Uate in play: Smith keen to keep his options open
BY BRETT KEEBLE
KNIGHTS coach Brian Smith said rookie sensation Aku Uate was still a chance of playing against South Sydney at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Sunday, despite not being named yesterday in Newcastle's 17.
Uate, utility forward Mark Taufua and playmaker Scott Dureau were included as three extra fresh reserves in a 20-man squad bolstered by the inclusion of representative players Danny Buderus, Steve Simpson, Jarrod Mullen and Adam MacDougall.
The 20-year-old Fijian flyer scored a try in an impressive debut against Cronulla last Saturday, but MacDougall's anticipated return in the centres pushed Cooper Vuna to the left wing and Uate to the extended bench.
MacDougall missed the 16-13 loss to the Sharks with a calf strain, but Smith was certain he would play. The coach was not so sure Uate would not play.
"There's a little bit to be sorted out at the back there, so we'll see how that goes this week," Smith said.
"We don't nail ourselves down to picking our team on Tuesday and making sure that's how it is.
"We'd like to see how some of the boys go recovering from last weekend and getting themselves ready to go again.
"At this stage I think MacDougall will play, Buderus is a very strong chance, and I'd say Mullo and Simmo are likely, but both will need to improve as the week goes on."
Buderus has missed the past three games with a knee injury, Simpson has been a late withdrawal from the past two matches with a hip then an ankle problem, and Mullen suffered deep bruising to his left hip against the Sharks.
"Our boys have competed really well without them. If they keep doing that, then the boys coming back becomes a bonus," Smith said.
"They're not going to come back and just win it on their own. We need everyone to keep contributing like they have been, and I think a lot of those boys have shown real signs of improvement in their confidence."
Souths will be without dynamic dummy half Issac Luke, who accepted a one-game suspension for a dangerous throw in the 36-12 loss to the Tigers last Sunday.
"He's a tidy little player and he's been a real spark for them, but we've still got five or six out, so I'm not going to cry tears for them," Smith said.
The Rabbitohs have promoted George Ndaira to hooker to replace Luke.
AAP reports: Veteran second-rower Nathan Hindmarsh says the Eels must improve their "rubbish" goal-line defence when they take on North Queensland in their clash at Parramatta Stadium on Friday night.
The Eels need a win to keep their finals hopes afloat after losses to Manly, Souths and Penrith sent them three points adrift of the top eight.
"Our goal-line defence is pretty rubbish at the moment," Hindmarsh said.
"You can't tackle guys standing on the try line, they're just going to fall over and score."
An injury-ravaged Cowboys will be equally desperate as they try to end a club record 11-match losing streak. They will welcome the return of Test prop Carl Webb.
Brisbane have Test centre Justin Hodges back from suspension for their clash with Cronulla, who will field an unchanged side.
Canberra have replaced suspended halfback Todd Carney with young star Marc Herbert for the match with Gold Coast, who shifted Ashley Harrison to five-eighth for the injured Mat Rogers.
Wests Tigers captain Brett Hodgson returns from injury for Saturday's trip to Penrith.
Manly veteran Steve Menzies will play five-eighth in place of the injured Jamie Lyon for Sunday's match with the Sydney Roosters. AAP
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