Newcastle Rugby League semi-final opponents Cessnock and Western Suburbs will be sweating on the fitness of several key players this week following the latest injuries to both sides.
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The second-placed Goannas have front-rower Guy Thompson (shoulder) and utility forward Joe Bromage (appendicitis) both in doubt while halfback Liam Foran (calf) sat out the second half of Friday night's 46-8 victory over Lakes at Cessnock Sportsground.
"We'll just have to reassess those guys this week but Liam should be right, we just took the opportunity to rest him," Cessnock coach Todd Edwards said.
The third-placed Rosellas, who had the weekend off with a bye, will need to assess the extent of the damage to centre Heath Gibbs and prop Liam Marshall after both suffered broken hands in their most recent start against minor premiers Wyong on September 27.
"We were quite wounded out of that Wyong game so we were quite happy with the week off to rest up," Wests coach Todd Lowrie said.
Cessnock and Wests will go head-to-head in an elimination encounter at Maitland Sportsground on Saturday (3:30pm). The same clubs met in last year's decider.
"It's nothing like the same teams as last year but we'll both be giving it a good go," Edwards said.
Cessnock led 24-0 at half-time of their last-round match before going on with the job. Ngangarra Barker scored a hat-trick of tries and Brayden Musgrove a double.
Wyong, who returned to Newcastle RL at the start of the season after the Central Coast competition was cancelled, were crowned minor premiers following a 60-0 thrashing of the last-placed Pickers at Maitland on Saturday.
Roos prop Jake Lewis crossed three times, Wyatt Shaw and Aaiden Wright secured a brace each while Jack Burraston, Nick O'Meley, Kye Martin and Jaron Purcell also made the scoresheet.
Wyong now meet fourth-placed Souths, who had a bye, at Maitland on Sunday (3:30pm).
The 2020 grand final is scheduled for Maitland on October 18.
In the lower grades Wests (reserves), Lakes (under 19s) and Souths (women's Blues Tag) finished on top of their ladders. The Lions qualified teams in all four divisions.
LADDER: Wyong 20, Cessnock 18, Wests 16, Souths 15, Lakes 9, Central 8, Maitland 6.
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Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
