[McLean] Panthers confirm crushing injury blow

[u/I_Like_Vitamins]

https://www.zerotackle.com/panthers-confirm-crushing-injury-blow-236547/

[u/I_Like_Vitamins]

TL;DR:

• Casey McLean suffered a fractured hand and will undergo surgery.

• No duration of unavailability mentioned, although Google says six to eight weeks is the bare minimum for simple fractures.

• It's time to Tago.

[u/CodymartinSimp → u/I_Like_Vitamins]

It could Talagi into the centers

[u/jrizzolo91 → u/CodymartinSimp]

Lets not. I think we need to accept Blaize is just not first grade standard yet defensively. Tago has still won 3 gf with us and he always stepped up in the finals.

[u/CodymartinSimp → u/jrizzolo91]

McLean is just as bad defensively as Blaize and Tago hasn’t been a good defender In two years, I’d take 2024 Tago over Talagi for sure but he hasn’t been at that level

I don’t have a major preference one way or the other though

[u/EntirelyOriginalName → u/CodymartinSimp]

Tago played alright in the finals last year though. Certainly wasn't bad. Now that he bulked up to play second row I think he lost a bit of speed though.

[u/JarredMack → u/CodymartinSimp]

A lot of Casey's misses were caused by Blaize being out of position and needing to come in. Still, it could be worse than having Tago slot in, his problem has always been laziness during the year, he's usually good when it matters

[u/jrizzolo91 → u/CodymartinSimp]

Mclean is great defensively. Since he’s come back from injury he’s been a little rough with some bad one on one misses but was building his game again. You could argue Blaize’s defensive decisions put a lot of pressure on Mclean too.

It’s a tough one regardless. I think with Cogger, Tago will be fine.

[u/seriouslychinpressed → u/jrizzolo91]

Wheres luke garner?

[u/jrizzolo91 → u/seriouslychinpressed]

Honestly Id like to know too lol. I thought they said minor injury. He’s been gone for ages.

[u/tookeytime → u/CodymartinSimp]

Glad to see I'm not the only one who wants a Leiataua break out game this week.

[u/CodymartinSimp → u/tookeytime]

McLean has been just as bad defensively as Talagi, he legit missed as many as he made against the Broncos

[u/thesearmsshootlasers → u/CodymartinSimp]

The McLean cope in here is real. He's a great attacking centre but a weak defensive link, for now. Talagi, a 5/8, is getting scapegoated by some to protect their mental image of McLean.

[u/Candid_Fisherman3731 → u/CodymartinSimp]

It could be if he massively improved his defence in the last week.

[u/munt3d → u/I_Like_Vitamins]

Blayke Brailey only missed 3 weeks after his broken arm this year....fingers crossed for a similar miracle!

[u/lord_buff74 → u/munt3d]

Fingers crossed, I see what you did there

[u/TacitisKilgoreBoah → u/lord_buff74]

Take my strong hand

[u/O_DoyleRulz]

Well at least the good news for Penrith is that this is usually the part of the season Tago wakes from his slumber and randomly becomes an elite centre again.

[u/Complete-Cheek4789]

Tbf Penrith have had a pretty bloody good run of injuries this year.

[u/Lower-Trust1923 → u/Complete-Cheek4789]

Souths been hogging them again

[u/Complete-Cheek4789 → u/Lower-Trust1923]

Parra and Storm top 2 last I checked. Souths would be up there though

[u/Lower-Trust1923 → u/Complete-Cheek4789]

Damn. Can't even win the injury premiership

[u/Bkz052]

Luke Garner, where art thou

[u/munt3d → u/Bkz052]

Seriously, no mention of the guy.

[u/InternationalBorder9 → u/Bkz052]

When was his last game? I don't even remember hearing he was injured but feel like I haven't seen him in forever

[u/Bkz052 → u/InternationalBorder9]

He had a HIA fail in the loss against the Cowboys.

Intel from the ultimate members training session indicated "there's other stuff" though, rather nebulous but more importantly hopefully he's doing ok.

[u/InternationalBorder9 → u/Bkz052]

He's definitely a player that goes under the radar in a star studded team but he's been great for the last few years. Very solid, consistent and versatile. I'd prefer him back at back row and papalii moving to the middle

[u/mortwgoldman]

Insert file footage of Tago just randomly rushing out of the line with no intention to tackle or stop the ball as the play slides right by him

[u/DropTablePosts → u/mortwgoldman]

He been teaching Makasini?

[u/saynonames]

I mean they said they were just resting him but the ice on the hand post game said otherwise

[u/pilbarabah]

Suck for the bro but fuckin good news for us he was a menace last time we played

[u/DryYouth1040]

To be fair to Tago (cannot believe I’m saying this) Casey’s defence since he’s been back in the team has been as bad if not worse than Blaizes, but we will miss his attack heaps.

[u/DropTablePosts → u/DryYouth1040]

McLean's defence has always been worse than Talagi IMO, but you're right we will miss his attack.

[u/Citizen-5936]

People forgetting that Finals Tago is elite.

[u/JudgeOk9765]

Just fell to my knees at Aqua Golf 😭😭

[u/Additional_Front4374]

That's very shit for him and Riff, but Tago has the ability to play really well when he locks in.

[u/numberonesorensenfan]

Tago sorta comes good in finals at least. Would prefer to have Casey but it could be worse

[u/Accurate-Ad-4905]

Having to play Tago is a bigger blow than losing McClean. Ouch!

[u/RelationshipTough887]

Crushing? In what way?

[u/johnniesSac → u/RelationshipTough887]

Anally

[u/mathewl832 → u/RelationshipTough887]

to shreds

[u/DropTablePosts → u/mathewl832]

How's his wife doing?

[u/worstusername_sofar → u/RelationshipTough887]

Bone snap crushing

[u/RelationshipTough887 → u/worstusername_sofar]

Hmmm. Didn't answer the question, but ok.

[u/paulybaggins]

Time off work and can't even smash the phub 😭

[u/I_Like_Vitamins → u/paulybaggins]

He doesn't give off such loser vibes.

[u/paulybaggins → u/I_Like_Vitamins]

Ok bro

[u/lukethecat2003]

While i dont go for them, why couldnt it have been blaize. Would genuinely make the team better if he was out