MACQUARIE hooker Chris Hyde will skipper the Scorpions for the rest of 2017 after the season-ending injury suffered by reigning player of the year Blake Gallen.
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The NRL Rookie finalist was named captain this week by coach Adam Bettridge as Gallen recovers at home from surgery to his broken leg, which occurred while scoring a try in Saturday’s 22-16 win over Central at home.
Hyde takes on the leadership role as five-eighth Scott Briggs returns from a one-game suspension via reserve grade with Nathan Hinton and Andrew Sumner remaining in the halves.
* JACE Delaney has played his last game for Central this year with the hooker now departing for the US with work.
Daniel Bacchus comes up to face Kurri Kurri at St John Oval on Sunday and fill what Butcher Boys coach Craig Miller described as a “big gap” in the squad.
* NEWCASTLE representative winger Willis Alatini returns for Western Suburbs against the Goannas on Saturday with utility Jacob Ling making way, but Rosellas coach Matt Lantry has yet to finalise his starting 13.
With halfback Jade Porter also returning to the mix last week, and with the likes of Brad Tighe, Ryan Walker and Simon Williams in that backline as well, Lantry could have a few selection headaches before Cessnock.
* FAITOTOA Faitotoa looks likely to miss South Newcastle’s away trip to Maitland on Saturday after being named in the Knights’ reserve grade squad to play the Illawarra Cutters at Jubilee Oval on Sunday.
Faitotoa notched up his third game for the Lions this year at a mud-ridden Townson Oval on the weekend.
* CONDITIONS were made even more uncomfortable at the Merewether venue for Cessnock’s reserve grade team on Sunday.
They were forced to double up and wear wet jerseys against South Newcastle after the club’s ladies league tag side, playing the game before, had to borrow the uniforms because a Goannas manager left the correct kit bag elsewhere.
* JUST for the record South Newcastle overcame Windale 24-4 in the fifth and final game played in the mud, and eventually under lights, at Townson Oval on Sunday.
Check out the video highlights of the Newcastle Hunter Rugby League A-grade encounter online at BarTV Sports.
* 2013 Newcastle Rugby League rookie of the year Liam Faughlin has been switching between codes in recent weeks.
Since a recent trial with Scottish rugby union club Glasgow fell through, Faughlin has lined up with the Hamilton Hawks in reserve grade.
But at the same time he has played for the Pickers again, including off the bench in first grade for Maitland against Western Suburbs at Harker Oval on Sunday.
* THE black and white uniform was on display at NRL level on the weekend with Maitland junior Max King sporting the club’s socks while playing for the Gold Coast Titans against the South Sydney Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium on Friday.
All of the Titans players took part in the initiative, believed to be in its third season.
