By James Collins
Rugby League
INTERNATIONAL half-back Aaron Groom has been ruled out of Sheffield Eagles team for the play-off crunch game at Batley Bulldogs on Sunday.
The Fijian star is believed to have made himself 'unavailable' for selection but the club will not go into detail. "Aaron is not available for the Batley game due to certain circumstances," said coach Mark Aston. "I will have to choose the players available and do what we think is best for the team."
It is not clear if it means Groom will return to the squad for the Eagles final games of the league season as they chase a play-off spot. Groom was a major signing from top Australian club Canterbury Bulldogs and a key player for Fiji in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. But the half-back has been plagued by knee injuries which needed major surgery last year. That's restricted him to 14 games in nearly two years at the Eagles - with only six appearances this season. Groom was expected to return for last week's game against Barrow, after being out with a virus, but wasn't in the squad.
In Groom's absence the scrum-half role partnering stand-off Brendon Lindsay has been shared by Dane McDonald and Matty Brooks. The club could try to bring in a new half-back although that would be doubtful before Sunday's game