{"id":331863,"date":"2023-09-17T20:37:12","date_gmt":"2023-09-17T20:37:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=331863"},"modified":"2023-09-17T23:02:20","modified_gmt":"2023-09-17T23:02:20","slug":"real-headache-for-bellamy-as-star-races-injury-clock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=331863","title":{"rendered":"'Real headache' for Bellamy as star races injury clock"},"content":{"rendered":"

Utility Tyran Wishart has left Storm<\/a> coach Craig Bellamy<\/a> with a real headache going into next weekend's grand final qualifier against the Panthers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When star halfback Jahrome Hughes<\/a> pulled out with a calf injury<\/a> late in the week, Wishart – son of Steelers legend Rod – was fourth in line to replace him.<\/p>\n

But with Jayden Nikorima and Jonah Pezet also unavailable, Wishart was thrown in the deep end – and the Roosters sniffed a glimmer of hope.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Disaster for Wallabies in shock World Cup loss<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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READ MORE:<\/strong> Legends defend 'human being' referee after blunders<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Wishart had never played halfback in the top grade but looked like a 100-game veteran<\/a>, scoring the opening try, running for nearly 100 metres and making 18 tackles on the Roosters' big men who had targeted him in defence.<\/p>\n

Hughes will naturally come straight back into the team if fit but Wishart is a huge chance for a bench spot given his versatility – he can play anywhere in the backline – and his form against the Roosters.<\/p>\n

\"Craig<\/p>\n

'NO FRILLS' WARRIORS SHINING BRIGHT\ufeff<\/h2>\n

The Warriors have superstars all over the park as they move to within a game of the grand final \u2026 except in the centres.<\/p>\n

At the start of the season, many critics pinpointed lack of big-match experience in the centres as a major reason the Warriors wouldn't make the finals.<\/p>\n

Yet "no frills" players Rocco Berry and Adam Pompey are playing their roles in the Kiwi fairytale that has propelled the club into NRL dreamland.<\/p>\n

Stream the NRL premiership 2023 live and free on<\/strong><\/em> <\/em>9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The pair were top-shelf against the classy Knights' backline on Saturday, holding their own against Newcastle's big guns Kalyn Ponga, Bradman Best and Dom Young in defence and coming up with some tricks of their own in attack.<\/p>\n

Rugby union convert Berry scored a crucial try in the second half and made 19 tackles – the most of any back-five player from either team – including a couple of desperation efforts on his own tryline.<\/p>\n

Pompey produced a try assist for winger Marcelo Montoya – one of many during the season – and kicked six goals from seven attempts, including several conversions from the sideline.<\/p>\n

The pair are playing the best football of their short careers – but face their biggest test against Reece Walsh and the star-studded Broncos backline next weekend.<\/p>\n

\"Crowd<\/p>\n

UNHERALDED KNIGHT COMES OF AGE\ufeff<\/h2>\n

The Knights' stunning 10-game winning run to the finals was one of the highlights of the season – but it all came crashing down in Auckland on Saturday.<\/p>\n

But there were plenty of positives out of the charge to the big games and while the team lost its way in the Auckland pressure-cooker, one player deserves special praise.<\/p>\n

In only his seventh NRL game, centre-turned-back-rower Dylan Lucas came of age.<\/p>\n

Lucas scored a try, troubled the big Warriors pack more than any other Knights forward and showed himself as a player of the future.<\/p>\n

With a full off-season training in the forwards, the versatile 23-year-old from the NSW south coast is set for a big 2024.<\/p>\n

\"Fans<\/p>\n

ROOSTERS IN NEED OF MAKEOVER\ufeff<\/h2>\n

With an ageing roster, the Roosters need a makeover in 2024 – and young prop Terrell May put his hand up for a regular spot in Friday night's agonising loss to the Storm.<\/p>\n

In only his first full season of top-grade footy, 24-year-old May was the pick of the Roosters pack.<\/p>\n

Coming off the bench, he made an immediate impact, sparking the Roosters forwards.<\/p>\n

May's 57-minute stint was outstanding – he made a game-high 45 tackles, 129 run metres and seven tackle busts.<\/p>\n

Coach Trent Robinson couldn't have asked for more and May has finished the season as one of the Roosters' big improvers.<\/p>\n

Stream the NRL premiership 2023 live and free on<\/strong><\/em> <\/em>9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Utility Tyran Wishart has left Storm coach Craig Bellamy with a real headache going into next weekend's grand final qualifier against the Panthers. When star […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":331865,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/331863"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=331863"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/331863\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":331868,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/331863\/revisions\/331868"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/331865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=331863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=331863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=331863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}