NRL 2023: Willie Mason, Mark O’Meley involved in Luke Thompson’s season-ending injury

Two of the Bulldogs’ most feared hard men were unintentionally responsible for Luke Thompson’s season-ending injury. See the $10 million worth of talent sitting on the sidelines.

Luke Thompson needed to be helped off the field after suffering a suspected lisfranc injury.

It’s now emerged friendly fire involving two of the Bulldogs’ most feared and toughest legends Mark O’Meley and Willie Mason was responsible for Luke Thompson’s likely season-ending injury.

The two former premiership winning enforcers were on the field at training on Tuesday holding bump pads when the Englishman ran at them before falling to the turf like a sack of potatoes.

Witnesses say there was nothing malicious or intentional about the incident whatsoever, with O’Meley and Mason simply standing their ground as Thompson collided with the pads while taking a hit up off the dummy half.

But as soon as the star forward, who is in a reported $800,000 for this season, went down it was obvious the injury was serious.

Thompson was helped from the field by Mason and physio James Wall.

Luke Thompson. Picture: NRL

Luke Thompson is carried from the field.

The Bulldogs have since confirmed that Thompson will meet with surgeons this week to work out the best plan of action to deal with the rare lisfranc foot injury.

The expectation is he will miss the entire season.

Bulldogs general manager of football Phil Gould tweeted: “Unfortunately Luke Thompson’s injury is quite serious. Prognosis is for minimum 6 months recovery. Possibly longer depending on surgery type. Very sad for Luke and the club.”

Yes. https://t.co/q42X4oKyVt

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) February 28, 2023

It is not expected the Bulldogs will receive salary cap relief for the accident given Thompson is off contract at the end of the season.

It’s a major setback for new coach Cameron Ciraldo ahead of his official NRL head-coaching debut when Canterbury plays Manly at 4 Pines Park on Saturday.

The irony is O’Meley and Mason were brought back to the club by Gould specifically to give the new generation an up close and personal view of what good old fashioned toughness used to look like at the Bulldogs.

$10M WORTH OF TALENT OUT OF ROUND 1

- Brent Read, Fatima Kdouh, David Riccio and Martin Gabor

Canterbury have been dealt a hammer blow on the eve of the 2023 NRL kick-off after star forward Luke Thompson was ruled out with a likely season-ending foot injury.

Thompson will meet with surgeons this week to discuss treatment after suffering a rare and serious lisfranc injury.

It comes amid revelations more than $10 million worth of playing talent has been sidelined from this weekend’s opening round.

The English forward was helped off the training track by Willie Mason and physio James Wall after he suffered the injury at Belmore Sportsground on Tuesday, with general manager of football, Phil Gould, revealing the prognosis was not positive.

“Unfortunately Luke Thompson’s injury is quite serious. Prognosis is for minimum 6 months recovery. Possibly longer depending on surgery type. Very sad for Luke and the club,” Gould tweeted on Tuesday.

Luke Thompson needed to be helped off the field after suffering a suspected lisfranc injury.

NRL players to have been sidelined long-term with lisfranc injuries include Ricky Leutele, Moses Suli, Curtis Sironen and Api Koroisau.

The Bulldogs are set to inquire with the NRL about salary cap dispensation for Thompson.

Away from Belmore, injuries have caused carnage across the competition, leaving clubs to count the cost of a brutal pre-season. Up to 20 top-line stars have been sidelined after the first team lists were announced on Tuesday.

Unfortunately Luke Thompson’s injury is quite serious. Prognosis is for minimum 6 months recovery. Possibly longer depending on surgery type. Very sad for Luke and the club. Thunderbolts happen.

— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) February 28, 2023

The Sydney Roosters have been the heaviest hit, with $2.6 million of their roster unavailable. While the Melbourne Storm were forced to apply for dispensation from the NRL to name players outside their top 30-squad for Thursday night’s season opener against Parramatta.

The off-contract Thompson could have played his last game for Canterbury. 

It’s a major setback for new coach Cameron Ciraldo, who is also without Tevita Pangai Jr (calf) for Saturday’s clash with Manly at 4 Pines Park.

The off-contract Thompson may have played his last game for the Bulldogs if his injury is season ending. Picture: Getty Images.

Fa‘amanu Brown takes over at lock but an exemption was needed to name Jayden Tanner on the bench, where he is joined by new recruit Franklin Pele and rookie Jacob Preston. Star signings Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney will play their first NRL games for the club and teen prodigy Paul Alamoti will make his NRL debut.

The Sea Eagles will be without five-eighth Josh Schuster (calf), with Cooper Johns to partner Daly Cherry-Evans in the halves. However, Tom Trbojevic takes flight for Manly for the first time in nine months, while fullback-in-waiting Kaeo Weekes has scored a utility role. 

Joseph Manu (facial fracture), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (back), Sitili Tupouniua (knee) and Angus Crichton (personal leave) are all unavailable for the Roosters’ historic clash with NRL newcomers the Dolphins.

For Melbourne, journeyman Young Tonumaipea will start at centre, while Victorian development prospect Sua Fa’alogo has been named on an extended bench following a rash of injuries to their outside backs that includes Ryan Papenhuyzen (knee) and Justin Olam (arm).

Joey Manu remains sidelined for the Roosters, as he recovers from a facial fracture. Picture: Getty Images.

Parramatta’s back-row stocks have been ravaged with Shaun Lane (jaw) and Ryan Matterson (suspension) both unavailable. However, there has been some respite for Brad Arthur’s team with the return of centre Waqa Blake (arm), winger Maika Sivo (knee) and edge forwards Matt Doorey (ankle) and Bryce Cartwright (jaw) all set to start.

New recruits Jack Murchie and Jirah Momoisea will come off the bench.

“It’s exciting because it gives other blokes an opportunity,” Arthur said of the changes.

“Someone hopefully steps up that we mightn’t have known about, especially in the back row where we’ve got some new players getting an opportunity there.” 

Cronulla have suffered a huge blow ahead of Saturday’s clash against South Sydney with Dally M player of the year Nicho Hynes succumbing to a calf injury. Braydon Trindall will replace him at halfback. Oregon Kaufusi will debut for the club from the bench, while Braden Hamlin-Uele comes in for Royce Hunt (elbow).

Other stars sidelined include Brisbane’s Reece Walsh (facial fracture), Newcastle’s Dane Gagai (cheek), Canberra pair Josh Papalii (arm) and Xavier Savage (jaw) and Wests Tigers recruit John Bateman (ankle), who has only just arrived from England.

Injuries haven’t impacted the Dolphins, but that didn’t stop coach Wayne Bennett dropping Anthony Milford and handing boom playmaker Isaiya Katoa a start at five-eighth. He isn’t the only former Penrith player to debut, Jersey Flegg premiership Kurt Donoghue will come off the bench.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Willie Mason, Mark O’Meley involved in Luke Thompson’s season-ending injury