Lazarus Brown fractured a wrist about 3 weeks ago - putting him out for 6 weeks.
Here is the report from the Newcastle Herald's Josh Callinan on the Massey Cup Rep Team's 20-14 win over the Newcastle Rugby League Rebels Rep. Team on Friday Night at Maitland - from a Newcastle perspective, of course:
"The Newcastle Rebels have fallen narrowly short of victory upon returning to the senior representative ranks after going down 20-14 to the travelling Ron Massey Cup team at Maitland Sportsground on Friday night.
A last-ditch effort from Rebels winger Josh Charles was ruled a knock-on after the referee judged the ball was grounded without touching the tryline under the posts with less than a minute remaining.
It came just after Ron Massey halfback Rhys Davies was given 10 minutes in the sin bin for a push on Rebels five-eighth Terence Seu Seu while chasing a kick in-goal.
But despite the late pressure applied by Newcastle, the visitors held on for a well-deserved six-point victory.
Both sides scored three tries apiece in an entertaining affair with the Sydney-based squad taking a 12-10 lead into the main break.
Seu Seu, Ryan Walker and Matt Hay crossed for the hosts while Abbas Miski and Kurt Aldridge, arguably man of the match, and Shane Keil nabbed Ron Massey’s four-pointers. Aldridge also kicked three of his team’s four goals.
Walker, halfback Brad Murray and skipper Warren Schillings were the stand outs for Newcastle.
Rebels hooker Paul Carter (pectoral) was the main injury concern, leaving the field before the half-hour mark."
Paul Carter - son of Steve and the same Paul Carter who has had his problems off the field in recent years.
A massive win for a much maligned side who only had 2 training sessions as preparation after being virtually 'thrown together" this week.
Perhaps this result shows some league people - outside of the converted who regularly watch and comment on the Massey Cup and the Sydney Shield on this thread - that the Massey Cup is NO Park footy comp.
It's better than that - much better. We all could have picked better sides out of the Massey Cup than the one that went around in this match.
But the team that did go up the F1 did the business - so well done to them.
Remember, this Newcastle squad was picked weeks ago for this match - and certainly had more than 2 training sessions to prepare.
No surprise to see Ryan Walker stand out. Any one who has seen the last couple of Koori knockouts would attest to his quality.
Will be most interesting to see how many of tonight's winning Massey Cup rep. side now get a crack in the NSW Selection to play against the Queensland Rangers at Pizzey Park on June 17 - considering it will clash with a full round of Massey Cup back home in Sydney.
The full round of Newcastle Rugby League matches (4 of them) are actually being played on Saturday - so who knows how many of their team will 'butter up' less than 24 hours after tonigh's match,
his other son plays for the warriors?
