Petersen in doubt....Grothe in????

[Hurriflatch]

From the SMH

Parramatta are yet to name a replacement for suspended five-eighth Michael Witt, while winger Matt Petersen is awaiting the results of cheekbone scans before he is cleared to play against Manly on Sunday.

A knee injury means Manly reserve Chad Randall won't be playing in the Parramatta Stadium game and another player is yet to be omitted.

 

[Pazza]

Hopefully Hurri, Hopefully.

 

[Twizzle]

if he was a chance last week, he should be a better chance this week

 

[The Godfather]

Geez, I would have young Guru in ahead of Graham and Petersen.

 

[bradeel]

that would be bloody great news. No offence to Petersen, but i was not as happy to hear that he had returned from injury last week as i would have been if Guru Jr was back.

 

[Freak]

Not so sure if this is correct unfortunately as I have been informed Guru was still not running earlier this week???
It would be a real risk to rush him back this week.
I think we should learn a lesson from the Blacklock incident!!!

 

[Hurriflatch]

According to Smith's interview on the official site which was done on Tuseday when the team was named Grothe had been running for "this week"

 

[Hurriflatch]

Just on more thing on the actually bit printed in the SMH. On Friday's they would go through a preview on each game and list the teams as they are now on the basis of changes known.

They had Parramatta's Team as

1. Wade McKinnon
2. Ash Graham
3. Junior Langi
4. Luke Burt
5. Matt Petersen
6. TBA
7. Adam Dykes
8. Craig Stapleton
9. John Morris
10. Michael Vella
11. Lee Hopkins
12. Jack Afamasaga
13. Daniel Wagon

14. Dean Widders
15. Chris Armit
16. Corey Pearson
17. Justin Tsoulos
18. Chris Muckert


Now, this and as was posted above maybe it's just me but Smith would know who (barring late injuries) he would want to play.

If he was looking to move Wagon to 5/8 and bring Widders into lock or a similar move he would have just named it and have been done with it.

likewise if Chris Thorman was to come into the side.

Smith is known to protect rookies by not naming them until the last minute during Grothe's debut in 1999 Guru Jr wasn't named on the wing till an hour before kickoff even though Smith said in the press conference afterwards that Grothe was in the team since Monday.

Due to the fact that Tim Smith has been playing 5/8 for the last few weeks and the fact that no repleacement has yet been named I'm thinking more and more that it will be Tim Smith's debut this Sunday.

 

[Parraren]

Could be right Hurri. Either way, I don't think Smith will move Wagon from lock. I reckon it will be a straight swap for Witt; either Thorman or Smith. I reckon Thorman is more likely but you never know.

 

[Hurriflatch]

I would have thought that Thorman would come in but I just can't see any point in not naming him with Tim Smith at least there is some reason not to name him early.

 

[Parraren]

Didn't Smith do a similar thing earlier in the year when Wagon was named at 5/8th but was then suspended? I think he held off naming the replacement until 1hr before kick-off but I can't remember who ended up playing in his place or which game it was #-o

 

[The Colonel]

Shane Muspratt played - coincedentally against Manly.

 

[Parraren]

Shane Muspratt played - coincedentally against Manly.

Oh yeah, that's right, thanks Colonel

 

[Hollywood Jesus]

Might actually happen, Hurri.

But to do so Smith would really have to have been unhappy with Thorman's play so far, as he has an advantage of having played a few games with the team so far, wheres Timmy would be a pure rookie.

 

[Hurriflatch]

Didn't Smith do a similar thing earlier in the year when Wagon was named at 5/8th but was then suspended? I think he held off naming the replacement until 1hr before kick-off but I can't remember who ended up playing in his place or which game it was #-o

Yes but there were still reports that Muspratt was to come in well before Sunday they just wern't confimed until the day.

So far there has been very very little on who will come in thre Australian did say that it is "likley" WAgon to lock, Muckert onto bench but I'm guessing they just assumed that as Muckert was named 18th man.

 

[Eelementary]

Let's review the facts here:

* As good a player as Smith may be in PL and Flegg, Firsts is a HUGE step up

* This is a MUST WIN game

* If we lose (by whatever margin), not only will Tim's confidence go down, but it would all be to no good effect

* Are we really going to try and place a teenager who has played 3 or 4 Premier League games into our First Grade team? I know we're desperate, but I didn't know we were THAT desperate

It will probably be Thorman. Maybe even Mateo.

But I highly doubt Smith will play Smith.

Course, I could be wrong ...

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Muspratt or Wagon to 5/8.

I very much doubt Smith will blood a youngster on Sunday.....let's hope.

Smith in my opinion...allthough a good player is probably made out to be better then what he actually is, im saying he's going to be a great player, but i think he's still way off playing to his potential.

 

[Hurriflatch]

PARRAMATTA v MANLY at Parramatta Stadium, tomorrow 3.05pm

Star Sea Eagles fullback Brett Stewart, with six tries to his name this season, is in doubt for tomorrow's match. "He's got a corked leg, he carried it for half of last week's game," said coach Des Hasler. Reserves Shayne Dunley (chest) and Sam Harris (back) have passed fitness tests. Suspended Parramatta five-eighth Michael Witt is expected to be replaced by skipper Daniel Wagon with Dean Widders coming into the starting side at lock.

Looks like from that, we'll be seeing a bench of Armit, Pearson, Tsoulos and Muckert.

but won't know really until when the official teams are named.

 

[Parraren]

Not alot of spark off that bench :? I still don't think Wagon will play 5/8th, what would the journo's know anyway, they're just guessing like us :lol: As if anyone really knows what goes through Brian Smith's melon :lol:

Thorman will come into the side, surely.

Bench will be Widders, Armit, Tsoulos & Pearson or Muckert.

 

[wittyz chick]

Peterson out...Anderson gets another chance