There's a new Semi in the NRL. And he's a big, powerful Fijian flyer like the one that went before him.
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But winger Semi Valemei's impending debut has come as the Canberra Raiders' injury crisis deepened with Curtis Scott ruled out of their grand final rematch against the Sydney Roosters at the SCG on Thursday night.
Scott joined Josh Hodgson (knee), John Bateman (shoulder), Corey Horsburgh (foot), Sia Soliola (face), Emre Guler (ankle) and Bailey Simonsson (shoulder) on the sidelines.
It means Canberra coach Ricky Stuart only has 18 fit players with NRL experience, which included Kai O'Donnell (one NRL game) and Tom Starling (four).
Valemei joins George Williams and O'Donnell as NRL debutants the Raiders have blooded this year.
If he comes off the bench, the 21-year-old will become the third Semi to play NRL - behind Ex-Eels sensation Semi Radradra and former Storm winger Semi Tadulala.
Radradra scored 82 tries in 94 games for Parramatta to become a cult hero before switching to rugby union.
Valemei Zoomed his sister back in Fiji to tell her the good news on Wednesday.
He arrived in Canberra in 2018 to play for the under-20 Jersey Flegg team, but has forced his way into the senior squad and played at the Nines in Perth in February.
His chance has come about after a cut on Scott's arm became infected.
"You'd much prefer to be debuting these young players in better circumstance because you want to give them every possibility coming in at full strength," Stuart said.
"But the opportunity arrives through the injuries we have at the moment and the other boys are very excited for Semi, as they were for Kai last week.
"He's currently doing a Zoom to his family in Fiji to let them know the news. It's very exciting for him and obviously his family back home.
"He's a future NRL player. He's a big, strong Fijian boy that we see a few of in the competition.
"He's put a lot of work into his game. It's nice to be able to get that opportunity for him."
MORE RAIDERS NEWS
With his squad down to its skin and bones, Stuart called on those left to show what it meant to be a Raider as they return to the SCG for the first time since the 1987 grand final.
Hodgson's season-ending knee injury has seen the Raiders dismissed as premiership chances.
"This scenario we're facing right now, the adversity through all the injury and the bad luck we're copping, I often say in this competition you need good luck," Stuart said.
"We've been written off and not given the opportunity to show really what's in the inner sanctum - to reveal the identity of what we are about here at the club.
"Through this difficult period it gives us a great opportunity to show people what we're about ... show what the jumper's about."
NRL ROUND 10
Thursday: Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters at the SCG, 7.50pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Nick Cotric, 3. Jarrod Croker (c), 4. Michael Oldfield, 5. Jordan Rapana, 6. Jack Wighton, 7. George Williams, 8. Josh Papalii, 9. Siliva Havili, 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Hudson Young, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Joe Tapine. Interchange: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Kai O'Donnell, 16. Ryan Sutton, 21. Semi Valemei. Reserves: 18. Matt Frawley, 19. Darby Medlyn, 20. Sam Williams.
Roosters squad: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Matt Ikuvalu, 3. Josh Morris, 4. Joseph Manu, 5. Brett Morris, 6. Luke Keary, 7. Kyle Flanagan, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Jake Friend, 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11. Boyd Cordner, 12. Angus Crichton, 13. Nat Butcher. Interchange: 14. Lachlan Lam, 15. Sitili Tupouniua, 16. Mitchell Aubusson, 17. Lindsay Collins. Reserves: 18. Poasa Faamausili, 19. Ryan Hall, 20. Isaac Liu, 21. Drew Hutchison.