NRL casualty ward 2019: NRL Physio analyses the most pressing injuries heading into Round 1

The 2019 NRL season is fast approaching and a host of stars are racing the clock for Round 1. NRL Physio analyses the most pressing injuries.

The 2019 NRL season is fast approaching and a host of stars are racing the clock for Round 1.

Our resident expert Brien Seeney, aka NRL Physio, analyses the most pressing injuries.

Greg Inglis

The South Sydney strike weapon has been ruled out of contention for the All Stars game, and is now reportedly at risk of missing the first two rounds of the NRL season after suffering some pain and fluid in his left knee.

Brien Seeney, aka NRL Physio.

There is also a suggestion he is 15 kilos over playing weight. Rabbitohs medical staff have indicated they currently have Inglis on restricted duties at training with a plan to build up his running over the next month.

However the news that Inglis may not be fit for the season opener in six weeks is worrisome. Fluid in the knee can be indicative of an overuse or overload injury, which can take weeks to settle and return the function of the knee back to 100 per cent.

With this latest injury being to the same knee (left) in which Inglis had an ACL reconstruction in 2017, there is a concern this could become a lingering issue that he has to manage throughout the year. He already has a history of issues with his right knee, including a PCL tear in 2013 and arthroscopic surgery to clean out a loose piece of cartilage in 2015.

Load management will be of vital importance to Inglis’ recovery, which will no doubt include monitoring his weight and gradually reintroducing him to higher running and training loads. Not only is the start of his season in doubt, but an expected move to fullback (which requires a much greater running load) may also be put on hold.

LISTEN! Resident SuperCoach experts Tom Sangster and Tim Williams have the lowdown on the players to target and avoid in 2019.

Ash Taylor

The Gold Coast playmaker recently had minor arthroscopic (keyhole) surgery after a shoulder injury from late last season failed to resolve. Taylor and the Titans attempted to treat the issue conservatively over the offseason with rehab exercises and other non-surgical treatments, but this failed to alleviate symptoms.

Minor arthroscopic surgery is often used in these cases to remove inflamed tissue, loose cartilage or bone spurs that are causing pain or restricting movement. The good news for Taylor is that recovery is quick for these procedures; he is only expected to miss 3-4 weeks and will be fit for the Titans trial vs the Broncos on March 2.

Ash Taylor has a shoulder issue. Picture: Jason O'Brien

Anthony Milford, Gareth Widdop, Matt Moylan, Issac Luke and AJ Brimson

These players all spent the early part of the offseason training in the rehab group after undergoing shoulder reconstruction surgery. Return to play from a shoulder reconstruction can be quite varied, with the usual range in the NRL anywhere from 3-6 months post-surgery.

Both the severity/location of damage as well as the degree of surgical reconstruction required to stabilise the shoulder influence the required recovery time. Luckily all five players are at similar stages of their rehab. They had planned to start contact training in mid-late January, which gave them adequate time (6-8 weeks) to progress to full fitness by Round 1.

Issac Luke is the only player considered in some doubt. Luke has had multiple shoulder dislocations over the past five years, which may cause the Warriors to be more conservative with his return. Signs still point to him running out for Round 1.

Gareth Widdop leaves the field with a dislocated shoulder.

Ryan Hall

The Roosters English recruit has returned to modified field training as he continues his rehab from an ACL reconstruction in September last year. Usual return to NRL action after this surgery is within the 6-9 month range.

The expectation has been that Hall would miss the early rounds, but the Roosters have him ahead of schedule in his rehab program. Round 1 will mark just over 6 months post-surgery, which along with his rehab progress indicates he could be fit to start the season.

Players often don’t return to their very best until the second season back from ACL reconstruction surgery, so even when he returns Hall may take some time to find top form in his first NRL season.

Benji Marshall and Kieran Foran

Kieran Foran (toe, wrist) and Benji Marshall (calf, ankle) had injury interrupted seasons in 2018, and have not had ideal starts to 2019. Both players suffered low grade hamstring injuries in recent times, which can involve a 2-4 week recovery period.

In good news both players have returned to light training and are expected to take part in trial matches for their respective clubs. However they will be players to monitor over the early weeks of the season, as hamstring strains have a high re-injury rate (10-30 per cent).

Age also plays a role, with players like Foran and Marshall (who are above the average league age) almost two times more likely to suffer a hamstring injury than their younger counterparts.

