Roosters recruit to make shock club debut against Panthers

NSW hooker Reece Robson will make his Sydney Roosters debut on Friday after making a stunning recovery from a fractured thumb.

Robson was expected to be sidelined for up to two months after breaking the digit less than four weeks ago. But as revealed by this masthead before the official team lists were announced on Tuesday afternoon, Robson has cut his expected recovery time in half.

It’s a huge boost for the Bondi Junction outfit ahead of Friday’s clash with the Panthers. Coach Trent Robinson’s side also has Connor Watson and Benaiah Ioelu capable of covering dummy half from an extended bench. It marks the first time that the much vaunted new-look Roosters spine of James Tedesco, Daly Cherry-Evans, Sam Walker and Robson would play together.

Billy Smith, who suffered a concussion after an e-bike accident, was not named.

The Panthers have received their own boost, with NSW back-rower Liam Martin to also play his first game of the season after overcoming a calf complaint.

Meanwhile, Adam Reynolds has been named in the Brisbane No.7 jersey for Friday’s grand-final rematch against Melbourne, but he confirmed late Tuesday he will he rested.

Reynolds and his ribs were fully tested during an opposed session on Tuesday, and he was prepared to receive pain-killing injections to get through the match.

“As long as I can handle the pain at training, I’m confident I can get through the game,” Reynolds said. “I played with a rib injury in 2022, it was pretty bad. I was getting needled each week, so it can be done.

“It will be up to the club what they want to do. They might decide later in the week they want to give me a rest. I’ve told them I’m keen. I’m sure Melbourne will try to test my ribs out, but all you can do is try and whack them the first few times they come at me.”

Reynolds will now be saved for round four, with Ben Hunt to start at halfback against the Storm.

Media commentator and former Bronco Gorden Tallis was critical of Reynolds for flying to Sydney to appear on Fox Sports a day after he suffered the rib cartilage injury, saying it was “not great optics”.

It is not the first time Tallis has publicly criticised Reynolds. While the halfback had a view on the matter, he said he was happy to keep his counsel on the advice of the club.

Reynolds said there was no panic within the group, and they had continued to work hard. After the road trip to Melbourne, Brisbane will not leave Queensland for the next three weeks.

In other team news, Fletcher Sharpe has returned from the knee injury he suffered in Las Vegas and will slot straight into the halves. The Knights still have $2.7 million worth of talent sidelined after spine stars Dylan Brown and Kalyn Ponga suffered injuries in the win against Manly.

Elsewhere, centre Bronson Xerri was not named in the Bulldogs’ side to face Canberra on Thursday, Jamie Humphreys is back in the No.7 jersey for South Sydney and the Dragons halves pairing of Kyle Flanagan and Daniel Atkinson have been declared fit. Jacob Little has also been added to the extended bench.

Wests Tigers will be without Taylan May until round eight after he suffered a shoulder injury in the win over North Queensland. Jeral Skelton moves in from the wing to replace May at centre against South Sydney on Saturday.