Kiwi international Bronson Harrison will miss his second straight game for the Canberra Raiders, allowing Mark Nicholls to make his NRL debut in tomorrow night’s clash with the St George Illawarra Dragons.
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Harrison was this morning ruled out because of a hamstring injury, suffered in the lead-up to last week’s loss to the North Queensland Cowboys.
Nicholls will take his place on the bench, while fellow second-rowers Joel Thompson and Joe Picker both completed this morning’s captain’s run at Canberra Stadium and are likely to take their places in the side.
Thompson trained with a heavy bandage on the left hand he injured against the Cowboys, while Picker has recovered from a skin infection, which sidelined him for the past two games.
New recruit Sandor Earl is 18th man, but the former Penrith Panther completed training drills on the right wing and could be a late inclusion at the expense of Dimitri Pelo.
Nicholls, 22, has had to bide his time for a chance in the top-grade since being selected in the Junior Kangaroos in 2010.
Raiders coach David Furner has been impressed with the Leeton product’s form in the NSW Cup for Mounties.
‘‘He’s strong, big, quite aggressive and I think he’s earnt it,’’ Furner said.
‘‘I’ve had him on standby for something like three or four games.
‘‘I know he’s keen and he’s ready to go.’’
Nicholls is expected to spend time in the front-row, with captain David Shillington in camp with the Queensland State of Origin team.
Shillington’s absence puts more responsibility on the shoulders of experienced front-rowers Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Dane Tilse.
The pair rose to the task when Shillington was missing from the match against Newcastle three weeks ago, winning the battle up the middle of the ground as the Raiders beat the Knights 32-16.
The Dragons’ forward pack will be boosted by the return of NSW front-rower Trent Merrin, who was last week released from the Blues’ 20-man squad.
‘‘I’ve challenged both our starting front-rowers to lead the side because they did a very good job against Newcastle,’’ Furner said.
‘‘With Merrin back for St George, they’ve got a nice, strong, aggressive pack.’’
Learoyd-Lahrs echoed his coach’s sentiments.
‘‘I think all the guys in the forward pack have to lift it up a notch in the absence of Shillo,’’ he said.
‘‘I’ll be looking to do that without trying to overcomplicate things.
‘‘I’ll just try to do my job the best I can and hopefully Tilsey and I work well together.’’
