NRL casualty ward 2016: Your club’s pre-season injuries
TYSON Frizell will miss the opening rounds, James McManus is out for the season and Brett Morris has had a setback.
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WITH clubs deep into the pre-season we take a look at how your club is faring on the injury front.
Raiders five-eighth Blake Austin will be fit for round one after having shoulder surgery in late September.
He and halves partner Aiden Sezer (also shoulder) will get a chance to combine for the first time during the trials.
Dragons forward Tyson Frizell had back surgery during the summer break and it’s expected he’ll miss at least the first two rounds of the season.
Knights winger James McManus is sidelined indefinitely due to concussion and has been receiving medical advice on his condition.
He won’t take the field in 2016.
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BRONCOS
Casualty ward:
Lachlan Maranta — (surgery — wrist)
Jack Reed — (surgery — shoulder)
Winger Lachlan Maranta has a fractured wrist and has gone for surgery. It’s expected the injury will rule him out for the first four rounds.
Centre Jack Reed missed the start of pre-season after his fourth shoulder reconstruction but has since returned to training on a modified program. He is likely to miss the first four rounds of the season.
Josh McGuire ruptured his Achilles last year, but is back training and expected to return in the trials.
BULLDOGS
Casualty ward:
Brett Morris — (surgery — knee)
Michael Lichaa — (foot)
Lloyd Perrett — (ankle)
David Klemmer — (shoulder)
The only player on a reduced training program at the Belmore is fullback Brett Morris. He has been in and out of team training as he continues his recovery from knee surgery. It’s expected he’ll be available for selection come round one.
Hooker Michael Lichaa (foot), forwards Lloyd Perrett (ankle) and David Klemmer (shoulder) have all returned to full training and should feature in Canterbury’s trial games, but not the Nines.
COWBOYS
Casualty ward:
Matt Scott — (surgery — neck, microdiscectomy)
Javid Bowen — (surgery — right shoulder reconstruction, groin)
Tautau Moga — (surgery — knee reconstruction)
Rory Kostjasyn — (surgery — right ankle reconstruction)
Kyle Feldt — (surgery — ankle clean-out)
Antonio Winterstein — (broken hand)
Cowboys co-captain Matt Scott had bone shaved off the vertebrae, which was the same surgery that helped save James Tamou’s career. Scott returned to full-contact training in mid-January and hopes to play in the late trials and World Club Challenge.
Winger Antonio Winterstein, grand final hero Kyle Feldt and utility Rory Kostjasyn will return from off-season surgery in the Auckland Nines.
Javid Bowen had twin procedures on his shoulder and groin. He has returned to training on a tailored program and is expected to start contact training in February.
Centre Tautau Moga had a third knee reconstruction in 2015 and he has returned to training with the fulltime squad, but on a modified program.
DRAGONS
Casualty ward:
Dylan Farrell — (back)
Tyson Frizell — (surgery — back)
Tyrone McCarthy — (hamstring)
Forward Tyson Frizell had back surgery during the summer break to correct a lumbar disk bulge. The Dragons medical team decided it was in Frizell’s best interests to undergo surgery to help alleviate the problem — which had sidelined him at different stages in 2015. He’ll miss up to 10 weeks of training meaning he won’t be available for at least the first two rounds of the season.
Centre Dylan Farrell and second-rower Tyrone McCarthy are still in rehabilitation for their respective injuries. At this stage there is no time frame for when Farrell will return to training but McCarthy is expected back by February.
Josh Dugan missed the first part of pre-season after having neck surgery but he has since returned to the training field. He successfully completed his first contact session in early January and will play the Nines.
Big man Mose Masoe will be out for at least six months after damaging his ACL during pre-season training.
EELS
Casualty ward:
Anthony Watmough — (surgery — knee and shoulder)
Danny Wicks — (surgery — shoulder)
Nathan Peats — (surgery — neck fracture)
Hooker Nathan Peats needed surgery after a fracture to his C6 vertebra in round 23 against the Roosters. Amazingly Peats played on for 36 minutes after suffering the injury.
Anthony Watmough had surgery late in the season after going down with a knee complaint in round 19. He also had his shoulder operated on.
Forward Danny Wicks had shoulder surgery.
All three players have now returned to training from their respective surgeries but remain on slightly modified programs.
KNIGHTS
Casualty ward:
Trent Hodkinson — (surgery — wrist)
James McManus — (concussion)
Tariq Sims — (suspension, round six)
Sione Mata’utia — (suspension, round two)
All of Newcastle’s squad have returned to full training except for star recruit Trent Hodkinson. The halfback needed surgery for the wrist injury which prematurely ended his 2015 season. He remains in rehab and medical staff expect he will commence non-contact training by February.
Winger James McManus, won’t take the field in 2016. He is sidelined indefinitely due to concussion and is currently receiving medical advice on his condition.
PANTHERS
Casualty ward:
George Jennings — (leg)
Viliame Kikau (surgery — ankle)
Despite a horrid run with injuries last year, the only Panthers player to have surgery during the off-season was Viliame Kikau, who had a pin placed in his ankle. Kikau needed the operation due to syndesmosis of the ankle.
