NRL casualty ward Round 19: Every injury from weekend action

Latest on Jake Friend, Blake Ferguson, Sam Burgess and many more. Full injury list and analysis from Round 18.

Only two games into his return after an extended layoff with a biceps injury, Jake Friend will now require more time on the sideline after suffering a suspected forearm fracture.

The Roosters captain lasted just eight minutes in Saturday’s game before coming from the field, unable to make a fist or pinch his fingers together. Assessment by the Roosters medical staff suggested Friend suffered a fracture through his radius (forearm bone), and to further complicate matters the fracture appears to have occurred around the screw that was used to repair his ruptured biceps tendon earlier this season.

Jake Friend struggles with an arm injury.

An increased fracture risk often exists around surgical hardware (screws/plates), so the Roosters will have to be conservative with Friend’s return. Whilst the very best case scenario could see him return after a month, 6-8 weeks will more than likely be required to allow for adequate bone healing and reduce the risk of re-fracture.

Blake Ferguson will miss Round 18 for the Eels due to a knee infection. The NSW Origin winger required a minor surgical procedure to clean out the infection and drain fluid from his knee, but the Eels are still confident he will be fit to return next weekend. Thankfully is unlikely Ferguson has suffered any structural damage to his knee with such a short estimated recovery time. The main obstacles for return to play will be ensuring the infection has cleared and regaining full range of movement/strength.

Sam Burgess is another who missed Round 18 due to an infection, with reports this week revealing he has been attending hospital to receive antibiotics through a PICC line for an infection discovered during his recent shoulder surgery. A PICC line is a form of intravenous (IV) access that is inserted into the arm and positioned in a large vein that carries blood to the heart. Whilst this can sound quite significant it is a standard form of treatment for most patients who require IV antibiotics once they are discharged from hospital.

It is worth noting that infections can linger and often aren’t as predictable as the more common musculoskeletal injuries NRL players suffer from week to week. Thankfully it appears Burgess is on track to return in the coming weeks, with Rabbitohs medical staff indicating that as long as the infection is clear he only has a few strength markers to tick off. Often infected joints require six weeks of antibiotics through a PICC line, and with this week marking six weeks post-surgery for Burgess there is optimism the infection is under control.

Sam Burgess has an infection in his shoulder.

Marcelo Montoya suffered a suspected MCL sprain in the Bulldogs’ loss to the Broncos on Thursday night. Initial assessment indicated Montoya could be looking at 3-4 weeks on the sideline, with scans to reveal the severity in the coming days. A general recovery guide for MCL sprains in the NRL is:

Grade 1: 1-3 weeks

Grade 2: 3-6 weeks

Grade 3: 6-10 weeks

Michael Morgan (Cowboys), Ken Maumalo (Warriors) and Cade Cust (Sea Eagles) were all ruled out of Round 18 as they continue to progress through the NRL’s concussion protocol. Whilst the majority of players are able to return 7-10 days after suffering a concussion, symptoms can be delayed, prolonged and intermittent. Whilst Maumalo and Cust are expected to return next week, Morgan may require another week or two on the sidelines after suffering two concussions in 12 days.

In a further blow to the Warriors’ wing stocks David Fusitu’a was also ruled out with a hamstring injury picked up in training late in the week. At this stage he looks likely to miss next week as well, as the risk of re-injury is still quite high in Round 19 with even the most minor of hamstring strains.

Corey Thompson was unable to suit up for the Tigers this weekend due to a minor ankle injury picked up in Round 17. He is expected to return next week.

Corey Thompson has an ankle injury.

In some positive injury news, despite reports of a possible ACL injury in Round 9, Manly forward Toafofoa Sipley actually suffered a PLC (posterolateral corner) injury. This is an injury to the tendons/ligaments on the outside/back corner of the knee (not to be confused with PCL). Whilst still a significant injury it doesn’t require anywhere near the recovery time of an ACL rupture. Sipley is now aiming to return in Round 23-24.

ALSO INJURED ROUND 18

• Matt Moylan (hamstring - sent for scans). Finished the game and the injury is not considered serious. Results Monday.

• Aaron Gray (knee - pre-game)

• Joseph Manu (rested - pre-game)

• Isaac Liu (concussion - pre-game)

• Kodi Nikorima (ankle, TBC)

• Sosaia Feki (Back TBC)

• Thomas Mikaele (Concussion, TBC)

• AJ Brimson (Hip, TBC)

JUDICIARY REPORT

Penrith’s Viliame Kikau and Cronulla’s Andrew Fifita are facing one-match bans after being cited for shoulder charges by the NRL match review committee.

