A blow to the jaw of Jayson Bukuya during the first half of the Panthers clash on Sunday sent a scare through the Sharks camp, however scans have revealed no serious damage with the Fijian international available to play the Broncos this weekend.
Taken to the head bin and deemed unable to return, the potential unavailability of the in-form Bukuya would have been a loss for the Sharks, with all breathing a sigh of relief when he was cleared of any break in the jaw.
Other than bumps and bruises coming from what was a physical encounter the remainder of the Sharks NRL squad came through without concern, with the same 17 selected and expected to be fit for the blockbuster against the Broncos on Sunday.
The Sharks have named just 17 players, with Junior Paulo not selected in either the NRL team or for Newtown in the Intrust Super Premiership match in Cessnock.
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan will likely make a decision later in the week whether to get Paulo some game time with the Jets on Saturday or to hold him back as 18th man for Sunday’s NRL match.
In other injury news, Mitch Brown is the only Sharks-contracted player unavailable for the weekend’s matches, with the outside back/utility ruled out with a minor knee complaint.
The injury isn’t expected to see him sidelined for an extended period.
The news on the injury front is also good for NYC Coach John Morris who has named the same team which was gallant in defeat last weekend against the competition-leading Panthers.
Morris is still without big winger Semisi Vea who has a leg injury but otherwise has a full complement to choose from.
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