The Parramatta Eels are sweating on the availability of centre Tom Opacic ahead of next week’s preliminary final meeting with the North Queensland Cowboys.
Opacic injured his hamstring in the 40-4 win over Canberra on Friday night, which has opened the door for Bailey Simonsson to make a return to first grade.
Although The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio reported on Saturday in an update on Opacic’s injury that Simonsson may still miss out, with Marata Niukore to instead shift to the centres.
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“I spoke with the Parramatta club this morning,” he said on Triple M.
“There is some optimism in relation to the severity of the hamstring issue. I think you’d have to place Opacic in serious doubt to play. We know hamstring injuries are problematic and going into a must-win prelim, it’s probably too big a risk to take. But, if they were to advance, I wouldn’t rule out Opacic going forward.
“The option I’m picking up on is Marata Niukore at this stage shifting into the centre spot, with Waqa Blake staying on the wing. A little bit of water still to flow but optimism that beyond the prelim, Opacic may be OK.”
Should Niukore move from the bench to the centres, Bryce Cartwright or Nathan Brown are the two options to move into the 17.
Read below for the full NRL Casualty Ward!
FULL CASUALTY WARD
BRONCOS
Jordan Riki (eye) – season
Corey Jensen (Covid protocols) – season
Kobe Hetherington (head knock) – season
Brenko Lee (hamstring) – season
Herbie Farnworth (biceps) – season
Ryan James (finger) – season
RAIDERS
Ryan Sutton (hand) – season
Jarrod Croker (shoulder) – season
Josh Hodgson (knee) – season
Harley Smith-Shields (knee) – season
Adam Elliott (hip) – TBC
BULLDOGS
Corey Allan (groin) – season
Reece Hoffman (hand) – season
Jack Hetherington (shoulder) – season
Billy Tsikrikas (knee) – season
SHARKS
Siosifa Talakai (ankle) – Finals week one
Dale Finucane (ribs) – Finals week one
Connor Tracey (concussion) – Finals week one
Will Kennedy (ankle) – Finals week one
Toby Rudolf (knee) – Finals week one
Sione Katoa (pectoral) – season
Jack Williams (shoulder) – season
TITANS
Patrick Herbert (knee) – season
Shallin Fuller (leg) – season
Aaron Booth (knee) – season
Erin Clark (knee) – season
SEA EAGLES
Brad Parker (hamstring) – season
Taniela Paseka (knee) – season
Sean Keppie (shoulder) – season
Tom Trbojevic (shoulder) – season
Jake Trbojevic (hand) – season
Karl Lawton (knee) – season
Jason Saab (knee) – season
Reuben Garrick (shoulder) – season
STORM
Kenny Bromwich (head knock) – Finals week one
Nick Meaney (shoulder) – Finals week one
Jahrome Hughes (calf) – Finals week one
Grant Anderson (ankle) – Finals week one
Tyran Wishart (ankle) – Finals
Dean Ieremia (hamstring) – season
Ryan Papenhuyzen (knee) – season
Reimis Smith (pectoral) – season
Christian Welch (Achilles) – season
George Jennings (knee) – season
Tom Eisenhuth (ankle) – season
KNIGHTS
Jayden Brailey (heel) – season
Anthony Milford (ribs) – season
Sauaso Sue (concussion) – season
Bradman Best (hamstring) – season
Kurt Mann (quad) – season
Kalyn Ponga (concussion) – season
Jake Clifford (arm) – season
Leo Thompson (hamstring) – season
Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) – season
Mitch Barnett (thumb) – season
Bailey Hodgson (elbow) – season
Dylan Lucas (pectoral) – season
COWBOYS
Coen Hess (suspension) – Finals week one
Mitch Dunn (knee) – season
Heilum Luki (knee) – season
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EELS
Tom Opacic (hamstring) – TBC
Haze Dunster (knee) – season
Ray Stone (knee) – season
PANTHERS
Api Koroisau (ankle) – Finals week one
Spencer Leniu (shoulder) – Finals week one
Nathan Cleary (suspension) – Finals week one
RABBITOHS
Cameron Murray (concussion) – Finals week one
Campbell Graham (head knock) – Finals week one
Siliva Havili (head knock) – Finals week one
Damien Cook (Covid protocols) – Finals week one
Izaac Thompson (hamstring) – Finals
Liam Knight (knee) – season
Jacob Host (shoulder) – season
DRAGONS
Francis Molo (suspended) – season
Moses Mbye (hamstring/suspended) – season
Michael Molo (thumb) – season
Mikaele Ravalawa (hamstring) – season
Moses Suli (ankle) – season
Tariq Sims (suspended) – season
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ROOSTERS
James Tedesco (failed HIA) – TBD
Angus Crichton (failed HIA) – TBD
Daniel Tupou (groin) – TBD
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (hamstring) – Finals week one
Sam Verrills (hand) – Finals week one
Joseph Suaalii (shoulder) – Finals week one
Victor Radley (head knock) – Finals week one
Daniel Tupou (groin) – Finals week one
Joseph Manu (calf) – Finals week two-three
Lindsay Collins (suspension) – grand final
Billy Smith (knee) – season
Sitili Tupouniua (knee) – season
WARRIORS
Reece Walsh (pectoral) – season
Shaun Johnson (calf) – season
Jazz Tevaga (shoulder) – season
Marcelo Montoya (knee) – season
Rocco Berry (toe) – season
Ronald Volkman (shoulder) – season
Bayley Sironen (osteitis pubis) – season
TIGERS
Luke Brooks (calf) – season
Stefano Utoikamanu (wrist) – season
Jackson Hastings (ankle) – season
Tommy Talau (knee) – season
Alex Twal (concussion) – season
Shawn Blore (knee) – season
Alex Seyfarth (pectoral) – season
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