Brisbane have been struck a body blow ahead of their must-win semi-final against North Queensland with strike weapon James Roberts suspended at the NRL judiciary for contrary conduct.
Brisbane Broncos. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Star centre Roberts was rubbed out for one week after being found guilty of a grade-one contrary conduct charge for striking at Gold Coast's Ryan Simpkins with his leg, ruling him out of Friday night's grand final replay with North Queensland.
The 23-year-old, charged for striking at Simpkins as he lay in the ruck during the Broncos' 44-28 win over Gold Coast last week, will be replaced by rookie Jonus Pearson.
Roberts was too upset to speak to waiting media but the club said they accepted the decision.
Melbourne Storm wrecking ball Nelson Asofa-Solomona has been ruled out of the NRL finals campaign after dislocating his elbow at training.
The giant prop will undergo surgery on Friday after he fell on his elbow during a drill at their Melbourne training ground on Wednesday morning.
The Storm have looked to the 20-year-old - at 200cm and 115kg one of the biggest players in the NRL - to steam-roll the tiring defence when he comes off the bench.
Christian Welch looms as the most likely to replace him for Saturday week's preliminary final at AAMI Park against Penrith or Canberra.
Canberra coach Ricky Stuart says the fate of his two star playmakers is out of his hands, but he's got his fingers crossed both will feature in Saturday's NRL semi-final.
Stuart expects to know today whether five-eighth Blake Austin will be fit for the do-or-die clash with Penrith at GIO Stadium, while the wait will be a little longer for hooker Josh Hodgson.
Austin had his first full training session yesterday since breaking his left hand and undergoing surgery.
The exciting No.6 has been confident all week that he will be ready to play this weekend, but Stuart is a bit more cautious.
Hodgson didn't train with the squad yesterday, with Stuart agreeing with his rake's assessment on Tuesday that his chances of playing were "slim".
The rake suffered ligament damage to his ankle during Saturday's qualifying final.
