winslow_wong
International Captain
- May 27, 2013
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Brisbane are set to be boosted with representative pair Andrew McCullough and Alex Glenn eyeing returns for Sunday's sudden-death clash with the Dragons at Suncorp Stadium, though the jury remains out on boom forward Tevita Pangai jnr.
McCullough is a certain starter after overcoming a heavy concussion that forced him out of the Broncos big win over Manly, while Glenn was a late scratching with a calf injury as well, but the club is confident the seven-day turnaround will have him back on deck.
Alarm bells rang when Pangai jnr left the field after 50 minutes clutching his hamstring, though Brisbane officials claim he could have returned to the fray if needed.
Captain Darius Boyd said the injury was the same nerve-related groin/hamstring concern Pangai jnr has battled previously this year, and stands a good chance of healing in time for the bumper clash.
"(Pangai jnr) said it was just a neural injury, which usually means it's pretty good and will be right in 3-4 days time," Boyd told NRL.com on Monday.
"Fingers crossed it is the neural thing and he'll be straight back out on Sunday."
The Tongan international has played through the pain more than once already in 2018, most notably when Wayne Bennett pushed him to take the paddock against Penrith six weeks ago and Pangai jnr promptly played the house down.
Dragons lock Jack de Belin meanwhile is sweating scans on a foot injury that he too played through against the Newcastle despite hearing a crack in his foot early in the game.
Skipper Gareth Widdop is a confirmed starter for the Red V as he returns from a dislocated shoulder, and could have played in the Knights game if the Dragons were still in contention for a top four spot.
Surely widdops shoulder won't be 100% after a dislocation. Send plenty of traffic his way.