Fijian winger Sunia Turuva is set to miss Sunday’s Pacific Bowl final against Papua New Guinea with an ongoing calf injury.
Turuva suffered the injury in the process of scoring a try against the Cook Islands in Week 2 of the Pacific Championships.
Super League speedster Jason Qareqare comes in on the wing as he did last weekend while Dragons winger Mikaele Ravalawa shifts to the centres.
In better news for the Bati, Kitione Kautoga has been named on the bench to return from a back injury after also missing last week’s game against PNG.
The Kumuls, meanwhile, have centre Rodrick Tai back on deck from a knee injury but Mesake Ravonu (head knock) and Mackenzie Yei (knee) will miss the Bowl final.
Dolphins forward Connelly Lemuelu will have further checks conducted on his knee after picking up an injury while away with Toa Samoa for the Pacific Championships.
Samoa coach Ben Gardiner said while the injury was significant enough that the 25-year-old “was never going to play” against New Zealand, he didn’t believe it would restrict his return to pre-season training.
New Roosters recruit Dom Young was ruled out of England’s Test series against Tonga after a sinus infection spread throughout his head and forced him to be hospitalised.
Young is reported to be on the mend and is expected to make a full recovery in time for his new club’s 2024 season opener in Las Vegas.
Penrith five-eighth Jarome Luai has had surgery on the shoulder he dislocated late in the season before bravely returning to play in the preliminary final and premiership decider.
In further NRL news the Dragons report that fullback Tyrell Sloan suffered an ankle injury playing in the Koori Knockout and will be in rehab until mid-December but won’t miss any games in 2024.
Fellow Dragons Jaydn Su’A and Jack Bird are both recovering from shoulder injuries but are on track to return to pre-season training and will be good to go by the time the trial games roll around in February.
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