Your say: Roosters or Storm?
Tigers’ business decision ‘a shock’ for Luai
“It was a bit of a shock, I’ll be honest with you,” Jarome Luai said of being asked by the Wests Tigers to leave at the end of the season, with a year still remaining on his contract.
“But as a player at this level, our game is a business. The faster an athlete is able to comprehend that, the better understanding they will have of where and why these decisions are made.”
Indeed, the NRL has become very big business. It’s not quite as ruthless as some American sports, but the commodification of athletes here is catching up.
Given the average NRL career lasts 35 games across four seasons, players need to get what they can, where they can, while they can. However, it’s not a one-way street. If a club feels it isn’t getting bang for its buck, a tap on the shoulder is inevitable.
The Tigers, after bending over backwards to secure Luai’s signature, have effectively given him his marching orders. All in the name of business. Just like it was business when Luai left the Panthers, or joined PNG, or when Parramatta opportunistically picked up the four-time premiership-winning pivot when he unexpectedly came onto the market. Such is the transactional nature of the game.
Latrell’s injury return delayed… again
South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell’s comeback from a calf injury has been delayed by at least another two weeks, and Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton’s bid to return from a nerve issue in Saturday’s critical clash against Wests Tigers has fallen short.
Mitchell has been sidelined since mid-May. An ongoing back injury ruled him out of the first two State of Origin clashes, before a calf tear suffered when he returned to the training paddock three weeks ago extended his absence.
The grade two tear stemmed in part from the disc issue in Mitchell’s back, but he had been tentatively scheduled to return next week against Melbourne.
The injury has not responded as well as originally hoped, though there has been no re-tearing or aggravating of the tear.
Your say: Roosters or Storm?
Roosters v Storm team lists
Sydney Roosters
1. Cody Ramsey 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Hugo Savala 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 10. Spencer Leniu 11. Nat Butcher 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley.
Bench: 14. Connor Watson 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Egan Butcher 17. Taylor Losalu 18. Rex Bassingthwaighte 19. Tommy Talau
Melbourne Storm
1. Sualauvi Faalogo 2. William Warbrick 3. Jack Howarth 4. Nick Meaney 19. Siulagi Tuimalatu-Brown 6. Tyran Wishart 7. Trent Toelau 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Harry Grant 10. Josh King 11. Cooper Clarke 12. Oryn Keeley 13. Trent Loiero.
Bench: 14. Gabriel Satrick 15. Jack Hetherington 16. Josiah Pahulu 17. Alec MacDonald 18. Stanley Huen 20. Davvy Moale
Welcome to Friday night footy
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of tonight’s clash between the Roosters and Storm at Allianz Stadium.
This is a battle of two perennial title contenders but while the Roosters have won three straight and four of their past five games to sit inside the NRL top four, Melbourne remain in 10th place despite winning six of their past eight games.
The Storm are down on troops with star halves Cameron Munster (knee) and Jahrome Hughes (hamstring) out, along with Joe Chan (back strain). Moses Leo is a late withdrawal on game day due to illness.
James Tedesco remains sidelined for the Roosters after his Origin III concussion, while Robert Toia has been rested and Lindsay Collins also remains out due to concussion. But the Chooks do have three starters back in the side tonight, with Origin stars Sam Walker and Reece Robson returning along with second-rower Nat Butcher.
Kick-off is at 8pm.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
