The Penrith Panthers will play the Melbourne Storm in what promises to be a thrilling game on Friday night. The team’s goal is to snap the 22-year-old club’s winning run in Round 1 of the NRL.
Head coach Ivan Cleary has given an update on the health of players Scott Sorensen and Sunia Turuva, as well as five-eighth Jarome Luai, prior to the game.
Due to injury, Luai was unable to compete in the World Club Challenge; however, he will return for the first round to take Jack Cole’s spot in the halves. Prior to the Wigan encounter, Scott Sorensen had a leg injury that kept him out of the game, but he should be back this week.
Luai and Sorensen ought to be available again, but it’s unclear if Sunia Turuva will be chosen by the team for the match after being carted off the field against Wigan due to an injury.
Regarding Jarome Luai, Cleary stated, “He’s doing really well, so at this stage, we expect him to play.”
“Everything is going rather nicely. About Sorensen and Turuva, he said, “They all look good (for Friday).”
Cleary gave a favorable update on the three players, but according to Peter Lang of The Western Weekender, if Turuva is out for the match due to a knee injury, Paul Alamoti would take his place.
In doing so, Taylan May would shift to the open wing position and he would move into the centers.
Alamoti joined the team on a one-year deal after being recruited from the Canterbury Bulldogs, strengthening the back-line depth of the team.
The center, a former NSW Blues Under 19 player who made his NRL debut last season, was well-liked as a junior after rising through the Caterbury ranks.
