Trent Robinson will blood rugby union convert Mark Nawaqanitawase against South Sydney, as the Sydney Roosters pick up the pieces from their week of carnage.
Robinson confirmed on Thursday that Nawaqanitawase would debut against the Rabbitohs in place of the injured Dom Young, less than two months after playing in the Olympics.
The Roosters had not initially planned on playing Nawaqanitawase this year, but the 23-year-old former Wallaby had impressed in his three games in NSW Cup.
"I feel like he has played well for the three games, his instinct has been good," Robinson said.
"You know someone's football talent the way they move and run.
"But you're looking at their instincts when it comes to the movements that are six tackles, how will they move based on the kicker or adapt to the play-the-ball.
"He is an intelligent guy, done his work before he got here and he played really well ahead of this weekend."
Nawaqanitawase's debut looms as a bright spot after an otherwise miserable week for the Roosters.
Sandon Smith will start in the halves after Sam Walker's ruptured ACL, while Connor Watson is at hooker following Brandon Smith's season-ending injury.
Sitili Tupouniua will play this week in the second row, but the Roosters hope Victor Radley can recover from a fractured scapula to play in the finals.
Daniel Tupou and Lindsay Collins will also skip Friday's match, ahead of the finals.
It comes after a devastated Brandon Smith insisted there was no bad blood between him and Elliott Whitehead after the hip-drop tackle that ruptured his ACL.
Smith is due to undergo post-season surgery on his knee, with the hooker forced to wait until his medial ligament has healed before fixing his ACL.
The issue also prompted a post-game spat between Whitehead and Trent Robinson, after the Raiders captain approached the Roosters to apologise.
Robinson accused the Englishman of being a serial hip-dropper, with the tackle on Smith the fourth time he has been charged with the offence since late 2020.
"It was a nothing thing," Smith said on The Bye Round podcast.
It's rugby league and I know he didn't mean it. No one goes out there and does it and means it. It was an accident.
“He messaged me and there was a bit of banter.
“I understand both sides of (Whitehead and Robinson)'s points.
"That's what I would want from my coach. I want him to stick up for me."
Whitehead has since accepted a three-game ban for the tackle, prematurely ending his NRL career ahead of his return to the Super League next season.
Smith said he had been told he would likely be fit to play by round 10 next year, but there are fears that could drag into later in the year given the delayed surgery.
"It was pretty devastating," Smith said.
“I had my moment for about 30 minutes when I got the phone call because I didn't think I actually had done my ACL. I thought I had done my (medial)."
