The Obstruction Rule

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The Weekend Wrap: 2/7/17

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Roosters second-rower Boyd Cordner is confident of overcoming a calf injury in time for the deciding State of Origin match.

Dragons back-rower Tyson Frizell will have scans on his back on Monday, after he failed to finish his side’s loss to the Titans.

Titans halfback Ash Taylor hopes coach Neil Henry retains utility Tyrone Roberts as his halves partner for the rest of the season.

Panthers boss Phil Gould has publicly rubbished rumours concerning new Cowboys five-eighth Te Maire Martin.

The Panthers expect to have a number of injured stars returning in the coming weeks, including Peter Wallace, James Fisher-Harris, and Bryce Cartwright.

Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston equaled the South Sydney club record of 5 tries during their win over the Panthers.

Storm halfback Cooper Cronk says that there’s no issue between Daly Cherry-Evans and Maroons players.

 

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Cowboys announce Martin signing

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It wasn’t exactly a secret, but the Cowboys have today officially announced the signing of Panthers five-eighth Te Maire Martin.

The news leaked last Friday, and Martin himself did interviews about it over the weekend, so this announcement was really just ticking boxes.

Martin has played 13 first grade games for the Panthers, and 1 Test for New Zealand.

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Martin joins Cowboys: report

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With legendary Cowboys half Johnathan Thurston likely heading into his final season, it’d be prudent to begin making plans for his successor. As it turns out, they might have found him.

According to the Western Weekender, the Cowboys have signed Panthers five-eighth Te Maire Martin, effective immediately.

Martin will join on a three-year deal, according to reports.

Martin burst onto the scene early last season, before a fractured shoulder blade left him sidelined for most of the year. He was then set to take over as the long-term five-eighth option at Penrith, but their new playmaking structure failed to fire, and they eventually turned to fullback Matt Moylan, who’s been a revelation in the halves (as expected).

As a result, Martin is surplus to requirements at the foot of the mountains.

He’d earlier been linked to the Warriors, but they appear to be moving forward with Ata Hingano as their next five-eighth.

Martin has played 13 first grade games for the Panthers, and 1 Test for New Zealand.

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Moylan named at 6

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The Lockyerification of Panthers fullback Matt Moylan may finally be complete.

Perhaps a season or so later than some would have expected Moylan to make the move, coach Anthony Griffin has named Moylan at five-eighth. Budding star Dylan Edwards has been named to fill Moylan’s vacated fullback spot.

The move likely spells the end of the line for Kiwi five-eighth Te Maire Martin at the club, with Moylan and Cartwright having both now been preferred over him for the halves; and, if he hadn’t been injured himself, the Western Weekender reports that hooker Peter Wallace would have been considered for the role as well.

Of course, Griffin could yet be foxing, having named Martin in the extended squad. But given the hype and controversy that this selection was inevitably going to cause, it’s unlikely he’d name Moylan at 6 without intending to follow through with it.

In other Panthers team news, winger Josh Mansour has been named for his long-awaited return from ACL surgery, and former Dragon Mitch Rein will make his debut in Panthers colours.

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Lolohea release denied – for now

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Warriors utility Tui Lolohea is set to remain a Warrior for a little while longer at least.

According to a New Zealand Herald report, the out-of-favour star has had a request for release denied.

Discussing the rejection, Warriors recruitment and development manager Tony Iro said that “until we’re ready and found a suitable replacement (sic), he will remain with the Warriors”.

This is largely unsurprising. Our Friday report on Lolohea’s expected release explicitly stated that it hinged on Panthers five-eighth Te Maire Martin being granted an immediate release to the Warriors first (thus satisfying Iro’s requirement for a “suitable replacement”). Though that release may be imminent, Martin is currently contracted to Penrith, and so Lolohea (and Tigers five-eighth Mitchell Moses) remains in a holding pattern.

A mid-season release remains a high possibility for Lolohea, but it hasn’t happened yet.

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