Wests Tigers skipper Api Koroisau will make an early return from a broken jaw after being named to face the Newcastle Knights in round 20.
In addition to Koroisau, the Tigers will have Alex Twal back from suspension, with Daine Laurie and Brent Naden added to an extended bench.
Yet the tipsters have mostly gone for Newcastle this week on Nine’s Friday night football, with the Knights only three points outside the top eight and Kalyn Ponga starting to hit his stride in recent weeks.
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Koroisau completed training on Tuesday and is expected to play his first match in just over a month after suffering the injury following a hit from Titans skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui.
“I shouldn’t have tackled him with my face,” Koroisau said.
“That tackle was my fault. I got off the line a bit hard, I didn’t get up square, and he [Fa’asuamaleaui] caught me off guard when he came off his right foot. There are no hard feelings there. It’s footy.
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“I can only control what I can control. Everyone has their bumpers up. I missed a few weeks, but I put that on me. It was easily the worst pain I’ve ever had.
“Once the contact happened, the sharp pain that hit me in the face, I finished the tackle, I started to get back up but my teeth weren’t touching.
“That’s when I was like: ‘it’s probably broken, I might have to put my hand up here.’
Origin series rocked as Koroisau heads to hospital
“The normal time [for a return] is around six weeks. I started training last week, I got through some contact, and I had no issues. I put my hand up [to return].
“I got hit in the jaw a few times today, it felt good, I was surprised.
“It’s a confidence thing. Unless something happens the next couple of days, I expect to run out on Friday.”
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and Round 20 tips by all Nine’s expert tipsters!
Andrew Johns: Knights, Broncos, Cowboys, Storm, Warriors, Panthers, Eels
Paul Gallen: Knights, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Sharks, Panthers, Eels
Darren Lockyer: Knights, Broncos, Cowboys, Storm, Sharks, Panthers, Eels
Peter Psaltis: Knights, Broncos, Cowboys, Storm, Sharks, Panthers, Eels
Mat Thompson: Knights, Broncos, Cowboys, Storm, Warriors, Panthers, Eels
James Bracey: Knights, Broncos, Cowboys, Roosters, Sharks, Panthers, Eels
Dave Middleton: Knights, Broncos, Cowboys, Storm, Warriors, Panthers, Eels
Danika Mason: Knights, Broncos, Cowboys, Storm, Warriors, Panthers, Eels
Michael Chammas: Tigers, Bulldogs, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Warriors, Panthers, Eels
The Mole: Knights, Broncos, Cowboys, Storm, Warriors, Panthers, Eels
Ben Glover: Knights, Broncos, Sea Eagles, Roosters, Warriors, Panthers, Eels
Wally Lewis: Knights, Broncos, Cowboys. Storm, Sharks, Panthers, Eels
Billy Slater: Knights, Broncos, Cowboys. Storm, Warriors, Panthers, Titans
Allana Ferguson: Knights, Broncos, Cowboys. Storm, Sharks, Panthers, Eels
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