Paul Carter will make a timely return from a two-match absence to take the No. 13 jersey for Monday’s clash with South Sydney in Sydney as the iSelect Titans back row stocks are stretched with Greg Bird, Dave Taylor and Nate Myles on state of origin duty and Ashley Harrison’s retirement last week.
Caleb Binge, who made his NRL debut off the bench against St George Illawarra in the Titans’ last match, suffered a media ligament injury playing for Seagulls on Sunday, ruling him out for several weeks, and Ben Ridge still has to be cleared after suffering a concussion, plus suffered a shoulder injury when he was knocked unconscious against the Dragons.
This has seen Queensland Residents selection Tom Kingston bracketed on the bench in John Cartwright’s provisional squad but he too is under an injury cloud with a hip flexor problem suffered last Sunday. Kingston has been a consistent good performer during the Seagulls’ 10-game winning streak and is now eyeing a possible NRL debut at age 26.
Cartwright won’t decide his team until at least Friday. Albert Kelly, who made his return from injury by playing 80 minutes for Seagulls in the Intrust Super Cup, has been included in the 19-man provisional squad.
The team v Rabbitohs, round 17:
1 - William Zillman
2 – Kevin Gordon
3 – James Roberts
4 – Brad Takairangi
5 – David Mead
6 – Maurice Blair
7 – Daniel Mortimer
8 - Luke Bailey
9 – Beau Falloon
10 – Luke Douglas
11 – Ben Ridge
12 – Mark Minichiello
13 – Paul Carter
INTERCHANGE
14 – Matthew White
15 – Mark Ioane
16 – Cody Nelson
17 – Matt Srama
18 – Tom Kingston
21 – Albert Kelly
The Holden Cup side to play the Rabbitohs is:
1 – Jahrome Hughes (capt)
2 – Brian Kelly
3 - Jaiden Hawkes
4 – Connor Broadhurst
5 – Zac Spring
6 – Christian Hazard
7 – Kane Elgey (capt)
8 – Francis Fifita
9 - Deacon Fletcher
10 – Mitch Sharp
11 – Harrison Hughes
12 – Anthony Colman
13 – Jackson Clarke
INTERCHANGE
14 – Nathan Portelli
15 – Caleb Morehu
16 – Shaun Hudson
17 – Karl Lawton
18 – James Iodice
19 – Rory Humphreys
