Eels’ big selection call revealed with star ‘in serious doubt’ for prelim: Casualty Ward

Eels’ big selection call revealed with star ‘in serious doubt’ for prelim: Casualty Ward

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!

Tom Opacic of the Eels is attended to by the team trainer. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

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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