Cronulla prop Toby Rudolf is set to be sidelined for up to a month after picking up a knee injury in the Sharks’ gritty win over the Warriors.
Rudolf was spotted in a brace at Shark Park on Tuesday as Cronulla’s players returned to training ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Sydney Roosters.
The prop, who has been an ever present for Craig Fitzgibbon this season, is likely to miss up to a month with a medial ligament injury.
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But there is a silver lining given that the Sharks have the bye after facing the Roosters at Allianz Stadium, before two away trips against Brisbane and the Dolphins.
Rudolf’s absence will likely be covered by the return of Addin Fonua-Blake, who is set to play for NSW in the second game of the State of Origin series at the MCG on Wednesday.
The loss of Rudolf comes at a time when Cronulla are without starting hooker Blayke Brailey and halfback Nicho Hynes.
“I think the way we’re building our team, it really shouldn’t matter (who is out),” Sharks lock Cameron McInnes told AAP.
“When you’re missing high-quality players like that, you’d rather have them of course, but in saying that the guys that have come in have done such a good job.”
Even without some of their big names, Cronulla’s form – they are on a run of four consecutive wins heading into their meeting with the sixth-placed Roosters – hasn’t wavered.
Fullback Will Kennedy engineered a last-gasp charge-down in the 10-8 victory over the Warriors in Auckland, while playmaker Braydon Trindall iced the win with a two-point field goal.
“We did a good job on the weekend, but it’s not like we’re thinking, ‘oh, we’re killing it here, everything’s easy and happy’,” said McInnnes, whose side sit fifth.
“It was this close to going the other way on the weekend and that’s what footy is, you can enjoy that result but you don’t get carried away with it.
“Every game is huge with the makeup of the ladder and they (the Roosters) are a team that has played really well all year.
“They had some players missing on the weekend (in a 48-10 loss to the Dolphins) and I’d imagine – knowing some of these guys – that they probably wouldn’t be too happy with how the game went for them.
“They’ll want to respond and they’ll have some high power back so it’ll be huge game.”
