He impressed with his physique and conditioning when he arrived at the Sharks in mid-June despite not having played in the NRL for more than a year, with Nene Macdonald now set to make his club debut in becoming the 538th Sharks top grade player.
Out of the game since suffering a season-ending leg injury in round five of the 2019 season, Macdonald has put off-field issues aside, trained hard prior to, and since landing in the Shire, and has made very post a winner at his new NRL club.
Now with the withdrawal of Ronaldo Mulitalo and the injury suffered by Matt Moylan, Macdonald gets his chance in the Sharks clash with the Panthers at Kogarah Jubilee later today.
In a reshuffled backline, Macdonald is likely to play on the left wing outside of veteran Bryson Goodwin, a player who has made an immediate impression in three games back at his former club.
It was felt that Mulitalo, who had minor knee surgery following the Sharks round four win over the Cowboys, was one week shy of being ready to return to the field. He will be available for selection for his team’s next game which is against the New Zealand Warriors in round 10.
However, in relation to Macdonald, the 108kg, 194cm, 26-year-old Port Moresby-born outside back brings size and try scoring ability to the Sharks backline less than a month after signing on at the Cronulla club.
Debuting in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters back in 2014, MacDonald has gone on to play 96 games at four different clubs, the Roosters, Titans, Dragons and Cowboys, scoring 34 tries.
He has also represented PNG on nine occasions, while also twice playing for the World All Stars.
While residing in Cairns as a youngster, Macdonald was selected for the Australian Schoolboys in 2011 and played for the Queensland Under 20’s in 2013 and 2014.
The Sharks 17-man team has been finalised for their game against the Panthers. CLICK HERE to see all the late mail.
