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Forgotten Lewis may still put up hand for Blues selection
Brad Walter
PENRITH utility Luke Lewis may be rushed into the NSW side for Origin I if he makes a successful return from injury in Friday night's match against Brisbane.
Lewis, who has been sidelined with a hand injury since round five, is the forgotten man in the debate about the Blues team but NSW coach Ricky Stuart is understood to be well aware of his impending comeback and will monitor the Test back-rower's performance closely.
He was one of seven stars chosen by Stuart in a Blues core player group that had its first meeting in January, along with Paul Gallen, Kurt Gidley, Greg Bird, Jarryd Hayne, Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney.
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St George Illawarra centre Mark Gasnier has since joined the group, while Carney - also expected to return this weekend - has since fallen from contention due to off-field issues as he battled to come back from off-season groin surgery.
Stuart has kept in regular contact with the group, who are all available for the series opener on May 25 except for the injured Gidley.
The absence of Gidley, who has a shoulder injury, has disrupted Stuart's plans to use the Newcastle captain off the interchange as a dummy half and cover for the halves and fullback and he is now likely to carry a second hooker on the bench.
Lewis started his career as a winger and has regularly played centre, five-eighth and halfback for the Panthers, as well as lock and second row.
He was considered a certainty for the Australian team that beat New Zealand last Friday night if not for the injury sustained against Canberra and his absence opened the door for Dragons second-rower Ben Creagh to earn his second Test jersey.
However, the return of Lewis may cost Creagh a place in the NSW side as Gallen and Bird are thought to be all but guaranteed to be in the back row, while St George Illawarra's Beau Scott is also vying for a spot.
Lewis was given the all-clear to resume playing this weekend by his surgeon after having pins removed from his injured hand last Thursday and took part in tackling drills at Penrith training yesterday. It is understood he will play with a specially designed guard for his hand.
Stuart will name the NSW team on Sunday night to enable most of the squad to assemble 24 hours earlier than if the announcement was made at half-time in Monday night's Gold Coast-Manly clash.
The only player expected to be absent due to club duties is Bird, who would then join the Blues in time for the first training session on Tuesday.
Besides Gidley, the only player likely to have been in the team under an injury cloud is Canberra prop Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, who suffered a fractured cheekbone and eye-socket playing for Country against City last Friday night.
Learoyd-Lahrs insists he will recover in time and if not selected will play for the Raiders against the Canterbury the weekend before.
Canberra fullback Josh Dugan, locked in a battle with Hayne for the NSW No.1 jersey, missed last night's clash with the Sea Eagles due to a boil under his arm and is in doubt for Saturday's trip to Melbourne.
Gasnier and Dragons five-eighth Jamie Soward are expected to dispel any doubts about their fitness by playing against the Bulldogs on Friday night.
The former Test centre will learn the extent of an ankle injury sustained in Sunday's win over North Queensland today after undergoing scans but St George Illawarra officials are confident he will play.
Soward is also expected to be available after missing the Cowboys match with groin and thumb injuries that forced him from the field on Friday night.
He is tipped to be one of up to seven Dragons in the Blues side for the series opener.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-hand-for-blues-selection-20110509-1efvf.html
Brad Walter
PENRITH utility Luke Lewis may be rushed into the NSW side for Origin I if he makes a successful return from injury in Friday night's match against Brisbane.
Lewis, who has been sidelined with a hand injury since round five, is the forgotten man in the debate about the Blues team but NSW coach Ricky Stuart is understood to be well aware of his impending comeback and will monitor the Test back-rower's performance closely.
He was one of seven stars chosen by Stuart in a Blues core player group that had its first meeting in January, along with Paul Gallen, Kurt Gidley, Greg Bird, Jarryd Hayne, Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney.
Advertisement: Story continues below
St George Illawarra centre Mark Gasnier has since joined the group, while Carney - also expected to return this weekend - has since fallen from contention due to off-field issues as he battled to come back from off-season groin surgery.
Stuart has kept in regular contact with the group, who are all available for the series opener on May 25 except for the injured Gidley.
The absence of Gidley, who has a shoulder injury, has disrupted Stuart's plans to use the Newcastle captain off the interchange as a dummy half and cover for the halves and fullback and he is now likely to carry a second hooker on the bench.
Lewis started his career as a winger and has regularly played centre, five-eighth and halfback for the Panthers, as well as lock and second row.
He was considered a certainty for the Australian team that beat New Zealand last Friday night if not for the injury sustained against Canberra and his absence opened the door for Dragons second-rower Ben Creagh to earn his second Test jersey.
However, the return of Lewis may cost Creagh a place in the NSW side as Gallen and Bird are thought to be all but guaranteed to be in the back row, while St George Illawarra's Beau Scott is also vying for a spot.
Lewis was given the all-clear to resume playing this weekend by his surgeon after having pins removed from his injured hand last Thursday and took part in tackling drills at Penrith training yesterday. It is understood he will play with a specially designed guard for his hand.
Stuart will name the NSW team on Sunday night to enable most of the squad to assemble 24 hours earlier than if the announcement was made at half-time in Monday night's Gold Coast-Manly clash.
The only player expected to be absent due to club duties is Bird, who would then join the Blues in time for the first training session on Tuesday.
Besides Gidley, the only player likely to have been in the team under an injury cloud is Canberra prop Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, who suffered a fractured cheekbone and eye-socket playing for Country against City last Friday night.
Learoyd-Lahrs insists he will recover in time and if not selected will play for the Raiders against the Canterbury the weekend before.
Canberra fullback Josh Dugan, locked in a battle with Hayne for the NSW No.1 jersey, missed last night's clash with the Sea Eagles due to a boil under his arm and is in doubt for Saturday's trip to Melbourne.
Gasnier and Dragons five-eighth Jamie Soward are expected to dispel any doubts about their fitness by playing against the Bulldogs on Friday night.
The former Test centre will learn the extent of an ankle injury sustained in Sunday's win over North Queensland today after undergoing scans but St George Illawarra officials are confident he will play.
Soward is also expected to be available after missing the Cowboys match with groin and thumb injuries that forced him from the field on Friday night.
He is tipped to be one of up to seven Dragons in the Blues side for the series opener.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...-hand-for-blues-selection-20110509-1efvf.html
