CESSNOCK'S quest for back-to-back premierships will hit a serious hurdle if gun halfback Adrian Davis is ruled out of the semi-finals due to COVID-19 restrictions.
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Davis works as a firefighter in Sydney, but due to being on annual leave he's been available for the second-placed Goannas. However, Davis is due to return to work after the final round game against Kurri Kurri on August 7, and unless arrangements can be made, he'll be ineligible for the play-offs.
"He's vital for what we're trying to do here," Cessnock coach Todd Edwards said. "He's the biggest threat in the group."
Cessnock have already lost centre Tyrone Roberts-Davis for the season as he works on the locked down Central Coast.
* SOUTH Newcastle president Terry Davies expects the club's new coach will be appointed by next Wednesday.
Applications for the 2022 Lions mentor closed last Friday and current first-year coach Matt Kennedy was not among the candidates.
Whomever secures the role is eyeing off a rebuild, after the Lions plunged from grand finalists last season to wooden spoon favourites with just two wins and two draws.
Meanwhile, Davies will be surrounded by family and friends in the Souths Leagues Club auditorium on Friday night when he cheers on his 21-year-old granddaughter Rose Davies in the heats of the women's 5000m at the Tokyo Olympics.
* KURRI Kurri's Frank-Paul Nu'uausala (contrary conduct) and Lachlan Hill (dangerous throw) are free to face the Lions on Sunday after they took early guilty pleas.