Hurt Jennings in doubt for Eels clash

Penrith star Michael Jennings admits he came back a week too early after re-injuring his hamstring in Sunday's embarrassing 42-8 NRL loss to Newcastle.

The NSW Origin centre wasn't originally named in coach Matt Elliott's side but was rushed in at the last minute at the expense of David Simmons.

Jennings said he was never 100 per cent fit and after twinging his hamstring late in the match admitted he was now in major doubt for Friday night's showdown with Parramatta.

The 22-year-old revealed during the pre-season how much he despised the Eels as the Panthers' local rivals, and as he iced up his right hamstring after Sunday's match, declared he would do everything he could to play.

But as he cast a lonely figure as the last man in the Penrith sheds, Jennings regretted the early return and conceded he faced an uphill battle to be fit for Friday night.

"I think I came back maybe one week too early," Jennings told AAP.

"The hammy, I strained it again ... who knows now, who knows.

"It was real late in the second half that I felt it but I guess I've just got to get through it.

"I felt alright but I wasn't 100 per cent. I wasn't confident to let myself go and really test my hammy, I just wanted to test it out and see what I can go with."

Jennings was given until game-day to get right, and on Saturday thought he was good to go.

"It's just all about looking after it now and getting it right for Friday night against Parramatta," he said.

"It's always a good match up against them (Eels) I love playing those games and I don't want to miss this game.

"It'll just be rehab all week, ice, stretching, just all the little stuff that's going to get me right on Friday."

Jennings was scathing about Penrith's performance against the Knights.

"Our completion rate was dog shit ... that was probably the worst game I've been a part of," Jennings said.

http://www.nrl.com/hurt-jennings-in-doubt-for-eels-clash/tabid/10874/newsid/61721/default.aspx

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Replies

robbie maxwell March 14, 2011 at 8:25am

jenning is over rapped,he should not bag parra with this we hate parra thing,hes hardly a big hitter,if i was jennings get fit mate.

or you will get hurt.

penrith in past years win matches with kicks, and fitness, this year there not on tune, and there coach is well on

the outer,he will go in time.. watch the press.
robbie maxwell March 14, 2011 at 8:29am

he has the islander big mouth mate, most do that make the n.r.l.

jenning yes is scared, he all full of shit...
HH - Who’s Your Papali’i March 14, 2011 at 8:41am

Play Jennings you coward.
Finno March 14, 2011 at 9:04am

There is the chant "Jennings is over rapped"
Finno March 14, 2011 at 9:27am

Walsh is on report for a high shot as well
Djl March 14, 2011 at 10:05am

Hes scared hes gonna get fuckin drilled haha
Fyno March 14, 2011 at 11:53am

Exactly! After being a big man, he doesn't play in the trial against us and no "can't" play now. I can't wait to see him get destroyed if he does play, no mercy to an unprofessional fuckwit...
playthedoors March 14, 2011 at 12:51pm

Why would you risk a hamstring injury in Rd 1 of what is going to be another very physical year?
I'm very surprised the Panthers let him play. Hamstrings always require an extra week for just in case.
George Taylor March 14, 2011 at 2:56pm

Jennings hurt , pull the other.

The only things that Jennings has hurt was his ego and his pride.His EGO when he mouthed off and Parramatta punished his shithouse team, and his PRIDE when he ran out the tunnel yesterday and discovered that a team of simple folk led by one of the biggest stuff ups to ever lace up a boot in Kurt"Im not as good as Matt"Gidley, clearly ran riot over his Shithouse team. And the sad part was that like Canberra earlier in the day, Newcastle didnt actually play that good.
George Taylor March 14, 2011 at 2:58pm

Play the doors I think they spelt it wrong when they wrote the report, it read "Hamstring" when it should have read "Heartstring". The dog called Michael Jennings clearly shows that he has no ticker to back up that big mouth of his.