Tonga facing Eels axe for Manly NRL game
Updated: 19:26, Tuesday July 3, 2012
Willie Tonga is in danger of becoming the third member of Parramatta's 2012 recruitment class to be dumped to reserve grade after being named on an extended bench for Sunday's NRL clash against Manly.
It seems only an injury to fullback Jarryd Hayne in Wednesday night's State of Origin decider will spare Tonga from the axe after he was handed the No.19 jumper to accommodate Hayne's expected return to the side.
It has been an injury-plagued return to the club for the former Queensland and Test representative, who has played just nine games this season and only came back from an ankle injury last weekend.
Should he find himself playing for Wentworthville in the NSW Cup, Tonga would complete the set of dumped Eels' recruits.
Fellow high-profile signings Chris Sandow and Ben Roberts have also found themselves chopped from the top grade at different stages of a disappointing 2012 season.