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Wests Tigers now expect to be without Jarrod McCracken for the rest of the
season after the skipper injured his neck in a spear tackle on May 12.
Club chief executive Martin Bullock said last night that while specialists
did not believe McCracken had suffered nerve damage as a result of the tackle by
Melbourne's Stephen Kearney and Marcus Bai, there was no immediate prospect of
him returning to football.
The injury may also cost the former New Zealand captain a World Cup berth.
``Jarrod might be enthusiastic and optimistic about his chances but the truth
is we don't hold out that much hope of having him back," Bullock said last
night.
``Because of the soft tissue damage, he has to be very careful."
The news is a major blow to the joint venture team, bundled out of the top
eight at the weekend by a heavy loss to Brisbane and facing a difficult run to
the finals.
Penrith coach Royce Simmons this week compared a tackle on fullback Rhys
Wesser last Saturday by North Queensland's Robert Relf and Kyle Warren to the
hit on McCracken.
Cowboys chief executive Rabieh Krayem last night defended second-rower
Warren, who was not charged over the tackle, saying: ``The fact is that Kyle's
tackle was a good one, and nothing more."
Relf's agent, Mark Rowan, has meanwhile said he would not rule out legal
action if the prop suffered complications from concussion suffered when he was
punched by Penrith's Craig Greenhill later in the match.
``I am very concerned for his safety," Rowan said. ``He asked his wife where
he was when he got home from the match on Saturday night."
In other news, Australian coach Chris Anderson last night gave an undertaking
that players quitting the game or heading to Britain next year would not have
their futures held against them by World Cup selectors.
But Australia is set to ban overseas-based players, aside from expatriates
with the Auckland Warriors, from Test selection.
Jason Smith, Matthew Johns, David Furner and Tonie Carroll are among the
players set to join English clubs while Brad Thorn is tipped to play rugby union
in New Zealand.
``It it was a 50-50 call, you might lean towards the bloke who is going to be
around next year," said Anderson. ``But you have to pick players based on what
they've done this year."
Asked if players would be considered if they were based in Britain, Anderson
said bluntly: ``We won't be picking them and I think they know that."
Anderson rated his Melbourne club a ``60-40" chance of retaining halfback
Brett Kimmorley.
And late last night NRL officials said they had not received any registration
form for Paul Green to play with Brisbane or their feeder club Toowoomba this
weekend.
The sacked North Queensland halfback joined the Broncos for the rest of the
season yesterday. Krayem said he would have no hesitation granting him a
release.
Penrith lock John Cross is close to re-signing, Melbourne have picked up
Wests Tigers prop Brenton Pomery for the rest of this year and Newcastle's
Timana Tahu re-signed for one season yesterday.
In team news, Northern Eagles halfback Jason Taylor was again demoted to
first division, with Michael Buettner back for the North Queensland game.
Jim Dymock has been selected to play off the bench for Parramatta against
Wests Tigers.
St George Illawarra may play St Helens in Orlando during January and Samoa
have lost another key player ahead of the World Cup with St Helens' Fereti
Tuilagi joining Apollo Perelini in defecting to rugby union.
Former St George centre Jack Lindwall, who played 133 games for the Saints
between 1938 and 1949, died at the weekend. His funeral will be held at St
Raphael's Catholic Church, South Hurstville, at 1.30pm tomorrow.
Wednesday wash-up
* Five-eighth Matthew Johns is back from injury for Newcastle (v St George
Illawarra, Sunday).
* Centre Terry Hill returns for Wests Tigers (v Parramatta, Sunday). The Eels
give Jamie Lyon and Jason Cayless their debuts.
* Penrith (v Canberra, Saturday) have called up Mark Geyer for the suspended
Craig Greenhill. Raider Ken Nagas (Achilles tendon) is back after 15 weeks.
* Sharks (v Melbourne, Friday) have named injured winger Mat Rogers. The
Storm have lost centre Tony Martin (pinched nerve) with Brad Watts his
replacement.
Weekend teams
Round 25 schedule Page 45
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