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Panthers vow to overcome injury, form

3 minute read

Penrith veteran Dean Whare is set to make a welcome return as the club battles an NRL injury crisis.

FRANK WINTERSTEIN of the Eagles runs the ball during the NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and the Manly Sea Eagles at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Australia.
FRANK WINTERSTEIN of the Eagles runs the ball during the NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and the Manly Sea Eagles at GIO Stadium in Canberra, Australia. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

Penrith players have vowed not to let their latest injury blows deter them from attempting to save their NRL season in Brisbane this week.

The Panthers are still sweating on results for second-rowers Isaah Yeo (shoulder) and Viliame Kikau (ankle) after both picked up serious injuries on Saturday.

Yeo is reportedly out for the season with a dislocated shoulder, while it remains to be seen how bad the damage is for Kikau.

The loss of their entire second row is just another hammer blow for an out-of-sorts Panthers side sitting equal last in the premiership.

Winger Malakai Watene-Zelezniak also picked up a rib injury, while forward Liam Martin has copped a one-game ban for a dangerous throw against Canberra.

Veteran five-eighth James Maloney could join him as he fights a grade-one dangerous contact charge at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday.

An unsuccessful case means coach Ivan Cleary could be forced into a whopping five changes for their Magic Round clash with the Wests Tigers.

Veteran prop Tim Grant backed the depth of the squad to fill the holes.

"Like any team in the NRL, if you get an injury, someone's got to step up. And who knows? We might unearth the next big thing," Grant said on Monday.

"We've just got to bond together and get the job done."

On the positive side, Dean Whare (hamstring) and Frank Winterstein (knee) are likely to be rushed into the side after re-joining full training on Monday.

Whare hasn't played since their round-six loss to Cronulla, while Winterstein also hasn't featured since their win over the Tigers a month ago.

"It was just a grade one tear against Cronulla a few weeks ago and I was running seven days after," Whare said on Monday.

"It wasn't a real major injury, it was just to take a bit of precaution and because of my age, it was a bit longer, an extra week."

Whare's return in the centres means Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is likely to take his older brother's spot on the wing, while Jarome Luai is on standby for Maloney.

Their vacant second row is expected to be comprised of James Fisher-Harris, Hame Sele, Tyrell Fuimaono and Winterstein.

"It's got to come a time when we say enough is enough," Winterstein said.

"We need to really get that one win because I believe once we get that one win, then we'll get our confidence back up and one win will lead to two, three, and four.

"It's just about getting that first win."

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