Source :- THE AGE NEWS
The Roosters have rested nine of their biggest stars, naming three unknowns who the NRL doesn’t even have headshots for, to face arch rivals South Sydney.
On a big afternoon of team news, Penrith captain Isaah Yeo could make a shock return from a pectoral injury after being named on an extended bench. Jarome Luai will also get a Wests Tigers farewell, despite blindsiding the club with his latest trip to PNG.
However, the big talking point will be the Roosters resting their biggest names after giving James Tedesco, Daly Cherry-Evans, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Reece Robson, Billy Smith, Hugo Savala, Naufahu Whyte, Robert Toia and Siua Wong the night off. They will join the injured Sam Walker, who has been ruled out for the season, in the stands for what is traditionally the most anticipated clash of the regular season.
Newbies Aston Warwick, Hayden Barton and Lui Lee – the latter named on an extended bench – don’t even have a profile picture to accompany their names on the NRL website.
Latrell Mitchell, after making a successful comeback from the bench against the Gold Coast last week, moves into his customary starting centre spot for the Accor Stadium clash.
Bookmakers were quickly forced to adjust the betting markets after the mass restings, installing the Roosters as $6 outsiders.
Former Roosters playmaker Luke Keary, who has been working as a coaching consultant at at the club this year, had flagged the possibility of mass restings on Seven’s Agenda Setters on Monday night.
“I just know how big a season it has been, and I’m taking freshness over 80 minutes [playing in round 27]; I would rest everyone,” Keary said.
While most teams clubs named strong sides for round 27, Cronulla opted to rest Nicho Hynes for Saturday’s clash with Melbourne, along with Blayke Brailey, KL Iro and Teig Wilton. With Braydon Trindall still out injured, the Sharks are left with a makeshift halves pairing of Riley Pollard and Niwhai Puru.
Luai, meanwhile, will get one last game in the black, white and orange jersey before joining Parramatta.
Eyebrows were raised when Luai took a private jet to Port Moresby over the weekend to join PNG Prime Minister James Marape at a golf tournament.
The Tigers were unaware of the trip until images of the visit were circulated on social media. The club had given the NSW and Samoan playmaker permission to stay in Townsville on Sunday after he passed a medical examination on a leg injury he suffered the night before in the 24-10 loss to the Cowboys.
Luai, who will join the Chiefs in 2028 after a stopover at Parramatta for the 2027 season, then flew to PNG just a week before his final game with the Tigers. He returned in time to take part in training on Tuesday.
The PNG Post Courier newspaper reported Luai was about to become one of the country’s regional tourism ambassadors. The Chiefs’ $1.2 million-per-season recruit was a special guest at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club, where he rubbed shoulders with PNG Open winner Josh Armstrong.
The Tigers gave their players two days off after the Cowboys game, given there was an eight-day turnaround for their final match of the season. However, some pundits felt it was a bad look for Luai to be involved in promotional PNG activities before the completion of his Tigers commitments.
His decision won’t cost him at the selection table, with Marshall picking him for the Panthers clash. Another potential pivot, Josh Schuster, made his long-awaited return for feeder team Western Suburbs in their 44-16 NSW Cup loss to South Sydney on the weekend.
While he got through unscathed, the former Manly playmaker wasn’t deemed ready for an NRL return just yet.
The Panthers welcome back hooker Mitch Kenny from a serious leg injury for his first game since round seven. However, there could be more unexpected good news after Yeo was named on the reserves bench in jersey No.22.
Speaking on Monday night at the Brad Fittler medal presentation, Yeo said he was confident of a comeback.
“[The body] is going good,” Yeo said. “I’m just trying to figure it all out and go from there, but at the moment it’s giving me confidence … it’s travelling well. So I’d like to think that bodes well, but yeah, just wait and see.”
Asked about the prospects of delaying surgery until after the World Cup, the Kangaroos skipper said: “I don’t know yet. If I can get back to playing and feeling good and feel like I can perform, obviously I’d still put my hand up for the World Cup.
“But that’s a conversation down the track. I’m just trying to get back for Penrith at the moment.”
Bookies received some false mail about the Panthers making wholesale changes. On Tuesday morning, some corporate bookies crunched the 14.5 points start given to the Wests Tigers to just 5.5 points, only to wind it back out to 17.5 points once the teams were officially listed.
The positive to come from Yeo’s injury has been the chance to devote time to his contract negotiations. The Panthers and Yeo’s management have made progress recently and both parties are hopeful of an outcome that results in the star forward finishing his career as a one-club man.
“There’s certainly been talks, and they’ve all been really positive, so that’d be nice,” he said. “It’s obviously been beneficial that I haven’t been playing, and we’ve been able to talk like that.”
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