Head Rolls As Dragons Axe Two

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday April 11, 2007

Jamie Pandaram and AAP

DRAGONS halfback Mat Head and centre Keith Lulia have been relegated to premier league following their side's heavy loss to Cronulla last Monday.

Head played off the bench against the Sharks but seemed to struggle with a leg injury and could not spark his back line. The inexperienced Lulia found it tough to contain his opposite Ben Pomeroy, who scored two tries in the 40-4 romp, and will be replaced by winger Wes Naiqama, while Luke MacDougall returns to fill the vacant wing spot.

Brisbane have named blockbusting back-rower Tonie Carroll in the centres for the Queensland derby against the Gold Coast Titans on Friday night. Carroll is no stranger to the position, and his partnership with the form centre in the NRL, Justin Hodges, will severely test the young Titans pairing of Brett Delaney and Josh Graham.

Star Titans recruit Mat Rogers is out with a neck injury and will learn today the extent of the damage. The club has contacted medical staff at Rogers's former Super 14 rugby side, the Waratahs.

"It's just a matter of getting all the relevant information," Titans football manager Scott Sattler said. "It [Rogers's injury run] is not frustrating. It's just a matter of us working with him, trying to work out what is happening. We've got good depth to cover positions, and when he plays we want to make sure he is 100 per cent."

Broncos winger Karmichael Hunt said the Titans would have their hands full trying to shut down Carroll, who is returning from an injury.

"Defensively and in attack, he's a very damaging player," Hunt said.

It appears Daniel Abraham and Jarrod Mullen will be Newcastle's halves following the retirement of Andrew Johns.

Souths have named Dean Widders as the second-row replacement for injured skipper David Kidwell, who will likely miss the rest of the season after injuring his knee at a family barbecue on Sunday. Former Kiwi international Joe Galuvao returns on the bench with young prop Jaiman Lowe for the clash against the Knights. Scott Geddes is the 18th man for the Rabbitohs.

Veteran winger Todd Byrne will play his first NRL game of the year for the Warriors against North Queensland on Sunday, replacing Michael Crockett, who will miss six weeks with a dislocated elbow sustained against Manly last weekend.

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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