More bad news for Ivan Cleary and the Penrith Panthers.
Keaon Koloamatangi has been withdrawn from the NSW squad for State of Origin 2 after suffering a suspected eye socket on Sunday. And it’s created another unwanted headache for Ivan Cleary and the Penrith Panthers ahead of their clash with the Warriors in Round 16.
Cleary has reportedly decided not to take his Origin players to New Zealand for the game, and will rest son Nathan, Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Liam Martin and Dylan Edwards after they play Origin 2. The Panthers were hoping to have Lindsay Smith back on Tuesday ahead of their flight to New Zealand, but that plan has now been changed.
Smith has been in camp with NSW after being called into the extended squad, and has travelled to Perth with the Blues as cover. But with Koloamatangi now ruled out, it means Smith has become the 19th man and would likely come into the playing 17 if any other forward were to suffer a late injury.
It means Smith will likely remain in Perth until after State of Origin 2, and won’t be flying back to Sydney until Thursday at the earliest. He’d then have to fly to Auckland on Friday for the Panthers’ game against the Warriors on Saturday.
Whether or not the Panthers want their star prop doing that much travelling remains to be seen, but it might be more of a risk than they’re willing to take. Two flights in 48 hours – both around four hours each – is far from the ideal preparation, and Cleary might opt to keep Smith on ice and rest him from the Warriors game as well.
It would be a huge blow for a Panthers side sitting in ninth place, just one point outside the eight. Cleary’s side has battled back from sitting in last place not to long ago, but they’d be astronomical odds to beat the Warriors without six front-line starters.
Keaon Koloamatangi facing stint on sidelines
As for Koloamatangi, the Rabbitohs enforcer left the field late on Sunday after copping a high hit in their 24-18 loss to the Bulldogs. He passed his concussion test after being ordered off the field, but Souths staff fear he may have suffered bone damage and the forward won’t fly to Perth as planned.
NRL Physio’ Brien Seeney said Koloamatangi would be facing 3-5 weeks on the sidelines if a fracture is confirmed – provided it’s not a complex one. Canterbury second-rower Jacob Preston has been brought into the NSW squad to take Koloamatangi’s place, after a suspension for a crusher tackle ruined his hopes of being handed an Origin debut in Game 1.
The Blues had already lost Haumole Olakau’atu as a reserve for Game 2, after he requested not to fly west because his partner is due to give birth. The Manly second-rower then suffered a shoulder dislocation in the Sea Eagles’ loss to Gold Coast on Friday night, which is set to sideline him for at least six weeks.
