Macquarie outside backs Ryan Pywell and Royce Geoffrey joined a long list of sidelined Scorpions troops on Thursday night when they were ruled out of the 2017 decider with injury.
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Right winger Pywell (quad) and left centre Geoffrey (ankle) were both “shattered” to be left out of Saturday’s Newcastle Rugby League showdown with Western Suburbs, but injuries sustained in play-offs during the last fortnight hadn’t recovered in time according to coach Adam Bettridge.
Pywell went down in Sunday’s 60-0 preliminary final win over Central Newcastle while one week before Geoffrey left the major semi-final field in a 35-8 loss to Wests.
Macquarie are also without key forward trio Adam Swadling (broken thumb), Brendan Worth (elbow) and skipper Blake Gallen (broken leg).
Elsewhere at McDonald Jones Stadium and Pywell’s younger sister Emma, who turns 21 on Sunday, will line up for Central in the inaugural ladies league tag decider.
It comes 27 years after Kevin Pywell, father of Ryan and Emma, won the 1990 premiership with Waratah-Mayfield.
“It was always pretty competitive and sporty around the house,” Ryan said.
“There weren’t too many Xboxes or PlayStations.”
Pywell will be replaced by Nathan Hinton on Macquarie’s wing while Tye Alchin remains on the bench. Geoffrey missed last weekend so Mitch Manson stays in the centres and Matt Simon at fullback.
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