrow has been on restricted duties all year and admits the discomfort of the injury has meant he can only bench press 80kg.
After picking up a fifth straight win against Parramatta on Thursday, the forward is hoping Souths reconsider his surgery and allow him to play his role in the club’s late-season surge back into finals contention.
Canterbury’s Jaeman Salmon has received a two-match ban for an ugly late shot that went unpunished by match officials at a crucial point of the 13-12 win over the Warriors.
With Saturday’s game tied as the final five minutes approached, the second-rower collided with Te Maire Martin after the Warriors halfback passed during a raid into Bulldogs territory.
Both players lay on the ground in pain after the shot, Salmon eventually leaving the field with a suspected broken jaw. Martin managed to play on after assessment from medical staff. A penalty would have allowed the Warriors to kick for goal and the chance to take a potentially game-winning two-point lead.
The match review committee has since charged Salmon with grade-two dangerous contact, which carries a two-game ban with an early guilty plea.
Salmon would miss three games by unsuccessfully challenging his charge at the NRL judiciary, though appears unlikely to do so given he is now facing an injury lay-off anyway.
Jacob Preston appears likely to replace Salmon on the right edge after the Bulldogs’ round-19 bye, with Ciraldo hopeful the 22-year-old will be back from an ankle injury by then.
Cronulla international Siosifa Talakai is facing a two-match ban for a high shot on Titans hooker Sam Verrills during Friday night’s loss at Coffs Harbour.
Talakai was sin-binned for a forceful hit on Verrills and even though the Gold Coast rake was slipping at the point of impact, the match review committee charged the Sharks forward with a grade-two careless high tackle offence.
Talakai can accept a one-week suspension with an early guilty plea which would rule him out of next Friday’s clash with the Tigers at Shark Park.
Warriors second-rower Jackson Ford and Tigers prop David Klemmer were hit with possible bans following Saturday’s contests.
Ford can escape a two-match ban with a $3000 early plea for a crusher tackle on Viliame Kikau. Klemmer was charged with a grade one careless high tackle on Melbourne winger Kane Bradley but can also skip free with a $3000 fine.
Titans winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira was charged for tripping but will not be banned.
He is facing a fine of $1000-$1500, as is Broncos winger Jesse Arthars for dangerous contact on Brad Schneider in their loss to Penrith at Suncorp Stadium.
Marcelo Montoya and Viliame Kikau were the other two fined during Canterbury’s one-point win. The Warriors winger was pinned for a grade one shoulder charge – with a $1500 early plea. Kikau was charge for a trip on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and will also have to fork out $1800.
Former teammates Api Koroisau and Luke Brooks were both charged for grade one offences – dangerous contact and a careless high tackle. $1000 fees have been handed out.
Round 18 Casualty Ward: Rabbitohs – Latrell Mitchell (foot); Warriors – Tohu Harris (wrist), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (calf), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (head knock), Marcelo Montoya (groin); Sea Eagles – Ben Trbojevic (head knock); Bulldogs – Jaeman Salmon (jaw); Storm – Nelson Asofa-Solomona (hamstring), Bronson Garlick (back); Cowboys – Murray Taulagi (hamstring); Panthers – Daine Laurie (hamstring); Broncos – Jock Madden (hamstring); Raiders – Hudson Young (groin); Eels – Junior Paulo (foot); Roosters – Victor Radley (head knock); Knights – Enari Tuala (calf).
Dolphins vs South Sydney at Kayo Stadium: 7.50pm, Thursday July 11
Dolphins: Jeremy Marshall-King may not play again this year after limping off in their last-start loss to the Dragons while prop Thomas Flegler is also still out with a shoulder injury and utility Kurt Donoghoe has copped a three-match ban for a high tackle. Max Plath is likely to take over at hooker.
Rabbitohs: Jai Arrow will suit up for one more match before going in for shoulder surgery.
Cronulla vs Wests at PointsBet Stadium: 8pm, Friday July 12
Sharks: Winger Sione Katoa will return from a concussion with Dan Atkinson making way.
Tigers: Starford To’a (hamstring), Junior Tupou (foot) and Isaiah Papali’i (ankle) are pushing for a return from injury.
Gold Coast vs Parramatta at Cbus Super Stadium: 5.30pm, Saturday July 13
Titans: AJ Brimson (groin) is set to return at five-eighth after he was a late withdrawal for the win over Cronulla at Coffs Harbour.
Eels: Former Blues forward Junior Paulo is out for the rest of the year due to the foot injury which he suffered in last Thursday’s loss to Souths.
Brisbane vs St George Illawarra at Suncorp Stadium: 7.35pm, Saturday July 13
Broncos: Incumbent Origin trio Reece Walsh, Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan are likely to be joined by Selwyn Cobbo on rep duty as he is set to replace Xavier Coates on the Queensland wing.
Dragons: Hame Sele is hoping to return after missing the rumble with the Roosters due to a shoulder problem.
Manly vs Newcastle at 4 Pines Park: 4.05pm, Sunday July 14
Sea Eagles: Corey Waddell (ankle) is a maybe for the Brookvale clash with the Knights while Tolu Koula’s knee injury could result in Tom Trbojevic returning to fullback ahead of planned.
Knights: Phoenix Crossland (concussion) will return after sitting out the trip to Canberra.
Bye – Bulldogs, Cowboys, Panthers, Raiders, Roosters, Storm, Warriors.
