It’s a case of deja vu for Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins after prop Thomas Flegler was dominated out of the conflict with cross-town rivals Brisbane.
Flegler (shoulder) was unable to affix the staff captain’s run on Thursday and joins centre Herbie Farnworth (shoulder) and second-rower Felise Kaufusi (hamstring) on the injured record for the top-of-the-table Dolphins.
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Lock Max Plath and utility Kurt Donoghoe are suspended for Friday evening’s conflict at Lang Park.
Flegler’s alternative is 24-year-old center ahead Lachlan Hubner, who will make his NRL debut.
“Tom will not play. His arm is not any good however Lachlan has had two years with us and performed some trial matches as nicely,” Bennett stated.
“We have now all the time been impressed with him and it is a chance for him. We’re operating in need of middles and he’s a center.
“Simply his work ethic [impresses me] and the kind of bloke he’s. He suits our tradition.”
The Dolphins additionally had all the things go fallacious earlier than and through final yr’s 18-12 loss to Brisbane in spherical 4.
They had been with out hooker Jeremy Marshall-King and Kaufusi on account of suspension earlier than a ball was kicked. Isaiya Katoa, then taking part in quantity six, was unavailable on account of harm.
Then they misplaced Kodi Nikorima to concussion within the twenty sixth minute and half-back Sean O’Sullivan to a torn pectoral muscle within the 61st.
For the ultimate quarter of the match, that they had no recognised playmaker on the sector aside from beginning five-eighth Anthony Milford.
All of that will have defined why coach Bennett regarded forlorn within the dressing room after the 26-16 win over Wests Tigers final week when his star trio sustained their accidents.
If it felt like Groundhog Day for the grasp coach after a collection of accidents to Kaufusi, Flegler and Farnworth, he wasn’t exhibiting it.
“I have never thought a lot about final yr. I am solely fascinated by tomorrow,” Bennett stated.
“[The derby] is fantastic for the sport and fantastic for the general public. That makes it the good spectacle that it’s with all of the anticipation that goes with that.
“You have a look at the good sports activities of the world, whether or not it’s soccer, gridiron or basketball, they’ve their native derbies they usually imply so much to everyone. This one fills the invoice and everyone has purchased into it.”
AAP
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