UNHERALDED Wests Tigers rookie Shannon McDonnell is set to be named as the biggest grand final selection shock since Paul Osborne was promoted more than 10 years ago.
And unbelievably, it will be the same man, coach Tim Sheens, responsible for the surprise promotion. McDonnell has just one first grade game behind him but is considered favourite to win the wing spot if injured starter Pat Richards fails to recover.
Sheens stunned the league world in 1994 when John Lomax was suspended and he chose Osborne to start in the grand final for Canberra ahead of the more fancied Mark Corvo.
Osborne was magnificent, however, justifying Sheens' gamble by setting up two tries in the first 16 minutes before being replaced shortly after.
Despite playing under interchange rules, Sheens did not overplay his hand and used Osborne again only for the final 12 minutes.
McDonnell is being considered to start Sunday's match as a precaution after X-rays cleared Richards of a broken leg but failed to reveal the exact nature of his injury.
An MRI scan was held late yesterday but its results were not known last night.
While McDonnell's promotion seems staggering, Sheens is understood to be favouring him ahead of more obvious selections because of his genuine pace, a weapon that would best complement the brilliant Tigers backline.
It would also cause minimal disruption to a team whose form is currently at a peak. McDonnell's only other first grade game was when the Tigers went down 38-22 to Penrith in round 26.
Other options Sheens is considering include promoting winger Matthew Rieck or rookie Dean Collis, shifting Shane Elford to wing and promoting John Wilson to centre, switching Dene Halatau to centre, Elford to the wing, promoting Liam Fulton to back row and bringing Bronson Harrison onto the bench.
Naturally, though, first priority will be given to Richards, who is expected to spend the rest of the week in the hyperbaric chamber in a bid to be fit for the decider.
Richards will be given the week to prove is fitness, in what will be his last game for the club. He will join Wigan next season.
The Tigers trained strongly behind closed doors yesterday but were banned from speaking to the media.
Sheens did not return The Daily Telegraph's calls to confirm the McDonnell selection last night.
The Tigers will hold an open training session for fans at Concord Oval at 2pm this afternoon.
In a released statement, Sheens said: "The support we have received this year has been a fantastic boost to the team, and we are all really grateful to the fans that have stuck by the club for so long."
The Daily Telegraph
