Following examinations that revealed the Kiwi international had sustained two fractures to his hand during Sunday’s victory against the Wests Tigers, Roosters center Joseph Manu will be sidelined for a month. In the thirty-first minute of the game, Manu caused the damage while trying to fend off Adam Doueihi. He will now have surgery.
The injury adds to a mounting headache for coach Trent Robinson, with outside backs Junior Pauga, Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, Billy Smith and Robert Toia all currently injured or suspended.
Storm star Xavier Coates will miss the Origin decider after suffering a hamstring injury in Saturday night’s win over the Raiders.
Scans confirmed the disappointing news on Sunday morning, with the winger set to spend six to eight weeks on the sidelines with a low-grade tear.
A forlorn Coates came from the field six minutes from fulltime after chasing a Tyran Wishart kick and diving in a bid to score and told team-mates while the bunker was reviewing the try that he had injured his hamstring.
It is the same hamstring he injured in Round 8 against South Sydney, which sidelined him for two weeks. Coates also injured his hamstring during the pre-season.
Casualty Ward By Club
/
BroncosBroncos
BulldogsBulldogs
CowboysCowboys
DragonsDragons
DolphinsDolphins
EelsEels
KnightsKnights
PanthersPanthers
RabbitohsRabbitohs
RaidersRaiders
RoostersRoosters
Sea EaglesSea Eagles
SharksSharks
StormStorm
TitansTitans
WarriorsWarriors
Wests TigersWests Tigers
It was a double blow for the Storm, with centre Jack Howarth ruled out for one to two weeks after picking up a moderate glute strain in the win.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins were dealt a blow midway through Sunday’s clash with St George Illawarra when Jeremy Marshall-King limped from the field.
The hooker was later ruled out for the remainder of the game with a right foot sprain.
The Dragons lost winger Mat Feagai to a shoulder joint injury during the first half at Netstrata Jubilee.
Sea Eagles superstar Tom Trbojevic is set to return from a hamstring injury in Round 18 and will be named at centre for the clash with the Cowboys in Townsville.
The club confirmed on Saturday that Trbojevic had completed his reconditioning work from a hamstring injury and was ready to step out for his first game since suffering the injury in Round 10.
The Maroons have received a major boost with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow cleared of a serious shoulder injury.
The outside back suffered the injury during the first half of Wednesday’s loss to the Blues. He left the field before returning in the second half.
Scans have confirmed a grade one AC joint injury ruling Tabuai-Fidow out of his club match for the Dolphins against St George Illawarra on Sunday. Trai Fuller is likely to feature in his place.
In positive news, however, Tabuai-Fidow is expected to be available for selection for the decider on July 17.
Meanwhile scans in Auckland have confirmed Broncos back-rower Jack Gosiewski suffered a broken arm in Saturday’s loss to the Warriors, which the club expects to sideline him for two months.
Prop Fletcher Baker is awaiting scans after suffering ligament damage in his knee, with initial suggestions that he is facing 4-6 six weeks out.
Newcastle hooker Phoenix Crossland will miss his side’s Round 18 clash against Canberra under the NRL’s 11-day concussion protocols.
Crossland left the field for a HIA late in the game against the Eels after copping a knock while attempting a tackle on Maika Sivo.
Dragons winger Zac Lomax (shoulder) and Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen (foot) were late withdrawals in Round 17 as their clubs erred on the side of caution with niggling injuries.
J’maine Hopgood will need the Eels to go deep into the finals if he is to be a chance of taking the field for them again in 2024, following confirmation he will sit out at least three months due to back surgery.
The Eels said in a statement that following consultation with specialists it’s been decided Hopgood will undergo a microdiscectomy procedure, which will require a 12-week recovery period.
Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson will miss at least four weeks due to a recurring Achilles tendon injury which flared up during the Round 16 loss to the Titans.
The 33-year-old played through Achilles issues for much of the first part of the season, often missing large parts of training each week in order to play in games, with Andrew Webster revealing the injury had deteriorated to a point that he cannot play on and will be sidelined until it is healed.