Winger George Jennings is still recovering from a fractured tibia he suffered against the Sea Eagles in round 10 of the 2015 season. Complications with his recovery have prolonged his stint in rehabilitation.
Both players are on modified programs.
Halfback Peter Wallace has been in full training after he ruptured his right ACL, for a second year in a row, late in 2015.
RABBITOHS
Casualty ward:
George Burgess — (surgery — hip)
Chris Grevsmuhl — (surgery — hip)
Luke Keary — (surgery — hip), also suspended until round two
Forwards George Burgess and Chris Grevsmuhl, along with five-eighth Luke Keary, had hip operations at the back end of 2015. They started the new year in rehab with a focus on long-distance work and conditioning. They’ve since been integrated back into full training with the rest of the squad. Grevsmuhl will play in the Nines, Burgess will be saved for later trials and Keary is suspended for round one.
RAIDERS
Casualty ward:
Shaun Fensom — (broken arm)
Blake Austin — (shoulder)
Aidan Sezer — (surgery — shoulder)
Workhorse Shaun Fensom has a broken arm but should be fit to play in Canberra’s trial matches.
Five-eighth Blake Austin went under the knife in early September to repair a tear to the posterior labral in his right shoulder.
New signing Aiden Sezer also has a shoulder complaint. He picked up the injury after a crusher tackle in round 23.
Sezer and Austin are both back in training and should be available for their first hit out as a halves pairing during the trials. Fensom, Sezer and Austin are not available for the Auckland Nines
ROOSTERS
Casualty ward:
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves — (surgery — ACL)
Mitchell Pearce — (disciplinary, indefinite)
Prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves went down against the Broncos in round 24 with a serious knee injury. He is still on a modified program and expected to miss the opening rounds.
SEA EAGLES
Casualty ward:
None
Backrower Jamie Buhrer is back after suffering a serious knee injury against the Storm in round eight of last year — he’s been named in Manly’s Nines squad.
New recruits Lewis Brown and Martin Taupau returned to training after Christmas. They had an extended break after taking part New Zealand’s Test tour of the UK.
SHARKS
Casualty ward:
Myles Taueli — (medial strain)
Connor Tracey — (surgery — ACL)
Valentine Holmes — (disciplinary, late trials)
Currently the Sharks have only minor injury concerns, with two junior players of the fulltime training squad missing.
Second rower Myles Taueli has a medial ligament injury and he has been in rehab for this injury since before Christmas. He has begun running on an assisted treadmill and should be available for selection by round one.
Young halfback Conner Tracey will miss the entire 2016 after he injured his ACL which required a reconstruction.
At this stage only one player will be unavailable for selection for their first trial match, with utility Fa’amanu Brown having a knee reconstruction last year, although he has been in training since Christmas.
STORM
Casualty ward:
None
The Storm commenced training in November but only had their entire squad back and training together since January.
Jesse Bromwich, Kevin Proctor and Tohu Harris returned in mid-January after an extended break following New Zealand’s tour of the UK.
TIGERS
Casualty ward:
Joel Edwards — (hamstring)
Dene Halatau — (knee), also suspended until round two
Matt Ballin — (surgery — knee)
Bayley Sironen — (surgery — ankle)
Luke Brooks — (suspension, round two)
Backrower Joel Edwards suffered a grade two hamstring tear and is currently on a modified program to help get his mobility back. He’ll be integrated into full-contact training as he progresses. He’s still around 6-8 weeks away from full-contact training and may miss the opening of the season.
Utility Dene Halatau has started straight line running and is fit for the trials, but is suspended for round one.
New hooker Matt Ballin had surgery on his knee while still at the Sea Eagles and is currently five months post op. The average recovery period for ACL surgery is about nine months so he isn’t expected back until at least round six.
Bayley Sironen had an ankle reconstruction in the off-season and is already running. He will be available for selection in the trial match against Cronulla.
TITANS
Casualty ward:
Kane Elgey — (surgery — ACL)
Oshae Tuiasau — (surgery — MCL)
Karl Lawton — (adductor)
Ryan James — (ankle)
Will Zillman — (calf)
Rising star and rookie halfback Kane Elgey was dealt a cruel blow after suffering a season ending ACL injury in January during a training session. It was originally believed to be a minor injury but scans revealed it was a torn ACL and he would require surgery.
Forward Oshae Tuiasau and playmaker Karl Lawton are yet to return to full training. Tuiasau will not be available for selection for the trials.
Ryan James and Will Zillman were ruled out of the Nines due to minor injuries.
WARRIORS
Casualty ward:
Manu Matuvei — (shoulder)
Ben Henry — (ACL)
Thomas Leuluai — (ACL)
Star halfback Shaun Johnson suffered a serious break to his ankle against the Sea Eagles in round 20 last year. He returned to training in late November. Jacob Lillyman fractured his cheekbone in round 24 against the Cowboys. Both players are now fit and have been named in New Zealand’s Nines squad.
Manu Vatuvei, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, was not named.
Ben Henry and Thomas Leuluai are expected to be right for the late trials following ACL injuries.
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