NRL casualty ward: Canberra Raiders rocked by freak injuries
We’re used to strange injuries in rugby league. But even by NRL standards, the injuries suffered by two Raiders stars over the weekend sit at the “freak” end of the scale.
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In an unprecedented start to a finals game, Joey Leilua was unable to take his place in the starting lineup after a small piece of pyrotechnic shell got into his eye.
As the fireworks went off during the run onto the field, Leilua said he felt like a rock got caught in his eye and he struggled to see. After some confusion on the sideline, he eventually went up the tunnel with the Raiders’ doctor, who after some searching, was able to remove a small piece of shell from his eye.
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This provided Leilua immediate relief, and he was thankfully able to return when Nick Cotric was forced to come from the field.
Despite having some immediate soreness in his eye, there was reportedly no damage or scratch on Leilua’s eyeball itself. This plus the fact he was able to play out the game, and lay on the winning try no less, bodes well for his availability in two weeks.
Nick Cotric was worse for wear after copping a stray boot to the face midway through the first half of Canberra’s victory over Melbourne. Blood streaming from his face, Cotric was removed from the field and was promptly ruled out for the game after failing his HIA.
Coach Ricky Stuart later revealed the winger suffered a suspected badly broken nose, whilst also requiring stitches to his nose and upper lip.
Nick Cotric required stitches to nose & upper lip after copping a boot to the face last night. Thankfully has an extra week for healing, with infection control a concern. Provided no airway issues (nose) most wounds heal well within 2 weeks, bodes well for his prelim availability pic.twitter.com/84lU5YUMb5
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) September 15, 2019
The Raiders’ win gives Cotric a valuable extra week off to recover. Unlike many other facial fractures, a broken nose often doesn’t require an extended period on the sideline.
Whilst there can be some short term issues with bleeding and the nasal passage/airway, this usually settles within 7-10 days. Whilst there will be an ongoing increased risk of another break if he cops a blow to the nose, players often wait until post season or even post career to have any significant treatment done.
The Roosters have their own concerns with Boyd Cordner (quad) and Daniel Tupou (groin) both unable to finish their opening finals game with muscle strains. Thankfully the Roosters also have the added benefit of a week off, which gives both players an extra week for rehab and recovery.
Cordner in particular is confident of being fit for the preliminary final in two weeks. His quad tightened up on him when he hit top speed during the first half. With the Roosters in a comfortable position, he decided to come from the field. He reportedly could have returned if required.
With the quad injury on the same side as the calf injury he recently returned from, as well as some reports he suffered a quad strain during his recent calf rehab, there is still some concern he may be at an increased injury risk for the remaining finals games.
Boyd Cordner heads into the sheds.
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) September 13, 2019
WATCH: @Channel9#9WWOS #NRL #NRLRoostersSouths pic.twitter.com/4BSPd4kGrP
Tupou has been dealing with a niggling groin issue over the past week, and after cooling down at half time he suffered from a lack of power throughout the second half. Whilst he also could have played on this was another removal that was mostly precautionary in nature. Groin injuries are notorious for lingering, but minor grade injuries are commonly considered day to day throughout recovery.
Daniel Tupou off and icing groin/hip flexor area. Once again hopefully mild issue/precautionary move, seemed to be moving well prior to coming off #NRLRoostersSouths pic.twitter.com/JKgPFvxZac
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) September 13, 2019
In some further positive news for the Roosters, Jake Friend is hoping to be fit to return in two weeks. The Roosters’ captain has missed the past eight weeks after suffering a fractured forearm around the screw he had inserted to repair a biceps rupture earlier in the season.
This recovery was complicated due to a post-surgery infection after he had a plate inserted to assist in healing the forearm fracture. Whilst infection can be unpredictable Friend is reportedly tracking well with his recovery, and was even a chance to play this week.
JUDICIARY REPORT
Sydney Roosters star Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will head to the NRL judiciary for the second time in a week after pleading not guilty to tripping.
Waerea-Hargreaves will on Tuesday night challenge the grade-one charge that threatens to rub him out of the club’s preliminary final in a fortnight.
Should he be successful, he will be available to face Melbourne or the team that wins the second elimination final between Parramatta and Brisbane.
If Waerea-Hargreaves is unsuccessful, he will miss one match, meaning he would miss the preliminary final but be available for the grand final if the Roosters progress.
The Roosters prop was charged despite not being penalised for an apparent trip on South Sydney centre James Roberts in their qualifying final.
The charge normally attracts a fine, however, Waerea-Hargreaves has already accrued the maximum amount of monetary punishments this season.
Meanwhile, Canberra forward Joseph Tapine is set to avoid suspension despite being charged with dangerous contact in Saturday’s upset of Melbourne. Tapine was on Sunday slapped with a grade-one charge for an alleged chicken-wing tackle on Storm utility Brandon Smith in the 40th minute.
But he can escape a ban with an early guilty plea and be free to play in the Raiders’ preliminary final against South Sydney or Manly.
Originally published as NRL casualty ward: Canberra Raiders rocked by freak injuries