Troubled Panthers now struck by injuries

Struggling Penrith lost three players to injury, and had another two put on report in Saturday's NRL loss to Canberra in Wagga Wagga.

Panthers

Malakai Watene-Zelezniak is one of three Panthers nursing injuries after their NRL loss to Canberra. (AAP)

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary could be on the search for an entirely new second row next week after injuries sunk their dismal NRL season to a new another low.

Isaah Yeo (dislocated shoulder) and Viliame Kikau (ankle) are set for lengthy stints on the sidelines after failing to finish Saturday's 30-12 loss to Canberra in Wagga Wagga.

Winger Malakai Watene-Zelezniak also came off with a suspected rib injury in the defeat, while James Maloney and Liam Martin were placed on report for a lifting tackle on Josh Hodgson.

"Yeah not a great day, for sure," Cleary admitted.

"Obviously the injuries throughout the day played havoc, we had guys playing all over the place."

Cleary was unable to provide any more information on his injured trio, with scans likely to determine the extent of their injuries.

"They're not all looking that great," he said.

"Vili's in a boot on crutches, Yowie's shoulder dislocated. Mal's in a bit of discomfort. It's a bit of a war zone in there right now.

"There's some battered bodies and disappointed boys."

Maloney will be sweating on Sunday's match review committee charge sheet, after combining with Martin to lift Hodgson into what Cleary described as "an awkward position".

"It was one of those ones where he was getting driven sideways with a few guys.

"That's how I saw it. Sometimes it can happen like that. It certainly wasn't a pick-up, I didn't think."

It topped off a disastrous day for the out-of-sorts Panthers, who will also have to defy history if they are to somehow claim this year's premiership.

No side has lifted the trophy after starting the season with just two wins from their opening eight matches.

Cleary's men were guilty of numerous schoolboy errors that have plagued their start to the campaign, condemning them to a 14-0 halftime deficit.

They were also unable to take advantage when Raiders fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was sin-binned in the first half, instead conceding a try themselves.

Cleary tried hard to find the positives from their tough predicament.

"It's probably where we're at at the moment. When things are rolling along nicely, you take those opportunities," he said.


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world