Widdop recovery lifts Storm’s finals hopes Henry’s departure still a goer NORTH coach finals hopes seemingly ended By MELISSA WOODS ing steer the veteran is only a 50:50 chance unscathed, giving hope that Neil Henry says the Cow- with an 18-16 loss to Brisbane Tigers to a 31-18 of being fit for the Storm’s he could be ready to partner boys’ qualification for the — Henry’s men have gone ’s return semi-final win qualifying final against in the halves NRL finals will do nothing to undefeated, Saturday night’s from a dislocated hip couldn’t over Mackay. South on Friday. against the Rabbitohs. extend his tenure at the club. 50-22 thumping of Wests have come at a better time The 24-year- Finch damaged his sterno- ‘‘He (Widdop) was solid if a Henry and his squad have Tigers completing a remark- with the England internat- old hasn’t played clavicular joint late in the little bit rusty, which is un- done their best to leave egg able surge into the top eight. ional poised to return as Mel- Gareth Widdop for the NRL first half of their golden point derstandable given his time on the faces of the Cowboys ‘‘I think it’s off the table,’’ bourne five-eighth for their reigning premiers since late 23-22 win over Gold Coast at out,’’ said Storm football board who in July told the Henry said yesterday of a NRL finals campaign. June when he suffered the AAMI Park on Saturday manager Frank Ponissi. long-serving mentor he possible Cowboys return. Widdop made a comeback shocking injury, which was night and will have scans to- ‘‘Overall it was a very would not see out the final ‘‘They’ve canvassed a num- through the Storm’s Queens- expected to end his season. day to check on any fracture. pleasing afternoon.’’ year of his contract in 2014. ber of potential coaches. land Cup feeder side Bris- Since then has Widdop played 50 minutes Medical staff will monitor Since that decision was ‘‘I’m down the track with bane Easts yesterday, help- worn the No. 6 jersey but the for Easts and came through Widdop’s recovery. made — after the Cowboys’ some possibilities for me.’’

Race for NRL premiership Penrith end season left wide open From page 24 but Toovey played down the importance of victory this weekend. ‘‘No you don’t have to, I don’t think that’s right,’’ he said of having to win week

PUB: one. ‘‘Some people have the with faith in future philosophy the week off can be bad for you, so I’ll tell you

TNEWS NT in a couple of weeks’ time.’’ The Sea Eagles are ex- pected to get Brett Stewart, , Brenton Lawrence and back after all missed the loss to the Panthers.

DATE: Newcastle sewed up sev- enth spot with a 54-6 hammer- ing of Parramatta yesterday and will meet Canterbury in Sunday’s elimination final at 9-SEP-2013 ANZ Stadium. After losing to Brisbane, the Bulldogs slipped to sixth after Cronulla — despite be- ing without Todd Carney and suspended skipper Paul Gal- len — climbed to fifth cour-

PAGE: tesy of their 38-18 win over in the regular season finale. The Sharks will play the Cowboys in Satur-

22 day’s elimination final. COLOR: NRL SNAPSHOT MAN OF THE ROUND: . Has entertained the Townsville crowd in some style in his 200-odd games C for North Queensland — and

M he did the same in his home swansong with two tries in Y the Cowboys’ 50-22 win over

K the . STAT THAT MATTERS: 8 times. That’s how many occasions Parramatta have conceded 40 points or more in a game this season, with yesterday’s 54-6 flogging by Newcastle their fourth score of 50 or more conceded. MAGIC MOMENT: ’ stunning try for South Sydney against the saw the Queensland superstar swat away the advancing Sonny Penrith playmaker Luke Walsh gets a pass away before hitting the deck during the Panthers’ upset win over Manly yesterday Picture: GETTY IMAGES Bill Williams and race to the line. But the Kiwi superstar SEA EAGLES V PANTHERS have been, Cleary said: ‘‘It’s a tanking, having fought back til the Panthers produced a had the last laugh with a By STEVE JANCETIC long year the NRL season, it twice when the cause seemed candidate for try of the year brilliant all-round display. goes on for six months. lost in the second half. which finished with Luke TALKING POINT: Do the PENRITH coach ‘‘You basically finish For much of the first half Walsh kicking for an unmar- Canberrra Raiders really want claims the Panthers got what We finished tenth, where you deserve. We fin- the Sea Eagles appeared ked . to sign on as they deserved after an epic ished tenth, that’s where we headed for a clash with the By the time Mose Masoe coach after his sorry Eels side last round 38-26 defeat of that’s where we deserve to be.’’ Bunnies, but the introduc- rumbled over in the last min- claimed a second successive Manly at . deserve to be A Manly win and they tion of ute, it was clear the Sea Eag- wooden spoon? While the Sea Eagles were would have played South changed the game. les’ minds were focused on JUDICIARY WATCH: more focused on who they Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Three minutes after the next week. Roosters: Jared Waerea- would play in week one of the Friday night, the loss actu- break Penrith had the lead ‘‘Yeah, I think the players Hargreaves (dangerous finals, the Panthers wanted around, got beat, I don’t ally proving a little more when Josh Mansour went played accordingly,’’ Sea contact). to put an exclamation mark think it would have really beneficial as they receive an over, the teams then trading Eagles coach INJURY REPORT: Knights: on their season, finishing summed up our year. extra day to prepare for Sat- tries as David Williams set said of their lack of focus. Jarrod Mullen (ankle). one win out of the top eight. ‘‘We’ve made some pro- urday night’s second part of up a thrilling finish with his ‘‘They were very flat and I UNDER PRESSURE: Jared ‘‘It probably caps off where gress. It’s just the start of the finals double header second of the afternoon. also saw the Waerea-Hargreaves will be we’re at as a club — we’re not more to come — that’s the against minor premiers Syd- ’s sideline con- game and I thought they sweating on the match quite in the finals, but we’re way we’re looking at it.’’ ney Roosters. version locked it up at 26-all were flat as well. review committee’s decision not far off it,’’ Cleary said. Asked if a final round win Despite taking an early and what would have been an ‘‘If you don’t turn up pre- about his forearm to the head ‘‘If we had have come out over the Sea Eagles had left 16-0 lead, the Sea Eagles unwanted extra time for the pared and ready to play, then of Chris McQueen. here today and flopped him thinking of what might could never be accused of Sea Eagles looked likely, un- you’ll be beaten.’’

22 NT NEWS. Monday, September 9, 2013. www.ntnews.com.au