Kieran Foran is on track for Round 1. Picture: Bulldogs Digital

NRL CASUALTY WARD 2019

Broncos

Matt Gillett (Shoulder/Neck, Round 1)

Anthony Milford (Shoulder, Round 1)

Andrew McCullough (Finger, Round 1)

Jack Bird (Sternum, Round 1)

Payne Haas (Shoulder, Round 1)

David Fifita (Ankle, Round 1)

Jaydn Su’A (Ankle, Round 1)

Bulldogs

Josh Jackson (Shoulder, Round 1)

Kieran Foran (Toe/wrist/hamstring, Round 1)

Kerrod Holland (Ankle, Round 1)

Fa’amanu Brown (Foot, Round 4)

Adam Elliott (Wrist, Round 1)

Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Knee/Hand, Round 1)

Cowboys

Michael Morgan (Biceps, Round 1)

Matt Scott (Neck, Round 1)

Dragons

Gareth Widdop (Shoulder, Round 1)

Tariq Sims (Knee, Round 1)

Paul Vaughan (Foot, Round 1)

Jacob Host (Shoulder, Round 1)

Eels

Blake Ferguson (Broken leg/infected foot, Round 1)

Nathan Brown (Knee, Round 1)

Manu Ma’u (Cheekbone, Round 1)

Kaysa Pritchard (Shoulder, Round 1)

Peni Terepo (Hamstring, Round 1)

Will Smith (Hamstring, Round 1)

Josh Hoffman (Shoulder, Round 1)

Knights

Jacob Saifiti (Broken leg, Indefinite)

Slade Griffin (ACL, Indefinite)

Tautau Moga (ACL, Round 5)

Daniel Saifiti (Foot, Round 1)

Nathan Ross (Groin, Round 1)

Kalyn Ponga (Ankle, Round 1)

Connor Watson (Groin, Round 1)

Hymel Hunt (Shoulder, Round 1)

Panthers

Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Jaw, Round 1)

James Maloney (Neck, Round 1)

Nathan Cleary (Ankle, Round 1)

Sam McKendry (ACL, Indefinite)

Roosters

Cooper Cronk (Broken scapula, Round 1)

Angus Crichton (Shoulder, Round 1)

Ryan Hall (ACL, Round 1)

Zane Tetevano (Bicep, Round 1)

Lindsay Collins (Wrist, Round 1)

Rabbitohs

Greg Inglis (Knee, Round 1)

Sam Burgess (Shoulder/wrist, Round 1)

Cameron Murray (Shoulder, Round 1)

Campbell Graham (Shoulder, Round 1)

Adam Doueihi (ACL, Round 4/5)

Raiders

Jordan Rapana (Shoulder, Round 11-14)

Ata Hingano (Shoulder, Round 8)

Jarrod Croker (Knee, Round 1)

Michael Oldfield (Knee, Round 1)

Sharks

Wade Graham (ACL, Round 9-12)

Matt Moylan (Shoulder, Round 1)

Jayson Bukuya (Shoulder, Round 1)

Josh Dugan (Shoulder, Round 1)

Sea Eagles

Curtis Sironen (ACL, Round 1)

Apisai Koroisau (Foot, Round 1)

Lachlan Croker (ACL, Round 1)

Storm

Nelson Asofa-Solomona (Ankle, Round 1)

Tigers

Josh Reynolds (Shoulder, Round 1)

Josh Aloiai (Hand, Round 1)

Robbie Rochow (Hand, Round 1)

Benji Marshall (Calf/ankle/hamstring, Round 1)

Titans

AJ Brimson (Shoulder, Round 1)

Max King (Shoulder, Round 1)

Morgan Boyle (Shoulder, Round 1)

Dale Copley (Hamstring, Round 1)

Michael Gordon (Wrist, Round 1)

Warriors

Isaac Luke (Shoulder, Round 1-4)

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Knee, Round 1)

Nathaniel Roache (Back, Round 1)

MORE SUPERCOACH:

Full SuperCoach News section / Cheapie Bible / Predicted round one teams / Sangster’s team / Champ’s team / Wilfred’s team / Tallis’s team / Copes’ team / Huge rule change / Top 10 rookies in NRL

Originally published as NRL casualty ward 2019: NRL Physio analyses the most pressing injuries heading into Round 1