Brookie Bob
"I come back to you now at the turn of the tide"
NRL Casualty Ward: Worrying signs for Metcalf; Eels lose Cartwright
The Warriors were dealt an early blow during their clash against Newcastle on Sunday with five-eighth Luke Metcalf suffering a suspected ankle injury.
www.nrl.com
We've often had a bit of discussion on where Manly has been dealt a rough hand. While we do love the backs to the wall, everyone hates us, we will overcome anyway stuff - time for opportunity knocks.
Many of our opponents have decent disruptions to their rosters. Time to get going now, and make the most of it.
The Raiders, Storm, Knights, Eels, Warriors and Tigers all have significant injury concerns. The Dragons have a few, but get 3 back this weekend. Penrith also get 3 back in round 4; but have lost one of their props for quite a while as well as the competition's leading metre-getter from last year To'o.
Other teams we would be expected to beat (Broncos, Bulldogs, Cowboys) don't have many injuries - but neither do we. After round 4, when we get Aloiai back (barring further injuries), we only have Schuster left to come back in round 6.
Our next opponents are: Bulldogs (home), Raiders (away at Mudgee,but a 'home' game), Knights (away), Titans (home), Sharks (away), Rabbitohs (away - Gosford), Tigers (home), Broncos (away), Eels (away), Storm (away), Warriors (home), Tigers (away), Cowboys (home), Storm (home), BYE. That takes us to Round 17 out of 25.
I know it's optimistic, but I think ten wins out of fourteen games - then a bye - is achievable. 11 or 12 wins would be outstanding. Sitting on 22 points after round 17 is a possibility. The start has to come this weekend. No pressure, lads!
Brisbane Broncos
- Thomas Flegler (suspension, round 4)
- Xavier Willison (knee, mid-season)
Canberra Raiders
- Nick Cotric (quad, round 3)
- Jarrod Croker (knee, round 3-4)
- Brad Schneider (COVID-19 protocols, round 3)
- Jamal Fogarty (knee, round 15-17)
- Josh Hodgson (ACL, season)
- Harley Smith-Shields (ACL, season)
Canterbury Bulldogs
- Paul Alamoti (ankle, round 6-8)
- Raymond Faitala-Mariner (foot, indefinite)
- Matt Doorey (knee, mid-season)
Cronulla Sharks
- Ronaldo Mulitalo (head knock, round 4)
- Jack Williams (knee, round 3)
- Teig Wilton (suspension, round 4)
- Wade Graham (ankle, round 6)
Gold Coast Titans
- Corey Thompson (hand, round 4-5)
- Joe Vuna (knee, mid-season)
- Shallin Fuller (leg, season)
Manly Sea Eagles
- Josh Aloiai (suspension, round 4)
- Josh Schuster (ankle, round 6)
Melbourne Storm
- Harry Grant (COVID protocols, round 4)
- Tyran Wishart (COVID protocols, round 4)
- Jordan Grant (calf, round 3)
- Tom Eisenhuth (calf, round 5)
- Cooper Johns (shoulder, round 5)
- Brandon Smith (hand, round 4)
- Christian Welch (achilles, season)
- George Jennings (knee, season)
- Bronson Garlick (knee, TBC)
Newcastle Knights
- Lachlan Fitzgibbon (knee, TBC)
- Kalyn Ponga (knee, round 3)
- David Klemmer (knee, round 5)
- Daniel Saifiti (leg, round 3)
- Brodie Jones (COVID protocols, round 4)
- Sauaso Sue (shoulder, round 4)
- Jack Johns (shoulder, round 8)
- Bailey Hodgson (elbow, round 10)
- Hymel Hunt (knee, round 10)
- Jayden Brailey (achilles, mid-season)
North Queensland Cowboys
- Ben Hampton (hamstring, round 3)
- Reuben Cotter (hamstring, round 3)
- Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (knee, round 3)
- Mitch Dunn (knee, season)
Parramatta Eels
- Jake Arthur (appendectomy, round 5)
- Mitch Rein (sternum, round 4)
- Marata Niukore (calf, TBC)
- Ryan Matterson (hamstring, round 4)
- Maika Sivo (knee, mid-season)
- Haze Dunster (knee, season)
- Sean Russell (ribs/lung, indefinite)
Penrith Panthers
- James Fisher-Harris (shoulder, round 4)
- Nathan Cleary (shoulder, round 4)
- Liam Martin (leg, round 4)
- Mavrik Geyer (elbow, round 5)
- Brian To'o (knee, round 9-11)
- Moses Leota (shoulder, mid-season)
South Sydney Rabbitohs
- Blake Taaffe (ankle, round 3-4)
St George Illawarra Dragons
- Andrew McCullough (elbow, TBC)
- Aaron Woods (hamstring, round 3)
- Billy Burns (foot, round 3)
- Jayden Sullivan (hamstring, round 3)
- Josh McGuire (suspension, round 6)
- Tyrell Fuimaono (suspension, round 6)
- Max Feagai (ankle, round 11)
Sydney Roosters
- Sam Verrills (thumb, round 6)
- Egan Butcher (foot, early rounds)
- Joseph Suaalii (foot, early rounds)
Warriors
- Ash Taylor (hip, round 4)
- Viliami Vailea (knee, round 5-6)
- Shaun Johnson (pec, round 5-6)
- Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (finger, round 8-10)
- Tohu Harris (knee, mid-season)
Wests Tigers
- Kelma Tuilagi (head knock, round 4)
- Jacob Liddle (knee, round 3)
- Adam Doueihi (knee, round 8-14)
- Tommy Talau (knee, mid-season)
- Asu Kepaoa (pectoral, mid-season)
- Shawn Blore (ACL, season)
