The Rabbitohs' hopes of upsetting the Panthers and advancing to the grand final have been dealt a huge blow after hulking centre Campbell Graham was ruled out with a groin injury.
South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett revealed today that Graham had been carrying the injury for a number of weeks but it had finally got the better of him on the eve of the club's biggest game of the season.
Graham, 21, has had an outstanding season and was on the cusp of selection in Brad Fittler's 27-man NSW squad.
His absence hurts the Rabbitohs a little bit more than usual, with another of the club's star centres, James Roberts, also out injured.
Bennett confirmed that utility Jed Cartwright, who has played most of his career in the back-row, would come in to the side to replace Graham.
It looms as a huge task for Cartwright, with both Panthers edges featuring deadly attacking threats. Three-quarter pairing Stephen Crichton and Brent Naden have been among the most lethal centres in the NRL this season.
If the Rabbitohs manage to win tomorrow night's preliminary final without Graham he will be in a fitness race to resume his place for next Sunday's grand final.
The Origin series starts 10 days later and Fittler told Wide World of Sports' Freddy and The Eighth that Graham was a genuine contender to replace Tom Trbojevic in the right centre position if fit.
"Zac Lomax obviously is a right centre, I think Stephen Crichton from Penrith can play both (sides), and I think Campbell Graham has played both, he plays right, he was left a couple of weeks ago, so he playes nearly all outside positions," Fittler said when asked to nominate his potential right centre for the series opener.
Clint Gutherson is another option to play the role.
from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/south-sydney-rabbitohs-injury-blow-campbell-graham-out-preliminary-final/35a3193a-986b-47c3-848c-0cd325f1132a
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