Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has confirmed that Samoan international Oregon Kaufusi will replace Tom Hazelton in the side to play the Storm on Friday night for a place in the grand final.<\/p>\n
Fitzgibbon had struggled to choose between the pair for Saturday night’s semi-final against the Raiders but opted for Hazelton after Kaufusi suffered a calf injury in the Round 22 win against the Cowboys.<\/p>\n
However, Hazelton lasted just four minutes before being ruled out of the match with a Category 1 head knock that will sideline him from the preliminary final in Melbourne under the NRL’s 11-day stand down policy for concussions.<\/p>\n
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Raiders v Sharks\u00a0– Finals Week 2, 2025<\/p>\n
While the loss of Hazelton is a blow, Fitzgibbon said he would have no hesitation in recalling Kaufusi, who had played every match before his injury, as well as Round 27 and last week’s elimination final against the Roosters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Obviously it’s a Cat 1 so Tommy’s no good but to be fair to Tommy, I was worried all week, I felt like I probably should have played Oregon to be perfectly honest, but based on Tommy’s prep … Tommy has played so strong,” Fitzgibbon said.<\/p>\n
“Oregon has been in our team the whole year and it was a really tough call, but Oregon’s preparation got disrupted by a calf injury and I felt like he didn’t have the workload in.<\/p>\n
“You can’t muck around at this time of the year, you have got to have battle-hardened soldiers ready to go, but Oregon Kaufusi is in our team every day of the week when he is fit and healthy.<\/p>\n
“His preparation had been hampered, but it won’t be next week.”<\/p>\n
The Storm are expected to welcome back 2024 Dally M winner Jahrome Hughes at halfback just three weeks after fracturing his wrist in the Round 27 loss to the Broncos, which was his first match back from a dislocated shoulder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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2024 Dally M Highlight Reel – Jahrome Hughes<\/p>\n
Star fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen is also set to play after missing the qualifying final defeat of the Bulldogs due to a concussion sustained against the Broncos.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a couple of big outs for the first final in Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes, that were both out injured,\u201d Melbourne GM of football Frank Ponissi told SEN.<\/p>\n
\u201cRyan’s got to get through his HIA protocols, so he’s looking good at the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cJahrome Hughes is coming back from having a plate inserted in his arm in the last game, so he could be a fantastic addition for the prelim.<\/p>\n
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Jahrome Hughes leaves the field injured<\/p>\n
“He’s still got a bit of work to do, but he’s a chance of playing as well. So they’re two huge ins for our team in the prelim.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Broncos are set for a triple boost for their preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium next Sunday against the winner of the Bulldogs-Panthers semi-final, with halves Adam Reynolds and Ezra Mam set to return, along with Selwyn Cobbo.<\/p>\n
The trio suffered hamstring injuries in the Round 23 loss to Melbourne but all are back in training and Cobbo has been cleared to play for Wynnum-Manly in the Queensland Cup on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Reynolds and Mam are expected to play next weekend, offsetting the loss of utility Billy Walters (ACL) and prop Pat Carrigan (suspended).\u00a0<\/p>\n
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