Crichton named for Dogs as Manly welcome back Turbo
George Clarke |
Stephen Crichton appears to have shrugged off the shoulder issue which forced him to withdraw from the NSW State of Origin squad after the Canterbury captain was named to line up for the Bulldogs.
Crichton was originally picked in Laurie Daley’s NSW side for Wednesday’s game two clash at the MCG, only to be removed from the Blues squad 12 hours later as a result of a lingering AC joint complaint.
But just four days after he was set to play Origin, the 25-year-old will line up at centre against Manly at Accor Stadium on Saturday.
Crichton has battled the shoulder injury all season and has played through pain in a bid to keep the 12th-placed Bulldogs’ finals hopes alive.
The Sea Eagles welcome back Tom Trbojevic and are expected to have Blues rookie Tolu Koula on deck providing he gets through Origin II unscathed.
Many of this week’s teams will be subject to mass changes depending on how players pull up after Wednesday night’s game in Melbourne.
The Dolphins, who face Wests Tigers at Campbelltown on Saturday, have already opted to rest Queensland trio Thomas Flegler, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Selwyn Cobbo.
The Tigers, meanwhile, named halfback Adam Doueihi in their extended squad.
Penrith and the Titans are also expected to leave it late to rule their Origin players in or out as the sides meet on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Alofiana Khan-Pereira (cork) has been replaced on the wing by Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad as the Warriors host the Cowboys on Sunday.
Cronulla have named hooker Blayke Brailey (broken arm) and Nicho Hynes (calf) among their reserves as they seek to make it five wins on the spin by beating the Sydney Roosters in the final game of the round.
Newcastle kick off round 16 at home on Friday with Bradman Best named to make his return from a hamstring injury against St George Illawarra.
AAP