The pair can accept one-match bans with early guilty pleas but risk being sidelined for two weeks if they challenge the charges at the judiciary. Fifita is set to pay a price for his brain fade in the dying stages of the Sharks’ loss to the Warriors in Wellington on Friday night.

Kikau has been charged for a shoulder charge on St George Illawarra half Darren Nicholls during the Panthers’ 40-18 win.

Thomas Flegler (dangerous contact - head/neck) is facing a week regardless of plea.

Kotoni Staggs (dangerous contact) can escape suspension with an early guilty plea.

FULL NRL CASUALTY WARD

BRONCOS

Thomas Flegler (Facing suspension, TBC)

Sean O’Sullivan (Hamstring, Round 20)

Matt Gillett (Groin, Round 19)

Gehamat Shibasaki (Compound finger fracture, Round 20)

Richie Kennar (Shoulder, Season)

Jack Bird (ACL, Season)

Tom Dearden (Ankle, Round 20)

BULLDOGS

Marcelo Montoya (Knee, TBC)

Sauaso Sue (ACL, Season)

Aiden Tolman (Ribs, Round 19-20)

Kieran Foran (Hamstring, Round 19)

COWBOYS

Jordan Kahu (Eye socket, Round 23)

Michael Morgan (Concussion, TBC)

Kurt Baptiste (ACL, Season)

Ben Hampton (Biceps, Round 22-25)

Nene MacDonald (Ankle, Season)

Gideon Gela-Mosby (Collarbone, Round 19-22)

Justin O’Neill (Spleen, Indefinite)

Mitch Dunn (Shoulder, Season)

Te Marie Martin (Bleed on brain, Season)

DRAGONS

Ben Hunt (Rested, Round 19)

Zac Lomax (Broken thumb, Round 19)

Jeremy Latimore (Knee, Indefinite)

Gareth Widdop (Shoulder, Round 19)

Jack de Belin (Stood down, Indefinite)

EELS

Blake Ferguson (Knee, Round 19)

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, Finals)

Slade Griffin (Knee, Indefinite)

Nathan Ross (Foot, Retired)

Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Elbow, Round 22)

PANTHERS

Viliame Kikau (Facing suspension, TBC)

Liam Martin (Quad, Round 19)

Tyrone May (Stood Down, Indefinite)

Tim Grant (Pectoral, Season)

Caleb Aekins (Shoulder, Indefinite)

Jack Hetherington (Sternum, Indefinite)

RABBITOHS

Liam Knight (Suspension, Round 20)

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 (Suspension, Round 21)

Ryan Sutton (Calf, Round 19)

Joey Leilua (Bulging disc, Season)

Brad Abbey (Knee, Season)

Hudson Young (Suspension, Round 19)

Ata Hingano (Thumb, Round 20-22)

Luke Bateman (Knee, Indefinite)

Brad Abbey (knee, season)

ROOSTERS

Jake Friend (Fractured forearm, TBC)

Joseph Manu (Rested, Round 19)

Isaac Liu (Concussion, Round 19)

Zane Tetevano (Suspension, Round 19)

SHARKS

Sosaia Feki (Back, TBC)

Andrew Fifita (Facing suspension, TBC)

Matt Moylan (Hamstring, TBC)

Aaron Gray (Knee, TBC)

Josh Dugan (Hamstring, Indefinite)

Wade Graham (Hamstring, Round 20)

Josh Morris (Nose/concussion, Round 19)

SEA EAGLES

Cade Cust (Concussion, Round 19)

Api Koroisau (Ankle, Round 20)

Toafofoa Sipley (Knee, Round 23-24)

Albert Hopoate (ACL, Season)

Jack Gosiewski (Groin, Indefinite)

STORM

Cameron Munster (Rested, Round 19)

Josh Addo-Carr (Rested, Round 19)

Felise Kaufusi (Rested, Round 19)

Will Chambers (Rested, Round 19)

Christian Welch (Suspended, Round 19)

Albert Vete (Shoulder, Indefinite)

Curtis Scott (Foot, Round 20)

TIGERS

Corey Thompson (Ankle, Round 19)

Mahe Fonua (Foot, Round 23)

Ben Matulino (Knee, Indefinite)

TITANS

Tyrone Peachey (Pectoral, Round 21-22)

Jai Arrow (Ankle, Round 20-21)

Ryan James (ACL, season)

AJ Brimson (Hip, TBC)

WARRIORS

Kodi Nikorima (Ankle, TBC)

David Fusitu’a (Hamstring, TBC)

Ken Maumalo (Concussion, Round 19)

Nathaniel Roache (ACL, Season)

Tohu Harris (Knee, Round 21)

Patrick Herbert (Hamstring, Indefinite)

Originally published as NRL casualty ward Round 19: Every injury from weekend action