NRL casualty ward Round 17

Another monster casualty ward — the Bulldogs have lost a key duo, the Sharks have been shredded and Sam Burgess’s return date has been confirmed.

Canterbury forward Sauaso Sue has been ruled out for the rest of the NRL season aftersuffering a torn ACL. Sue is set to be sidelined for nine months after going down in the Bulldogs’ win over Newcastle on Friday night. “The injury occurred in the 26th minute when the prop forward was tackled by three Knights defenders,” the club said.

“The 27-year-old will see a surgeon in the next couple of weeks to repair the torn ACL before starting his rehabilitation.” The hands on tests medical staff can perform to identify an ACL rupture are extremely accurate, with reconstruction surgery and 6-9 months recovery the usual prognosis.

Sauaso Sue of the Bulldogs in pain with an injured knee.

The Sharks have an overflowing casualty ward ahead of their trip to New Zealand next week.

Josh Morris (broken nose) and Josh Dugan (hamstring strain) both failed to finish the game on Saturday, whilst Matt Moylan and Wade Graham are also considered unlikely with hamstring injuries of their own.

As always hamstring strains can be one of the most challenging to rehab, and with up to a 30% re-injury rate it is extremely important a return to the field is not rushed. Both Moylan and Graham have an injury history that likely means a conservative approach will be taken by the Sharks.

Josh Dugan comes off with a hamstring issue.

Moylan has missed time on several occasions over the past 3 seasons with similar hamstring strains, whilst Graham suffered a grade 2 hamstring strain in the same leg he underwent an ACL reconstruction in last year. It has been shown that athletes with a history of ACL injury are at up to 3 times greater risk of suffering a hamstring injury.

Dugan went into the game with a back contusion (cork/bruise) which required a pain killing injection to get through the game. He unfortunately pulled up lame after returning a kick before half time, and was promptly ruled out for the game with a fresh hamstring strain. He was pictured in the sheds with ice low down on his hamstring which can often indicate involvement of the hamstring tendon. If this is the case recovery is often prolonged due to the slower healing time of tendons compared to muscle.

In a further blow, there are fears Johnson will miss Friday night’s clash with former side the New Zealand Warriors after suffering a serious ankle injury in Cronulla’s 40-16 loss to Melbourne.

Johnson will have scans on Monday after he left Melbourne in a moon boot, having played on with the injury in arguably his best performance in recent weeks.

Michael Morgan will definitely miss the Cowboys Round 17 game and may require further time on the sideline after suffering his 2nd concussion in 12 days during the Origin decider on Wednesday night. Morgan had reportedly pulled up well the day after the game, but it is worth noting concussion symptoms can be delayed, intermittent or prolonged so he will continue to be monitored in coming weeks.

Morgan will now undergo an independent neurological review, similar to Luke Keary in recent times. However this does not mean Morgan will automatically be ruled out for 4-6 weeks as Keary was; each concussion is unique and treated on a case by case basis.

Sam Burgess was looking good to return this week for the Rabbitohs, but has unfortunately suffered a setback after a post-surgical infection was discovered in his shoulder. With Burgess’ ability to train well this week it appears likely the infection is minor, and Wayne Bennett’s estimate of a further 2-3 weeks on the sideline for Burgess would be appropriate.

However it is extremely important the infection is controlled, as if it extends deep into the shoulder joint this can cause long term cartilage damage and will often require further surgery to “wash out” the joint.

Sam Burgess is out for another fortnight. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Aiden Tolman (Bulldogs) and Ryley Jacks (Titans) both suffered rib injuries in Round 17. Rib injuries are some of the most painful injuries, but with minimal risk for further or long term damage players are often able to return with the help of pain killing injections/medication or a chest guard. If Tolman and Jacks are lucky enough to have avoided significant rib or cartilage fracture they are likely to return in 1-3 weeks.

Tyrone Peachey will miss a further 3-4 weeks for the Titans after suffering a re-strain of his pec during training this week. Peachey initially strained his pec in Round 14, and was in the final stages of rehab when he suffered a further strain which scans indicated was more significant than the initial injury. A recurrence of any muscular strain so soon is not ideal, so Peachey will have to be thorough with his strengthening rehabilitation before attempting a return to play.

Also for the Titans, front rower Shannon Boyd came from the field with an arm injury. There has been little indication on the expected nature or severity of the injury at this stage.

Ryan Sutton was ruled out of the Raiders side for Sunday’s game with a calf strain. There has been no indication on severity as yet, with a general recovery guide for calf strains being:

Grade 1: 1-3 weeks

Grade 2: 3-6 weeks

Grade 3: 6-10 weeks

In positive news Te Maire Martin returned to Cowboys training this week, 10 weeks after suffering a bleed on his brain. He won’t be attempting a return to play this season, but has been told there is no risk in him resuming his playing career for the 2020 season. We wish Martin the very best with his continued recovery.

Te Maire Martin is recovering from a bleed on the brain. Picture: Scott Radford-Chisholm

Dragons forward Jeremy Latimore made it through just 19 minutes before leaving with a knee injury.

Also out this week:

Liam Martin (Quad, Pre-game) — set to return Round 19

Tom Trbojevic (Rested) — Set to return Round 18

Corey Oates (Origin/niggles) — Set to return Round 18

JUDICIARY REPORT

* Raiders star Nick Cotric faces up to four weeks on the sidelines after being charged over his ugly tackle on Tim Lafai. Cotric, who was sent off in Canberra’s win over St George Illawarra, was hit with a grade three dangerous throw charge by the NRL match review committee.

* Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (dangerous contact) is facing two weeks regardless of plea for a tackle on Josh McGuire.

* South Sydney front-rower Liam Knight is the latest player to feel the brunt of the NRL’s crackdown on illegal tackles on playmakers.

Knight is set to be suspended for up to three matches after being charged over a shot on Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans during the Rabbitohs’ 21-20 win on Saturday.

The 24-year-old was handed a grade two dangerous contact by the match review panel on Sunday over a tackle after Cherry-Evans had passed the ball and can accept a two-game ban with an early guilty plea.

* Melbourne forward Christian Welch is set to cop a one-game ban after being slapped with a grade one dangerous contact charge. The Queensland Origin player caught Cronulla forward Andrew Fifita with his shot during the Storm’s win over the Sharks and faces a ban due to loading for prior offences.

* Newcastle’s James Gavet will avoid suspension if he takes an early plea, after the NRL judiciary charged the prop for dangerous contact during the Knights’ 20-14 defeat to Canterbury.

* Victor Radley (dangerous contact) can escape a ban with an early guilty plea.

* Cameron Murray was charged on Sunday for a shot on Manly five-eighth Cade Cust. Murray can escape a ban with an early guilty plea on the grade one dangerous contact head/neck charge.

* Sharks half Chad Townsend has been fined after a contrary conduct charge for an incident with Storm forward Felise Kaufusi late in the Storm’s 40-16 win. Townsend will have to pay $1150 with an early plea or $1500 if he challenges the charge and loses.

* Jake Clifford (tripping) and Mikaele Ravalawa (high tackle) also copped fines.

FULL NRL CASUALTY WARD

BRONCOS

Corey Oates (Origin/niggles, Round 18)

Sean O’Sullivan (Hamstring, Round 20)

Matt Gillett (Groin, Indefinite)

Gehamat Shibasaki (Compound finger fracture, Round 20)

Richie Kennar (Shoulder, Season)

Jack Bird (ACL, Season)

Tom Dearden (Ankle, Round 18-20)

BULLDOGS

Sauaso Sue (Suspected ACL, Season)

Aiden Tolman (Ribs, Round 20-21)

Kieran Foran (Hamstring, Round 18)

Lachlan Lewis (Ankle, Round 18)

Fa’amanu Brown (Leg, Round 18)

COWBOYS

Michael Morgan (Concussion, TBC)

Kurt Baptiste (ACL, Season)

Ben Hampton (Biceps, Round 22-25)

Nene MacDonald (Ankle, Season)

Gideon Gela-Mosby (Collarbone, Round 18-22)

Justin O’Neill (Spleen, Indefinite)

Mitch Dunn (Shoulder, Season)

Te Marie Martin (Bleed on brain, Season)

DRAGONS

Jeremy Latimore (Knee, TBC)

Gareth Widdop (Shoulder, Round 19)

Jack de Belin (Stood down, Indefinite)

EELS

Peni Terepo (Suspension, Round 20)

Kaysa Pritchard (Retired)

Waqa Blake (Knee, Round 21-22)

Ray Stone (Ankle, Round 24)

Michael Jennings (Knee, Round 21)

KNIGHTS

Edrick Lee (Broken arm, Indefinite)

Kalyn Ponga (Calf, Round 18)

Mitchell Barnett (Suspension, Round 18)

Slade Griffin (Knee, Indefinite)

Nathan Ross (Foot, Retired)

PANTHERS

Liam Martin (Quad, Round 19)

Tyrone May (Stood Down, Indefinite)

Tim Grant (Pectoral, Season)

Caleb Aekins (Shoulder, Indefinite)

RABBITOHS

Alex Johnston (Bone bruising to knee, Indefinite)

Sam Burgess (Shoulder, Round 19-20)

George Burgess (Suspension, Finals)

Greg Inglis (Shoulder, Retired)

Cory Denniss (Shoulder, Round 20)

Kurt Dillon (Ankle, Indefinite)

Tom Burgess (Ankle, Round 20)

RAIDERS

Nick Cotric (Facing suspension, TBC)

Ryan Sutton (Calf, TBC)

Joey Leilua (Bulging disc, Season)

Brad Abbey (Knee, Season)

Hudson Young (Suspension, Round 19)

Ata Hingano (Thumb, Round 20-22)

Luke Bateman (Knee, Indefinite)

ROOSTERS

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Facing suspension, TBC)

SHARKS

Shaun Johnson (Ankle, TBC)

Josh Morris (Nose, Round 18)

Josh Dugan (Hamstring, TBC)

Matt Moylan (Hamstring, TBC)

Paul Gallen (Hamstring, Round 18)

Wade Graham (Hamstring, Round 20)

SEA EAGLES

Tom Trbojevic (Rested, Round 19)

Api Koroisau (Ankle, Round 20)

Toafofoa Sipley (Knee, Season)

Albert Hopoate (ACL, Season)

Brad Parker (Broken jaw, Round 18)

STORM

Albert Vete (Shoulder, Indefinite)

Curtis Scott (Foot, Round 20)

TIGERS

Mahe Fonua (Foot, Round 23)

Ben Matulino (Knee, Indefinite)

TITANS

Shannon Boyd (Arm, TBC)

Tyrone Peachey (Pectoral, Round 21-22)

Ryley Jacks (Ribs, TBC)

Jai Arrow (Ankle, Round 19-20)

Ryan James (ACL, season)

WARRIORS

Nathaniel Roache (ACL, Season)

Tohu Harris (Knee, Round 21)

Patrick Herbert (Hamstring, Indefinite)

Originally published as NRL casualty ward Round 17