Rugby league legend Michael Ennis has predicted Michael Maguire will pull a big bench switch which could see the Blues’ target a tiring Queensland pack midway through the contest.
After only one game back from a hip injury with the Rabbitohs, Cameron Murray was called into the NSW outfit for Game II in the No.13 jersey, replacing Cameron McInnes.
Panthers star Isaah Yeo is also on the bench, and is one of the game’s elite locks and Ennis believes he will come into the run-on side when teams are finalised an hour before kick-off.
“Still intrigued to see what they do with Cameron Murray named at No.13, there’s no doubt he can do that and he’s obviously one of the elite players in the competition,” Ennis said on NRL Tonight.
“But he’s only one game back with South Sydney, and the form of Isaah Yeo throughout the whole season leads me to think there may be a late change there.”
Ennis believes the combination of Murray and utility debutant Connor Watson could be key to a potential NSW victory.
Both players could provide Maguire’s outfit with a boost of energy, with the Roosters gun likely to come on and take over at dummy-half from Robson.
“In conjunction with the rotation with Connor Watson, you think Murray’s strength, that part in the middle of the game where (Harry) Grant comes on and he’s relentless with his running,” Ennis said.
“Relentless with his change of speed. It’s a great opportunity for us with someone like Watson and the play-the-ball speed of Murray to target some tired middle forwards in the middle part of the game.”
The initial timeline on his return was for Cleary to miss eight weeks, but it looks like Panthers fans will have to wait a little longer for their home match on July 21 which would also rule him out of a shock comeback for Origin III.
“We’re hopeful (that he’ll be back) after our next bye,” Penrith coach Ivan Cleary said.
“We’ve got a couple of games and then a bye, but that hasn’t been confirmed. He’s steadily going through his rehab and it’s going well. Let’s hope he keeps going well.
“That was a fairly loose target and it hasn’t been confirmed, but his rehab is going well.
“(His return date) has nothing to do with how we’ve been playing. This decision was made from the time he had the second injury.
“The bye is a part of it because if your team’s not here, you miss full team training which actually adds to the length of the rehab. At this stage everything is on track.”
Cleary has resumed training but is weeks away from peak fitness, with the Panthers unwilling to risk their most important player as they chase a fourth title in a row.
“He’s running but he’s a bit off hitting top speed and doing everything with the team. He’s gradually getting there,” his dad said.
“He’s well aware of the plan and everything involved. The last thing we all want is a re-injury.
“We’ve probably done more this time in and around looking into as many things as we could find (to help him) and we’re really comfortable with the approach we’ve taken. We’re very confident he’ll be fine.”
Moses, who has missed most of the 2024 season with a fractured foot, will be right to play on Wednesday night.
However he has experienced some soreness in that foot during Origin camp and hence, has decided to remove himself from the running for the goalkicking gig.
Lomax, who is striking at just under 80% with the boot this season, beat out Souths star Latrell Mitchell for the job, with the Blues coaching staff reportedly only making their decision late Tuesday.
“When I watched the game back I regretted not getting in his face there, but I’ll save it for Game II.
“That’s life but we will get on with it and get a win in Melbourne.”
Cherry-Evans played a straight bat when asked the incident at Wednesday’s joint press conference.
“It’s the first I’ve heard of it, only because this time of year it’s honestly not in my best interests to be watching what you guys talk ,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I don’t mean that out of disrespect, there’s obviously a job for you guys to do to create hype and excitement around our game.
“I really don’t have a great understanding what has been said this week, I’m just excited going out there and playing.”
While Slater and Maguire shook hands at the press conference, the pair didn’t engage with each other while on stage.
In an awkward moment on last Monday, Slater said he never believed Maguire’s sledge was aimed at him. He stuck with that stance when asked it during the press conference.
Maguire however, appeared to confirm the ‘glass houses’ jab was directed at Slater, who accrued a lengthy judiciary rap sheet during his playing days.
“I think you all worked that out so I’ll leave that with you guys, but one thing I do is that I look after my players and we look after our players so that’s where it was focused,” Maguire said.
