SIINGLETON coach Steve Merrick fears that strike centre Dillon Rowney won't play again this season.
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Rowney has been troubled by a lower back problem and has been unable to find any answers.
"Something is hitting his sciatic nerve and he is getting a fair bit of pain down his leg," Merrick said. "He has been to chiropractors, had Bowen therapy ... he has been everywhere and no-one can fix it. I don't think we will get him back."
Rowney's loss has been softened by the return by Cooper Harris from an ankle injury.
"We thought he was done for the season but you can't keep him off the field. He reminds me a little bit of myself."
* Beau Merrick, Steve's son, is proving versatile. The 18-year-old started the season at inside centre, played on the wing in the 45-29 win over Beaches and has been selected at hooker in the Newcastle colts representative team.
* Merrick expects Southern Beaches to surprise a few teams. "They have a big pack and remind me a bit of the old Mayfield-East sides," Merrick said.
* Hamilton coach Scott Coleman didn't hide his displeasure with the 12 penalties visiting Far North Coast referee Matt Clayton blew against the Hawks in the first half of the 34-21 win over Maitland.
"The positive from the match is that we only get out-of-town referees once a year," Coleman quipped.
* Billy Coffey couldn't have done much more in his first game at inside centre in the top grade for the Greens. The former winger scored a try and threw the final pass for two others.